Intramuros Learning Sessions episode no. 63

Overview

For Malaysia, Heritage Conservation is considered a novice segment within the built environment practice. The national policies since her independence have been found to overlook the importance of heritage. The 2008 induction of Melaka and George Town in the UNESCO World Heritage site list has elevated the status and role of heritage in the country. This talk shall elaborate further on Malaysian experience in dealing with heritage sites scattered around the country, especially for sites located outside the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

  • Guest speaker: Afzal Azhari
  • Moderator: Rancho Arcilla

About the speaker: Afzal Azhari

Afzal Azhari is a Registered Town Planner and principal of Perunding Afzal Azhari, an urban planning firm registered under the Board of Town Planners of Malaysia. He is also a licensed Tourist Guide (Local Host) under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, and currently serves as the Chairman of Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP) Youth Wing and member of ICOMOS Malaysia. Azhari has a Master of Arts (MA) in International Development & Planning from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor’s in Urban & Regional Planning (Honours) from the International Islamic University of Malaysia.

About the Moderator: 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).

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
The UST Heritage Library: A Timeless Treasure		See Next ILS Episode
A Community-Centric Model for Cultural Sustainability

Check out our previous ILS episodes here

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