PRESERVATION OF

HISTORIC TANGIBLE
HERITAGE IN THE
PHILIPPINES
START 2012
Science and Technology for Art 2012

Conserving and Recording

Tangible, Intangible and Natural
Heritage

Presented by:

Archt. Ma. Luisa M. Valerio

National Historical Commission of the Philippines

Preservation of Historic
Tangible Heritage
(UNESCOs Definition)

includes buildings and historic places, monuments, artifacts,

etc., which are considered worthy of preservation for the
future. These include objects significant to the archaeology,
architecture, science or technology of a specific culture.

MAP OF TAAL

Agencies mandated to implement government's

restoration project

National Historical Commission of the

Philippines responsible for significant movable and
immovable cultural property pertains to Philippine History;
heroes and restorations of historical artifacts.

National Museum - responsible for significant

movable and immovable cultural and natural property
pertaining to collections of Fine Arts, Archeology, Anthropology,
Botany, Geology, Zoology and Astronomy including its
conservation aspect.

Process and considerations

on the Preparation and
Implementation of the
Conservation Plan

1. SITE INSPECTION Coordination meeting to the owner

Oct. 11, 2011 Site inspection to Majayjay

Church, Majayjay Laguna
February 24, 2011
Dr. Joselito Catubay (PPC President), Archt.
Ma. Rajelyn Busmente (NCCA-HSO), Vicky
Carandang (NCCA Finance), Engr. Orly Abinion
(NM), Jame (Paoay Tourism)

2. DOCUMENTATION : Architectural Survey

General design - style

DOCUMENTATION : Architectural Details

Rectified photographs and

measured drawings

a
b

c
c

cp

DOCUMENTATION : MEASURED DRAWINGS

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT (GROUND FLOOR) of the Syquia Mansion in Vigan, Ilocos Sur

ORIGINAL PART
OF STRUCTURE
BUILT BY DON JUSTO
ANGCO IN 1830

PART OF THE
STRUCTURE ADDED
BY TOMAS SYQUIA
IN 1910

PART OF THE
STRUCTURE ADDED
BY ELPIDIO QUIRINO
IN 1948

DOCUMENTATION : MEASURED DRAWINGS

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT (SECOND FLOOR) of the Syquia Mansion in Vigan, Ilocos Sur

ORIGINAL PART
OF STRUCTURE
BUILT BY DON JUSTO
ANGCO IN 1830

PART OF THE
STRUCTURE ADDED
BY TOMAS SYQUIA
IN 1910

PART OF THE
STRUCTURE ADDED
BY ELPIDIO QUIRINO
IN 1948

PART OF THE
STRUCTURE ADDED
IN LATE 1970S

CONDITION ASSESSMENT:

State of conservation
A state of conservation record
is necessary prior to the onset
of actual restoration or
intervention.

CONDITION ASSESSMENT:

CAUSES OF DETERIORATION
1. DIRECT EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS
AND EXTREME WEATHER
DISCOLORATION
DECAY OF THE PAINTED WALLS
WEAKENING OF PLASTER AND MORTAR OF
BRICK WALLS
RUSTING OF THE ROOF COVERING
Etc.

CONDITION ASSESSMENT:

CAUSES OF DETERIORATION
2. STRUCTURAL DEFECTS
WEAKENED STRUCTURAL COLUMNS

CRACKED AND WEAKENED SHEAR WALLS

SAGGING AND WEAKENING OF GIRTS AND
FLOORS

FOUNDATION PROBLEMS

CONDITION ASSESSMENT:

CAUSES OF DETERIORATION
3. NATURAL CALAMITIES

EARTHQUAKE IN THE PAST CAUSED

CRACKS IN THE BRICK WALLS
TYPHOONS SERIOUSLY WEATHERED
THE HOUSE STRUCTURE

CONDITION ASSESSMENT:

