National Historical Institute (Philippines)
Encyclopedia
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (Filipino: Pambansang Komisyong Pangkasaysayan ng Pilipinas, abbreviated NHCP) is part of the government of the Philippines. Its mission is "the promotion of Philippine history
and cultural heritage
through research, dissemination, conservation, sites management and heraldry works." As such, it "aims to inculcate awareness and appreciation of the noble deeds and ideals of our heroes and other illustrious Filipinos, to instill pride in the Filipino people
and to rekindle the Filipino spirit through the lessons of history."
' declaration of martial law
, but the roots of the institute can be traced back to 1933, when the American colonizers first established the Philippine Historical Research and Markers Committee (PHRMC).
Frank Murphy
, byf Executive Order 451, to identify and mark "historic antiquities" in Manila
as a first step towards their preservation. The commission's mandate was later expanded to cover the whole of the Philippines.
This first committee was composed of: American journalist Walter Robb who served as chair; American Anthropologist H. Otley Beyer
who would later be known as the father of Philippine Anthropology; Spanish Jesuit Fr. Miguel Selga, SJ; dean Edward Hyde from the University of the Philippines College of Engineering
; and Filipino statesmen Jaime C. de Veyra
, Conrado Benitez
, and Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez
.
There are no known records of the activities of the committee during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines
during World War II, but the present administration of the NHI hopes that current research on the activities of the Laurel government
during that period will fill in the gap.
The postwar reconstruction years was a busy era for the PHC as there was a government interest in "the reconstruction of the past as a means to form nationhood." Reconstituted six months after independence and the inauguration of the Third Philippine Republic, the committee was first placed under the Office of the President, and then transferred to the Department of Education. During this time, it installed over 400 historical markers all over the archipelago; named and renamed various streets, plazas, towns and other public places; and acquired places and relics of heroes.
. Since 2002 the NHCP has been under the able leadership of the Hon. Ambeth R. Ocampo as Chairman assisted by Executive Director Ludovico D. Badoy. On May 12, 2010, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the law reverting the National Historical Institute into its original form as the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP or PKP for Pambansang Komisyon Pangkasaysayan).
History of the Philippines
The history of the Philippines is believed to have begun with the arrival of the first humans via land bridges at least 30,000 years ago. The first recorded visit from the West is the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan, who sighted Samar on March 16, 1521 and landed on Homonhon Island southeast of Samar...
and cultural heritage
Culture of the Philippines
Philippine culture is related to Micronesian, Bornean, Mexican and Spanish cultures. The people today are mostly of Malayo-Polynesian origin, although there are people with Spanish, Mexican, Austro-Melanesian and Chinese blood. Geographically, the Philippines is considered part of Southeast Asia...
through research, dissemination, conservation, sites management and heraldry works." As such, it "aims to inculcate awareness and appreciation of the noble deeds and ideals of our heroes and other illustrious Filipinos, to instill pride in the Filipino people
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
and to rekindle the Filipino spirit through the lessons of history."
Institutional History
The present day NHCP was established in 1972 as part of the reorganization of government after President Ferdinand MarcosFerdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
' declaration of martial law
Proclamation No. 1081
Proclamation No. 1081 was the declaration of martial law in the Philippines by President Ferdinand E. Marcos. Once in effect, it covered the entire republic on September 21, 1972...
, but the roots of the institute can be traced back to 1933, when the American colonizers first established the Philippine Historical Research and Markers Committee (PHRMC).
The American colonial period
The PHRMC was created by U.S. Governor GeneralGovernor-General of the Philippines
The Governor-General of the Philippines was the title of the government executive during the colonial period of the Philippines, governed mainly by Spain and the United States, and briefly by Great Britain, from 1565 to 1935....
Frank Murphy
Frank Murphy
William Francis Murphy was a politician and jurist from Michigan. He served as First Assistant U.S. District Attorney, Eastern Michigan District , Recorder's Court Judge, Detroit . Mayor of Detroit , the last Governor-General of the Philippines , U.S...
