National Historical Commission of the Philippines Resolution No. 01, S. 2014

WHEREAS, the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines provides that “The State shall promote and popularize the nation’s historical and cultural heritage and resources;”

WHEREAS, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, by virtue of Republic Act No. 10086, is vested with the power to declare national historical landmarks, sites, shrines, monuments, and heritage zones/historic centers;

WHEREAS, the Santa Ana area being located near the confluence of two rivers, has long been a strategic place of human habitation and interaction as demonstrated by the 1960s discovery of more than two hundred ancient graves that yielded significant archaeological materials;

WHEREAS, the wide traditional social networks of the people of the Santa Ana area are traced to Lakan Tagkan and his wife Buwan who ruled territories encompassing lands in present day Mandaluyong all the way to what is now Pasay;

WHEREAS, the Santa Ana area was long a center of craft production as evidenced by the presence of the foundry of Panday Pira who was a well known cannon maker and metalworker in the 16$th$ century;

WHEREAS, the Santa Ana area’s established role as an administration center was affirmed by the foundation of Santa Ana de Sapa, the very first mission established by the Franciscans outside of Intramuros that was used as a base for evangelizing operations and later became the mother parish of congregations in places like Makati, Quiapo, and Taytay in present day Rizal province;

WHEREAS, the church of Santa Ana—first built in 1720–1725—along with its interior decorations including a fine Baroque retablo, are not only significant examples of the architecture and decorative arts of the period but also form the setting of a popular devotion to the Nuestra Senora de los Desamparados which brought many pilgrims to the site;

WHEREAS, the prestige and respect accorded to Santa Ana’s church is especially evident in the quality of the construction and embellishments of its Camarin de la Virgen which is the country’s exemplar of a unique architectural arrangement observable in important centers of worship and pilgrimage in the Ibero-American world, and which contains the oldest dateable oil paintings in the Philippines, bases of the 2008 declaration by the National Museum of the Camarin as a National Cultural Treasure;

WHEREAS, Santa Ana was idyllic haven for recreation and retreat as recognized by the Jesuits who established here the La Ignaciana retreat house and Xavier House in 1862;

WHEREAS, the presence of the Taoist temple and the sacred well, Pozo de la Virgen, close to the church reflects the mingling of religious traditions focused on the image of the Nuestra Senora de los Desamparados;

WHEREAS, the City Government of Manila, supports the declaration of the heritage zone by virtue of City Ordinance No. 8244;

AND WHEREAS, the Sta Ana core zone—composed of unique streetscapes and riverscapes, as well as historic sites and structures including the church complex, open spaces like Plaza Hugo, heritage houses, civic buildings and shops—displays meaningful inter-connections along with note-worthy modes of living and co-habitation that must be preserved and protected as the indispensable context of a vibrant community within the larger metropolis;

NOW THEREFORE, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines hereby declares a portion of Sta. Ana district a Heritage Zone bounded by the following streets and points:

(a) Tejeron (from J. Syquia until Garrido); (b) Garrido (from Tejeron until Cagayan); (c) Cagayan (from Garrido until Bulacan); (d) Bulacan (from Cagayan until M. Roxas); (e) Bayani (from M. Roxas until Hernandez); (f) Hernandez (from Bayani until Kasarinlan); (g) Kasarinlan (from Hernandez to Havana); (h) Havana (from Kasarinlan until Isabel); (i) Isabel (from the corner of Havana and Isabel until the corner of the Church/School property on Lamayan); (j) From the corner of the Church/School property along Lamayan until the corner of the Church/School property on New Panaderos; (k) From the corner of the Church/School property on New Panaderos, the corner of Old Panaderos and Sta. Trinidad; (l) Sta. Trinidad from Old Panaderos until the banks of Pasig River; (m) The banks of the Pasig River from Sta. Trinidad until the end of the lot of the Montessori School; (n) Pedro Gil (from the corner of Montessori School until Medel); (o) Medel (from Pedro Gil until Sutler); (p) Sutler (from Medel until Cagayan); (q) Cagayan (from Sutler until J. Syquia); and (r) J. Syquia (from Cagayan until Tejeron);

RESOLVES, that the buffer zone extends 10 meters from the center line of all roads forming the perimeter of the core area, provided that all new developments surrounding the church outside the core and buffer zones within 200-meter radius shall conform to the prescribed building character, height, and setback with reference to Sta. Ana Church;

RESOLVES FURTHER, that the portion of the district of Sta. Ana conforms to the provisions of Republic Act 10066, known as the Philippine National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, in the designation, maintenance, and development of heritage zones.

Approved in the NHCP Board Meeting held 12 May 2014