CAUSES OF DETERIORATION
4. MAN-MADE CAUSES
THE ABSENCE OF THE OWNERS
LEAVING THE HOUSE IN THE HANDS OF
CARETAKERS

CONDITION ASSESSMENT:

CAUSES OF DETERIORATION
5. TERMITE AND DRY ROT INFESTATION

TERMITE AND DRY ROT INFESTATION IN

ANY PLACES

CONDITION ASSESSMENT:

Damaged
stone details

Botanical
growths

Nagcarlan Underground
Cemetery Historical Landmark,
Nagcarlan, Laguna

CONDITION ASSESSMENT:
Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery Historical
Landmark, Nagcarlan, Laguna

Rusted grills

CONDITION ASSESSMENT:
Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery Historical
Landmark, Nagcarlan, Laguna

CONDITION ASSESSMENT: Cause of damage

Syquia Mansion
Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Before Restoration

CONDITION ASSESSMENT:

Graphical record

Mapping of geomorphology
and chronology of construction

Faade of Paoay
Church
Paoay, Ilocos
Norte

CONDITION ASSESSMENT

Graphical
record
Faade of Dingras Church
Dinras, Ilocos Norte

The graphical record will

provide a clear
appreciation of the existing
physical condition of the
historic structure. This may
include appearance,
measurements, materials,
defects and damages,
previous interventions, and
other existing physical
attributes.

CONDITION ASSESSMENT

VERTICAL CRACKS

CONDITION REPORT ON THE CHURCH FAADE WALL

PREPARED BY A. LAZARO AND ASSOCIATES

Restoration of Masinloc Church

Masinloc, Zambales
SHOWING THE CONDITION OF THE FAADE AND CHOIR LOFT

VERTICAL CRACKS = FOUNDATION STRESSES

Restoration of Masinloc Church

Masinloc, Zambales

CONDITION ASSESSMENT

Figure 1
Through the years of the churchs existence, the
slender trusses, with the roof had deformed
pushing the walls outward. Ground movements
and earthquake occurrences aggravated the
stability of the walls. Cracks appeared. The last
earthquake caused the tilting of the walls
outward and structural cracks are evident.
The illustration shows an exaggerated result to
give a clear picture of how the trusses and walls
behaved after the disastrous events.

STRUCTURAL RETROFITTING/CONSOLIDATION

Figure 2

Angel Lazaro and Associates, had specified the

restructuring of the roof frames to correct the
construction faults of the original roof framing
system.
The horizontal channel struts have been installed
after the tornique process. The result is a
stabilized roof frame system. However, the walls
are still in bad condition. The DES and
conservation plan did not include the
method/technique for the consolidation of the
walls.

Restoration of Masinloc Church

Masinloc, Zambales

CONDITION ASSESSMENT
TORNIQUET PROCESS

Figure 3
The church restoration committee expressed its
desire to fund the wall consolidation, and had
requested the NHI (implementing agency) to
prepare a scheme for the wall consolidation that
would be compatible with the DES prepared by
the Angel Lazaro & Associates (ALA).
From the experiences of the NHI, particularly the
technique done for the Malate church in Manila,
the NHIs HPD is recommending the Clamping
technique plus the pressure injection special
grout solution for the wall consolidation.
This restoration technique shall correct the
deficiencies of the walls.

Pressured grouting

Figure 4
The over-all consolidation scheme:

Tornique process and Horizontal strut system

(Part of the DES)

Clamping system and High-pressure grouting

(NHI recommendation)

GROUND IMPROVEMENT
3
Special piles

Jumbo special piles

(as recommended by NHI and ALA and part of the
DES)

Restoration of Masinloc Church

Masinloc, Zambales

CONDITION ASSESSMENT
1

Retrofitting methodology
2

CONDITION ASSESSMENT

MATERIAL TESTING/ MATERIAL CHARACTERIZATION

using rebound hammer to test the compressive strenght of the materials and Element analyzer Genius R-Ray Flourescence (XRF) was used as a
form of non destructive testing to determine the elemental composition of plaster , mortar , coral blocks and San Esteban stone EXRF

