Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

4427

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Deogracias Victor ‘DV’ B. Savellano

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A people who does not learn from the lessons of the past are bound to repeat its
mistakes.

These words from the brilliant philosopher George Santayana ring true today more
than ever. It is a clarion call for people the world over to protect the legacies of the past —
including important documents, materials, structures and edifices that will help define a
society and its culture.

It is fortunate that the Province of llocos Sur particularly the City of Vigan realized
and continues to appreciate this sage advice. The honor bestowed by the UNESCO to the
City of Vigan as one of the seven wonder cities of the world because of its heritage
protection and development is a testimony of a people’s shared commitment to building on
from the past as it charts its future direction. And it pays well to pursue this direction. Today,
the City of Vigan continually draws thousands of local and international tourists who wanted
to savor its old-world ambience-from the cobble-stoned streets to houses and buildings that
date back to two centuries ago.

It is this same collective intent that the Municipality of San Vicente pursues. In this
progressive municipality, one can find rich reminders of the past: from the old San Vicente
Church with an impressive facade to the Gabaldon Building type of school building to the
Palacio de Gobernador, Spanish Baldi, Diego Silang Marker and the many ancestral
houses spread in different areas of the town are vestiges of a glorious, historical past. All
these the people of San Vicente want to preserve and protect for posterity —- as evident
reminders of a prominent past their town played in the collective history of the Province of
llocos Sur.

The need then to declare these cultural and historical assets as the patrimony of the
Municipality of San Vicente is the intent of this bill. Approval of this measure is then
earnestly sought.

Hon. Deograci r ‘DV’ B Savellano


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session
427

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Deogracias Victor ‘DV’ B. Savellano

AN ACT

DECLARING THE OLD SAN VICENTE CHURCH, GABALDON BUILDING, PALACIO DE
GOBERNADOR, SPANISH BALDI, DIEGO SILANG MARKER, ANCESTRAL HOUSES IN
THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN VICENTE, PROVINCE OF ILOCOS SUR AS CULTURAL AND
HISTORICAL PATRIMONY OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN VICENTE AND BESTOWING IT
WITH RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES ACCORDED MUSEUM CURATORS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. The Old San Vicente Church, Gabaldon Building, Palacio del Goberador,
‘Spanish Baldi, Diego Silang Marker, and ancestral houses in the Municipality of San Vicente,
Province of llocos Sur are hereby declared cultural heritage structures and historical patrimony
of the Municipality of San Vicente, llocos Sur, vesting it with rights and responsibilities accorded
museum curators.

SECTION 2. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the National
Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) after undertaking the necessary documentation,
shall extend the necessary assistance to the Municipality of San Vicente to ensure that these
cultural and historical assets are properly preserved and enhanced, providing the needed initial
funding support.

SECTION 3. Implementation. The concemed agencies stated above shall issue the necessary
rules, orders, and circulars to implement the provision of this Act

SECTION 4. All laws, rules, regulations, proclamations, executive orders or parts thereof
inconsistent with this Act, are hereby amended accordingly.

SECTION 5. If any section or part of this Act is held unconstitutional, no other section or
provision shall be affected.

SECTION 6. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,