National Historical Shrines, more commonly known as National Shrines, are sites or structures in the Philippines that have been declared hallowed and revered due to their historical association to certain figures or events.[1] Their designation are done by presidential decrees and executive orders, acts of congress (or by their predecessors[1]) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).[1]
Presidential Decree No. 105, issued in 1973 defines national shrines as sites associated with significant events in the lives of great and eminent leaders of the nation,[2] such as sites of their birth, exile, imprisonment and/ or death. While this definition provides a foundational understanding, it could be expanded to encompass a broader range of historical and cultural significance, which have extended to military sites and battlefields.
RA 10066, sec. 22 reinforces the protection of national shrines (as with other declared cultural property) by prohibiting the renaming of sites unless a written approval by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and only after due hearing on the matter.[3] This measure ensures that these historical sites retain their original identities and the sacredness of the site.
The NHCP plays a pivotal role in preserving and managing national shrines. The commission's board oversees the declaration of these sites and ensures their protection. It is of note that many national shrines have been declared by Republic Acts.
However, it's important to note that military memorials and battle monuments designated as national shrines fall under the purview of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), operating within the Department of National Defense.[4] Moreover, local government units often play a significant role in the establishment, maintenance, and preservation of national shrines. A notable example is the Melchora (Tandang Sora) Aquino National Shrine, which was developed through the initiative and efforts of the local government.[5]
Privileges and Protections of declared National Historical shrines
The privileges and protections to National Historical Shrines are as follows[1][6]
Privileges
Identification, maintenance, restoration, conservation, preservation and protection of shrines
Collection of fees for the use of the NHCP's resources and for technical services rendered, as well as entrance fees to its Shrines
Protections
Protection from modification, alteration, destruction, construction or real estate development, which includes its buffer zones, without written permission from the NHCP
Prohibition and fines for desecration of national shrines by disturbing their peace and serenity through digging, excavating, defacing, causing unnecessary noise, and committing unbecoming acts within their premises.
Declared National Historical Shrines in the Philippines
Image
Official National Historical Shrine/ National Shrine name
Declares Fort Santiago as Shrine of Freedom. Dedicated to the memory of Rizal and a Legion of National Heroes and Martyrs who had been confined as lost their lives within said premises
Also known as the National Shrine to the First Mass, more commonly known as Limasawa Shrine, this site commemorates the birth of Christianity in the Philippines
The site is the largely renovated ancestral house and land donated to by General Emilio Aguinaldo- First President of the Philippines, to the nation in 1963. Also contains his tomb.
Inclusions from RA 4039 include:
Freedom house- which would depict, stage by stage important events in the Philippine revolution (unbuilt)
First established as Republic Memorial Cemetery as a tribute to soldiers who died during WW2. Final resting place of Philippine presidents, Medal of valor recipients and other persons entitled to internment at this National Shrine
More popularly known as the Rizal National Shrine. Site where Rizal lived and developed during his exile from 1982 to 1986. The site is integrated in the Jose Rizal Memorial Protected Landscape
Unbuilt/ reclassified/ delisted National Historical Shrines
Name of site
Description
Status
References
Rizal Cultural shrine
RA 1427 stipulates the construction of the Rizal Cultural shrine (which was to be dubbed a National Cultural shrine) consisting of a national theater, national museum and a national library. Debates over the site of the shrine and the slow funding made the shrine in its entirety unrealized. Only the National Library was inaugurated in time for the Jose Rizal Centennial celebrations. Plans for the national theater was redesigned to create the Rizal Theater in Makati[j].
Reclassification: Proclamation no. 284, s. 2000 [43]
“Red Beach,” the landing point of General Douglas MacArthur and the liberating forces
Site in Palo, Leyte where General Douglas MacArthur and the liberating forces arrived to start the recapture of the Philippines from the Japanese. Site first reserved for National Shrine purposes by virtue of Proclamation No. 1272, s. 1974. Reclassified as National Park through Letter of Instructions No. 572, s. 1977 as Macarthur Landing Memorial Park.
Reclassified
Reservation for National Shrine purposes: Proclamation No. 1272, s. 1974[44]
Reclassification: Letter of Instructions No. 572, s. 1977[45]
Where the Code of Kalantiaw was promulgated in 1443
Site in Aklan, where the Code of Kalantiaw- a supposed legal code, was promulgated. Discovered to be a hoax created by Jose E. Marco. Delisted by virtue of NHI resolution No. 12, S. 2004 which found the Code of Kalantiaw to have no valid historical basis.
Delisted
Declaration: EO 234 s. 1957[46] Delisted:NHI resolution No. 12, S. 2004 [47]
Sites commonly associated as National Historical Shrines
Bahay ni Luna (Juan Luna Shrine) in Badoc, Ilocos Norte[k] is expressed to as a National Landmark [48]
The City of Dapitan is declared to as Shrine city due to the many cultural and historical objects associated with Jose Rizal [50]
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↑ Section 1 of RA 597 s. 1951 declares Fort Santiago as "Shrine of freedom", on the other hand, Section 5 of RA 1607, s. 1956 declares that Fort Santiago is would be known as the "Dambana ng Kalayaan", the same name but in Filipino.
↑ PD no. 105 s. 1973 names the site as Aguinaldo Mansion in Kawit, Cavite
↑ The name "Dambana ng Kagitingan" is what appears in the historical marker installed by the National Historical commission in 1966.
↑ The site where the house once stood was in Pandacan, Manila along the banks of the Nagtahan river. This was original location of the National Shrine contained in Proclamation no. 324, s. 1968. The house was moved several times due to developments of the Nagtahan Bridge (now Mabini Bridge).
↑ Proclamation 1992, s. 2010 declares PUP- Sta Mesa as the permanent home of the Mabini shrine. No law or legal declaration rescinds the Pandacan site.
↑ PD 260, s. 1973 is what appears in the historical marker installed by the National Historical Institute, however, the law does not expressly declare the site as National shrine. The National Registry of Historical sites and structures lists the site as Level I- National shrine
↑ NHI resolution no. 7, s. 1991 further declares Balantang Cemetery as National Memorial shrine.
↑ The historical marker on the site removes the barrio name "Tandu Banak" which was expressed in the NHI resolution
↑ The Rizal theater in Makati was demolished in the 1960s.
↑ The historical marker installed by the National Historical Institute in 1977 declares the site as National Historical Landmark. While the National Registry of Historical sites and structures declare it as Level I- Shrine, no law or proclamation from the NHCP or executive and legislative bodies of the Philippines declare it as such.
↑ The historical marker installed by the National Historical Commission (NHC) states that the Quezon Memorial Shrine (QMS) was declared a National Shrine in January 14, 1974. However, a review of the NHCP National Registry of Historic Sites and Structures website suggests that while the QMS is classified as a Level I Shrine, the legal bases cited, E.O. No. 79 s. 1945 and Resolution No. 4, s. 2015, do not explicitly declare it as a National Shrine.
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