CHINESE INFLUENCE IN THE PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC CITY OF VIGAN

The Chinese merchants have contributed much to the development of economic, socio-cultural, religious, and political activities in the East Asian region. However, there were significant contributions in the historic development of economic trading and enterprise, and diplomatic relations that influence the civilization of Southeast Asia. In the Philippines particularly in Northern Luzon, it has direct influence the Chinese traders on the Asian development of artifacts, language, culture, and human values that until now fused by the life of the Filipino society. The emergence of European power in Asia has even contributed by the unique culture of the Filipino as it refined by the social, economic, and political status that even culturally diffused by the East Asian influence in Northern Luzon. This unique blending and the historical evolution in Northern Philippines has given a new opportunity in the contemporary time that brought about the cultural assimilation from the polarity of foreign influences of East Asia as far as Europe. The universal historic presence on the core powers of East Asia and Europe has a positive development on impact economic and cultural life of the Filipino particularly the Ilocanos which has been the main actor in economic diplomacy and dignified cooperation to bring security and peace in the northern part of the Philippines. The historic city of Vigan has a tremendous effect on the cultural diffusion and assimilation from the European powers that provided economic, cultural, and political support for almost three centuries. The Chinese have contributed to the balance of power in the area of diplomacy and economic trade including the diffusion to Filipino life. However, foreign domination had always its history that reflected by the struggle for independence and freedom. While Vigan has indeed played a major role in the development of national consciousness on the struggle for Philippine independence and freedom. On the other hand, we now study the economic and cultural development as a result of the sustained peripheral sphere of influence from political and economic ties with the European and East Asian in the historic city of Vigan. The demographic distribution of the Chinese had been historically recorded from its trade and industries, local positions, language and culture, physique, mental and social conditions during the Spanish colonial period. It should be noted that Vigan Ancestral Houses were built by the Chinese taipans, this was the reason for an inscription of the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Convention under the " Historic Centre of Vigan". This research study would like to find out the extent of Chinese influence on how they contributed to the preservation of the historic city of Vigan particularly in the socio-cultural and political and economic development in contemporary time. Historically, the Chinese junks were always taking the Ilocos route in delivering the merchandise. The prosperity of Northern Ilocos had always been the trade route because they sold the agricultural crops they produced in their community. At the time the Spaniards settled in "Villa Fernandina" which was later became " Ciudad Fernandina" then " Vigan" economic prosperity was attributed by the Chinese trades through the "Pandan Port". As pointed out in the Vigan Master Plan on its economic activities in the past it was mentioned that in Morga's list of commodities being exported to nearby Asian countries four centuries ago, the Ilocos Tibur (smaller cylindrical type of burnay) were much favored by the Japanese who used them for tea-drinking socials. But tibur jars are now out of date and are now hunted by antique collectors. What the local clay craftsmen produce today are the utilitarian "burnay" which are used to store rice and grains, in the fermentation of "bagoong" ( local fish sauce), basi ( sugarcane wine), and suka (sugarcane vinegar), and in the production of coarse-grained salt in Pangasinan and other parts of Luzon. The Chinese mestizos, taipans, and traders played a major role in the economic and cultural transformation of the Historic City of Vigan. It should be noted that the historic district of Vigan was dominated by the Chinese. The ancestral houses in the business district had an architectural adaptation with the Chinese and European culture. The ancestral houses were built by the Chinese taipans who made fortune out of the dye, abel fabrics, gold, tobaccos, and other items. The pre-colonial and Spanish epoch showed the strong presence of the Chinese which had been continually integrated into the Philippine society.

