Thursday, December 31, 2015

2015 in review – 25 best Instagram photos from around the Philippines

I hope we all agree, 2015 was not bad at all! Thank you for another great year! I haven't been blogging as much. But my Instagram account @ivanhenares is alive and kicking. In April, Ivan About Town turned ten! I can't believe I've been blogging for a decade now.

In 2010, I became one of the first, if not the first blogger, to visit all provinces of the Philippines. This year, I revisited 13 of the 18 regions of the Philippines.

I chose my 25 best Instagram photos from around the world. Now I picked 25 of my favorites from the Philippines for 2015. And here they are!

A photo posted by Ivan Henares (@ivanhenares) on






A photo posted by Ivan Henares (@ivanhenares) on






A photo posted by Ivan Henares (@ivanhenares) on


A photo posted by Ivan Henares (@ivanhenares) on

A photo posted by Ivan Henares (@ivanhenares) on


A photo posted by Ivan Henares (@ivanhenares) on


A photo posted by Ivan Henares (@ivanhenares) on

A photo posted by Ivan Henares (@ivanhenares) on





Continue to the 25 best Instagram photos from around the world.

2015 in review – 25 best Instagram photos from around the world

I hope we all agree, 2015 was not bad at all! Thank you for another great year! I haven't been blogging as much. But my Instagram account @ivanhenares is alive and kicking. In April, Ivan About Town turned ten! I can't believe I've been blogging for a decade now.

This year, my international travel included trips to Malaysia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah, Abu Dhabi & Fujairah), Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Bhutan, Hong Kong, Italy, the Vatican City, France, Monaco, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Brunei, Kenya, Seychelles, India, and repeat trips to Dubai, Sharjah, Thailand and Hong Kong later in the year.

It's so difficult to pick the best memories from Instagram photos from around the world. I picked 25 of my favorites. And here they are! I made a separate entry for the 25 best photos from the Philippines.



A photo posted by Ivan Henares (@ivanhenares) on





A photo posted by Ivan Henares (@ivanhenares) on




A photo posted by Ivan Henares (@ivanhenares) on


A photo posted by Ivan Henares (@ivanhenares) on

A photo posted by Ivan Henares (@ivanhenares) on



A photo posted by Ivan Henares (@ivanhenares) on

A photo posted by Ivan Henares (@ivanhenares) on




A photo posted by Ivan Henares (@ivanhenares) on


A photo posted by Ivan Henares (@ivanhenares) on

Continue to the 25 best Instagram photos from around the Philippines.

Thursday, December 03, 2015

National Museum declares National Cultural Treasures and Important Cultural Properties for 2015

PRECUP
Several National Cultural Treasures and Important Cultural Properties were declared by the National Museum in May, August and November this year. The Philippine Registry of Cultural Property (PRECUP) has been updated.

The National Museum announces that the following cultural properties have been declared in the course of 2015 as National Cultural Treasures and Important Cultural Properties:

Those declared as National Cultural Treasures are:
1. The Alcaiceria de San Fernando Marker of 1762, in the collection of the National Museum, Manila
2. “Maradika”, the Qur’an of Bayang (Lanao del Sur), in the collection of the National Museum, Manila
3. The International Rice Research Institute Series by National Artist Vicente Manansala (two paintings), on loan to the National Museum, Manila
4. Paco Park (Cementerio Municipal de Manila y Capilla de San Pancracio) in Paco, Manila
5. The Watchtowers of Ilocos Sur, comprising: the Watchtower of Santiago in Barangay Sabangan; the Watchtower of San Esteban in Barangay Bateria; the Watchtower of Narvacan in Barangay Sulvec; and the Watchtower-Belfry of the Church of San Agustin in Bantay
6. The Watchtowers of Ilocos Norte, comprising: the Watchtower of Badoc in Barangay Lingasy; the North Watchtower of Currimao in Barangay Poblacion Uno; the South Watchtower of Currimao in Barangay Torre; the Watchtower-Belfry of the Church (now Cathedral) of San Guillermo ErmitaƱo in Laoag, the Watchtower of Bacarra in Barangay Natba; and the Watchtower of Pasuquin in Barangay Puyupuyan;
7. The Dampol Bridge in Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, as an integral part of the Church Complex of San Vicente Ferrer, declared as a National Cultural Treasure in 2003, and which henceforth are to be known collectively as the San Vicente Ferrer Church Complex and Dampol Bridge of Dupax del Sur (Nueva Vizcaya)
8. The Minor Basilica and Church Complex of Nuestra SeƱora del Santisimo Rosario in Manaoag, Pangasinan, including the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and movable and intangible properties intrinsic to the cultural significance of the property
9. The Sacred Art of the Parish Church of Santiago ApostĆ³l in Paete, Laguna (four paintings in situ).
10. The Ruins of Cagsawa Church in Daraga, Albay
11. The Roman Catholic Cemetery (Camposanto) of San Joaquin, Iloilo, as an integral part of the Church Complex of San Joaquin, declared as a National Cultural Treasure in 2003, and which henceforth are to be known collectively as the San Joaquin Church Complex and Camposanto of San Joaquin (Iloilo).

