Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Philippines

In 2000, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts published Glimpses, authored by Jesus Peralta, Phd, after legislation on Philippine heritage was pushed through, including intangible heritages. The book became the starting point of a greater intangible cultural heritage conservation in the Philippines. The book showcased the known indigenous peoples in the country, highlighting some of their intangible cultural heritage.

The Philippines possess one of the first 19 Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, the Hudhud Chant of the Ifugao, which was declared by UNESCO in 2001. The Philippines currently has 2 UNESCO declared representatives in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The second, the Darangen Epic Chant of the Maranao People of Lake Lanao was proclaimed in 2005. Both representatives of the Philippines where formally inscribed to the list in 2008.

To safeguard the many Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Philippines, the National Commission on Culture and the Arts of the Philippines in cooperation with the ICHCAP, published the Pinagmulan: Enumeration from the Philippine Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2012. The publication contains an initial inventory of 335 INC elements, but only discussed 109 properties. The NCCA and other key entities are currently updating the Philippine Inventory to conserve more intangible cultural heritage in the country.

In 2014, the Philippines joined other Asian nations in establishing the support and submission of the Tug of war- a multinational cultural heritage or Tugging rituals and games, a Intangible Cultural Heritage that encompasses tug-of-war games in Vietnam, Cambodia, South Korea, and the Philippines. The initial move of the Philippines started in 2013. The Philippines' part in the new element is represented by the tug-of-war of the Ifugaos (in Brgy. Hapao, Municipality of Hungduan) called the punnuk. Other than the punnuk, the Philippines also has other indigenous tug-of-war games that are not represented and may be used as an extension to the nomination. The element is expected to be declared as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2015.

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