Invitation to Bid for

Restoration of Bacarra Bell Tower Historical in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte     

1. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), through the Government Appropriation Act 2019 (GAA) intends to apply the sum of Php 13,758,569.70 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for:

Restoration of Bacarra Bell Tower Historical Landmark , Bacarra, Ilocos Norte

 Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2. The NHCP now invites bids for Restoration of Bacarra Bell Tower Historical Landmark. Completion of the Works is 210 calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.
3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.”

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

4. Interested bidders may obtain further information from NHCP and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from Monday to Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
5. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders from the address below and upon the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB in the amount of Php 25,000.00.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6. The NHCP will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 6 December 2018, 9:30 A.M. at 2^nd floor Board Room, NHCP Building, T.M. Kalaw Street, Ermita, Manila, which shall be open to prospective bidders
7. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 19 December 2018 before 9:00 A.M. at Records Section, Ground Floor, NHCP Building, T.M. Kalaw Street, Ermita, Manila. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bids opening shall be on 9:00 a.m. of 19 December 2018 at 2^nd floor Board Room, NHCP Building, T.M. Kalaw Street, Ermita, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8. The NHCP reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.
9. For further information, please refer to:

Ms. Diana Galang
BAC Secretariat
National Historical Commission of the Philippines
T.M. Kalaw Street, Ermita, Manila
Telephone no. 335-1214
Fax No.: 536-3181
Email address: nhcp.bac2018@gmail.com / nhcpbac&nhcp.gov.ph

CARMINDA R. AREVALO
BAC Chairperson

Download bidding documents here!

Request for Expression of Interest for

Museum curatorial Design and Execution of the Museo ng Kasaysayan ng Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig sa Sorsogon in Gabaldon Building, Barangay Burabod, Sorsogon City (2^nd posting)

1. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), through the Government Appropriation Act (GAA) 2018 intends to apply the sum of Php 4,850,000.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Museum Curatorial Design and Execution of the Museo ng Kasaysayan ng Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig sa Sorsogon in Gabaldon Building, Barangay Burabod, Sorsogon City (2^nd posting). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals.
2. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) now calls for the submission of eligibility documents for Museum Curatorial Design and Execution of the Museo ng Kasaysayan ng Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig sa Sorsogon in Gabaldon Building, Barangay Burabod, Sorsogon City (2^nd posting). Eligibility documents of interested consultants must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat on or before 13 November 2018 unitl 5:00 p.m. at Records Section Ground Floor NHCP Building, T.M. Kalaw Street Ermita, Manila. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion.
3. Interested bidders may obtain further information from National Historical Commission of the Philippines and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
4. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 23 August to 11 September 2018 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Php 5,000.00. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.
5. The BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted Expression of Interest, including the eligibility documents, and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of at least three prospective bidders who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for short listing are:

The minimum standard to pass is Seventy Percent (70%

6. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the IRR of RA 9184.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

7. The Procuring Entity shall evaluate bids using the Quality Based Evaluation/Selection (QBE/QBS) The criteria and rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the Instructions to Bidders.
8. The contract shall be completed within one hundred fifty (150) calendar days. 
9. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.
10. For further information, please refer to:

Diana A. Galang
BAC, Head Secretariat
National Historical Commssion of the Philippines
T.M. Kalaw Street Ermita, Manila
Telephone number: 335-1214
Fax number: 536-3181

Email address: nhcp.bac2018@gmail.com / nhcpbac&nhcp.gov.ph

 CARMINDA R. AREVALO
 BAC Chairperson

Download bidding documents here!

MANILA ─ The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) led by its Chairman rene R. Escalante, will unveil the historical marker Kapitolyo ng Sorsogon on Wednesday, 17 October 2018, 8:00 a.m. in Sorsogon City. The marker states:

KAPITOLYO NG SORSOGON

ANG TAHANAN NG ANGKANG DE VERA AY NAGING UNANG TANGGAPAN NI GOBERNADOR BERNARDINO MONREAL SIMULA 1902. PANSAMANTALANG NAGING OPISINA ANG KANLURANG BAHAGI NG GUSALI NG MATAAS NA PAARALANG PANLALAWIGAN HABANG GINAGAWA ANG GUSALING KAPITOLYO. ITINAYO YARI SA KONGKRETO ANG KAPITOLYO NG SORSOGON SA ISTILONG NEO-CLASSICAL KASABAY ANG GUSALING HUKUMAN AT PANLALAWIGANG PIITAN SA PANGANGASIWA NINA ARKITEKTO GEORGE FENHAGEN AT RALPH H. DOANE SA PANUNUNGKULAN NI GOBERNADOR VICTOR ECO, 1915-1017. ITINAYO ANG MONUMENTO NI JOSE RIZAL SA HARAPAN NG KAPITOLYO SA PANGANGASIWA NI ARKITEKTO JUAN ARELLANO SA ILALIM NG ADMINISTRASYON NI GOBERNADOR BERNABE FLORES PALMA, 1923.