Engr. Larry Cruz (Chief, Material Conservation Division) and Archt. Ma. Luisa Valerio (Restoration Architect, Historic Preservation Division) , woks
on testing the compressive strenght of the materials using rebound while Mr. Marc de Mesa of Philippine Laboratory works on tesing
elemental composition of materials using EXRF

CONDITION ASSESSMENT
MATERIAL TESTING

GATHERING OF SAMPLE MATERIAL

PREPARATION OF CONSERVATION PLAN

Considerations in the preparation of

conservation plans

Budget
Availability of materials
How do you want to present
the structure

PREPARATION OF CONSERVATION PLAN

Budget
Locally funded

Grant from NCCA

Congressional initiative

PREPARATION OF CONSERVATION PLAN

Availability of materials

WOOD RESTORATION
TECHNIQUE: RETROFITTING

PREPARATION OF CONSERVATION PLAN

Availability of materials
Joint C
Joint A

Joint B

Joint C

Joint A
Joint B

REHABILITATION OF ROOF GIRTS

PREPARATION OF CONSERVATION PLAN

COMBINING OLD AND NEW TECHNIQUES

Consolidation of facade wall

Replacement of missing masonry blocks and stone cornice

The use of San Esteban stone is found

to be good substitute material to
coral with reference to its physical
qualities.

NHCP policy to refrain from extracting coral materials

except if loose coral could be available from the vicinity
and nearby towns. The conservation of our endangered
natural resources is of paramount importance.

PREPARATION OF CONSERVATION PLAN

(Archt. Reynaldo Inoveros Presentation)

PROCEDURE ON THE PRODUCTION OF CORAL BOCKS

1. Coral blocks are quarried
and loaded into boats, then
brought to the site

2. Blocks are stockpiled and cleaned

=
40% usable

3. Blocks are cut and processed, then

brought to the construction site

4. Only about 40% of the blocks

can be cut to shape and can be used
for church wall facing

PREPARATION OF PROJECT DOCUMENTS

1. SCOPE OF WORK
2. SPECIFICATIONS AND METHODOLY OF
CONSERVATION
3. ESTIMATE AND BILL OF MATERIALS
4. PROJECT SHEDULE

CASE STUDY

Restoration of San Andres Church

In Masinloc Zambalez

VERTICAL CRACKS

CONDITION REPORT ON THE CHURCH FAADE WALL

PREPARED BY A. LAZARO AND ASSOCIATES

SHOWING THE CONDITION OF THE FAADE AND

CHOIR LOFT

VERTICAL CRACKS = FOUNDATION STRESSES

MASINLOC CHURCH IN ZAMBALEZ

SHOWING THE CONDITION AND DIRECTION OF CRACKS ON SIDE WALLS (HORIZONTAL

CRACKS)

HORIZONTAL CRACKS = ROOF STRUCTURE STRESSES

MASINLOC CHURCH IN ZAMBALEZ

PROVIDE MORTAR CAPPING ON PEDIMENT; PROVIDE SLIGHTLY GABLED VIGAN TILE LAYER ON CAPPING;
SEAL ALL LEDGES WITH APPROVED MORTAR MIX; LIMEWASH ENTIRE FAADE BY MIST-SPRAYING (30 TIMES)

MASINLOC CHURCH IN ZAMBALEZ

DURING RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH FAADE: DOCUMENTATION AND DISMANTLING OF THE CORAL BLOCKS

MASINLOC CHURCH IN ZAMBALEZ

During the dismantling of the coral blocks,
actual dismantling was very difficult. It was
observed that the mortar was still well bonded
with the coral facings. It is also observed that
if coral blocks on the faade should be
dismantled, the odds of returning these blocks
in their original order and alignment would be
quite big. There is great risk of altering the
faades artistic composition and authenticity.
DRILL THROUGH MORTAR
TO LOOSEN BONDING FOR EASY
DISMANTLING OF CORAL BLOCKS

