HISTORICAL PRESERVATION

WRITTEN REPORT IN PLANNING 3

Historical preservation
National Historical Institute (NhI) Guidelines

REPORTED BY:

Gregorio, Raymond S.A

Ruiz, Marlon
Valois, Danna Faye V.
 HISTORICAL PRESERVATION

VII. HISTORICAL PRESERVATION

NATIONA HISTORICAL INSTITUTE (NHI) GUIDELINES

REPORT OUTLINE

I. Guidelines on Monuments Honouring National Heroes, Illustrious

Filipinos and other Personages
II. Classification of Historic Sites and Structures
III. Technical Assistance and Funding for classified and declared
Historical Sites and Structures
IV. Delisting of declared and classified Historical Sites and Structures
V. Policies on Organization/ Affiliation of Local Historical Committees
VI. Revised Guidelines in the Approval or Disapproval in the Naming
and Renaming of Streets, Plazas, Public Schools, Buildings, Bridges,
and other Public Spaces
VII. Criteria for Identification of Historical Sites and Structures
VIII. Shrines and Landmarks
 HISTORICAL PRESERVATION

GUIDELINES ON MONUMENTS HONORING NATIONAL HEROES, ILLUSTRIOUS

FILIPINOS AND OTHER PERSONAGES

1. DEFINITIONS
MONUMENT

• A structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event

or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance
of past events. A monument is usually the focal point of a town or a city. Hence,
cities should be planned and built around an important monument. A monument
is also a functional structure sanctified by age, or made notable for its size or
historic significance. It is often designed to convey historical or political
information. It can be used to reinforce the primacy of contemporary political
power. It can also educate the populace about important events or figures from
the past. Monumental structures have become iconic emblems of modern cities
and countries.

MEMORIAL

• An object which serves as a memory of something, usually a person (who has

died) or a very important event.

Monuments and memorials under this category, which basically include full-bodied
statues, busts, pedestals, pylons, arches, gravestones, obelisks, crosses, remembrance
walls, fountains, and even entire parks, shall be governed by the following set of
Guidelines.
Monuments and memorials must, therefore, be treated as sacred or hallowed grounds
and accorded with the same full reverence as we have for the Philippine Flag. Any form
of desecration against the monument, such as squatting, graffiti and improper
advertising commercialism shall not be allowed.
The Constitution of the Philippines, Arts and Culture, Section 16 states: All the
country's artistic and historic wealth constitutes the cultural treasure of the nation and
shall be under the protection of the State which may regulate its disposition.

2. DOMINANCE

Monuments are landmarks of our cities, towns and provinces. They must be honored,
preserved and protected. Monuments should be given due prominence since they
symbolize national significance. For the purposes of these guidelines, the Rizal
Monument at Luneta (Rizal Park, Manila) and the Bonifacio Monument (Caloocan City)
 HISTORICAL PRESERVATION

are established as points of reference. The monument should preferably be the focal
point of a city or town centre.
If two or more monuments are present at the site, the most important monument should
be given prominence at the site.
Façade of buildings around a monument, particularly on a rotunda or circle can be
retrofitted with a uniform design to enhance the urban renewal of the site and the
prominence and dominance of the monument. Likewise, building heights, volume and
design should be regulated.

Measures by which dominance could be achieved are the following:

• Maintain a clean and neat environment.
• Maintain a simple and unobstructed landscape development. Commercial billboards
should not proliferate in a town centre where a dominant monument is situated.
• Introduce creative design devices such as platforms, paved walkways, attractive ground
cover and rows of tall trees.
• The monument may be elevated on a mound or platform to emphasize its importance.
• Use strong contrast between the monument and its background. This will enhance
the monument as a focal point of the site.
• Enclosing structures may be used to emphasize the monument.
The scale of the figure of an outdoor monument should be kept to an ideal standard,
which may be governed by the following:
Minimum: Life-size
Maximum : Twice the life-size
Landmark/Monumental structures: More than the life-size
The scale would depend on the size of the open space where the monument shall be
placed in relation to human perception. The larger the open space, the taller the
monument. As a rule of thumb, no full-bodied monument must be smaller than life-
size. The scales used by sculptors are usually one-and-a-half times the life-size or
twice the life-size. These sizes, when placed on corresponding proportional pedestals,
would appear life-size at an appropriate viewing distance. The over-all effect of the site
should be an overwhelming experience. This feeling, thus, contributes to the
effectiveness of the learning message the monument conveys.
3. SITE AND ORIENTATION
SITE/SETTING for this purpose will refer to the place, the vicinity or territory where a
monument is found or located. The setting is not only limited with the exact area of
territory that is directly occupied or covered by the monument, but it extends to the
surrounding areas whether open space or occupied by other structures as may be
defined by the traditional or juridical expanse of the property.
The International Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites
(The Venice Charter) further defines SETTING in the following:
 HISTORICAL PRESERVATION

