The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites (WHS) are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972.[1] Per the convention's criteria, cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures, or inscriptions), groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological sites). Natural features (consisting of physical and biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened flora and fauna), and sites from scientifical research, conservation, or aesthetic points of view are considered as natural heritage.[2]
The Philippines, following its ratification of the convention on September 19, 1985, made its historical and natural sites eligible for inclusion on the list. The country had its first sites (the Baroque Churches and Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park) included in 1993, and has six sites on the list spanning nine locations, with the latest inclusion being the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in 2014. Of those six sites, three are cultural and three are natural. In addition,[3] the government of the Philippines has put 19 sites on the tentative list, meaning that they intend to consider them for WHS nomination in the future.[4] The country's heritage-related agencies and groups are updating the tentative list for a new list by late 2023, with sites like the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary and the San Sebastian Basilica.[5]
World Heritage Sites
Site | Location | Regions | UNESCO data | Description | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baroque Churches of the Philippines: San Agustin Church, Santa Maria Church, Paoay Church, and Miagao Church | City of Manila; Ilocos Sur; Ilocos Norte; Iloilo | Manila; Ilocandia; Western Visayas | 1993 (inscription), 2013 (minor boundary modification); ii, iv | All of the four baroque churches have been declared as National Cultural Treasures of the Philippines. | [6] | |
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park | Palawan | Mimaropa | 1993 (inscription), 2009 (extension); vii, ix, x | The site is an ASEAN Heritage Park, and a Ramsar Wetland Site. It is also located within the Palawan UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. | [7] | |
Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras: Batad, Bangaan, Mayoyao, Hungduan, and Nagacadan | Ifugao | Cordillera | 1995 (inscription); iii, iv, v | The inscription includes 5 properties, namely, Batad Rice Terraces, Bangaan Rice Terraces (both in Banaue), Mayoyao Rice Terraces (in Mayoyao), Hungduan Rice Terraces (in Hungduan) and Nagacadan Rice Terraces (in Kiangan). The terraces have been declared as National Cultural Treasures of the Philippines. | [8] | |
Historic City of Vigan | Ilocos Sur | Ilocandia | 1999 (inscription); ii, iv | The site is also one of the New7Wonders Cities. The Mestizo Section, House of Father Jose Burgos and Leona Florentino of Vigan has been declared as one of the National Cultural Treasures of the Philippines. | [9] | |
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park | Palawan | Mimaropa | 1999 (inscription); vii, x | The site is one of the New7Wonders of Nature, part of the Palawan UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a declared Ramsar Wetland Site. | [10] | |
Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary | Davao Oriental | Davao | 2014 (inscription); x | The site is a declared ASEAN Heritage Park. | [11] |
Tentative list
Type (criteria) | Site | Location | Description | Image | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Natural: (vii)(ix)(x) | Apo Reef Natural Park | Sulu Sea | The site is the second biggest producer of juvenile marine fishes in the world, next only to the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. | [12] | |
Cultural: (i)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi) | Baroque Churches of the Philippines (Extension)
|
Various Locations | All five baroque churches have been declared as National Cultural Treasures of the Philippines. | [13] | |
Mixed | Batanes Protected Landscapes and Seascapes | Batanes | The Mahatao Church of Batanes is a declared National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines. n 2003, the Batanes Protected Landscape and Seascape was nominated, but was deferred due to the lack of conservation in the islands at the time; the Philippines aims to re-nominate it sometime in the 2020s, when the conservation program is set to finish.[14][15] | [16] | |
Cultural: (iii)(iv)(v) | Butuan Archeological Sites | Agusan del Norte | The site exemplified and concretized the capability of the pre-Hispanic Rajahnate of Butuan as a nation with great expertise in boat-making, seafaring, and gold manufacturing. | [17] | |
Natural: (vii)(viii) | Chocolate Hills Natural Monument | Bohol | The site is part of the Bohol Island UNESCO Global Geopark. | [18] | |
Mixed: (iii)(ix)(x) | Coron Island Natural Biotic Area | Palawan | The site is within the Palawan UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. | [19] | |
Natural: (ix)(x) | El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area | Palawan | The site is within the Palawan UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. | [20] | |
Cultural: (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi) | Kabayan Mummy Burial Caves | Benguet | The site has been listed by the World Monuments Fund for immediate international conservation. It is a declared National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines. | [21] | |
Natural: (vii)(x) | Mayon Volcano Natural Park (MMVNP) | Albay | The site is the central property of the Albay UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.Initially, Albay's Mayon Volcano was set for declaration by 2020, but canceled after government failed to submit the site documents on time.[22] | [23] | |
Natural: (ix)(x) | Mounts Iglit-Baco National Park | Mindoro | The site is a declared ASEAN Heritage Park. | [24] | |