Those declared as Important Cultural Properties are:
1. The Building of the Philippine Center for Population and Development by National Artist Leandro V. Locsin in Taguig City
2. The Church Complex of San Bartolome in Malabon City
3. The CariƱo House in Candon City, Ilocos Sur
4. The Church Complex of San Nicolas de Tolentino, including the convento (Santa Rosa Academy) and the road-side via crucis structures, in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
5. The Building of the San Nicolas Central School, in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
6. The Municipal Hall of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
7. The Valdez-Lardizabal House in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
8. The Nagrebcan Archaeological Site in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
9. The Callao Cave Complex, PeƱablanca, Cagayan
10. The Santa Maria Bridge in Sitio Tanibong, Aritao-Quirino Road, Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya
11. The Colegio del Santisimo Rosario (Diplomat Hotel) Ruins, Dominican Hill, Baguio City
12. The Laperal House, Baguio City
13. Peredo’s Lodging House, Baguio City
14. The Church Complex of Santo Rosario, Angeles City, Pampanga
15. The Angel Pantaleon de Miranda House in Angeles City, Pampanga
16. The Patricia Mercado - Gomes Masnou House in Angeles City, Pampanga
17. The Juan Nepomuceno Camalig in Angeles City, Pampanga
18. The Jose Pedro Henson y Leon Santos Deposito in Angeles City, Pampanga
19. The Ciriaco de Miranda House in Angeles City, Pampanga
20. The Mariano Lacson House in Angeles City, Pampanga
21. The Rafael Yutuc, Sr. House in Angeles City, Pampanga
22. The Municipal Hall of Guagua, Pampanga
23. The Church Complex of Inmaculada Concepcion in Guagua, Pampanga
24. The Church Complex of San Bartolome in Magalang, Pampanga
25. The Municipal Hall of Magalang, Pampanga
26. The Municipal Hall of Lubao, Pampanga
27. The Old Municipal Hall (Baliuag Museum and Library) of Baliuag, Bulacan
28. The Barit Bridge in Barangay Santiago, Iriga City, Camarines Sur
29. The AvanceƱa House (CamiƱa Balay na Bato) in Arevalo, Iloilo City
30. The Lizares-Gamboa Mansion (Angelicum School) in Tabuc Suba, Jaro, Iloilo City
31. The Sornito House in Santa Barbara, Iloilo
32. The Chapel of Saint Joseph the Worker in Victorias, Negros Occidental

The Apu Santo Cristo image of Lubao, Pampanga was declared a Cultural Property (Category III). Last year, the Sta. Catalina de Alejandra Parish Church in Arayat, Pampanga was also declared a Cultural Property (Category III).

Last December 2014, the Parish Church of Sto. Tomas de Villanueva in Miagao, Iloilo and the Nuestra SeƱora de la Asuncion Church Complex, both World Heritage Sites, and the Fortifications of Manila at Intramuros and Fort San Antonio Abad, were declared National Cultural Treasures.

Also this year, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines declared the Apolinario Mabini Monument at the National Library and the Quezon Monument at the Quezon Memorial Shrine in Quezon City as National Monuments.

An Important Cultural Property is a cultural property that possesses “exceptional cultural, artistic and/or historical significance,” whereas the highest designation of National Cultural Treasure pertains to “a unique cultural property found locally, possessing outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or scientific value which is highly significant and important to the country and nation.”

The National Museum is mandated to declare cultural properties of the Philippines as either Important Cultural Properties or National Cultural Treasures, pursuant to several laws, including Republic Act No. 4846 (“The Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection Act”) as amended by Presidential Decree No. 374, Presidential Decree No. 260, Republic Act No. 8492 (“The National Museum Act of 1998”) and, most recently, Republic Act No. 10066 (“The National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009”).

