According to Professor Lee M. Neri of the University of the Philippines, prior to their excavation, the “horno” has been heavily looted or treasure hunted. As for now, the local government of Alubijid have declared the “horno” as an archaeological site. Nonetheless, there was none mentioned from Mr. Tristan K. Ares (the tour guide during the visit) that the local government of the municipality have crafted a legislative ordinance that would protect the archaeological site

1. Ryan Al. Ig. Bollozos Sanchez May 21, 2017
LDCU
Readings in Philippine History: Essays on Horno Site in Alubijid and
El Salvador’s Our Lady of Snows Church
PRESERVATION
According to Professor Lee M. Neri of the University of the
Philippines, prior to their excavation, the “horno” has been heavily looted or
treasure hunted. As for now, the local government of Alubijid have declared
the “horno” as an archaeological site. Nonetheless, there was none
mentioned from Mr. Tristan K. Ares (the tour guide during the visit) that the
local government of the municipality have crafted a legislative ordinance
that would protect the archaeological site.
Today, the site of the “horno” is still prone to looters or perhaps from the
devastation brought by nature (as per speculation of Professor Neri). Thus,
according to Article II, Section 5 (c) to which cultural property is considered
an important cultural property; the “horno” is an archaeological site which
holds an enormous amount of ethnographic evidences of the local history of
Alubijid.1
For the preservation as suggested by RA 10066, the local
government of Alubijid together with affiliated cultural agencies should
maintain an inventory, evaluation, and documentation of the cultural
property; both the cultural agencies concerned and local government units
should continuously coordinate; and should report ownership and possession
of whatever items found in the site.2
If the local government of Alubijid
follows the provisions of RA 10066, the preservation of the “horno” site
should come in handy and the preservation of the local heritage of Alubijid
follows.
1
“Article III, Section 5 (5), Republic Act 10066: An Act Providing for the Protection and Conservation of the Natural Cultural
Heritage, Strengthening the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and its Affiliated Cultural Agencies, and for Other
Purposes, Accessed May 21, 2017, http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2010/ra_10066_2010.html
2
“Article V, Section 14, Republic Act 10066”

2. RESTORATION
Once the local government of Alubijid declared and filed to the National Commission for Culture and
the Arts (NCCA) or to the National Historical Institute (NHI), the “horno” then becomes a “cultural property”
or perhaps a “National cultural treasure” protected under the law. If that would become the case, the “horno”
become eligible to receive privileges that a cultural property receives.
The “horno” would be entitled to the following privileges under Article II, Section 7, these are:3
(a)Priority government funding for protection, conservation and restoration;
(b)Incentive for private support of conservation and restoration through the
Commission's Conservation Incentive Program for national cultural treasures;
(c)An official heritage marker placed by the cultural agency concerned indicating
that the immovable cultural property has been identified as national cultural
treasures and/or national historical landmarks, sites or monuments; and
(d)In times of armed conflict, natural disasters and other exceptional events that
endanger the cultural heritage of the country, all national cultural treasures or
national historical landmarks, sites or monuments shall be given priority
protection by the government.
If the “horno” would declared as an important cultural property it would receive government funding for
its protection, conservation, and restoration while a heritage marker and becomes an important cultural
property.4
3
“Article II, Section 7, Republic Act 10066”
4
Ibid.

3. According to Mrs. Erlita Gabule, a retired teacher and a local of the Municipality of Jasaan, the first friar
who were able to arrive in El Salvador were the Augustinian Recollects in the year 1760’s and built a stone
church. Unfortunately today, the site of the old church has become flat and almost no traces of the old edifice
could be seen in the original vicinity (St. Joseph Compund as it was destroyed by the Japanese prior to the
liberation. The site of the parish church of El Salvador has been transferred four times: the first church 1760-
1945; the second 1945-1970; the third 1970-2009 (2010).
Nonetheless, what is unique about El Salvador is the stone relic of the old church that the Augustinian
Recollects have built. It was brought whenever the Parish Church transfer from one place to another. Currently,
the stone relic is placed in one of the pedestals in front of Our Lady of Snows Parish Church. According to Ms.
Gabule, the stone relic represents not only their faith but the religious history of El Salvador or perhaps the
history of Our Lady of Snows Parish. To her, there are 85% of Catholics in El Salvador and the Parish has 42
chapels under its supervision. The stone reflects the level of relevance and appreciation of the locals of El
Salvador to the stone relic of their Church.
Bibliography:
Republic Act 10066: An Act Providing for the Protection and Conservation of the Natural Cultural Heritage,
Strengthening the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and its Affiliated Cultural
Agencies, and for Other Purposes, Accessed May 21, 2017,
http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2010/ra_10066_2010.html