The Philippines is one of the signatories of the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme (MOW), where documentary heritage across the globe is enshrined for humanity's collective memory and conservation. The program established the international register, which lists the Philippines in its Asia and Pacific section. The Philippines is also part of the program's regional register, the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific, while the country also has established its own national-level counterpart.
Nominations.
During the inscription of "The Birth of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) (Archives about the Formation ASEAN, 1967 – 1976)" in the Memory of the World International Register in 2025, only Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand were able to submit their documents to UNESCO. The Philippines was the lone ASEAN founder-state that was not able to participate. UNACOM later revealed that their team could not locate the Philippine counterpart papers, showing the "sad state of record keeping in government." After this predicament, UNACOM re-launched the Memory of the World in the Philippines to bolster national awareness and participation.
The UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines (UNACOM) has expressed its intent to nominate numerous documentary heritage into the UNESCO Memory of the World's international, regional, and national registers. Among the nomination priorities raised include (1) La Solidaridad Newspapers, (2) Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tángere and El filibusterismo, (3) the Laguna Copperplate, (4) Ramon Obusan's Ethnographic Films, (5) World War II Documents on "Comfort Women" ("Comfort Women" Papers in the Philippines), (6) Makinaugalingon, collection of Ilonggo community paper, (7) Philippine Insurgencies Records, and (8) Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade Route Documents.
Other forthcoming nominations were also mentioned, which include (1) Plays of Magdalena Jalandoni, (2) 1911-1923 Philippine Cinema Flyers, (3) Marcelo H. Del Pilar "Plaridel" Papers, (4) Order of Yamashita Treasure (Surrender Papers of Yamashita), and (5) Philippine Peace Accords of the Bangsamoro People.
UNACOM has also mentioned that they are preparing for more research for other possible nominations, including those for (1) the Oldest Ilocano-language Bible, (2) Historical Muslim Mindanao Writings, and (3) Manobo-language Recordings.
Other potential contenders, some have been declared as National Cultural Treasures, may include (1) Boxer Codex, (2) 1800's Poem Compilations of Leona Florentino, Mother of Philippine Women's Literature, (3) Maradika Qur'an of Bayang, (4) University of Santo Tomas Baybayin Documents, (5) Spanish document section of the National Archives of the Philippines, (6) Nueva Segovia Archdiocesan Archives, (7) Jose Rizal's Mi Ultimo Adios, (8) Monreal Stones, (9) Archives of Hospicio de San Jose, the oldest orphanage in the Philippines, and (10) Velarde map and other documents concerning the South China Sea Arbitration.