During the Spanish colonial period, it continued to have economic trade that boasted the economic prosperity in Metro Vigan. The innovative aspect of this study is to integrate the historical analysis on the specific role of the Chinese taipans, traders, and artisans as to their contribution to the development of the Historic Center of Vigan. The contemporary development of Vigan City is attributed basically to the existing local products that are in demand particularly "Burnay" industry, "Terracota" tiles Industry and "Abel" fabric Industry. It is likewise important to study their role in the socio-cultural and political development that fused in the Ilocano culture. The significance of this study provides an extensive study about the influence of the Chinese people in the preservation of the Historic City of Vigan. The Chinese taipans, traders, and mestizos have played a major role in the transformation of "Ciudad Fernandina" as a bustling city just like "Intramuros". The economic development of a city plays an important role in the transition of the political, economic, and social development of the locality. Given this research perspective, it is important to find out the extent of influence given by the Chinese. There are no extensive studies in this area this would be of great help to understand the contribution of East Asian countries to the Southeast Asian countries just like the Philippines. The extensiveness of this study will also focus on the economic and political impact as to the implementation of the Master Plan for the Revitalization of the Historic Center of Vigan which was supported by the Department of Tourism, Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion International, Fundacion Santiago, and the City Government of Vigan. This is an example of International Grant Assistance for the development of cultural heritage and tourism which eventually provide the necessary stimulus support to pump prime the local economy of Vigan City. The result of this study will be a good model to be duplicated in other countries particularly in the preservation of the cultural heritage which can be used as a tool for the economic development of a country. The development strategies of the Master Plan for the Revitalization of the Historic Center of Vigan were implemented on March 23, 1999, with the strategic development to promote the preservation and conservation of Filipino historical heritage and resources. After 5 years of implementation of the master plan, it will find out the qualitative and quantitative effects concerning sustainable development and tourism management. The significance of this study provides a good model of development and benchmarking in the field of local governance, tourism management, investments, sustainable development, and international diplomacy for grants and aids. Likewise, the other importance of the study for the grants and assistance of the historic town of Vigan is the preservation of cultural heritage which would enhance the interchange of universal human values in the development of sites, monuments, and buildings. The study has significance in the infusion of new investments for sustainable development in Cultural Tourism. This is in human development and employment in the creation of cultural tourism enterprise which would produce income and livelihood to the people of Vigan.

