UA&P Arts Department Chair Dr. Laya Boquiren Gonzales participated in the closing ceremony exhibition organized by the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF) of UNESCO Jakarta and ICOMOS Philippines at the Tadena Hall of the University of Northern Philippines in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, on August 12. 

The exhibition called "Saluad-Tawid" (Ilokano for “protecting our heritage”) marks the conclusion of the HEF Vigan Project, documenting the many pivotal events that stemmed from the 2022 earthquake that destroyed the Historic City of Vigan, a World Heritage Site, which prompted the recovery initiative of the HEF.

Dr. Boquiren-Gonzales curated the exhibition that highlighted the community of Vigan, who opened their houses for documentation and testing by the expert teams, the various private individuals, and the government and educational organizations who generously donated their services, talents, insights, and expertise. Sample materials from traditional Bigueño houses were prepared for display to show evidence of the damage from the earthquake and also from underlying deteriorative causes such as pests and moisture filtration that exacerbated the effects of the tremors.

For more information about the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund, visit this link. More information about the World Heritage Site of the Historic City of Vigan may be found here.  

Dr. Boquiren-Gonzales (2nd from right) with (L-R) ICOMOS Philippines Vice President Ar. Kenneth Tua, UNESCO Jakarta Project Assistant Mr. Rizky Fardhyan, UNESCO Jakarta Chief of Culture Unit Ms. Moe Chiba, ICOMOS PH President & Chairman Dr. Cheek Fadriquela, and ICOMOS PH Communications Officer Joselito Corpuz.