Phillip L.

Medina
Heritage Advocate

The Ongoing Silang Experience

Harnessing Technologies
Dichotomic | Harmonic Perspectives in Heritage and Urban Development
Technologies | Heritage | Urban Development
Collaborative: Urban Development + Heritage
Conservation
Technologies: 21st-century tools and applications

Dichotomy & Harmony: heritage |+ modern

The Case of Silang’s Heritage and Urban

Development: A Look into the Technologies and
Future Designs

Dynamics of Space: old plaza vs. growth centers

Sharing passion and learnings from last May 2024

ICOMOS lecture
LONDON
PARIS
ROME
BEIJING
Commonalities
• Provision of order
• Accessibility
• Spatial dynamics
• Safety
• Visual Information about the locality
• Distinction of Culture
• Local Pride
Timeline in the Advocacy
2013 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2022 2023 2024 2025 2030 2040 2050

• In 2013, finished my MA in Art Studies UPD with a graduate thesis on Accounting and Curating Silang Heritage
and became involved in the Silang Parish Council for Culture and Heritage.
• In 2015, posting in Recuerdos de Silang of a 2005 photo lobbying to improve the old plaza. Plaza or Parking?
• In 2016, Nominated Silang Church as a National Cultural Treasure, a tripartite collaboration of the church, LGU,
and private entities. Awarded in 2017 and unveiled in 2018.
• In 2018, received for the church of Silang the NCCA Grant for Architectural documentation with Digiscript worth
P250K
• Received the 3D Scanning Report in 2019
• In 2023, the Church façade had two phases of mechanical cleaning sponsored by Karcher Philippines
• In 2023, Arch Paulo Alcazaren was hired by Mayor Anarna to provide studies for the Silang Plaza Rehabilitation.
• On December 2023, Governor Remulla awarded a P15M for the rehabilitation of the retablos/convent.
• In October 2024, renewal of the plans with drafted letters to National Agencies for Silang Plaza rehabilitation
• 2025 will be Silang’s 430th Year as a Parish (established 1595).
It started with a post
in social media.
The Case of Silang’s Heritage and Urban Development:
A Look into Technologies and Designs

2018-2019
3D Scanning and 2D As-Builts
3D Modeling

2022-2023
Hot-water pressure washer of the HDS 12/18-4 S for Exterior
SGV 8/5 Steam Cleaner for Interior Disinfection
BD 50/50 C BP Floor Scrubber Drier for Interior Floor Disinfection

2023- ongoing
Aerial Survey
Ground Penetrating Radar
Archeological Studies with UP ASP
2018-2019
3D Scanning
2D As-Builts
3D Modeling
 The 2013 Bohol Earthquake should be an eye-opener to
all heritage churches to utilize the current technology and
information in preparation for disasters. Cavite rests on a
dangerous terrain with volcanic and tectonic threats.
Risks are imminent. This exhibit calls for us to value our
heritage churches and prepare.
The disaster has unearthed numerous heritage issues:

1. Despite great scholarly works on its church structures, it

lacks detailed technical studies. Reconstructions relied
on photographic samples at very least.
2. Geographic hazard is a reality for heritage structures.
3. Challenges and limitations of funding and technical
expertise hinder architectural documentation.
The Case of Silang’s Heritage and Urban Development:
A Look into Technologies and Designs

2018-2019
3D Scanning and 2D As-Builts
3D Modeling

2022-2023
Hot-water pressure washer of the HDS 12/18-4 S for Exterior
SGV 8/5 Steam Cleaner for Interior Disinfection
BD 50/50 C BP Floor Scrubber Drier for Interior Floor Disinfection

2023- ongoing
Aerial Survey
Ground Penetrating Radar
Archeological Studies with UP ASP
Hot-water pressure washer of the HDS 12/18-4 S for Exterior
✓ Public Notice
✓ Test Cleaning
✓ Façade Assessment
✓ Approval of NCCA
The Case of Silang’s Heritage and Urban Development:
A Look into Technologies and Designs

2018-2019
3D Scanning and 2D As-Builts
3D Modeling

2022-2023
Hot-water pressure washer of the HDS 12/18-4 S for Exterior
SGV 8/5 Steam Cleaner for Interior Disinfection
BD 50/50 C BP Floor Scrubber Drier for Interior Floor Disinfection

2023- ongoing
Aerial Survey
Ground Penetrating Radar
Archeological Studies with UP ASP
Pedestrianized V. Toledo St. from Market to Plaza
Three (3) options for the Silang Plaza
 Underground parking???

