Communication & Information

[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”The Memory of the World Programme ” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23444444″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]The Memory of the World (MOW) Programme lists some of humanity’s most historically- and culturally-significant documents. The programme preserves and protects our access to recorded knowledge from all over the world. It also lists invaluable archive holdings and library collections. The programme aims to guard against what it calls ‘collective amnesia’ and helps raise recognition of the world’s intellectual treasures such as films, manuscripts, music, scientific discoveries, and exploratory voyages that are considered milestones in history.

PH NatCom further strengthens the programme by holding awareness-raising seminars and encouraging nominations for national, regional and international registers. Through these seminar-writeshops, PH NatCom has reached over 300 archivists, librarians, educators, and heritage workers, some of whom have already expressed interest to nominate specific documentary heritage under their custody.

The Philippine inscriptions in the MOW international register are:

  • The Presidential Papers of Manuel L. Quezon (National Museum)

Manuel Quezon was a forceful personality who dominated the political scene and towered over his contemporaries and colleagues. His active involvement in the destiny of his country was felt both in the Philippines and the United States. The Quezon papers document the events and politics involved in the long history of the Philippine independence movement conducted both in the Philippines and in the United States, and consequently constitute a major source of information not only for the history of the Philippines, but also in the context of its history within the region (Southeast East Asia/East Asia), as well as of the United States and European countries (Britain, France, the Netherlands) during the period of colonial rule in the region.

  • The Philippine Paleographs (Hanunuo and Buid in Mindoro; and Tagbanua and Palawan in Palawan)

Communication by means of symbols and creative graphics is one of man’s singular achievements. Syllabaries, like those that developed in the Philippines, go a step further and represent not merely graphics, but articulate sounds. Dating back to at least the 10th century AD, four sets of these syllabaries, out of a documented seventeen, have survived the centuries and remain in use to this day.

  • The Radio Broadcast of the Philippine People Power Revolution (Radio Veritas)The collection of sound recordings of 44 audiocassette tapes and 1 mini-disc document the actual, unedited day-to-day radio broadcast of Radio Veritas, (a Catholic-owned radio station at the outskirts of Manila), DZRJ/DZRB, Radio Bandido, (a privately-owned radio station in Quezon City then under the Ministry of National Defense), DZRH (a privately-owned radio station in Manila), and the Voice of the Philippines (a government-owned radio station taken over by the people led by Radio Veritas on the 24th of February, 1986).

The People Power Revolution was possibly a unique political event of the 20th century which stirred the world: the peaceful overthrow of an entrenched dictatorship through a spontaneous popular uprising, documented and influenced by the 20th century medium of radio. The unbroken radio record over four days in 1986 is an unvarnished chronicle of a nation and its people at a crucial time in its history. The world listened, watched and read. The event will forever be a reference point for the peaceful resolution of deep national crises.

  • The Jose Maceda Collection (UP Center of Ethnomusicology)

Prof. Dr. Jose Maceda, composer and internationally-renowned scholar in ethnomusicology, recorded and collected (personally, and cooperatively with his staff, as well as contributions from other scholars in the international community) traditional music in the Philippines and in some parts of Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, China) during the period between 1953 and 2003.

The collection consists of 1760 hours of tape recordings in 1936 reels and cassette tapes, field notes, black & white and colored photographs of different musicians and instruments, including some films.
The collection reflects the traditional music of the Philippines. It covers sixty-eight ethnolinguistic groups in Southeast Asia before many musical styles vanished, or substantially changed, because of social transformation, modern civilization and cultural globalization.

For the Southeast Asian region, the José Maceda Collection is unique in scope and size. It is a significant memorial of the orally-transmitted cultural contributions to humankind.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”1126″ img_size=””][vc_single_image image=”1124″ img_size=””][vc_single_image image=”1127″ img_size=””][vc_single_image image=”1125″ img_size=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Information for All Programme” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23444444″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]The Information for All Programme (IFAP) is an intergovernmental programme created for governments of the world to harness new opportunities in the information age and create equitable societies through better access to information. IFAP in the Philippines provides a focus on country-specific needs and challenges and provides an opportunity to interpret and mobilize the IFAP vision for local communities. The Philippines is a member of the Intergovernmental Council until 2019.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]