THE National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) announced its new chairman, Lisa Guerrero Nakpil, who was just elected by the NHCP Board.

Nakpil took her oath before National Commission for Culture and the Arts Chairman Victorino Mapa Manalo, who was also an ex-officio member of the NHCP board in his capacity as executive director of the National Archives of the Philippines.

Nakpil was appointed as NHCP commissioner in 2020, representing the private sector. She has been a noted public historian, curator and writer, who has championed the promotion of historical knowledge through her various award-winning books and newspaper columns.

She has been following in the footsteps of her mother, Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, who also served as chairman of the then-National Historical Commission from 1967 to 1971.

The NHCP board believed that Nakpil's broad experience in art and culture as well as media and events would strengthen the NHCP's mandate in bringing Philippine history alive, and building love of the country and a sense of Filipino identity.

Chairman Nakpil succeeded Emmanuel Franco Calairo, who specialized in the study of local history in Cavite.

NHCP has been the principal government agency, mandated to strengthen the people's nationalism through the promotion of Philippine history and the protection of cultural heritage.