The Santa Ana

diggings yielded
several artifacts for
the community
museum.
2023- ongoing
Aerial Survey
Ground Penetrating Radar
Archeological Studies with UP ASP
The Case of Silang’s Heritage and Urban Development:
A Look into Technologies and Designs

2018-2019
3D Scanning and 2D As-Builts
3D Modeling

2022-2023
Hot-water pressure washer of the HDS 12/18-4 S for Exterior
SGV 8/5 Steam Cleaner for Interior Disinfection
BD 50/50 C BP Floor Scrubber Drier for Interior Floor Disinfection

2023- ongoing
Aerial Survey
Ground Penetrating Radar
Archeological Studies with UP ASP
Plaza and New
Growth Centers
PERSPECTIVES OF A NON-ARCHITECT
• Too much design freedom. Life is visually
chaotic.
• Too Western inclined. Who are we as
Filipinos?
• Please respect the time it was created. We
are losing.
• Old town centers are cramped. Let us
decongest the old city centers.
• We lack functional local urban planners.
They become bureaucrats.

AS A HERITAGE WORKER. LETS AIM FOR

INTERSECTION | BALANCE | CONTINUITY
 1581 San Pedro Apostol
1591? San Diego de Alcala
(Silang)
1602 NS de los Remedios
1615 NS de Loreto
1616 Santa Monica
1619 San Pedro Telmo

Colonial
( Kawit, Indang, Maragondon)
1641 San Juan de Dios
1692 NS de Soledad de PV

1595 NS. de Candelaria Silang

1624 Santa Maria Magdalena Kawit

Churches
1625 San Gregorio Magno Indang
1627 NS de Asuncion Maragondon

1667 San Roque Parish

1752 San Miguel de Arcangel Bacoor
1753 San Francisco General Trias
1780 Santa Cruz de Malabon Tanza

of Cavite
1795 NS del Pilar Imus Cathedral
1796 Inmaculada Concepcion Naic
1845 Santo Rosario, Rosario
1857 San Jose, Carmona
1858 San Jose, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo
1859 San Juan Nepomuceno Alfonso
1863 Santo Nino de Ternate, Ternate
1866 Inmaculada Concepion,
Dasmarinas
1880 San Agustin Mendez
1882 NS de Guia Magallanes
1884 Santa Maria Magdalena Amadeo
V.2
Manila 1904-1915 | Handbook of the Philippine Islands, 1906
MANILA, Philippines — The sea
level in Manila has been increasing
by about 2.6 centimeters per year
from an average rate of 1.3
millimeters per year in the 1900s,
with groundwater use in the city
enhancing the risk of sea level rise
in the country’s capital, according
to a study. The Philippine Climate
Change Assessment report was
contained in the 268-page National
Adaptation Plan (NAP) approved
by President Marcos.
Manila is sinking. Will it Sea Level Rise Projection Map – Manila
succumb to rising sea
levels? There are few
cities as vulnerable to sea
level rise as metropolitan
Manila, lying partly
beneath sea level due to
intense groundwater
pumping. As sea levels
rise, the 14 million
inhabitants of Manila
become more exposed,
and preventive measures
that aren’t adequate
today will be insignificant
unless action is taken.
https://coastal.climatecentral.org/
El Reportero is a platform Malabon
dedicated solely to Philippine Manila
•University of Santo Tomas (National Cultural -Malabon church complex
heritage concerns and issues. (Important Cultural Property)
It discusses various matters Treasure, National Historical Landmark)
on the rich and endangered •Metropolitan Theater (National Cultural Treasure,
National Historical Landmark) Bulacan
Filipino built heritage. -Obando Church (Presumed
•Manila City Hall (Important Cultural Property)
•Intramuros (National Cultural Treasure) Important Cultural Property)
EA Sembrano -Meycauayan Church (Presumed
•Philippine General Hospital compound
(Presumed Important Cultural Property)
Important Cultural Property) -Marilao Church (Presumed Important
•San Agustin Church complex (World Heritage Cultural Property)
Site) -Guiguinto Church (Presumed
•De La Salle University main building (Presumed Important Cultural Property)
Important Cultural Property) -Barasoain Church, Malolos (National
•Rizal Memorial Coliseum (Important Cultural Historical Landmark)
Property) -Hagonoy Church (Presumed
•Rizal Memorial Sports Stadium (Presumed Important Cultural Property)
Important Cultural Property)
Pampanga
-Sta. Rita Church (Presumed
Important Cultural Property)
Project NOAH (Nationwide
Operational Assessment of
Hazard) is the Philippines'
primary disaster risk reduction and
management program. Managed by
the University of the Philippines, it
was initially administered by
the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) from 2012 to
2017. Now under the University of
the Philippines Resilience
Institute
Project NOAH was discontinued in 2017
during the Duterte administration.
REALITY
Recent volcanic activity in Taal, Batangas along with the past earthquakes in nearby Calatagan,
Nasugbu, and Lubang Island are real and constant risks to the Heritage Churches of Cavite.
Using the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOCS) hazard maps, we will
be able to scientifically assess the proximity of risks to these heritage structures. The agency’s
online module provides maps of ground rupture or active faults, ground shaking, possible
liquefaction, and tsunami-prone areas. This is available online via
https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/gisweb-hazard-maps
The entire province lies west of the West Valley faultline
that runs from Montalban near the La Mesa Watershed
in the north and down to a residential area between
Binan, Laguna, and Silang, Cavite.

