Museums unlocked

CEBU, Philippines - Filipinos are fond of bringing back the past; melodramatic but with a purpose. They gain strength from their experiences. Cebuanos, for instance, have built all over the province many museums that have been there for many years to preserve the memoirs and artifacts that shaped Cebu to what it is now.

The museums participating in this year’s Gabii sa Kabilin will feature treasures from the bygone years of Cebu. These treasures, though dusty and old, have not diminished in value and significance.

The Museo Parian sa Sugbo will display some of the original relics belonging to the old Jesuit house it now occupies. Pieces of porcelain, ceramic, and pottery were found while rehabilitating the foundation of the antique residence. These artifacts were said to date back to the 1580s-1640s. Along with the precious earthenware, the workers also discovered some old bottles and animal skeletons, which offer an idea of Parian’s past residents’ way of living.

According to Archt. Anthony Abelgas, the person behind the house’s restoration, the most unique artifact they have discovered is an unscathed set of teacups. The set is incomplete, with only the top of the kettle found along with the teacups; the damage to it is only minimal compared to the other artifacts. Abelgas theorized that the teacups were ceremonial in nature, most likely used for an offering before construction of the building and the set was buried under the foundation. Coins were also buried under the pillars as tradition; they were recovered and are now on display in the museum.

The 283-year old house of the Jesuits is currently found inside a warehouse. Nicanor Sy, the owner, realized that there is more to the house than to be just a part of the warehouse.

“This is a family-operated museum. As the owner’s cousin, I take over what needs to be preserved in this house. Ours is different compared to other museums.  We don’t have strict rules. Anyone can see what’s inside this house. Lack of manpower led me to do everything; the cleaning, fixing, and maintaining this house.  But as soon as I have visitors, I am happy to be able to contribute back to life the cradle of Parian. This is where I gain my strength,” Abelgas said.

It doesn’t exactly come as a surprise when the artifacts displayed in the music-themed Halad Museum are mostly musical instruments and records owned by Cebuano artists. Several performers and their heirs have donated some of their finest compositions, instruments, and personal items to the museum. These historical memorabilia are not merely showcased as display pieces but guests are invited to actually play them as well.

For instance, the grand piano that was used by Ben Zubiri, a popular Visayan entertainer and radio personality in the 50s and 60s,  has been set up to be played by visiting musicians and enthusiasts who wish to draw music out of the venerable instrument, instead of just admiring it from a distance. The guitar of Miggoy Lopez, composer of “Rosas Pandan” (1938), also has to be strummed from time to time for it to stay in tune. The strings of the instruments have to be constantly played as to avoid getting brittle and rusty.

“A museum doesn’t work merely in acquiring collections from antique shops. There is a process for that. Knowing its provenance is part of it. We should know how valuable and educationally relevant these facts are for the museum and for future endeavors for our visitors. That is why there’s a big difference between a collection and a museum. Museums are not merely collecting; we also know what is relevant and purposeful.” Audrey Tomada, Halad Museum director, said.

Aside from the collection of instruments, there are sets of old photographs, music scores, lyric sheets, vinyl records, and other personal items on display belonging to legendary Visayan composers.

Most of us think that inside the museum are just all it. Little did we know that there is more to what meets the eye.

Handling a museum takes a very keen process—“from renovating a historical venue for the museum, taking and verifying loaned and donated artifacts, and maintaining these treasures to preserve their historical value,” Rex Rubens Fernandez, Museo Sugbu curator, expressed.

Museo Sugbo has 14 galleries. The Arsenas gallery, in particular, boasts a collection of wooden and ivory statues of saints as a tribute to Cebu’s rich religious. Filipino interpretation of Nativity Scene can also be found in the collection.

Another noteworthy collection of the museum is the Media gallery, which traces the development of journalism in Cebu. It’s a tribute to past journalists who have made an impact to Cebu. News clips, old models of cameras, typewriters, and radios are displayed in the gallery.

