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00:26 >> Good afternoon. I am the Director of the National Memory Project, Publication and Herald Division Officer in Charge, Ian Christopher Alfonso.
00:33 You can also join us and post your questions or comments on our Facebook Live. Good afternoon, Ian.
00:40 >> Good afternoon to you and to our listeners.
00:43 >> Ian, what is this National Memory Project? When and how did it start?
00:49 >> Yes, it started in 2019 as a clamor by historians and historians of history in the Philippines
00:58 to bring the sources of Philippine history closer, especially to researchers and historians.
01:06 Abroad, democratization of historical materials is already happening.
01:13 Books and documents can be accessed even if you did not physically go to the library and archives.
01:22 In the Philippines, there are libraries that are already doing this.
01:25 NHCP stepped forward to join the democratization of historical materials, especially public domains
01:36 and rare materials that are original to us, to our collection, to our museums, to our special collections and to the library.
01:44 >> For example, I checked your website, there are books. What other kinds of documents can be seen there?
01:54 >> Yes, we can see mostly Philippine history. In different areas, there are books, literature, original manuscripts that are published,
02:08 journal papers, researches of historians and scholars.
02:14 Soon, we will also upload survey files on historic sites in the Philippines and technical reports on the historical objects we are conserving.
02:30 >> For example, old diaries, videos, are there also such things?
02:35 >> When it comes to videos, we will upload the NHCP-made documentaries in the past.
02:45 As for diaries, we do not have a strong interest in diaries.
02:51 >> Okay.
02:52 >> Hopefully, the National Library of the Philippines will join us.
02:56 >> There are diaries.
02:57 >> I think the website of the National Library can access diaries from the Spanish period in the Philippines.
03:07 >> Who can access it? Do you need to create an account? Can it be downloaded?
03:15 >> Yes, there are four levels of sources.
03:19 Level 1 is free and can be downloaded for free in high resolution.
03:26 Level 2 is read-only. We can still see it online but we cannot download it due to restrictions.
03:36 Level 3 is NHCP books for sale but only a few pages can be seen due to copyright issues.
03:44 Level 4 is for those who have copyright.
03:49 We uploaded it so that the public will know that there is a book like this and they can access it in our main library in Callao Street, Ermita, Manila.
04:00 And soon to be in our museums across the country.
04:03 >> Ion, I sometimes go to websites like International Archives where you can borrow a book for a certain period.
04:11 Is it like that? For example, you can borrow a book for two weeks or one week?
04:16 >> That is one of the innovations that we want to introduce in the future.
04:21 For now, because it is just a new memory project, although it was conceived in 2019,
04:28 this is the only history month. We launched it last August.
04:31 So hopefully, we can integrate it as a new feature of this website.
04:38 >> Let's continue our discussion with NHCP Research Officer-in-Charge, Ion Christopher Alfonso.
04:45 Later in our Loose Room, here in CNN Philippines.
04:50 Let's go back to our service with NHCP Research Publication and Herald Division Officer-in-Charge, Ion Christopher Alfonso.
04:59 We are talking about their National Memory Project.
05:02 You mentioned earlier, Ion, about the documents, the books that can be accessed.
05:08 For example, the students, are their textbooks used in school? Are there such things available?
05:16 >> These textbooks are copyrighted.
05:23 What we can see in the memory project are specialized sources, studies about Philippine history.
05:33 We may have a textbook digitized there, but I doubt if there are that many.
05:40 >> For example, if they have research, the textbooks themselves cannot be digitized.
05:47 But if they have research on a topic, like our heroes, or other historical events,
05:57 the documents, you mentioned there are original documents.
06:01 >> Yes, especially the letters of Rizal, published in his centennial in 1961.
06:08 His memoirs, his correspondences with his fellow reformists, family members, are there.
06:19 >> And even pictures, old pictures.
06:22 >> Yes, there are old photos there. We are still deploying this.
06:28 >> For example, there are collectors or even the authors, can they contribute to be part of the archive?
06:37 >> Yes, this is the reason why we called this National Memory Project, and not the NHDP Digital Library.
06:45 Currently, there are many government agencies and private institutions that contribute to our championing the democratization of Philippine history.
06:57 >> I would like to ask, for example, the presidential proclamations, are there such things, or the old files?
07:07 >> Yes, there are, but as much as possible, we do not want to duplicate the existing digital holdings online.
07:19 This is a mandate of the official gazette under the office of the president. Our official gazette website is well maintained.
07:28 >> What are the things that you see that are being accessed in your archives?
07:34 >> As of now, I do not have any data that I can access. Usually, we receive comments that they should have login credentials.
07:49 We always explain that due to copyright concerns, we cannot spread the copyrighted materials.
07:56 Versus public domains that can be accessed and free from the memory project, there are still materials that can be enjoyed for free.
08:13 >> Can you give us an idea, for example, if you are going to download a book, how long will it take?
08:19 >> Yes, it depends on the thickness. The resolution of the per page is 300 dpi.
08:31 So hopefully, we need a good internet connection.
08:37 >> Lastly, to our fellow Filipinos, please invite them to use your archives, especially those who are interested in history and also your contact numbers.
08:49 >> Yes, we invite our fellow Filipinos, especially those who are abroad, to explore our history and our identity as Filipinos through this website, memory.nhcp.gov.ph.
09:06 This is a way for the government to bring the sources and the readers closer to the public about our history.
09:14 Hopefully, we will be inspired and our creative persons will grow more inspired by Filipino history through these materials.
09:23 >> Thank you very much to NHCP Research, Publication and Herald Division, Officer in Charge, Ian Christopher Alfonso.
09:30 Alfonso.