Given this fault system in the province, nearest to the

faultline are the churches of Carmona, Silang, and
Dasmarinas. Farthest are the churches of Cavite City,
Tanza, Naic, Ternate, and Maragondon.

However, distance may be insignificant as earth

movement or shaking covers the entire province as seen
in the following map.

This map is a scientific evidence of the study of how

earthquakes affect historical structures like churches.

Note that all churches with an exclusion

of one (Magallanes) are mapped within
the ground-shaking hazard of PHILVOCS.

However, the frequent tectonic activity of

Batangas may also affect upland Cavite’s
heritage churches given the proximity.
These are the churches of Magallanes,
Bailen, Alfonso, Mendez, Indang,
Amadeo, and Silang.
For tsunami-prone areas, the coastal towns
are at risk primarily the churches of Cavite
City and Kawit. Tanza, Naic, and Ternate
Churches may also be at risk given the
proximity to the body of water.

Lastly, several coastal areas are also

prone to liquefaction and even flooding
as evident during the monsoon season.
This hazard may greatly affect the
churches of Cavite City, Bacoor, Kawit,
and Rosario. A lesser degree of risk is
posed in the areas of Imus, General Trias,
Tanza, Naic, and Maragondon. These are
located mostly in the north and north-
western locations.

Carmona solely on the eastern side is

also prone to liquefaction and flooding
based on the map.
Inside the gallery, you will see these hazard maps plotted with the locations of our heritage
churches. The videos will also provide initial information on the churches’ locations related to
hazard threats. In summary, we have the following data and their locations on the hazard maps.

23
26
28
24
30
8
15
15
18
23
21
7
33
35
31
27
25
19
30
Another Section is the Cavite Hazard Historical Timeline with information sourced from
Miguel Selga, Philippine Weather Bureau, Catalogue of Typhoons 1348 – 1934, Published 1935;
Henderson, Faye. "Tropical Cyclone Disasters in the Philippines, A Listing of Major Typhoons by
Month through 1979 (PDF). Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International
Development; and, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology PHILVOCS
https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/

As a special treat, we also have an old typhoon map from the late 19th century documenting the
typhoons from 1880s to 1890s. And a map of Cavite from 1899 documenting the towns at the end
of the Spanish colonial period.
In summary
PERSPECTIVES OF A NON-ARCHITECT
• Too much design freedom. Life is visually chaotic.
• Too Western inclined. Who are we as Filipinos?
• Please respect the time it was created. We are losing.
• Old town centers are cramped. Let us decongest the old city centers.
• We lack functional local urban planners. They become bureaucrats.
• Know our locality is at risk with natural hazards.
• Protect our built heritage.
• Design with pride as a Filipino…
AS A HERITAGE WORKER. LETS AIM FOR
INTERSECTION | BALANCE | CONTINUITY