“Since we don’t need to worry about its sustainability, even how much people visit this place, we still can accommodate them. We have people. We have different galleries. We don’t need to worry about its safety because we have people looking after them and they were trained to carefully handle things inside the museum,” Fernandez said.

Casa Gorordo Museum, a museum of 19th to early 20th century lifestyle of Parian families and the community, faces the challenge of the effects of urbanization, pollution, and climate change. 

“When the house was built in the 1850s, there was much less carbon emissions in the air and the street it was located still did not have motorized traffic. Also, they had plenty of spare materials they could use to replace damaged parts of the house, such as coral stones, capiz shells and hardwoods. We no longer have these readily on hand today so extra effort really is needed to take care of the house,” Florencio Moreño II, Casa Gorordo Museum curator, said.

He mentioned that they follow protocols in cleaning the artifacts and the house daily, weekly, monthly, every six months, and yearly. Museum staff is trained to do maintenance like handling textiles and old photographs. For more complex maintenance or conservation needs that arise, they get help from experts, such as conservators from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, conservation architects, entomologists, among others.

Artifacts acquired during the Spanish Colonial Period can be seen at the Museo de Talisay. The museum keeps a number of prized items, among them are the century-old bell retrieved from Lagundi Reef last 2006 and nearly a two-century old cornerstone unearthed from the Old Municipal Hall.

They may be old and damaged, but all these artifacts represent the rich culture and heritage of Cebu.  On the Gabii sa Kabilin, they will once again serve as a reminder to preserve the beauty of the past for future generations to marvel on.

“The trend in patronage is quite hopeful not only for Casa Gorordo but for other museums in Cebu. We have more young people coming over to tour our museums these days. Also, the internet helps a lot in promoting the museum. There are really many avenues for widening our patronage now. We have also felt a fresh focus on museums as tools for education so many schools require their students to have museum tours now to complement their classroom lessons,” Moreño added.

These museums are just among those participating during the exciting Gabii sa Kabilin on May 31, when 34 destinations will open its doors to the public from 6 p.m. to midnight to encourage visitors to understand and appreciate these destinations as venues for cultural understanding, fun and dynamic learning.

The Gabii sa Kabilin ticket worth Php 150 is an admission ticket for all destinations, unlimited Gabii sa Kabilin-designated bus rides, and one tartanilla trip within the city’s old district. Admission is free for children aged seven and below. Tickets are available at any of the participating museums.

In Cebu City, sites include Casa Gorordo Museum, Cathedral Museum of Cebu, Cebu City Museum, Cebu Cultural Center, Colegio del Santo Niño, Don Sergio Osmeña and CAP Art Gallery, Fo Guang Shan Chu Un Temple, Fort San Pedro, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Cathedral of the Holy Child, Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum, Museo Parian sa Sugbo, Museo Sugbo, Plaza Independencia, Plaza Parian-AboitizLand Heritage Pocket, Sacred Heart Parish Church-Alternative Contemporary Art Studio, San Nicolas Parish Church, Sugbo Chinese Heritage Museum, United Church of Christ in the Philippines-Bradford Memorial Chapel, University of San Carlos, University of Southern Philippines-Rizaliana Museum, University of the Philippines Cebu College, and Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House.

In Mandaue City, Mandaue City Presidencia, Bantayan sa Hari, Plaza Complex, and National Shrine of St. Joseph Parish Church will open their doors to visitors.

Lapu-Lapu City will feature Mactan Shrine, Muelle Osmeña, Nuestra Señora Virgen de la Regla Parish Church, and Plaza Poblacion.

Meanwhile Talisay City sites include National Historic Shrine Liberation Monument, Museo de Talisay, and Sta. Teresa de Avila Parish Church.

For more information about Gabii sa Kabilin, please contact (032) 418-7234 loc. 703, or visit www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph or follow @rafiorgph on Twitter. To reserve your tickets, you may also visit www.rafi.org.ph/event/2013-gsk-reserve.  PHOTOS (all by Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.) (FREEMAN)