RUBBLE
CORE

CORAL
FACING
ILLUSTRATION TAKEN FROM THE ORIGINAL METHODOLOGY/SPECIFICATIONS
INDICATING THAT THE BONDING OF THE CORAL BLOCKS WITH THE RUBBLE CORE IS
STILL TIGHT AS OF THE TIME OF THE ENGINEERING STUDIES

MASINLOC CHURCH IN ZAMBALEZ

EPOXY-Lvie Flexible
Low Viscosity Injectible Flexible Epoxy

PHOTOGRAPHS OF SAMPLE MATERIALS

MASINLOC CHURCH IN ZAMBALEZ

GRANDGROUT 1000 Non-Shrink Cementitious Grout

STUDIES ON FLEXIBLE TYPE OF EPOXY WAS UNDERTAKEN BY THE NHI-HPD BEFORE

THE CONSOLIDATION WORK. THE RIGID TYPE EPOXY WAS RULED OUT, SINCE IT WILL
NOT BE COMPATIBLE WITH OLD STRUCTURES LIKE THE SAN ANDRES CHURCH

MASINLOC CHURCH IN ZAMBALEZ

SONOBOND 401(FE) Flexible Injection Epoxy

THESE PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN APPLIED IN THE FACDE WALL CONSOLIDATION, HOWEVER, THE CALIBRATION OF THE
APPLICATION MIXTURES WAS DONE IN ORDER TO THAT THESE GROUTING APPLICATIONS WILL ADAPT TO THE
PHYSICAL QUALITIES OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE OF THE FACADE

MASINLOC CHURCH IN ZAMBALEZ

The church foundation having been consolidated (by high-pressure injected
concrete), the foundation is now in a stable condition. Therefore, if the cracks
are grouted, loose blocks are repointed, and the pediment capped, the faade
wall consolidation shall have been consolidated even without applying the
dismantling and reinstalling of the blocks.

THE FAADE HAS BEEN CONSOLIDATED, I.E. THE CRACK REPAIR AND FAADE INJECTION OF FLEXIBLE EPOXY (CALIBRATED).

2007 AFTER RESTORATION

2004

2005

2000 BEFORE RESTORATION

2006

MASINLOC CHURCH IN ZAMBALEZ

GROUND CONSOLIDATION
STA. MARIA CHURCH BELL TOWER, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur

Buttress that served

as retainer of the
leaning bellower

Showing the cracks on the

base of the bell tower

The leaning bell

tower of Sta. Maria
Church

Line representing
the inclination of the
Bell tower

Showing the condition of the Sta. Maria Church Bell Tower

Vertical lines

GROUND CONSOLIDATION
STA. MARIA CHURCH BELL TOWER, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur

ILLUSTRATION OF THE AFTERMATH OF THE COLLAPSE OF RETAINING WALL

AND LEANING BELL TOWER

GROUND CONSOLIDATION
STA. MARIA CHURCH BELL TOWER, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur

Layout Plan of Jet Grouted Piles

prepared by Engr. Angel Lazaro

Layout Plan of Jet Grouted Piles

prepared / implemented by
Peter Ground Improvement,
Inc

GROUND CONSOLIDATION
STA. MARIA CHURCH, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur

Section of Jet Grouted Piles

prepared by
Engr. Angel Lazaro
Section Layout Plan of Jet
Grouted Piles prepared /
implemented by Peter Ground
Improvement, Inc

GROUND CONSOLIDATION
STA. MARIA CHURCH, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur

GROUND CONSOLIDATION
STA. MARIA CHURCH, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur

Watch Tower
RESCUE RESTORATION AND SITE DEVELOPMENT
WORKS AT THE OLD WATCH TOWER, Bgy. Sabang,
Baler
Cleared and cleaned the site
Provided temporary structures
Removed Balete trees and roots, and other biological
growths
Undertook mechanical and chemical cleaning of walls
Undertook repair/replacement works, including filling-in,
patching, repointing and limewashing of walls
Improved adjacent areas around the structure
Cleared and cleaned the site

Baler, Quezon

Watch Tower

REMOVAL OF BALETE ROOTS

Baler, Quezon

Watch Tower

Baler, Quezon

SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN THE

REMOVAL OF DESTRUCTIVE
BIOLOGICAL GROWTHS

Watch Tower

Baler, Quezon

RESTORATION OF MAJAYJAY CHURCH

Majayjay, Laguna

October 5, 2011

January 28, 2011

January 5, 2012

January 30, 2012

RESTORATION OF MAJAYJAY CHURCH

Majayjay, Laguna

Right side entrance

During restoration

After restoration
Before restoration

RESTORATION OF MAJAYJAY CHURCH, Majayjay, Laguna

Showing the condition of finials before restoration

RESTORATION OF MAJAYJAY CHURCH

Majayjay, Laguna

RESTORATION OF FINIALS

RESTORATION OF MAJAYJAY CHURCH

Majayjay, Laguna

CHURCH EXISTING
THE
FACADE
CONDITION

Biological growth like moss

and lichen grow in the
church walls.
Different kinds of plants also
grows on church moldings .

Fig. 14: The church before the restoration,

May 19, 2009.

Broken capital of a column

beside the churchs main
entrance.

RESTORATION OF MAJAYJAY CHURCH

Majayjay, Laguna

THE BELLTOWER

Fig. 15: The bell tower

before the
restoration. Photo taken May 19, 2009.

Moss, lichens and plant growths invites

moisture, which then deteriorates &
damage the church walls.

RESTORATION OF MAJAYJAY CHURCH

Majayjay, Laguna

THE CHURCHS BUTTRESSES

Fig. 16: The sloping buttresses before the

restoration. Photo taken May 19, 2009.

Moss, lichens and plants also grows on

churchs enormous buttresses which
supports its walls. If not treated, this
support will soon become weak & can
be a treat to the public and to the
church itself.

RESTORATION OF MAJAYJAY CHURCH

Majayjay, Laguna

Fig. 17: The sloping buttresses supporting

the rear part of the church before the
restoration. Photo taken May 19, 2009.

RESTORATION OF MAJAYJAY CHURCH

Majayjay, Laguna

THE CHURCHS SIDE ENTRANCE

Fig. 18: SIDE PORTAL. An interesting

feature in the churchs right side wall is its
highly developed side portal which is
arched and equipped with a receding
doorway, with niches & moulded bands.
Photo taken May 19, 2009.

Side entrance showing the

doorway, statues & ceiling. Moss
& lichens are also starting to grow
on the ceiling.

RELOCATION OF THE MABINI HOUSE: Methodologies

and Values
THE COMPLETE PHOTO DOCUMENTATION

(Terminal Report Prepared by Archt Reynaldo Lita)

Every part of the house were marked with number codes to facilitate the
systematic reconstruction process.

DISMANTLING OF MUSEUM ITEMS

Dismantled materials were documented to reveal interconnection details and

methodology.

THE DISMANTLING LOGBOOK

NOVEMBER 26, 2007

DECEMBER 12, 2007

JANUARY 8, 2008

JANUARY 11, 2008

JANUARY 22, 2008

FEBRUARY 6, 2008

FEBRUARY 19, 2008

MARCH 13, 2008

MARCH 25, 2008

 Skilled manpower

NEW TIMBER SUPPORTS

PROVISION OF NEW WOOD GIRTS

Our historic
structures are
invaluable
heritage,
And a great
responsibility
to protect it
rest upon us.
(unknown)

Thank you..