These declarations were made as a result of the National Museum’s own research, recommendations from other government agencies or, in the majority of cases in 2015, petitions made by property owners or concerned parties. Nominated properties were, when necessary, evaluated by dedicated panels of external experts convened for the purpose and approved subject to the confirmation of the Director of the National Museum.

The purpose of declaring selected Philippine cultural properties as Important Cultural Properties and National Cultural Treasures by the National Museum is to, first and foremost, highlight their significance to the entire world that they are officially recognized as an intrinsic part of the patrimony of the Filipino people and are central to the legacy that the present generation should take special care to steward for the generations to come. They are an acknowledgment of the best of what we have inherited, in order that we may care for it, enrich it further, and pass it on in turn.

In practical terms, these declarations under the law serve to facilitate, through such agencies as the National Museum, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and others, measures for the protection, preservation and promotion by the national government of these exceptional and outstanding cultural properties, which may be either movable or immovable, and tangible or intangible, in partnership with concerned public, private and civil society stakeholders as well as the local governments and communities.

Pending cultural properties for consideration for declaration as Important Cultural Properties or National Cultural Treasures by the National Museum in 2016 include:
• Quezon Bridge, Manila
• Ayala Bridge, Manila
• The Post Office Building, Manila
• The Customs House, Port of Manila, South Harbor, Manila
• The Manila Metropolitan Cathedral, Intramuros, Manila
• The Intendencia Building, Intramuros, Manila
• The Hospicio de San Jose Complex, Isla de Convalescencia, Ermita, Manila
• The Church Complex of San Miguel Arcangel, San Miguel, Manila
• The Church Complex of Santo NiƱo de Tondo, Tondo, Manila
• The Church Complex of Nuestra SeƱora de Remedios, Malate, Manila
• Fort San Antonio Abad, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, Manila
• Manila City Jail (CĆ”rcel de Bilibid), Manila
• The Tutuban Railway Terminus Building, Manila
• The Paco Railway Station, Manila
• Heritage Railway Stations, Bridges and Tunnels of the Philippines (Luzon, Cebu, Panay)
• The Church Complex of San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City
• The Quezon Institute, Quezon City
• The Balara Filtration Plant Complex, Quezon City
• The Church Complex of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Makati City
• The Church Complex of Nuestra SeƱora de Guadalupe, Makati City
• The Old Municipal Hall (Museo ng Makati) of Makati City
• The Old Concepcion Mansion (Pasig City Museum), Pasig City
• The Old Rizal Provincial Capitol Ruins, Barangay Santa Rosa, Pasig City
• The Church Complex of San Felipe Neri, Mandaluyong City
• The Church Complex of Sta. Ana, Taguig City
• The National Penitentiary (New Bilibid Prisons), Muntinlupa City
• The Pindangan Church Ruins, San Fernando City, La Union
• The Tabacalera Ruins, Currimao, Ilocos Norte
• The San Fernando Metropolitan Cathedral, San Fernando, Pampanga
• The Church Complex of San Pedro Apostol, Apalit, Pampanga
• The Church Complex of San Luis Gonzaga, San Luis, Pampanga
• The Chapel of San Vicente Ferrer in Barangay Pio, Porac, Pampanga
• The Remaining Structures and Sites of Fort San Felipe and Cavite el Puerto, Cavite City
• The Ruins of Corregidor Island, Cavite City, Cavite
• The Cuartel de Santo Domingo Ruins, Santa Rosa, Laguna
• Sabang Bridge, Ibaan-Batangas Road, Ibaan, Batangas
• The Fort of San Diego de Alcala, Gumaca, Quezon
• The Church-Fortress (now Cathedral) of Boac, Marinduque
• Heritage Houses in Boac, Marinduque
• The Church-Fortress of Cuyo, Palawan
• The Ruins of the Fortress of Cagayancillo, Palawan
• The Ruins of the Fortress of Taytay, Palawan
• The Ruins of the Fortress of Linapacan, Palawan
• The Site of Fort Nuestra SeƱora del Rosario (Fort San Pedro), Iloilo City
• The Customs House, Port of Iloilo, Iloilo City
• The Old City Hall (University of the Philippines - Visayas Main Building), Iloilo City
• Fort San Pedro, Cebu City
• The Customs House (MalacaƱang sa Sugbu), Port of Cebu, Cebu City
• The Provincial Capitol of Cebu, Cebu City
• Heritage Lighthouses of the Philippines (35 structures under consideration at present)
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