National Archives of the Philippines NAP (Pambansang Sinupan ng Pilipinas)

Overview

The National Archives of the Philippines (NAP; Filipino: Pambansang Sinupan ng Pilipinas) is the principal repository for the Philippines' public records and documentary heritage, holding approximately 60 million documents spanning centuries of Spanish colonial rule, the American colonial period, the Japanese occupation, and the decades of the Philippine Republic. The NAP is headquartered at the Intendencia Building in Manila and maintains regional offices in Cebu and Davao.

History and Founding

The NAP's origins lie in the Spanish colonial government's Division of Archives, which systematically collected administrative records from the mid-16th century onward. Following Spain's cession of the Philippines to the United States under the Treaty of Paris (10 December 1898), the American colonial government established the Office of Archives. Philippine Commission Act No. 273 (21 October 1901) formally established the Bureau of Archives under the Department of Public Instructions—the date recognized as National Archives Day. Over the following decades, the institution passed through successive reorganizations: it was integrated with the Philippine Library and Museum (1916), became a division under the National Library (1928), and was restructured as the Records Management and Archives Office in 1972. The NAP in its current form was constituted by Republic Act No. 9470 (2007), which established it as an independent agency.

Collections and Holdings

The NAP holds approximately 13 million Spanish-era documents, some dating to the first Spanish Governor-General Miguel López de Legazpi (1564–1572), and another 60 million catalogued public documents from the American, Japanese, and Republic periods. The Spanish-era collection encompasses land records (terrenos), administrative correspondence, ecclesiastical materials, judicial records, and local government documents organized under major record groups. The NAP also serves as the final repository for notarized documents and holds records of universities and colleges closed by the Commission on Higher Education. Notably, the Philippine Declaration of Independence is held not by the NAP but by the National Library of the Philippines.

Notable Materials for Journalism Research

The NAP holds records of colonial-era Philippine Commission reports, government gazettes, and administrative files that contain extensive references to the nascent Philippine press and media. Records from the Commonwealth and Republic periods document the development of Philippine publishing, broadcasting, and information agencies.

Access and Usage

The NAP provides access to its holdings at its Manila headquarters and regional offices. Researchers may submit requests online through the Freedom of Information (FOI) portal or in person. Genealogical, legal, historical, and thesis research are among the most common access purposes.