Heritage Conservation and Arts Society

24/06/2026

PAGES IN HISTORY I POPE LEO XIII ELEVATES THE ALL STEEL SAN SEBASTIAN CHURCH TO A MINOR BASILICA

On June 24, 1890, Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, His Holiness Pope Leo XIII raised the San Sebastian Church in Quiapo, Manila to the rank of "Minor Basilica," attaching it permanently to St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, thus making it the first Minor Basilica in the Philippines.

Originally inaugurated in 1621, the church was the first shrine in the Philippines dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, whose venerable image brought from Mexico in 1618 and serving as the center of the Brown Scapular devotion long before the arrival of the Carmelite Order in the 1920s. After being destroyed by disasters four times, it was rebuilt as an all-steel structure proposed by Don Genaro Palacios in 1881 and prefabricated in Belgium, with construction completed in 1891. The Basilica was later recognized as a National Historical Landmark in 1973, a parish in 1975, and a National Cultural Treasure in 2011.

24/06/2026

𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗚 𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗣𝗛𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝟰 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗞𝗜𝗢𝗦𝗞𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡!

Enjoy delicious food, scenic views, and a relaxing stroll at the Pasig River Esplanade Phase 4. The Pasig River Esplanade is open daily, while the food kiosks welcome visitors every day from 3:00 PM to 12:00 MN.

24/06/2026

Intramuros celebrates the 455th Founding Anniversary of Manila!

From its origins as a native settlement named after the nilad plant, to its rise as the colonial seat of power and a global center of trade, and later as the heart of the capital of an independent republic, Manila's history is one of cultural encounters, global connections, and resilience.

At the heart of this story is Intramuros—the original City of Manila, where the modern city was founded in 1571. Through wars and natural calamities, Manila has endured and risen time and again, remaining a symbol of perseverance, sacrifice, and a vibrant center of culture and heritage.

As we celebrate Manila Day, let us honor the stories, culture, and heritage that continue to define our beloved city.

Celebrate Manila Day in the Walled City and rediscover the rich history and enduring legacy of Manila.

Happy Manila Day!

25/02/2026

25/02/2026

𝓞𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝟒𝟎 𝔂𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓪𝓰𝓸, 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓲𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓪𝓻𝔂 𝓳𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓕𝓲𝓵𝓲𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓸 𝓹𝓮𝓸𝓹𝓵𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓹𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓮𝓯𝓾𝓵 𝓰𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰.

Throughout the past two days of the revolution, the people heard the steady stream of news and pleas for support through the airwaves. The Catholic Church operated radio station Radio Veritas was the first outlet to cover the unfolding events of February 1986. However, the destruction of their main transmitter in Bulacan and difficulties with their weaker backup transmitter forced them to sign off on the night of 23 February.

Through the efforts of a ragtag team of priests and the religious, radio professionals, and everyday men and women, Radio Veritas returned on-air in the early morning of 24 February under a new callsign: "Radio Bandido." They continued to cover the events and relay information between the various groups that were gathered in EDSA and other areas in Metro Manila, intermittently playing the classic campaign jingle "Mambo Magsaysay" that was closely associated with the station.

Numbers swelled to millions around Metro Manila as crowds also began to gather in Mendiola and along major roads and thoroughfares. A sign of the relentless People Power that would turn the pages of our nation's history to a new chapter.

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𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟰𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗗𝗦𝗔 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟮𝟱 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝟴:𝟬𝟬 𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗘𝗗𝗦𝗔 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲, 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘇𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆.

Don't forget to follow us here and on our Social Media Platforms to get updated on more events and programs for EDSA and other historical remembrances!
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𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀:
https://tinyurl.com/EDSA40posters

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗗𝗦𝗔 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
https://nhcp.gov.ph/people-power-of-1986-a-nationwide-phenomenon/

22/02/2026

‘PEOPLE POWER ✊’

Apatnapung taon ang nakalipas, napuno ang EDSA ng mga Pilipinong nagkaisa laban sa diktadurya. Ano ang naging papel ng bawat isa sa tagumpay na ito?

22/02/2026

22/02/2026

21/02/2026

Let us join in remembering the lives lost during the Battle of Manila in 1945.

The Intramuros Administration (IA) supports the commemoration spearheaded by the Philwar Foundation at Plazuela de Sta. Isabel, honoring the civilian victims whose stories remain etched in our nation’s history.

🗓 21 February 2026 (Saturday)
🕣 8:30 AM
📍 Memorare Manila 1945 Memorial, Luna cor. Anda St., Intramuros

This event is open to the public.

As we mark the 81st Anniversary of the Battle of Manila, may we continue to uphold remembrance, historical truth, and the enduring call for peace.

21/02/2026

𝗜𝗞𝗔-𝟭𝟭𝟮 𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗔𝗥𝗬𝗢 𝗡𝗚 𝗞𝗔𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗞𝗔𝗡 𝗡𝗜 𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗟 𝗦. 𝗡𝗔𝗞𝗣𝗜𝗟

Noong, Pebrero 20, 1914, isinilang si Angel Sancho Nakpil. Itinuturing siyang haligi ng modernong arkitektura at pagpaplanong urbano sa Pilipinas.