Natural: (vii)(ix)(x) | Mount Malindang Range Natural Park | Misamis Occidental | The site is a declared ASEAN Heritage Park. | [25] | |
Natural: (ix)(x) | Mount Mantalingajan Protected Landscape | Palawan | The site is part of the Palawan UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. | [26] | |
Natural: (ix)(x) | Mount Pulag National Park | Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, and Benguet | The site is the third highest point in the Philippines. | [27] | |
Cultural: (ii)(iii)(iv)(v) | Neolithic Shell Midden Sites in Lal-lo and Gattaran Municipalities | Cagayan | The site is the largest shell midden zone in the Philippine archipelago. | [28] | |
Natural: (ix)(x) | Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park and Outlying Areas Inclusive of the Buffer Zone | Isabela | The site is the largest national park in the Philippines. | [29] | |
Cultural: (ii)(iii)(iv)(v) | Paleolithic Archaeological Sites in Cagayan Valley
|
Cagayan Valley | The site includes the location where the bone fragments of Callao Man, the oldest hominid found in the Philippines, was found. The site is also where Homo luzonensis, a new human species, was found. Callao Man has since been reclassified as part of Homo luzonensis. | [30] | |
Cultural: (iii) | Petroglyphs and Petrographs of the Philippines
|
Various Locations | The sites in Singnapan, Alab, and Angono have been declared as National Cultural Treasures of the Philippines. The site in Angono has been listed by World Monuments Fund. | [31] | |
Cultural: (ii)(iii)(iv)(v) | The Tabon Cave Complex and all of Lipuun | Palawan | The site is a declared National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines due to the Tabon Man discovery in the area. It was listed by the World Monuments Fund. | [32] | |
Natural: (ix)(x) | Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary | Tawi-Tawi | The site is a major green sea turtle breeding and hatchery zone in the Asia-Pacific. | [33] |
See also
- Arts in the Philippines
- Culture of the Philippines
- Architecture of the Philippines
- Philippine Registry of Cultural Property
- List of protected areas of the Philippines
- List of Ramsar sites in the Philippines
- Biosphere reserves of the Philippines
- Archaeology of the Philippines
- Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Philippines
- Lists of Cultural Properties of the Philippines
- National Commission for Culture and the Arts
- Tourism in the Philippines
- List of national parks of the Philippines
- List of mosques in the Philippines
References
- ^ "The World Heritage Convention". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- ^ "Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on February 1, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
- ^ "Philippines". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- ^ "Tentative Lists: Philippines". UNESCO. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
- ^ "Wanted: More Unesco World Heritage Sites".
- ^ UNESCO World Heritage Centre. "Baroque Churches of the Philippines – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". Whc.unesco.org. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
- ^ UNESCO World Heritage Centre. "Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". Whc.unesco.org. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
- ^ UNESCO World Heritage Centre (April 29, 2015). "younger than you think". Whc.unesco.org. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
- ^ UNESCO World Heritage Centre. "Historic City of Vigan – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". Whc.unesco.org. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
- ^ UNESCO World Heritage Centre. "Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". Whc.unesco.org. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
- ^ UNESCO World Heritage Centre. "Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". Whc.unesco.org. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
- ^ "Apo Reef Natural Park – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ "Baroque Churches of the Philippines (Extension) – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ https://beta.philstar.com/headlines/2011/02/09/655400/batanes-bids-unesco-heritage-site-nod [bare URL]
- ^ http://www.ivanhenares.com/2010/03/batanes-heritage-in-danger.html [bare URL]
- ^ "Batanes Protected landscapes and seascapes – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ "Butuan Archeological Sites – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ "Chocolate Hills Natural Monument – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ "Coron Island Natural Biotic Area – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ "El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ "Kabayan Mummy Burial Caves – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org.
- ^ https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/palawan-news/20180513/281706910325751 [bare URL]
- ^ "Mayon Volcano Natural Park (MMVNP) – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ "Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ "Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ "Mt. Mantalingahan Protected Landscape – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ "Mt. Pulag National Park – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org.
- ^ "Neolithic Shell Midden Sites in Lal-lo and Gattaran Municipalities – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ "Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park and outlying areas inclusive of the buffer zone – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ "Paleolithic Archaeological Sites in Cagayan Valley – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ "Petroglyphs and Petrographs of the Philippines – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ "The Tabon Cave Complex and all of Lipuun – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ "Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org.
External links
- Media related to World Heritage Sites in the Philippines at Wikimedia Commons