Heritage Stakeholders Meet for Iloilo City Calle Real Stakeholders’ Forum Part 2
Written by: Kyle Philip M. Ravena
October 29, 2026 – Cultural advocates, heritage building owners, local government officials, officials from various national agencies, and academics gathered again for the Iloilo City Calle Real Stakeholders’ Forum Part 2 at the Bonifacio Hall, Goldberry Lite Hotel, Iloilo City. This event was organized by the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) Local Regional Studies Network (LRSN) Project Team, “Heritage as Public Policy: Preserving and Promoting Iloilo Calle Real Heritage Buildings,” in partnership with the Iloilo City Government and the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council (ICCHCC). The Project is led by Dr. Mary Rose G. Rebueno, with Asst. Prof. Rene Trance, Arch. Wilfredo Sy, Jr., Ms. Aprille Danilly Guintibano, and Ms. Maricar Gebucion serving as members of the research team
The full-day activity featured resource persons and speakers from various institutions, organizations, and local government offices that deal not just on heritage but also on the status of the Calle Real. Asst. Prof. Trance acted as the activity’s moderator and host.
Project Leader Dr. Rebueno, welcomed the participants and attendees, while giving a background and rationale of the project. She exclaimed how Calle Real is the “living heartbeat” of the city and, as such, effective policy on ensuring its revitalization and survival should include dialogue and co-authorship of the heritage building owners and caretakers.
Special messages were given by Iloilo City Mayor Raisa S. Treñas-Chu (via video) and by the UP CIDS Executive Director Dr. Rosalie Arcala-Hall both recognizing the importance of the heritage street as part of Iloilo’s identity, of the city’s collective memory, and thus a balanced framework for its preservation and conservation should be properly discussed.
The morning session featured Atty. Lucille Karen Malilong Isberto, Founding Director of the Hearth Collective, EnP. Ronald M. Cartagena, City Planning Officer, and Mr. Solomon Lopez-Locsin of the Negros Occidental Historical Council. This session discussed frameworks for heritage conservation, from legislation and national statutes that guide national and local governments, to the common framework and sustainability programs initiated by the City Government to revitalize the Calle Real. Experiences on heritage preservation of Silay City were also shared, such as how collective memory and community action led the local government to pass official policy on preserving and adaptive reuse of Silay City’s famous heritage houses.
The afternoon session featured Engr. Noel Z. Hechanova, Former Executive Director of ICCHC, Mr. Nick L. Quiblatin of the Office of the City Treasurer, Mr. Jan Marx F. Escosia of the Office of the City Assessor, and Ms. Minviluz Saludes-Camiña of the Camiña Balay na Bato. This session centered on the importance of preserving the buildings of Calle Real and its connection and value to the environment, the various heritage-centered ordinances, as well as an overview of the Calle Real’s active and positive contribution to Iloilo City’s economic development. The case of the Camiña Balay na Bato was also discussed, its preservation and revitalization, and collaboration with the local community to provide economic opportunities.
An open forum was held after every session with participants sharing their comments and questions with the resource speakers. Among discussed were problems and practicalities of heritage conservation, the commercial character of the Calle Real, the potential diversification of its utilization, especially as a scene for the arts and entertainment, and its integration with the riverfront. Also raised in the forum were plans by some homeowners of the heritage buildings, the issue of high cost of maintaining the buildings, and a need to revisit the tax incentive provided to heritage buildings.
In his closing message, Mr. Emmanuel Gemora of the ICCHC thanked UP Visayas and the UP CIDS for this project and highlighted that the consultative process is only the beginning to revisit policy and guidelines, to help preserve Calle Real as a symbol of Iloilo City’s identity and history.
Photos by: Mark Joseph Perez