Chairman Escalante will officially turn over the marker to the provincial Government of Sorsogon through Governor Robert Lee Rodrigueza. Atty. Renato Obles will stand as witness during the signing of the certificate of transfer.

The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history through its museums, research and publications, and to preserve historical heritage through conservation and the marking of historic sites and structures.

For more information, contact the Historic Sites and Education Division at NHCP tel. nos. 3351217 and 5231019.

House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead the wreath-laying ceremonies in observance of the 108^th birth anniversary of President Diosdado Macapagal on 28 September 2018, 8:00 a.m., at the President Diosdado Macapagal Museum and Library.

A memorial mass will be held prior to the wreath-laying rites.  Other wreath offerors include National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Chairman Rene R. Escalante, Pampanga Governor Lilia G. Pineda, Lubao Municipal Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab, Department of Education-Region III Division Superintendent Dr. Leonardo D. Zapanta, CESO VI, and Philippine National Police-Lubao PSupt. Angelito B. Esteban.

This year’s commemorative program is spearheaded by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), in cooperation with the Provincial Government of Pampanga and Municipal Government of Lubao.

The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history through its museums and publications, and preserve the nation’s historical heritage.

Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara will lead the flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at the Malvar Historical Landmark on 27 September 2018, 8:00 a.m., in observance of the 153^rd birth anniversary of Gen. Miguel Malvar. 

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), in coordination with the Provincial Government of Batangas and Municipal Government of Santo Tomas, leads this year’s commemorative program, with the theme, “Tapang at Dangal Pundasyon ng Magandang Bukas.”

NHCP Acting Executive Director Ludovico D. Badoy, Third District of Batangas Congresswoman Ma. Theresa V. Collantes, Batangas Governor Hermilando I. Mandanas, Sto. Tomas Municipal Mayor Edna P. Sanchez, Vice Mayor Armenius O. Silva, and PCSupt. Rexpher A. Gaoiran will also join in the flag-raising and wreath-laying rites.

The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history through its museums and publications, and preserve the nation’s historical heritage.

MALOLOS, BULACAN – The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) in coordination with the Provincial Government of Bulacan and the City Government of Malolos will spearhead the commemoration of the 120^th Anniversary of the Opening of the Malolos Congress on 15 September 2018, 8:00 a.m. at the historic Church of Barasoain, Malolos City, Bulacan. 

Guest of honor and Speaker Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, will lead the flag-raising and wreath-laying rites.  He will be joined by Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado, NHCP Acting Executive Director Ludovico D. Badoy, Vice Governor Daniel R. Fernando, Malolos Mayor Christian D. Natividad and other local officials from the Provincial Government of Bulacan and City Government of Malolos.

Mayor Natividad will give the welcome remarks while Governor Alvarado will deliver a short message and introduce the guest of honor. Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III will deliver a message.

The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history through its museums and publications, and preserve the nation’s historical heritage.

CASTILLEJOS – The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), in cooperation with the Provincial Government of Zambales and the Municipal Government of Castillejos will lead the commemoration of the 111^th birth anniversary of President Ramon Magsaysay on 31 August 2018, 7:00 a.m., at the Museo ni Ramon Magsaysay in Castillejos, Zambales.

The program will be attended by Former Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Zambales First District Representative Jeffrey D. Khonghun, Zambales Governor Amor D. Deloso, Vice Governor Angelica Magsaysay, Castillejos Municipal Mayor Jose Angelo M. Dominguez, and Vice Mayor Christian T. Esposo and other local officials and representatives of government agencies.

Highlights of the program are the unveiling of the full-body monument of President Ramon Magsaysay by sculptor Juan Sajid Imao, flag-raising, wreath-laying rites, and the presentation of the 3D virtual reality which features important events in the life of President Ramon Magsaysay.

The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history through its museums and publications, and preserve the nation’s historical heritage.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the City Government of San Juan spearheaded the observance of the 120^th Anniversary of the Battle of San Juan del Monte on 30 August 2018, 7:45 a.m. at the Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine, San Juan City.

