Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1999, the historic city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur is renowned for its exceptional blend of Asian and European architectural influences. According to UNESCO, Vigan stands as a well-preserved European trading town in East and Southeast Asia. Tragically, the devastating magnitude 7 earthquake on July 27, 2022 caused significant damage to many of its cherished heritage buildings, including the Vigan Cathedral, belfry, Archbishop’s Palace, and Colegio Building.
In response, the Vigan local government, along with public and private institutions, conducted rapid assessments of the heritage structures within the World Heritage site. Out of the 246 buildings assessed, approximately 40 percent were deemed safe, while around 22 percent were identified for restrictive use. Additionally, 28 percent required reassessment, and just over 9 percent were considered off-limits. The survey report from the International Council on Monuments and Sites-Philippines (ICOMOS Philippines) revealed that even the safe structures sustained minor damages such as cracks on walls and moldings.
Mayor Bonito Singson of Vigan advocates for the full restoration of all the damaged heritage buildings. The mayor envisions a restoration process that ensures the structures will endure for another 500 years, emphasizing the importance of stabilizing their foundations. To accomplish this, local architects, engineers, and contractors will be engaged for the restoration efforts, starting with the structures that are easiest to restore. They will utilize the Heritage Homeowner’s Preservation Manual crafted in 2010.
While private companies have donated a considerable sum of one hundred million pesos for the restoration of 17 priority heritage houses, ICOMOS Philippines noted that this amount is insufficient given the extent of the damage in the World Heritage site. The organization expressed concerns about limited funding and expertise to cover the expenses of full analyses and restoration. The report also highlighted that the national government agencies are primarily focusing on publicly owned structures, leaving privately owned structures in urgent need of assistance, many of which are structurally unstable.
The national government agencies have identified certain structures, including the cathedral, belfry, and archbishop’s palace, to be restored. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts will oversee these restoration projects. ICOMOS Philippines, serving as an advisory body to UNESCO, carried out its own survey of heritage structures in Vigan following last year’s earthquake after being assigned the task by UNESCO Jakarta, the regional office for Southeast Asia. The organization’s goal was to consolidate all the findings from various stakeholders and develop a situational analysis of past and current initiatives for studying, stabilizing, and restoring historic structures within the designated heritage zone of Vigan.
After conducting field surveys from late September to early October last year, ICOMOS Philippines evaluated 27 heritage structures, with 17 making it onto their priority list. Some of these structures include the Syquia Mansion, Lucy Antiques, Quema House, and Flores House. However, ICOMOS Philippines pointed out that the Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF) allocated by UNESCO Jakarta for the area is limited and may not be sufficient to fully restore one ancestral structure in Vigan. Therefore, they recommend utilizing the fund for technical and scientific studies that can be applied to other structures and serve as a technical resource for standardizing restoration practices. The organization suggests focusing these studies and HEF on the Syquia Mansion, which is considered one of the most authentic and culturally significant heritage homes in Vigan.
ICOMOS, initially founded in 1988 with Regalado Trota Jose as its founding president, plays a crucial role in promoting applied research, theory, and scientific methodology to conserve architectural landmarks, monuments, heritage landscapes, and archaeological sites. It aims to create a future that effectively manages change in heritage sites, ensuring authentic experiences for future generations. As the organization celebrates its 35th year, it has named Jose, a renowned scholar on church art, history, and heritage, as its honorary member. Presently, it is led by Cheek Fadriquela, a specialist in wood conservation.
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