Anak siya nina Enriqueta Sancho at Ramon Nakpil, isang gobyernong pensionado na nag-aral ng indistrial na disenyo sa Estados Unidos. Pinsan siya ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining na si Juan Nakpil, isang ugnayang naglatag ng maagang impluwensiya sa kanyang landas bilang arkitekto.

Natapos niya ang kanyang sekundarya sa De La Salle College at nagtapos ng arkitektura sa University of Santo Tomas noong 1935. Ipinagpatuloy niya ang gradwadong pag-aaral sa Harvard University kung saan nakamit niya ang master’s degree sa regional planning noong 1940. Sa Harvard, nakadaupang-palad niya si Walter Gropius, tagapagtatag ng Bauhaus at pangunahing tagapagtaguyod ng international style, isang karanasang humubog sa disiplina at modernong sensibilidad ng kanyang disenyo.

Pagbalik sa Maynila, naglingkod siya sa U.S. Army Engineer’s Office at kalaunan ay naitalaga sa Land Planning Commission upang maghanda ng bagong plano para sa Baguio City. Hindi man naisakatuparan dahil sa Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig, pinatibay nito ang kanyang paninindigan sa sistematikong pagpaplanong urbano. Mula 1947 hanggang 1949, nagsilbi siyang Commissioner ng City Planning Office ng Maynila. Pagsapit ng 1949, itinatag niya ang sarili niyang tanggapan bilang arkitekto at city planner, at noong 1976 ay naging senior partner sa Gabriel P. Formoso and Partners.

Bilang g**o, naging bahagi siya ng School of Architecture ng Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas mula 1950 hanggang 1961 at nagsilbi bilang dekano noong 1959–1961. Aktibo rin siya sa propesyonal na hanay bilang kasapi ng Philippine Institute of Architects at charter member ng United Architects of the Philippines na itinatag noong 1975.

Ipinamalas niya ang kanyang husay sa mga gusaling naging batayan ng modernong disenyo sa bansa: ang National Press Club Building sa Magallanes Drive, Maynila; ang dating punong-tanggapan ng Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company sa Makati; ang Lopez Museum Building sa Pasay; ang Picache Building sa Quiapo; ang Roche Building sa Pasong Tamo; at ang Petrona Apartments sa Taft Avenue. Inilarawan ang kanyang mga likha bilang daring ngunit disiplinado, mula sa cylindrical, glass-sheathed stairway ng NPC Building na hiwalay ang daloy ng trapiko, hanggang sa mga solusyong pangklima at akustika ng Petrona Apartments at ang triangular plan na may cantilevered floors ng Lopez Museum.

Bukod sa pagdidisenyo, naging masinop na manunulat si Nakpil. Kabilang sa kanyang mga sanaysay ang “Architecture in the Philippines,” “Filipino Modern,” at “Homes for the Middle Income Group,” na naglatag ng diskursong intelektuwal sa modernong arkitektura ng Pilipinas.

Sa personal na buhay, una siyang nag-asawa kay Carmen Diaz, na yumao at nag-iwan ng dalawang anak na babae. Muli siyang nag-asawa kay Carmen Guerrero, isang kilalang manunulat at lingkod-bayan, na nakasama niyang bumuo ng pamilya at magpalaki ng tatlong anak. Isa sa kanila si Luis na naging arkitekto rin, at isa pa si Lisa na minsang naging tagapangulo ng Pambansang Komisyong Pangkasaysayan ng Pilipinas.

Bilang pagkilala sa kanyang ambag sa sining at kultura, ginawaran si Nakpil ng Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award ng Lungsod ng Maynila noong 1974. Pumanaw siya noong Nobyembre 2, 1980, ngunit nananatiling buhay ang kanyang pamana, sa mga gusaling naglilingkod sa publiko, sa mga ideyang naghubog sa disiplina, at sa pamantayang iniwan niya para sa mga susunod na henerasyon ng arkitekto.

Mga Sanggunian
Bahay Nakpil-Bautista. walang petsa. Angel Ernesto Sancho Nakpil. Nakita noong Pebrero 19, 2026 sa https://bahaynakpil.org/angelernestosanchonakpil/.

Medina, Marielle. 2019. Did you know: 105th birth anniversary of architect Angel Nakpil. Inquirer.net, Pebrero 20, 2019.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1087731/did-you-know-105th-birth-annivesary-of-architect-angel-nakpil

National Historical Institute. 1996. Filipinos in history, tomo 6. Maynila: National Historical Institute.

Ong, Ghio. 2018. Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, essayist, visionary. The Philippine Star, Hulyo 31, 2018.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/07/31/1838351/carmen-guerrero-nakpil-essayist-visionary.
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