The affair was attended by the Guest of Honor, Senator Nancy Binay, NHCP Senior Historic Sites Development Officer Bryan Anthony C. Paraiso, San Juan Mayor Guia G. Gomez, San Juan Vice Mayor Janella V. Ejercito-Estrada and other local officials from San Juan. 

Highlights of the celebration included the flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies, blowing of fog horns by the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the civic parade.

The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history through its museums and publications, and preserve the nation’s historical heritage.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will lead the flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Taguig City on 27 August 2018, 8:00 a.m. in commemoration of National Heroes Day. 

This year’s commemorative program, with the theme, “Sakripisyo ng Bayaning Pilipino, Handog sa Bayan ay Pagbabago” is led by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) in coordination with other government agencies, local government units, and non-government organizations.

Chief Chaplain of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Commodore Tirso A Dolina AFP will lead the invocation followed by Taguig City Mayor Maria Laarni Lopez-Cayetano who will deliver the welcome remarks. DND Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana will introduce the Guest-of-Honor, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte who will give a message.

The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history through its museums, research and publication, and preserve the nation’s historical heritage through conservation and the marking of historic sites and structures. 

Batangas – In commemoration of the 154^th Birth Anniversary of Apolinario Mabini, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) in coordination with the Tribung Pilipino Foundation and the Department of Education (DepEd) held the Paligsahan sa Kasaysayan on 20 July 2018 at the Dolor Farm House, Lipa City, Batangas.

High school students from the province of Batangas participated in the history quiz.  Questions dealt on the life and works of Apolinario Mabini, Philippine history and culture.

Winners were as follows:  Angelou F. Benamer from Maabud National High School (1^st place), Josette M. Mulingbayan from Balayan National High School (2^nd place), and Ronn Michael G. Azucena from Bauan Technical High School (3^rd place).

Sheena Enza Estefanie L. Sarmiento (Balayan National High School), Mark Audrey V. Medrano (Bauan Technical High School), Eloiza Gail M. Gomez (Dacanlao Gregorio Agoncillo National High School), Hazel Ann I. Mercado (Tipas National High School), received consolation prizes.

Tribung Pinoy Foundation Chairman Danny L. Dolor delivered the opening remarks while DepEd Batangas City Education Program Supervisor Dr. Epitacio Abela presented the participants.  DepEd Batangas Province Education Program Supervisor Dr. Rolando S. Casanova explained the contest mechanics.  NHCP Historic Sites and Education Division Chief, Gina C. Batuhan served as quizmaster.

The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history through its museums and publications, and preserve the nation’s historical heritage.

For our Heroes, Freedom is a dream that it so worth its hefty price

by Reinere Policarpio

If we take proper semantics into consideration, our grandiose celebrations every 12^th of June are founded on a misnomer: The official, legal name of our June 12 holiday is “Independence Day”, which is translated into the vernacular as Araw ng Kasarinlan, yet we continue to refer to the day as Araw ng Kalayaan or “Day of Freedom” in English.

Today, one may use “Kalayaan” to refer to the thoroughfare running across Makati City where the now-defunct Pasig Line of the Philippine National Railways used to run, or the similarly-named avenue in Quezon City running from Elliptical Road to Kamias Road in Cubao. Students and alumni of the University of the Philippines may fondly associate the word with the dormitory where they were lodged during their freshman years. Kalayaan may also remind us of a certain group of islands in the West Philippine Sea, sovereignty over which is now being hotly contested among Asian nations, including a superpower that isn’t even originally a party to the conflict but muscled itself in, in pursuit of its agenda of projecting military power outside its established territory. 

But before the turn of the 20^th century, when the Philippines was still shackled by the chains of colonial rule, Kalayaan was no mere mundane concept: it was a lofty ideal, an unattainable dream, a noble aspiration which warranted the highest of personal sacrifices.

Kalayaan was so lofty a word that Jose Rizal, the polymath and genius he was, never knew the term until he was apprised of it by none other than his compatriot and friend, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, who took the time and the effort to translate his essay Amor Patrio for publication in the latter’s Diariong Tagalog. Yet Kalayaan held such deep meaning for the two and their compatriots that they exiled themselves into the land of their oppressors and embarked on a crusade of agitation, using the power of the printed word to call for reform on the Spanish Government’s administration of its overseas colonial possessions. Kalayaan was so noble an ideal that Plaridel himself noted, on the final issue of the La Solidaridad, that “no sacrifice is too little in pursuit of earning the rights and the liberty of a nation oppressed by slavery.” (Todo sacrificio es poco para conquistar los derechos y la libertad de un pueblo oprimido y mal avenido con su esclavitud.”)

