While the current form of the NHCP was established in 1972 as part of the reorganization of government after President
Ferdinand Marcos'
declaration of martial law, its roots can be traced back to 1933 when the American colonial
Insular Government first established the Philippine Historical Research and Markers Committee (PHRMC).
Philippine Historical Research and Markers Committee (1933) The
Philippine Historical Research and Markers Committee was created by
U.S. Governor General Frank Murphy, by virtue of Executive Order 451, to identify and
mark "historic antiquities" first in
Manila, then throughout the Philippines, as a first step towards their preservation. The
Church of San Agustin,
Fort Santiago,
Plaza McKinley, the
Roman Catholic Cathedral of Manila,
San Sebastian Church,
Concordia College,
Manila Railroad Company, Dr. Lorenzo Negrao, and
University of Santo Tomas (Intramuros site) were among the first structures to be granted
historical markers. The installation of markers was first limited to identify antiquities in Manila. However, the commission's mandate was later expanded to cover the whole of the Philippines. Many markers were destroyed or lost due to
World War II, along with the structures they represent, and many have been replaced by post-war markers. This first committee was composed of American journalist Walter Robb who served as chair; American Anthropologist
H. Otley Beyer - who would later be known as the father of Philippine Anthropology; Spanish Jesuit Fr. Miguel Selga, SJ; Dean Edward Hyde from the
University of the Philippines College of Engineering; and Filipinos
Jaime C. de Veyra,
Conrado Benitez, and Eulogio Balan Rodriguez.
Philippines Historical Committee (1935) With the establishment of the
Philippine Commonwealth in 1935, President
Manuel L. Quezon signed Executive Order No. 91 in 1937, creating the
Philippines Historical Committee (PHC), which took over the functions as its predecessor, as well as the tasks of repairing government-owned antiquities and acquiring antiquities owned by private individuals.
National Historical Institute (1972) In 1972, President
Ferdinand Marcos'
declaration of
martial law resulted in a reorganization of government and the renaming of the NHC as the
National Historical Institute.
National Historical Commission of the Philippines (2010) On May 12, 2010, President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act No. 10086, or the law reverting the National Historical Institute into its original form as the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. ==Current activities==