A. Chinese Influence of the Historic Centre of Vigan

Mallat (1846) in his book on "The Philippines: History, Geography, Customs, Agriculture and Commerce of the Spanish Colonies in Oceania" and Morga (1609) in his book on "Historical Events of the Philippine Islands" gave extensive discussions on the historical insights in the influence of the Chinese during the Spanish Colonial Period in the Philippine Islands. Mallat (1846) cited that in any case there is no doubt that long before the arrival of the Europeans, the aborigines of this archipelago had frequent relations with the nations of Asia, notably the northern provinces with the Chinese and Japanese, with whom they shared significant points of physical resemblance, as a matter of fact during the discovery of the country, many objects were made in China and Japan, such as cloth and utensils of different sorts." Furthermore, the inhabitants exchanged with the Chinese, products of their country for the merchandise from Canton. Chincheo and Ucheo. Japanese came from Nagasaki with the northern winds that blew at the end of October, bringing silks, cotton, and household utensil; like the Chinese, they returned home during the time of the westerly winds, with logwood, honey, gold dust, bamboo, wax, palmwood, and other merchandise. Morga (1609) explained the Pre-Spanish Period has extensive trade with the Chinese junks. Saffron, cloves, pepper, nutmegs, and many drugs are produced, besides the abundance of cotton silk of all colors, great quantities of which are carried thither annually by Chinese merchants. More than twenty ships arrive in those ports, laden with abovementioned cloths of various colors; with earthenware, powder, saltpetre, iron, steel quantities of quicksilver, bronze and copper, wheat-flour, chestnuts, biscuits, and dates; linen cloth; escritoires work in many colors, head-dressers and this clothes for veils; water-jugs made of tin; drawn in a manner never seen in Christendom have said very cheap. According to Morga (1609), the products of the islands themselves are old also quite cheaply-can be obtained for four reales, twelve fanegas of rice for eight reales; three hen for one; one whole hog for eight reales; one buffalo for four; one deer for two; but it must be very fat and large; four arrobas of sugar for six; one jar of ajonjolin oil for three; two baskets of saffron for two; six libras of pepper or of cloves for one; two hundred nutmegs for one, one arroba for six; one quintal of iron or steel for six; thirty-five porcelain dishes for four; and everything else may be bought at like prices. The Chinese generation during the Spanish period had been culturally amalgamated, those who were considered as Chinese mestizos including Spanish mestizos were more active, more enterprising, more devoted to commerce. They also shared a lot of the Chinese characters which they kept for as long as a sequence of generations ( as much as of the moral as the physical) in the shape of the eyes. Pure Chinese for a separate population, they were more particularly called " Sangleyes" The gobernadorcillo of the Chinese and its alguacils have, for a distinctive mark of their office, of the European hat over their Chinese cap, and in the hand a cane with a cord; in the whole Philippines, this cane is the insignia of command. Apart from wholesale and retail commerce which they share in Manila with mestizos, they are also spicedealers, fruit-dealers,cook-shop keepers, pastry-shop, either at home or on the streets. Other Chinese are tailors, bootmakers, shoemakers. In a word, it would be difficult to enumerate all the kinds of industries they engage in. Moreover, they send their savings regularly in China. Introduced by the Chinese in pre-colonial days, this industry antedates the coming of the Spanish Conquistadores. Through changing times, the burnay (jars) has continually played an indispensable role in the life of the Ilocanos. It is the burnay that the bagoong (fish sauce), the main condiment of the viand of the Ilocanos, and the basi ( sugarcane wine) are processed and fermented. Some of these jars have been imported abroad and tried as containers of wine too. It is important to emphasize this point that it was during the Sung period that big jars were brought into the Philippines. These jars were later used as burial coffins and part of the paraphernalia used during magico-religious ceremonies, a practice that continues to be dominant among the contemporary mountain peoples in different parts of the country. This also explains why porcelain played a vital part in prehistoric Chinese -Filipino Relations. Based on the comparative analysis of archaeological materials presented by Jocano (1975) for the Sung period which the same nature of trading activities done in Pandan port. The trade was carried out wholesale. The items were loaded in junks which were easily transported from a coastal community to another. In Vigan City, the area of Pandan port was connected by the mouth of the China Sea which passed through the tributaries of the Abra River. This was the important coastal river that connected to the inner city of Vigan. While the internal trade particularly with those communities which were outside the direct line of commerce followed the initial wholesale deals. Thus, it is interesting to note that many contemporary cultural groups in the remote mountains and coastal areas still possess magnificent Sung pieces, mostly jars which they use for ritual purposes. In Vigan City, the jar industries have been identified that the Chinese traders were the ones who introduce jar-making through kilns. The direct line of commerce was mainly distributed to the nearby municipalities of Vigan City which was also a part of "Ciudad Fernandina" during the Spanish Period. An interesting historical study on the direct influence of the Chinese can still be traced back during the emergent periods through the contacts with other Asians which was presented by Jocano (1975) who conducted a historical, anthropological, and archaeological investigation of the beginning of Filipino Society and Culture. The Chinese were among the early group of Asian traders who had direct contacts with our ancestors and who contributed to the enrichment of ancient Filipino culture. Sino-Philippine contacts became extensive at the turn of the 10th century AD and reached its people by the middle of the 14th and 15th centuries. Jocano (1975) made a review of the highlights of these prehistoric contacts, as evidenced by archaeological materials, which may help proximate the impact of Chinese influence on the lives of ancient Filipinos. The Chinese traders of the T'ang Dynasty (618-906 AD), Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD), Yuan and Ming traders (1260-1368; 14th through early 16th centuries AD)

1. The traders of the T'ang Dynasty (618-906AD) were the earliest Chinese traders to reach the Philippines were those who belonged to the T'ang dynasty. There were several archaeological sites throughout the country which yielded T'ang trade items in northern Luzon include the Babuyan islands, Ilocos and Pangasinan coasts. Most of these sites are closed to the coast or near the riverbanks, indicating the configuration of settlements along with areas where community life could be sustained through trade.

