March 19, 2013
The National Museum of the Philippines declared the twin forts Fuerza de San Antonio and Fuerza de Santiago in Romblon province National Cultural Treasures.
Built by the Augustinian Recollect friars, the twin forts were Romblon’s first line of defense against invaders during the Spanish period.
The structures, made of coral stones, are examples of ingenious engineering without harmful environmental consequences, according to the National Museum.
March 19, 2016
Albay province was named a biosphere reserve by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).
With an area of 247,919 hectares, Albay is home to 182 terrestrial plant species, of which 46 are endemic, and 62 species of flora and five of the world’s seven marine turtle species.
According to Unesco, Albay’s inner lands are composed mainly of open, grassland and forest ecosystems, while its coastline consists of mangrove forests and agricultural land.
Albay is the third area to be declared a biosphere reserve after Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro, which was declared in 1977, and Palawan, which was named in 1990.
Compiled by Kathleen de Villa, Inquirer Research; with Alex Palacio, Christabelle Abad and Patricia Gamboa, Inquirer junior interns