UNESCO elevates Philippine cinema to global heritage status

Two landmark achievements in Philippine cinema were officially recognized during the Manila launch of UNESCO Philippines’ Memory of the World (MoW) Documentary Heritage Program on April 29, 2025. Among the newest inductees are Eddie Romero’s iconic film Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon? and The FPJ Archives. These cinematic works join seven other heritage documents—ranging from ancient syllabaries to influential books—underscoring the role of film in preserving and enriching national memory in the face of growing cultural amnesia.

The Efforts Behind Preserving Philippine Cinema and Heritage

Despite the golden era of Philippine cinema yielding thousands of films, only a small portion remain accessible today. Although the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) institutionalized its archive system in the early 2010s, the long gap between the country’s first locally produced film and the establishment of a national archive led to the irreversible loss or deterioration of countless reels. Some surviving film negatives have been preserved through international archives or the efforts of private collectors and local organizations.

To be inscribed in the MoW registry, each documentary heritage must meet UNESCO’s rigorous criteria: local or global significance, rarity, vulnerability to loss or decay, and uniqueness in contribution. Filmmaker and MoW Philippines chairman Nick Deocampo emphasized the importance of expanding the country’s entries in the registry, stating, “Only a handful of documents is listed in the country’s registry. More needs to be made to enrich the list of Philippine documents in the UNESCO registries.”

The launch event also marked the beginning of a nationwide campaign to promote the protection and recognition of documentary heritage. Held at the Department of Foreign Affairs at Double Dragon Tower, Meridian Park in Pasay City, the celebration welcomed all current and incoming inductees of the International, Asia-Pacific, and National MoW registers. UNESCO encouraged more nominations, with submissions open until July 2025 for documents that hold cultural value for Filipino heritage.

About the Memory of the World Programme

UNESCO’s Memory of the World (MoW) Programme recognizes and safeguards documents, archives, and tangible items of outstanding cultural and historical importance to humanity. The Philippine MoW Committee, established in 2006 under the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines, has continued to advocate for documentary preservation and encourages future nominations.

Current MoW Philippine Inductees

International Register

• Palawan Paleographs
• Radio Broadcasts of the People Power Revolution
• Presidential Papers of Manuel L. Quezon
• Musical Collection of Jose Maceda

Asia-Pacific Register

• Culion Leprosy Archives
• Doctrina Christiana
• Hinilawod Epic Chant Recordings

National Register

• Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?
• FPJ Film Collections

Image: UNESCO/Facebook