ARTICLE1. The concept of an historic monument embraces not only the single
architectural work but also the urban or rural setting in which is found the evidence of a
particular civilization, a significant development or an historic event. This applies not
only to great works of art but also to more modest works of the past which have
acquired cultural significance with the passing of time; and,
ARTICLE6. The conservation of a monument implies preserving a setting, which is not
out of scale. Wherever the traditional setting exists, it must be kept. No new
construction, demolition or modification, which would alter the relations of mass and
color must be allowed.
Monuments are usually located in front of a prominent building, at a plaza or park, in

an interior courtyard of a prominent building, at the center of a partially-open space, a

rotunda or triangle in major thoroughfares.
They are oriented fronting a prominent building, facing a flagpole; facing a flagpole at
the centre of an interior courtyard, surrounded by enclosing walls of a building; facing
the open space when located in the center of a partially-open space; facing the larger
part of the open space when located in a park or plaza.
If the site is limited, a monument may be located side-by-side, but not very near or next
to, the existing flagpole on the same axis parallel to the significant building’s facade line,
the monument figure, and the flagpole fronting said building.
Monuments are generally co-axial with those of the significant structures around them.
If there are to be two monuments at the same time on the site, these may be placed
side by side with the flagpole at the center. The two monuments should be on an axis
parallel to the prominent building’s axis.

4. DESIGN AND MATERIALS

The design fundamentally is based on the over-all character of the site and its
peripherals (urban or environmental character or setting). In other words, the
monument should be contextual to the site and its vicinity. The proposed design of the
monument and its site development should be adapted to the existing, original, or
significant structures, and not the reverse process.
With regard to other aspects, the commissioned artist or architect is free to interpret his
own design.
Pedestals, plant boxes, platforms, and other low portions of the design should be
carefully studied to avoid areas, which will be attractive to vandalism and vagrancy.
The choice of materials shall be the prerogative of the artist or architect. However, color,
texture, materials matching and combinations should be taken into consideration to
achieve a refined overall appearance.
A full-bodied monument is preferably placed on a simple pedestal, having the same
height as that of the monument, i.e., a figure: pedestal ratio of 1:1 (Figure 8). Bust
monument pedestals shall likewise be properly proportioned. The recommended bust:
pedestal ratio is 1:3 (Figure 9).
5. STRUCTURES
 HISTORICAL PRESERVATION

The structures of the monument, which may include the platform, pedestal, figure, pylon
or the arch, must be rigidly constructed in accordance with existing National Building
Code requirements and accepted engineering practices and construction principles.
Structures located outdoors must be built to withstand strong winds, typhoons, intense
heat, and earthquakes. Emphasis should be given to the construction method of
mounting the monument figure to the pedestal.

6. LANDSCAPING AND AMENITIES

Site development, landscaping, and amenities shall depend on existing site qualities
and requirements. Local and national government restrictions regarding site
development shall be complied with. To give prominence to the monument, the
immediate areas should be simple and unobstructed. Unsightly installations, such as
stalls, billboards, tents, debris, garbage, shanties, electrical poles and wires, and the
like, should be cleared from the monument site.

