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 2021 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of PD No. 1616 Rancho Arcilla |
About the Speakers
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).
Sheena Anjeli Miles Botiwey was Sales and Promotions Supervisor at the Intramuros Administration (IA) and formerly the Technical Assistant to the Administrator of Intramuros where she managed the agency’s branding, special projects, and events.
She has been working in the tourism industry for decades, in both the government and the private sector. She has previously worked for the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), where she handled promotions of incentives for Tourism Enterprise Zones under the Tourism Act of 2009, as well as serving as project manager for site enhancement efforts during the Philippine hosting of key international events such as APEC 2015, ASEAN 2017, Routes Asia, and Madrid Fusion Manila.
Sheena has a BS in Tourism, Cum Laude, from the University of the Philippines Diliman, and is currently a scholar of the Development Academy of the Philippines under the Public Management Development Program, the government’s Career Executive Service Development Program.
Vhincent Cañares is a lawyer. He was the Chief of the Urban Planning and Community Development Division of the Intramuros Administration (2021 to 2022). 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.
Ramil Belleza Tibayan is a Filipino architect and cultural worker. He was the Chief of the Cultural Properties Conservation Division of the Intramuros Administration (2020 to 2023). As an academic, he is also presently a lecturer at the College of Architecture of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. As a practicing architect he is licensed in the Philippines and in the national licensure examinations in 2009 he earned the top place. From the University of Santo Tomas he has a BS in Architecture (Cum Laude) and a Masters in Cultural Heritage Studies. He was also trained with the Getty Conservation Institute and ThinkCity Malaysia on Conservation of Historic Urban Districts.
Updated: 05 June 2024.
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.
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