Senator to elevate Rizal Monument's desecration to int'l body

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Pia Cayetano will raise the issue of the Rizal Monument desecration before the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

The construction of a 49-story commercial building is threatening to obstruct the sightline and integrity of the 101-year-old Rizal shrine, according to a report.

The senator hopes to gather international support for the campaign to stop the construction of the said building.

"After my initial visits to UNESCO (United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture) and the ICOMOS headquarters in Paris, I learned how around the world, governments, NGOs, businesses and communities have united to protect their heritage sites. And there are many examples of structures and buildings found to be obstructing these sites that were struck down,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano is working with the ICOMOS, an agency composed of 9,500 heritage conservation experts, which nominates cultural and historical sites to be included in the World Heritage List. The agency also provides support for heritage sites being threatened, such as the case of the Rizal Park.

“I am also looking forward to the lectures that will showcase best practices in heritage preservation based on the experiences of other countries. In fact, I am excited about the presentation by our very own ICOMOS Philippines president who will present the case of Vigan as the best showcase of heritage site management practice in our country," the senator said.

According to Cayetano, the shrine of the country's hero Dr. Jose Rizal symbolizes the Filipinos' historic struggle for independence from colonial rule, as well as the universal ideas of education, democracy, freedom, equality and nationalism.

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