BAKAS PILIPINAS | Philippine Historic Preservation Society

06/12/2026

https://youtu.be/cHp-WWpWIF8?si=PtWYLJ3M9eqKbRPt

Roz Li, RA, LEED APRoz Li has more than 30 years of experience as...

06/12/2026

Congratulations to Roz Li and Judith Saltzman, founding principals of Li/Saltzman Architects and alumnae of Columbia GSAPP's Historic Preservation program, for being honored with the distinguished The New York Landmarks Conservancy’s 2026 Chairman’s Award!

Roz Li, President and a Founder of BAKAS PILIPINAS | Philippine Historic Preservation Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic architecture and sites in the Philippines, accepted the award with these remarks:

“I could not say it better than Judith just did. Thank you to the Landmarks Conservancy — I am deeply grateful for this award.

While Judith told you what we have done. Let me add a word about why it matters to me.

When we restore a tenement, a theater, a settlement house or the religious properties that were my own corner of the practice, work I often shared with the late Ann Friedman, whom I remember with great affection, we are not just saving brick and stone. We are keeping a community’s story alive, and telling the people who live there: your history matters.

I learned that lesson twice. I came to New York from the Philippines, and this city’s historic streets taught me what it means to belong to a place. That is why, upon my retirement, I founded BAKÁS PILIPINAS, a nonprofit working to preserve historic sites in the Philippines — with generous early advice from Peg, for which I will always be thankful.

My dream is that the Philippines will one day have a Landmarks Conservancy of its own — proof that what this organization does for New York can inspire preservation around the world.”



https://nylandmarks.org/event/2026-chairmans-award/

We were honored to present the 2026 Chairman’s Award yesterday at The Metropolitan Club to several outstanding recipients whose work exemplifies dedication to preserving New York’s architectural heritage.

Roz Li, RA, LEED AP & Judith Saltzman, RA, LEED AP – Founders of Li/Saltzman Architects.

Mc Gowan – A family-oriented building construction and general contracting firm.

Richard W. Southwick, FAIA – Partner Emeritus of Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners.

The Chairman’s Award recognizes exceptional individuals, businesses, and organizations that have made significant contributions to protecting the architectural legacy of the City we love.

Thank you, and congratulations to our 2026 honorees!

PHOTO - From left to right: Roz Li, Judith Saltzman, Patrick Mc Gowan, Landmarks Conservancy Chair Lloyd Zuckerberg, Martin Mc Gowan, and Richard W. Southwick. Photo by Conservancy Staff.

Link to more photos from the event in the comments section.

12/31/2025

In 2025, Bakás Pilipinas pursued several initiatives, which we started this year, as well as those we continued from recent years.

☀️ Bakás Pilipinas’ Philippine Tour

☀️ Nominating and Promoting Quiapo, a core district of Manila, as a Heritage Zone

☀️ Sari-Sari Storytime: Preserving Languages through Bilingual Children’s Books

☀️ Supporting Research in Philippine Architecture

☀️ Supporting Filipino Students in the Historic Preservation Field

🎓 We’re proud to have awarded a partial scholarship to Mary Grace Casuncad, who earned her Advanced Masters in SAHC: Structural Analysis of Monuments and Historical Constructions at University of Minho in Portugal.

🎓 Our recommendation for Marianne Claire Vitug resulted in her acceptance to attend Columbia GSAPP’s Master of Science in Historic Preservation Program in NYC.

🙏 Help us continue our mission in preserving architectural and cultural heritage in the Philippines! 🇵🇭

Go to our Donate page on our website: https://www.bakaspilipinas.org/take-action.

🙏 Many thanks to our supporters and partners this year. Maraming salamat!

10/14/2025

Last week, a group of mostly Fil-Am students at the Yale School of Architecture organized this exhibit at the School: "MAINTAINING IMPERMANENCE", raising very thoughtful questions about how we define impermanence in the buildings we design and build, with a focus on the Philippines. Bakas Pilipinas, represented by Roz Li, was invited to a roundtable panel at the opening of the exhibit, touching on the issue of impermanence in the practice of historic preservation. Other panelists were Ana Labrador (formerly with the National Museum of the Philippines), and Mei-Ling Lokko (Assistant Prof. at the School).
The exhibit organizers are: *Sam Algas (M.Arch/'27), *Pericles Bien (M.Arch/'27), *Marisa Crandall (M.Arch/'27), *Karina Encarnacion (M.Arch/'25), and *Alberto Martinez Garcia (PhD student). Congratulations to these inspiring students!

10/06/2025

✨🎉 Celebrate this year’s Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) Metro NY Chapter Community Awardees this Saturday, October 11 from 12 to 3 pm at Queens Museum! 🇵🇭

RSVP on Eventbrite: https://fanhsmny-awards25.eventbrite.com

🤝 Meet Community Changemakers
Connect with local Fil-Am led organizations and community partners across NYC doing vital work for advocacy, education, and representation.

🎨 Guided private tour of Abang-guard: Makibaka, the first solo museum exhibition by artist duo Abang-guard (Maureen Catbagan and Jevijoe Vitug ).

🥟Enjoy Merienda (& Chismis) Together
Savor bites from local Fil-Am owned The August Tree and Arellano Pandesal with refreshments provided by Sanzo while mingling and networking with community leaders.

✨ Celebrate NYC Fil-Am Legacy ✨
On behalf of the Executive Board, we cordially invite you to join distinguished guests, and we will honor the historical impact of Filipinx/a/o Americans in New York City and recognize today’s leaders who embody the resilience, creativity, and vision of our community.

📍 's Unisphere Gallery
📅 Saturday, October 11| 12–3PM
👉 RSVP: LINK IN BIO!
https://fanhsmny-awards25.eventbrite.com

✨🎉 Celebrate the Legacy with the Awards Ceremony
Together, we will honor the historical impact of today's NYC Fil-Am leaders.

 🤝 Meet Community Changemakers
Connect with local Fil-Am led organizations and community partners across NYC doing vital work for advocacy, education, and representation.

 🎨 Experience Fil-Am Art & History
Take a guided private tour of MAKIBAKA at QM, the first solo museum exhibition by artist duo Abang-guard (Maureen Catbagan and Jevijoe Vitug ). Their powerful work reimagines the 1964–1965 New York World’s Fair Pavilions to examine the pivotal year 1965 in Filipino American labor history, bringing to life stories of resistance and solidarity through paintings, sculptures, performances, and video.

 🥟Enjoy Merienda (& Chismis) Together 
Savor bites from local Fil-Am owned and , with refreshments provided by , while mingling and networking with community leaders.

RSVP TODAY! LINK IN BIO! Hope to see you there!
(Song by nyc/queens fil-am artist .msc)

08/05/2025

Learn about the process of preserving Cultural Heritage in the Philippines by watching this video of a recent conference held in Manila. https://www.facebook.com/NCCAOfficial/videos/635631902887459

04/12/2025

04/07/2025

Gulay game at Sari-Sari Storytime!

04/07/2025

Let the games begin at Sari-Sari Storytime!