Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan and National Museum of the Philippines Director General Jeremy Barns reveal the marker declaring Manila City Hall as an “Important Cultural Property” on Monday, September 18, 2023. Photo from Manila Public Information Office
MANILA, Philippines — Local government and National Museum officials have unveiled a marker recognizing the Manila City Hall as an “Important Cultural Property” or “Mahalagang Yamang Pangkalinangan.”
In a simple rite, Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan and National Museum Director General Jeremy Barns led the marker unveiling on Monday, September 18, at the Manila City Hall grounds.
The Manila Public Information Office (MPIO) said the National Museum of the Philippines declared the Manila City Hall an Important Cultural Property on June 27, 2019.
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Under the Republic Act 10066, or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, the Manila City Hall shall now be protected and conserved as a part of cultural preservation – a strategy for maintaining Filipino identity.
“The Manila City Hall was built in 1904 during the time of former Mayor Arsenio Cruz Herrera, was destroyed during the Battle for Manila in 1945, and was rehabilitated during 1946 through the Philippine Rehabilitation Act of 1946,” the MPIO pointed out.
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Aside from Lacuna-Pangan and Barns, Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto, Deputy Director General for Administration Atty. Ma. Rosenne Flores-Avila, Deputy Director General for Museums Jorell Legaspi, National Historical Commission of the Philippines chairperson Dr. Emmanuel Calairo, and Department of Tourism-Culture and Arts of Manila Director Charlie Duñgo also attended the event.