2. Another group of Chinese merchants who came to trade with the early Filipinos, following the decline of the T'ang in China, were Sung peoples. Archaeologists have identified these artifacts as belonging to the early and late Sung period and kilned in South China, especially in the Fukien Province. Most traders who came to the Philippines were from the southern region of China. 3. The Yuan and Ming dynasty exported a tremendous number of porcelain, however, the pottery trade did not significantly increase until the rise of the Ming emperors to power in 1368 AD.

Jocano (1975) pointed out that from the 14th century to the Spanish contact, pottery trade with China was fairly established and extensive. By this time, Chinese junks carry into the islands large quantities of different pottery types from the specific kilns, mostly highly wares which could not find a local market. De Morga (1609) gave an extensive account of the Spanish and Chinese relations in trade and industry particularly to the Chinese mestizos who were living in commercial districts. As explained by Morga (1609) " Ordinarily a considerable number of junks and other large vessels arrive from the great country of China to Manila loaded with merchandise, and every year, approximately from thirty to forty such vessels come to the City, and although they do not enter at the same time as a fleet or an armada, they do so in small squadrons and deliberately calculated times, generally in the new moon of March. They depart from the provinces of Canton, Chichow, Ucheo and they accomplish the voyage to Manila City in fifteen or twenty days, sell all their merchandise, and return on time before the storms come, which means on the end of May or early part of June, in order to avoid danger during the voyage According to Fox there several factors account for the incredible quantity of Asian pottery which has been dug in the Philippine archaeological sites that theoretically relate the transfer of technology by Chinese artisans and traders in the pottery and jar making in Ilocos region. Primarily, the Philippines was a focal area of Chinese (and Asian) trade for nearly 400 years prior to contacts with the western world. Secondly, it was a period during which the unrivaled products of the Chinese. The trade ware was replacing the ritual functions earlier served by the (locally-made earthware. The low-fired Filipino-made pottery had been extensively used for ritual purposes and "grave furniture" since Neolithic times, about 1,500 BC. But local earthware apparently could not compare with the wide range of beautiful and exotic porcelain and stoneware. Basically, the locally –made earthenware through the production of a jar and other pottery had been the popular product in Vigan City because of the widely used utility. Today, this product has evolved into souvenir products and interior designs at home. The popular pottery and jar making in the local industry of Vigan is the "burnay". The Vigan Master Plan included the "burnay" making as a contemporary economic activity which is a popular souvenir of local and foreign tourists in Vigan City: This is an earthware jar crafted by a potter's hands with the aid of a potters wheel. As in the "damili", fine sand (anay) is used as a tempering material. Fired at a high temperature in a huge brick-and clay ground kiln, it is harder and more durable than other terra cotta. Burnay technology was brought to Vigan by Chinese artisans, who, according to Vigan folk historian Damaso King, came from Zwi-Sao, Chun-chiu province in Mainland China. As such, it may exist in the area even before the coming of the Spaniards in 1572. These Chinese artisans who set up this cottage industry depended on the natives for their clay supply and labor. Likewise, Fidel Go, the owner of the Ruby Pottery explained that the burnay technology was introduced to Vigan around 1890 by Pedro Go, a Chinese settler from Chinkang, in Fukien, mainland China. He set up his "camarin" (jar factory) along what is now known as Rivero Street in Brgy, VIII Vigan City. The Vigan Tourism Management has always found a way to preserve the local industries which significantly contributed by the Chinese influence because of the long trade relations which finally culturally diffused and amalgamated from the contemporary cultural heritage of Vigan. It must be noted that the "Master Development Plan for the Revitalization of the Historic Center of Vigan" (1999) emphasized on the Chinese origin of local industries that the "industrial history" of Vigan is still evident in ancient crafts that were introduced by the Chinese merchants long before the arrival of the Spaniards. They are the cotton 'abel' loom weaving, the 'burnay' stoneware jar making, and other red clay industries. In nearby municipalities, other ancient crafts that continue to exist are stone cutting, antiques tambourines, jewelry making, blacksmithing, and wooden furniture.