Kalayaan was so lofty a word that Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Pio Valenzuela and their other sworn brothers in the Katipunan used it as the name of the secret society’s publication in order to inspire more people to join their cause and take up arms against their colonial masters. Kalayaan was so lofty a word that it became the battlecry that resounded on the mountains of Montalban on Good Friday of 1895, as well as on the fields of Balintawak and the riverbanks of San Juan del Monte on the last days of August the following year. Indeed, Kalayaan was so noble an ideal that Emilio Jacinto summarized his Kartilya ng Katipunan with the statement that “when the glorious sun of liberty shines over these wretched islands and enlightens a united race and people, all lives, struggles and hardships endured shall be vindicated.”

Kalayaan was so lofty a word that Jose Palma, writer-editor for General Antonio Luna’s aptly-titled revolutionary periodical La Independencia, was inspired to write an ode to the freedom he and his fellowmen so desired, which later became the lyrics of the national anthem that was first played on that fateful afternoon of 12 June 1898, the same anthem we sing with fervor today. Kalayaan was so noble an ideal that Emilio Aguinaldo, President of the First Philippine Republic, adopted the sun of liberty as the principal symbol of the fledgling republic, which is also prominently featured in the flag he hoisted in Kawit on that fateful afternoon of 12 June 1898, the same flag which we proudly fly today.

Most of the people previously mentioned had no business starting a revolution, much less seeing it to its bloody end: many of them came from privileged backgrounds, were able to obtain a good education, and had promising careers ahead of them. Rizal and Valenzuela were physicians, Del Pilar and Mabini were lawyers, Bonifacio a warehouse manager of a trading firm, Aguinaldo a traveling merchant on top of being a respected local official. Yet they promptly responded to so-called “tawag ng panahon” and risked life and limb chasing the elusive dream of Kalayaan: that one day, they will live in their beloved country free from oppression and discrimination, where they will be allowed to voice out their opinions without fear of reprisal, where religion won’t be invoked to justify atrocious behavior on the part of the clergy, where education would be made accessible to all willing to learn, where all people, regardless of race, gender and social status, would be afforded the right to life, liberty, ownership of property, and the pursuit of happiness.

Our heroes found themselves in the struggle for independence through different circumstances, most of them personal in nature, but it was for the love of Kalayaan which made them stay and see it through, for better or for worse. The dream of Kalayaan was the driving force behind all of their endeavors, and the nobility of their cause was the reason why they were able to succeed in the end. Their toil earned us our Liberty; their sacrifices gained for us our greatest inheritance.

A century and two decades hence, it is now up to us, the Filipinos of today, heirs to the legacy of our heroes, to make sure that the Kalayaan they valiantly fought and died for will be safeguarded for the future generations. Yet there are times that we fail in that regard: sometimes we prefer to sacrifice our liberty in the name of security; we belittle the importance of our civil rights in pursuit of convenience, we have submitted ourselves to the mercy of the “new tyrants” and allowed them to exploit our sensibilities to entrench themselves in the reins of power and do as they please with impunity.

One of Rizal’s characters in his second novel El Filibusterismo, Padre Florentino, told a dying Simoun: “Why Independence, if the slaves of today shall be the tyrants of tomorrow? And they would be, without doubt, because he who loves tyranny submits to it.” While independence was Rizal’s most ardent wish, he opposed the Revolution because he felt that it should be guided by a noble aspiration – the selfless desire for Kalayaan – and not by personal whims and caprices in order to succeed. The movements that served as precursors to our eventual Independence, the Propaganda Movement, the Liga Filipina, the Katipunan, and so on, were all guided by said noble aspiration, and while they were not initially successful in their own right, they caused a chain reaction of events which led to the glorious moment of 12 June 1898. But the Revolution is yet to be finished; and it is now imperative to us to continue what our heroes have started. Now is the high time to ask ourselves: “Are we deserving of the Kalayaan which we enjoy today? Or have we grown so accustomed to such that it is now easy for us to take it for granted? Is our so-called ‘patriotism’ a sincere expression of our love for liberty, or it is merely lip service which masks our own capricious interpretations of justice?”

Independence Day is not just a day for us to celebrate the day we have unilaterally declared our separation from colonial subjugation; it is also a day for us to remember the noble aspiration which our forebears paid for with their blood, sweat, and tears, and make ourselves worthy of it. For in a time when hope was bleak, they dared to dream, when faced with censorship, they dared to speak, when placed under duress, they dared to resist. It is now our sublime obligation to sustain what our heroes have labored to attain, and they expect nothing less from us.

(The author is a History Researcher at the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.)