Heritage conservation confab set Nov. 9
City Mayor Jerry Treñas invited the Manila Historical and Heritage Commission (MHHC) to Iloilo City on November 9 to participate in the conference on "Philippine Towns & Cities: Reflections of the Past, Lessons for the Future."
The MHHC will be represented by Gemma Cruz Araneta, erstwhile Secretary of Tourism, now consultant for cultural affairs of Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim.
The Manila Historical Commission was reconstituted as the Manila Historical and Heritage Commission by Manila Mayor Lim by virtue of Executive Order 10, which he signed last July.
Iloilo is known as the heritage capital of the Visayas, and Mayor Treñas is a well-known heritage advocate and active member of the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS).
This is the second in the series of "Towns & Cities" conferences organized by the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS) in cooperation with Urban Partnerships Foundation (UPF). The Instituto Cervantes (IC) and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) are among the sponsors.
"Towns & Cities" will be held on November 9 at the Kalantiao Hall of the prestigious Sarabia Manor Hotel in Iloilo City. Local government officials, heritage advocates from the private sector, university students and professors will attend the conference. Registration will begin at 8 in the morning; the conference is expected to adjourn at 5 pm.
The "Mayors' Forum" is a much-awaited feature of the conference. It is a stimulating exchange of "best practices" and conservation policies by Mayors who have heritage resources in their towns and cities. In the 2006 Forum, Mayors Ferdinand Medina (Vigan) and Oscar Rodriguez (San Fernando, Pampanga) explained how they approved city ordinances to balance modernization with heritage conservation. Mayor Rex Bernardez of Bucay, Abra , a heritage "convert" vowed to protect with proper legislation the ruins of a Spanish fort in Bucay.
Mayor Jerry Treñas will lead his colleagues in this year's forum. Mayor Treñas is a long-standing member of the HCS. Others who have confirmed attendance are Mayors Danilo Mindanao (San Juan, Batangas), Rosauro Masilang (Sariaya, Quezon), Jose Montelibano (Silay), Oscar Tetongco, Jr. (Apalit), Canuto Oreta (Malabon) and Celso Lobregat (Zamboanga)
Seven case studies will be presented by: Engr. Jose Peñalosa (Iloilo), Profs. Floro Quibuyen (Apalit), Icelle Estrada (Zamboanga), Victoria de Villa (Sariaya) and Jaime Veneracion (19th Century Estates), and Archs. Leon Mayo (San Juan), Nathaniel von Einsiedel (Silay) and Richard Bautista (Malabon and Navotas),
For more information about seminar fees, please call Dorie Soriano (HCS) 521 2239; telefax 522 24 97; EM info@heritage.org.ph or Ms Len Diòo (UPF) tel 895 1812/ 896 1902, EM annalynn.upf@gmail.com, Ms. Vivian Taparo (Iloilo Tourism Office) 033 3372172, EM benitojimena@yahoo.com.