Intramuros Learning Sessions episode no. 47
Protecting Intramuros Series
Part 1: Urban and Architectural Regulations in the Walled City
Video not working? Go to this YouTube link to access the recording, instead: https://youtu.be/ud2711n32dk
Overview
Intramuros is the only place in the Philippines where urban and architectural developments are regulated for cultural reasons by the force of a national law. The importance of Intramuros’ Spanish era architectural and urban character was first recognized by the State as early as the Commonwealth period with the enactment of Commonwealth Act No. 171 in 1936, the first of its kind. Successive laws have confirmed the importance of Intramuros’ colonial architectural character, culminating in 1979 when Presidential Decree No. 1616 was put into effect, establishing the Intramuros Administration for the orderly restoration and development of Intramuros and declaring Intramuros as a “monument to the Hispanic period of Philippine history.” This webinar will talk about the existing regulatory framework of Intramuros, including urban regulations and architectural standards.
This episode is the first part of the series Protecting Intramuros.
- Guest speaker: Rancho Arcilla and Vhincent Canares
- Moderator: Jeffrey Yap
About the Speakers
Rancho Arcilla
John Paul Escandor Arcilla, known professionally as Rancho Arcilla, is the author of the Intramuros Register of Styles (2021). He served as Chairperson of the Intramuros Technical Committee on Architectural Standards (TCAS) from June 2022 to May 2024. As TCAS Chairperson, Arcilla oversaw the review of all development, including new constructions, in the Walled City.
Arcilla was also the first Archivist of the Intramuros Administration. With a mandate from Atty. Guiller Asido, Administrator of Intramuros from 2017 to 2022, Arcilla established the Administration’s Archives and Central Records Section, serving as its first Section Head from July 2019 to June 2024.
He has an MA in Philippine Studies from UP Diliman and a BA in Asian Studies from the University of Santo Tomas. Arcilla specializes on colonial architecture.
In 2021, Arcilla was instrumental in the development of the Revised 2021 Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Presidential Decree No. 1616, the main framework and legal instrument in the management of Intramuros District. The architectural provisions of the IRR and the Intramuros Register of Styles (2021) is based on his MA thesis Walls within Walls: The Architecture of Intramuros (2021).
Updated: 05 June 2024.
Vhincent Cañares
Vhincent Cañares is a lawyer. He was formerly the Chief of the Urban Planning and Community Development Division of the Intramuros Administration. Atty. Vhince was previously the Chief of the Legal Division of the Procurement Service, as well as a director at the Nayong Filipino Foundation. He has a Juris Doctor degree from the Adamson University and an MBA from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. He was admitted to the Bar in 2013.
Protecting Intramuros
This is Part 4 of the Intramuros Learning Session’s Protecting Intramuros Miniseries.
In 1979 the Intramuros Administration was established by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1616. Protecting Intramuros is a series of episodes under the Intramuros Learning Sessions discussing how the Intramuros Administration fulfills its mandate of managing the orderly restoration and development of the Walled City.
 | Part 1 / ILS no. 47 Urban and Architectural Regulations in the Walled City Rancho Arcilla and Vhincent Cañares |
 | Part 2 / ILS no. 53 Current Conservation Projects in the Walled City Ramil Tibayan |
 | Part 3 / ILS no. 56 Intramuros as a Creative Urban Heritage District Sheena Botiwey |
 | Part 4 / ILS no. 80 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of PD No. 1616 Rancho Arcilla |
About the Intramuros Learning Sessions
The Intramuros Learning Sessions (ILS) is the educational lecture series of the Intramuros Administration (IA). The IA is an attached national government agency under the Department of Tourism.
Topics are interdisciplinary and cover themes related to Intramuros and Manila studies, Philippine studies, as well as cultural heritage studies. Pursuant to IA’s charter, the ILS aims to contribute to the strengthening of the Filipino’s national identity and sense of belonging and pride.
For inquiries contact us at [email protected]
| See Previous ILS Episode Mga Mahal na Araw, Mga Banal na Araw | See Next ILS Episode Healthy Parks, Healthy People |
Check out our previous ILS episodes here
For more information contact the Center for Intramuros Studies via [email protected]
Cannot find what you are looking for? Try requesting for more data via our eFOI Portal.
