U.S. Embassy in the
Philippines

Cultural heritage is central to protecting our sense of who we are. It gives us an irrefutable connection to the past – to certain social values, beliefs, customs and traditions, that allows us to identify ourselves with others and deepen our sense of unity, belonging and national pride.

The U.S. Department of State, through its embassies in developing countries worldwide, is very active in supporting local initiatives for the preservation of cultural heritage. It recognizes that as a Mission goal, the support for cultural preservation is an opportunity to show a different face of America – one that is non-commercial, non-political, and non-military. By taking a lead role in preserving cultural heritage in whatever form – tangible or intangible, the U.S. is able to demonstrate its unqualified respect for other cultures.

Cultural heritage preservation programs to date:

1. Digitization of Photographs of the American Historical Collection, Manila (2001)
2. Restoration of the Legarda Elementary School, Manila (2003)
3. Restoration and Conservation of Church Pillars and Baptistery Of the San Vicente Ferrer Parish Church, Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya (2004)
4. Restoration of Four Murals by Philippine National Artist Carlos Francisco at the Philippine General Hospital, Manila (2006)
5. Rescue Archaeology of the Balobok Rock Shelter, Sanga-Sanga, Tawi-Tawi (2006)
6. Preserving the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras: A Training Workshop in Vernacular Architecture, Ifugao (2007)
7. Documentation of the “Hudhud” and “Alim” Oral Traditions, Ifugao (2008)
8. Documentation of the Tabon Cave Complex, Lipuun Point, Palawan (2010)
9. Preservation and Site Development of the Kabayan Mummy Caves, Kabayan, Benguet (2011)
10. Conservation of the 19th-Century San Sebastian Basilica (Phase 1), Manila (2011)
11. Conservation of the ‘Retablo’ of the San Isidro Labrador Church, Lazi, Siquijor (2011)
12. Construction of a Full-Scale Replica of the Traditional Cuyonon House, El Nido, Palawan (2012)
13. Restoration of the Panglao Watchtower, Panglao Island, Bohol (2012)
14. Preservation and Promotion of the Hanunuo Mangyan Syllabic Script and Poetry, Mindoro Oriental (2012)
15. Documentation of Philippine Textile Art Traditions, Manila (2012)
16. Preservation and Site Development of the Malagonlong Stone Bridge, Tayabas, Quezon (2013)
17. Restoration of the Early 18th-Century La Inmaculada Concepcion Church, Guiuan, Eastern Samar (2014)
18. Conservation of the 19th-Century San Sebastian Basilica (Phase 2), Manila (2015)
19. Documentation and Preservation of the Mangyan Syllabic Script “Baybayin”, Mindoro Oriental (2016)
20. Documentation, Transcription, Translation and Publication of the Itneg Epic “Dulimaman”, Abra (2016)
21. Development and Publication of the Kinaray-a Dictionary, San Jose, Antique (2017)
22. Specialist Training Course on the Development of Conservation Management Plan, Manila (2017)
23. Preventive Conservation of Ethnographic Collections of the Baguio Museum, Baguio City, Benguet (2017)
24. Research and Documentation of Traditional Tattoos of the Philippine Cordilleras (2018)