B. Historic Centre of Vigan under the UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for 2008 aims to facilitate the implementation of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The World Heritage Committee decides on the inscription of a site based on a nomination made by the Government of the country where is the site is located. The site is judged on its merits, in accordance to sets of criteria as provided in Article 77 the guidelines of the Committee considers property as having outstanding universal value. Historically, the concern of the cultural and natural heritage and eventually the formation of the UNESCO World Heritage had adopted in the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization meeting in Paris from 17 October to 21 November 1972, at its seventeenth session,

Noting that the cultural heritage and the natural heritage are increasingly threatened with destruction not only by the traditional causes of decay but also by changing social and economic conditions which aggravate the situation with even more formidable phenomena of damage or destruction,

Considering that deterioration or disappearance of any item of the cultural or natural heritage constitutes a harmful impoverishment of the heritage of all the nations of the world,

Considering that protection of this heritage at the national level often remains incomplete because of the scale of the resources which it requires and of the insufficient economic, scientific, and technological resources of the country where the property to be protected is situated,

Recalling that the Constitution of the Organization provides that it will maintain, increase, and diffuse knowledge by assuring the conservation and protection of the world's heritage, and recommending to the nations concerned the necessary international conventions,

Considering that the existing international conventions, recommendations, and resolutions concerning cultural and natural property demonstrate the importance, for all the peoples of the

world, of safeguarding this unique and irreplaceable property, to whatever people it may belong,

Considering that parts of the cultural or natural heritage are of outstanding interest and therefore need to be preserved as part of the world heritage of mankind as a whole,

Considering that, in view of the magnitude and gravity of the new dangers threatening them, it is incumbent on the international community as a whole to participate in the protection of the cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value, by the granting of collective assistance which, although not taking the place of action by the State concerned, will serve as an efficient complement thereto,

Considering that it is essential for this purpose to adopt new provisions in the form of a convention establishing an effective system of collective protection of the cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value, organized on a permanent basis and in accordance with modern scientific methods,

In this study, the inscription of Vigan City is presented in Article 1 of the guideline the definition of "cultural heritage" which has considered monuments, group buildings, and sites. These are the three considered groupings of cultural heritage:

1. Monuments. The architectural works, works of monumental sculpture and painting, elements or structures of an archaeological nature, inscriptions, cave dwellings, and combinations of features, which are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art, or science; 2. Groups of Buildings These are the groups of separate or connected buildings which, because of their architecture, their homogeneity, or their place in the landscape, are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art, or science; 3. Sites. These are works of man or the combined works of nature and man and areas including archaeological sites which are of outstanding universal value from the historical, aesthetic, ethnological, or anthropological points of view.

For Cultural Property on UNESCO Heritage Convention a nominated cultural property must meet at least one of the following criteria before it is inscribed in the World Heritage List:

(i) represent a masterpiece of human creative genius; (ii) exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning, or landscape design; (iii) bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared; (iv) be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history; (v) be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change; (vi) be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.

(The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria);

The justification for the inscription was established in the 16th century, Vigan is the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Its architecture reflects the coming together of cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines, from China, and Europe, resulting in a culture and townscape that have no parallel anywhere in East and South-East Asia. This was considered under criterion (ii): Vigan represents a unique fusion of Asian building design and construction with European colonial architecture and planning. Criterion (iv): Vigan is an exceptionally intact and well-preserved example of a European trading town in East and South-East Asia. The World Heritage Committee has identified and defined several specific types of cultural and natural properties and has adopted specific guidelines to facilitate the evaluation of such properties when nominated for inscription on the World Heritage List. To date, these cover the following categories, although it is likely that others may be added in due course: (a) Cultural Landscapes; (b) Historic Towns and Town Centres;(c) Heritage Canals; and (d) Heritage Routes. The inscription of Vigan City is considered under the specific guideline on Historic Towns and Town Centres. There are three main categories on the groups of urban buildings eligible for inscription on the World Heritage List:

(i)

towns which are no longer inhabited but which provide unchanged archaeological evidence of the past; these generally satisfy the criterion of authenticity and their state of conservation can be relatively easily controlled; (ii) historic towns which are still inhabited and which, by their very nature, have developed and will continue to develop under the influence of socio-economic and cultural change, a situation that renders the assessment of their authenticity more difficult and any conservation policy more problematical; (iii) new towns of the twentieth century which paradoxically have something in common with both the aforementioned categories: while their original urban organization is recognizable and their authenticity is undeniable, their future is unclear because their development is largely uncontrollable.

The significance of Historic Towns and Town Centres which Vigan City was considered in this area is on (ii) Inhabited historic towns:

In the case of inhabited historic towns, the difficulties are numerous, largely owing to the fragility of their urban fabric (which has in many cases been seriously disrupted since the advent of the industrial era) and the runaway speed with which their surroundings have been urbanized. To qualify for inscription, towns should compel recognition because of their architectural interest and should not be considered only on the intellectual grounds of the role they may have played in the past or their value as historical symbols under criterion (vi) for the inscription of cultural properties on the World Heritage List.

In the operational guidelines on Paragraph 77 (vi) "To be eligible for inscription in the List, the spatial organization, structure, materials, forms and, where possible, functions of a group of buildings should essentially reflect the civilization or succession of civilizations which have prompted the nomination of the property. Four categories can be distinguished:

a) Towns which are typical of a specific period or culture, which have been almost wholly preserved and which have remained largely unaffected by subsequent developments. Here the property to be listed is the entire town together with its surroundings, which must also be protected; b) Towns that have evolved along characteristic lines and have preserved, sometimes in the midst of exceptional natural surroundings, spatial arrangements, and structures that are typical of the successive stages in their history. Here the clearly defined historic part takes precedence over the contemporary environment; c) "Historic centers" that cover exactly the same area as ancient towns and are now enclosed within modern cities. Here it is necessary to determine the precise limits of the property in its widest historical dimensions and to make appropriate provision for its immediate surroundings; d) Sectors, areas, or isolated units which, even in the residual state in which they have survived, provide coherent evidence of the character of a historic town which has disappeared. In such cases, surviving areas and buildings should bear sufficient testimony to the former whole.

Historic centers and historic areas should be listed only where they contain a large number of ancient buildings of monumental importance which provide a direct indication of the characteristic features of a town of exceptional interest. Nominations of several isolated and unrelated buildings which allegedly represent, in themselves, a town whose urban fabric has ceased to be discernible, should not be encouraged.

However, nominations could be made regarding properties that occupy a limited space but have had a major influence on the history of town planning. In such cases, the nomination should make it clear that it is the monumental group that is to be listed and that the town is mentioned only incidentally as the place where the property is located. Similarly, if a building of clearly outstanding universal value is located in severely degraded or insufficiently representative urban surroundings, it should, of course, be listed without any special reference to the town. There is a good reason to preserve the historic centers and towns just like Vigan City. The Philippines government through the Department of Tourism and City Government of Vigan City was able to implement inscription of the Historic Center of Vigan. In the operational guidelines for the inscription of a cultural heritage site must fully consider that: "While fully respecting the sovereignty of the States on whose territory the cultural and natural heritage is situated, States Parties to the Convention recognize the collective interest of the international community to cooperate in the protection of this heritage." States Parties to the World Heritage Convention, have the responsibility to: (Article 6(1) of the World Heritage Convention).:

a) ensure the identification, nomination, protection, conservation, presentation, and transmission to future generations of the cultural and natural heritage found within their territory, and give help in these tasks to other States Parties that request it; (Article 4 and 6(2) of the World Heritage Convention).