7. RENOVATION
This refers to site renovation and renewal projects within existing public plazas,
squares, courts, or open spaces. The concept of an open space for public use is that it
must remain open, simple, and neat. An open space should function as a breathing
space and a center for public congregation.
An open space should be regarded as a natural environment and space that relates the
surrounding structures. The composition should be homogeneous and functional.
Historical precedents must always be respected. This means that existing elements,
designs, and other features that have gained significance and which are considered
distinct elements of a town, site, or center, should be preserved and protected.
Additions or renewals on the monument site should only be done to enhance the
existing set-up, but they should not compete or radically contrast with it, so as not to
result in the indiscriminate alteration of the meaning and intention of the site. The
monument is inseparable from its site.
8. PROPER USE
All monuments as stated in these Guidelines should be treated with utmost respect and
reverence, more particularly, full-bodied statues and busts of the country’s illustrious
heroes and eminent leaders of the locality. Desecration in any form is therefore
prohibited. City, municipal, and provincial ordinances should protect the monuments
from vandalism and improper use. Monument sites, for example, should not be used for
herding animals, dumping garbage, gambling dens, venues of illicit activities and other
forms of desecration.

9. MAINTENANCE
All monuments should be ensured with proper and continuous maintenance by local
government units if the monument is within municipal, city, or provincial limits, and
national agencies for National Monuments.

10. RELOCATION
 HISTORICAL PRESERVATION

Article 7 of the International Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of

Monuments and Sites, otherwise known as the Venice Charter states that: A monument
is inseparable from the history to which it bears witness and from the setting in which it
occurs. The moving of all or part of a monument cannot be allowed except where the
safeguarding of that monument demands it or where it is justified by national or
international interest of paramount importance.
National Monuments cannot be relocated without prior written permission of the
National Historical Institute.
A. Existing monuments cannot be relocated without justifiable reasons. Instances in
which monuments cannot be relocated include the following:
1. If the event which the monument immortalizes occurred in the specific
area where the monument stands;
2. If relocating the monument will mean the destruction of the monument;
3. If there was no prior consultation or due process;
4. If the monument is to be replaced with another monument of a lesser
stature or importance;
5. If the site to relocate the monument is still uncertain;
6. If the relocation site is not a better location than the present one;
7. If the monument is left idle or decommissioned; and,
8. If the new development plans conflict with those of the existing plans.
B. Monuments may be relocated if the reasons for its relocation will not conflict with the
previous reasons. Instances may include the following:
1. If the proposed development plan is an accepted improvement over the
existing plan, and does not conflict with the old plan and the existing
monument. The point of reference for any development plan should be
the existing monument, and not vice versa. If a monument needs to be
installed within the area, this new monument shall be placed side by side
with the existing monument;
2. If the positioning of the old monument is to be corrected, e.g. the
monument is repositioned to face the flagpole.
3. If the monument will be replaced with a better monument, e.g., a cement
monument is replaced with a bronze monument. In many cases, the old
monument is transferred to another site appropriate to the monument, but
it is not destroyed.

11. DEVELOPMENT OF THE VICINITY (EXISTING AND FUTURE)

 HISTORICAL PRESERVATION

It is highly recommended that towns and cities formulate zoning guidelines or local
ordinances for the protection and development of monument sites, and strictly
implement these laws, especially in places where important monuments and structures
are located.
Wherever necessary, a buffer zone should be provided around the vicinity of the
monument, and made part of the respective city or municipal land use and zoning
regulations.
Height of buildings surrounding or in the immediate vicinity of the monument/site should
be regulated by local building code or special local ordinance to enhance and preserve
the prominence, dominance and dignity of the monument, more importantly, the national
monuments.
The design and placement of outdoor signage around the monument/site, whether
permanent or temporary, should be regulated by special local ordinances or the building
code. No commercial or advertising billboards, which will desecrate the monument,
should be installed on the monument/site or on buildings and structures around the
monument.
Town planning and urban renewal projects must always include respect for important
historic sites and monuments. Adaptation of these areas to contemporary life requires
the careful installation or improvement of public service facilities (from the International
Charter for the Conservation of Historic Towns).

APPENDIX: Illustrations
 HISTORICAL PRESERVATION

Figure 2

• When monument is on
Figure 1 a courtyard between
two bldgs.
• When monument
is placed inside
the building

• When monument
is on a courtyard
between two
bldgs.

Figure 4
Figure 3
• Dominance is
• When two achieved with the
monuments are use of two rows of
placed side by trees, which
side enhance the
with the flag pole visual impact of
at the center. the monument at
Both monument the central area.
figures face the
viewer, and the
building as
backdrop
 HISTORICAL PRESERVATION

Suggested proportions for

full-bodied and bust All four corner buildings can be
monuments in relation remodeled or retrofitted
with the pedestal uniformly to define an enclosed
area to improve the visual
impact of the monument