CEBU, Philippines - The Casa Gorordo was the home of the first Filipino Catholic bishop of Cebu, Bishop Juan Gorordo. It is a typical Spanish house befitting a local aristocrat. The wood and stone structure housed four generations of the Gorordo family.
In 1981, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., bought the property and restored it to its former glory. In 1983, the foundation opened the house as a museum, highlighting the lifestyle of the affluent in mid-19th and early 20th centuries.
Much of the house is well preserved, and the items on display are antiques and artifacts mostly owned by the Gorordos. The museum is basically a showcase of how life was during this turning point of Philippine history.
In 1991, the National Historical Institute recognized the importance of preserving the structure and thus declared the casa as a National Landmark. Ever since RAFI took over the management of the casa, it has become a symbol of the Cebuanos’ desire to preserve their rich culture and heritage. In fact, Casa Gorordo is instrumental in reawakening the Cebuanos’ interest in their history, and has become the focal point for cultural activities and events, including the yearly Gabii sa Kabilin.
Last August 1, CebuartistseX, a newly formed group of Cebuano artists with a mission to strengthen Cebu’s mark in the map through the arts, decided to paint this historical structure both as a tribute and as a manifestation of their gratitude for the institution’s support for the group and Cebuano artists, in general.
Together with photographer Reynan Villena and Aldo Nelbert Banaynal, we were privileged to witness as ten artists scattered all over the casa, by the wide well-maintained lawn or the inside the house itself, took their palettes out and started immortalizing the symbol of Cebu’s heritage on canvass.
The artists present were Kimsoy Yap, Celso Pepito, Cesar Castillo, Fe Madrid-Pepito, Audie Estrellada, Benji Goyha, Jobril Villaver, Maxcell Migallos, Billy Pomida and Gabriel Abellana.
Their works will be donated to the Casa Gorordo Museum.
TUGOB
Tinagik ni Maria Eleanor E. Valeros
Yellow Lady, Cory for Pres. Movement
Tugob sa kahinam
mibitbit mi’s sulo,
apil sa torch march.
Tambag ni mama
manginlabot gayod. Mobarog
ug mamahimong
kabahin sa solusyon inay sa suliran.
Tugob sa paglaum miwarawara pod
mi’s among kamot pina-L. Laban!
Justice for Aquino,
Justice for All. Cory, hindi ka nag-iisa.
Tama na!
Sobra na! Palitan na! Laban! Laban! Laban!
Tugob sa pagpanghimaraot among silingan
kay gipanghagdaw iyang daffodils, yellow bells.
Basta kutob sa yellow langkat, paksit, kutlo.
Alang ni’s kawsa no! Tse na lang anang *KBL!
Tugob sa nag-alintabong pagbati
alang sa balo ni Ninoy, hala bitad-kayab
sa streamer. CORY IS MY PRESIDENT.
Ingon sila rakrakan ta? Usapa na’ng bala!
Tugob sa gugma alang ning nasora
mihulip sa kahadlok nagkuray nga kaikag
ikahapos, ikatamparos ngadtong Marcos
hiniusang dapog-banyak aron siya mapalagpot.
Tugob sa kaalam midiskurso si Cory sa plaza
sa Lutopan. Nagpaambit sa iyang kalantip taliwala’s
kalumo. Giitsa niya’ng yellow garland sa akong
dughan mitugdon. Lakip dili matuis niyang
kaligdong.
Tugob sa katulin ang pagpangligad
sa katuigan. May 23 ka Pebrero naman diay
ang nasaksihan. Diha’y namarog kunohay
sa EDSA
karon mao’y badlongong nanagkupot
sa renda.
Tugob sa pagbangotan gitunod ang inahan
pauli sa yuta, sa tiunay’ng kapahulayan.
Nahu’g tabil ni’ng maong anib sa atong
kasaysayan. Unta dili mounong,
demokrasya balik sa lubnganan.
* KBL (Kilusang Bagong
Lipunan, partido ni Marcos)