b) adopt general policies to give the heritage a function in the life of the community;( Article 5 of the World Heritage Convention Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention 3)

c) integrate heritage protection into comprehensive planning programs;

d) establish services for the protection, conservation, and presentation of the heritage;

e) develop scientific and technical studies to identify actions that would counteract the dangers that threaten the heritage;

?f) take appropriate legal, scientific, technical, administrative, and financial measures to protect the heritage;

g) foster the establishment or development of national or regional centers for training in the protection, conservation and presentation of the heritage and encourage scientific research in these fields;

?h) not take any deliberate measures that directly or indirectly damage their heritage or that of another State Party to the Convention; ( Article 6(3) of the World Heritage Convention)

i) submit to the World Heritage Committee an inventory of properties suitable for inscription on the World Heritage List (referred to as a Tentative List); (Article 11(1) of the World Heritage Convention.)

j) make regular contributions to the World Heritage Fund, the amount of which is determined by the General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention; ( Article 16(1) of the World Heritage Convention)

?k) consider and encourage the establishment of national, public and private foundations or associations to facilitate donations for the protection of World Heritage; ( Article 17 of the World Heritage Convention)

?l) give assistance to international fund-raising campaigns organized for the World Heritage Fund; ( Article 18 of the World Heritage Convention) m) use educational and information programmes to strengthen appreciation and respect by their peoples of the cultural and natural heritage defined in Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention, and to keep the public informed of the dangers threatening this heritage;( Article 27 of the World Heritage Convention.)

n) provide information to the World Heritage Committee on the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and state of conservation of properties; (and Article 29 of the World Heritage Convention Resolution adopted by the 11th General Assembly of States Parties (1997) Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention

The historic city of Vigan was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage on December 2, 1999.

The basis on its inscription was under the criterion

(ii) " exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts or town planning and landscape design".. Likewise in criterion (iv) "be an outstanding example of a type of building or architectural or technological ensemble, or landscape that illustrates a significant stage or significant stages in human history. The UNESCO World Heritage List of Cultural Properties has acknowledged the Vigan Ancestral Houses as historic buildings and monuments that were constructed during the reign of European power and adopted from the participation of the Chinese on its economic trade and cultural relations of the Ilocanos. The native artisans were allowed to redefine the architectural legacy of the European and behind the support of the East Asian influence. The World Heritage Centre officially cites " Vigan represents a unique fusion of Asian building design and construction with European colonial architecture and planning". Furthermore," Vigan is an exceptionally intact and well-preserved example of a European trading town in East and East Asia."

In the applicability of "Historic Towns and Town Centres" in Vigan can be traced from the Spanish colonial period. As a town center, it conformed with Ley de las Indias ( the Law of the Indies) that regulated on its spatial form which was similar to the European structure. The urban planning has street patterns that radiated from the central park. The historic town was transformed into a bustling city called "Ciudad Fernandina" that had complete administrative and religious buildings to show the complementary structure for the church and state which was located in the central plaza (Plaza Salcedo). These were the Casa Real, Capitolio, Municipio, Colegio de Ninas, Cathedral, and the other Spanish structures. The Philippine government through the Department of Tourism (For the Presidential Commission for the Restoration, Conservation and Preservation of the Vigan Heritage Village) was able to get an international grant from the Government of Spain (For Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion International and Fundacion Santiago) to implement and ensure the protection, conservation, and preservation of the cultural heritage of the Historic City of Vigan. The Memorandum of Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of Spain: which was signed on March 23, 1999, agreed to formulate the Master Development Plan for the Historic City of Vigan in accordance with the program developed by Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion International on the preservation of cultural heritage in those countri9es where Spain has shared its history. In the Memorandum of Agreement of the Master Plan for the Revitalization of the Historic Center of Vigan, the development objectives of the project are: (1) to promote the preservation of Filipino historical and cultural heritage and resources; and (2) to develop tourism along the lines of conserving the sociocultural heritage, preserving the environment, and sustainable development. While the Strategic Objectives are: (1) to formulate a master plan for the revitalization of the historic town of Vigan; (2) to enhance knowledge in crafts/skills which are relevant to restoration and preservation; (3) to come up with a concept on the packaging and promotion of Vigan Heritage Village, with other tourism destinations within the province and the whole of Region I, to ensure its position in the region's tourism market; and (4) to formulate viable investment strategies in the pursuit of development in the study area. The scope of work of the Master Plan for the Revitalization of the Historic Center of Vigan considered the physical and the socio-economic aspects such as human development, community organization, education, and livelihood as the basis for sustainable development. It also covered the Physical Development Planning, Socio-Cultural and Socio-Economic, Ecological and Environmental, Legal and Financial, Project Development, and the Institutional Aspects of work.