, byf Executive Order 451, to identify and mark "historic antiquities" in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
as a first step towards their preservation. The commission's mandate was later expanded to cover the whole of the Philippines.
This first committee was composed of: American journalist Walter Robb who served as chair; American Anthropologist H. Otley Beyer
H. Otley Beyer
Henry Otley Beyer was an American anthropologist, who spent most of his adult life in the Philippines teaching Filipinos and other scholars about Philippine indigenous culture...
who would later be known as the father of Philippine Anthropology; Spanish Jesuit Fr. Miguel Selga, SJ; dean Edward Hyde from the University of the Philippines College of Engineering
University of the Philippines College of Engineering
The College of Engineering of the University of the Philippines Diliman is the largest degree-granting unit in the UP System campus in terms of student population...
; and Filipino statesmen Jaime C. de Veyra
Jaime C. de Veyra
Jaime Carlos de Veyra, a Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands; born in Tanauan, Province of Leyte, Philippine Islands, born November 4, 1873; attended public and private schools; was graduated from the College of San Juan de Letran in Manila in 1893; studied law,...
, Conrado Benitez
Conrado Benitez
Conrado Benitez was a former dean of the University of the Philippines. He was also the first president, as well as chairman, and one of the original incorporators of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement.-References:...
, and Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez
Eulogio Rodriguez
Eulogio "Amang" Adona Rodríguez, Sr. was a Filipino politician, the longest serving Senate President after Manuel L...
.
The Philippine Commonwealth
With the establishment of the Philippine Commonwealth in 1935, the PHRMC was replaced by the Philippines Historical Committee (PHC), which took over the same functions as its predecessor, as well as the tasks of repairing government-owned antiquities and acquiring antiquities owned by private individuals.There are no known records of the activities of the committee during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines
Japanese occupation of the Philippines
The Japanese occupation of the Philippines was the period in the history of the Philippines between 1942 and 1945, when the Empire of Japan occupied the previously American-controlled Philippines during World War II....
during World War II, but the present administration of the NHI hopes that current research on the activities of the Laurel government
Jose P. Laurel
José Paciano Laurel y García was the president of the Republic of the Philippines, a Japanese-sponsored administration during World War II, from 1943 to 1945...
during that period will fill in the gap.
The postwar reconstruction years was a busy era for the PHC as there was a government interest in "the reconstruction of the past as a means to form nationhood." Reconstituted six months after independence and the inauguration of the Third Philippine Republic, the committee was first placed under the Office of the President, and then transferred to the Department of Education. During this time, it installed over 400 historical markers all over the archipelago; named and renamed various streets, plazas, towns and other public places; and acquired places and relics of heroes.
Reorganization During Martial Law
As the nation rebuilt itself, a number of other historical commissions were also created by law to commemorate the birth centennials of various Philippine heroes of the late 19th century. All of these commissions were eventually merged into one National Heroes Commission. Further restructuring resulted in this becoming the National Historical Commission (NHC), which is a name still sometimes applied to the NHI today. In 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos' declaration of martial law resulted in a reorganization of government and the renaming of the NHC as the National Historical Institute.The NHCP Today
Today, the NHCP still undertakes all the functions of the previous commissions, most notably those of preserving historical sites and structures and serving as lead agency for the commemorations of Independence Day, Rizal DayRizal Day
Rizal Day is a Philippine national holiday commemorating the life and works of José Rizal, one of the Philippines' national heroes. It is celebrated every December 30, the day of Rizal's execution at Bagumbayan, now known as Rizal Park, in 1896.-History:...
. Since 2002 the NHCP has been under the able leadership of the Hon. Ambeth R. Ocampo as Chairman assisted by Executive Director Ludovico D. Badoy. On May 12, 2010, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the law reverting the National Historical Institute into its original form as the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP or PKP for Pambansang Komisyon Pangkasaysayan).
External links
- National Historical Institute
- Philippine Historical AssociationPhilippine Historical AssociationThe Philippine Historical Association is a professional association of historians in the Philippines. It was founded on September 18, 1955 by a group of prominent historians at Carbungco Restaurant located at Lepanto St., Manila...