Deep sense of history makes Europeans best museum guests

CEBU, Philippines - Europeans who account for around 10 percent of foreign nationals that have visited the Museo Sugbo, the provincial museum along M.J. Cuenco Avenue, display the most interest in Cebuano history and culture, this according to museum curator Radcliff Estrada in a recent interview.

“What I like about Europeans is that they are good listeners. And their questions would give you a hint nga kahibalo sila parte nato. Mas alienated pa gani siguro ang uban nato sa ato mismong kultura kay nila,” Estrada said.

Historically, appreciation for museums began in Europe. This is because the arts flourished there first. Since the Renaissance, thousands of arts education curricular models and other arts-based professional development for students, teachers and community organizations have continued to flourish. 

Also, Europeans put a premium on broadening of their grasp on other peoples’ cultures; and that they acknowledge the value of research and publications in connection with continuing studies, community work and advocacy.

Japanese are courteous so they also make for best guests at the museum, Estrada added. “However, there still is the language barrier, that’s why they always have an interpreter with them.”

“Japanese nationals show more interest in war memorials,” Estrada said.

As for Koreans who are supposedly the current target market with their influx here to study and learn the English language, Estrada said that “naa sila’y concern about the entrance fees.”

But the provincial museum, Estrada further said, offers free guided tours on Thursdays and Saturdays. “On other days, guests would have to pay P100 to the tour guides per group,” this was learned. 

With regards to the impression that museums are for the artisans and literatis or the elite and the intellectuals only, Museo Sugbo director Jose Eleazar Bersales attributed curiosity in the surge of museum visitors from neighboring barangays lately.

“Abi sa uban og para ra’s edukado ug intellectual ang museum? Well, we have already perked up the interest of even the C and D crowd from some depressed areas nearby. We are proud that residents, driven by curiosity, have started getting in and spreading the news,” he said.

Because of this, Bersales will be raising up the need to strengthen community training on museum appreciation to entice volunteers from among these people in barangays Tejero, Tinago, Carreta and Lorega-San Miguel.

 On Monday, as weekly meetings of museum personnel fall on this day, Bersales will be discussing this move that eyes as well those who are interested to be volunteer museum tour guides.

“Naa man gyo’y mga tawo nga passionate kaayo about history. We have to tap that potential because running the museum is more than just management skills. Dili man god ni siya pareha’g bangko nga focused more on objectivity in delivering service. What we most need here are people with deep emotional attachment to culture and history,” he added.

At an average, the Museo Sugbo caters to 300 students, less than a hundred walk-ins, and around 20 foreigners daily, Tuesdays to Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays as holidays of obligation and on Mondays for general cleanup.

New museum rates are P75 for foreigners, P30 for locals, P10 for children ages three years old and above. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Free guided tours on Thursdays and Saturdays are available from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The only obstacle to visitors recently is the designation of the road on the stretch of the provincial museum as a clamping and towing zone. Visitors, therefore, are advised to leave their drivers behind to watch over their vehicles. — Maria Eleanor E. Valeros  (THE FREEMAN)