1. The influence of Chinese taipans and mestizos in their important role in the development of local industries.

The researcher will conduct a thorough historical investigation as to the role of the Chinese taipans and mestizos in the development of local industries which had an origin during the Pre-Spanish Colonial Rule and extended to the contemporary time. Primarily, it will study the jar-making, Abel-making, bricks-making, and other local industries that have been attached to the influence of the Chinese merchants such as the Ming, Sung, Yuan, and Tang Dynasties. In contemporary times, the UNESCO World Heritage of the ancestral houses of Vigan has complemented the development of the local industries from the deeply rooted economic enterprise of the past.

2. The extent of Chinese influence in the political and cultural aspects that integrated and infused to the Ilocano culture.

The researcher will use documentary analysis and descriptive survey as to the extent of the Chinese influence and integration along with the following :

a) On Political Aspects. The Chinese taipans and mestizos during the pre-Spanish and Spanish Period and their extent of influence in the political development of the historic city of Vigan. Likewise, the Chinese participation in the local politics and its contribution to local governance for the Ilocanos. b)

On Cultural Aspects. The Chinese influence on culture, language, buildings, and food. The identification of the unique contributions of Chinese culture is still rooted in its diplomatic and economic trade in the past that has a significant impact on the contemporary life of the Ilocanos.

3. The historical investigation in the political, economic, and religious development as contributed by the European in the preservation of the ancestral houses of Vigan City

a) On Political Development. The historical account on the precolonial era and later on the establishment of the colonial government of Spain which was called " Ciudad Fernandina". The British- Spanish War in Ilocos and the continuity of the colonial rule of Spain. The significance of the Spanish houses and buildings in the political life of the "Biguenos". The contemporary role of the ancestral houses in the transformation of local governance in the city of Vigan. b) On Economic Development. The development of local industries of the Spanish Mestizos, Chinese taipans, and the Ilocano natives such as tobacco, rice, fabrics, jars, and crops. The role of the ancestral houses and the business districts of Vigan. The contemporary impact of the local industries as to the employment and the social status of the Ilocanos. c) On Religious Development. The ecclesiastical activities and its influence on the development of the Christian life of the native Ilocanos. This provides the extent of participation on the religious account of the Spanish and Filipino Friars as manifested by their devotion to the catholic faith. The contemporary contribution of the ecclesiastical activities in the appreciation of the churches in Ilocos.

4. Impact assessment on the implementation of the Master Development Plan for the Revitalization of the Historic Center of Vigan

After 10 years as a UNESCO World Heritage Site through the Ancestral Houses of Vigan, it will assess the extent of development under the assistance of the international grants for the development of Vigan City. The comprehensive international grant was presented in December 1999 through the formulation of the Master Development Plan for the revitalization of the Historic Center of Vigan. The Department of Tourism, Fundacion Santiago, Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion International, and the city government of Vigan entered into a Memorandum of Agreement for the preservation of the cultural heritage with countries Spain has shared history with. Given the 5 years of international support for the development and preservation of the cultural heritage of Vigan, the researcher intends to study the outcome in terms of economic development ( such as employment, investments, and trade), livelihood support services, and local governance (such as Internal Revenue Allotment, Cultural Tourism Programs and decentralization policy on social and economic services).

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