CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP)-Cebu highlighted the importance of museums in preserving cultural heritage and tradition during the National Arts Month celebration in February.
Ma. Cecilia Cabañes, information officer of NMP-Cebu, emphasized during a recent Kapihan sa PIA that museums play a crucial role in educating the youth, particularly in today’s technological age.
“Mahinungdanon kaayo siya sa pagpa-ila, labi na sa henerasyon karon, sa mga kabatan-onan nga we are already in this generation, modern na kaayo ta unya daghan na kaayo ta ug traditions nga siguro na-set aside or hinay-hinay na nga nawala o nakalimtan,” Cabañes said.
(Museums are very important, especially for the current generation, for the youth, as we are already in this modern era, and many of our traditions may have been set aside or are slowly disappearing or being forgotten.)
She said that museums serve as a reminder of a country’s traditions and history.
“So, ang atong museums anaa aron mopahinumdum kanunay nato sa atong mga tradisyon nga kinahanglan pa natong ibalik lantaw ug ipadayon hangtod karon,” Cabañes said.
(That is why our museums are here—to constantly remind us of our traditions that we need to revisit and continue preserving.)
‘History feels real’
Judith M. Eparwa, a 45-year-old mother and the communications, publications and marketing director of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation, said that museums offer a unique opportunity for her family to bond while learning about the past.
“My family and I recently went to the National Museum of the Philippines-Cebu, and it made me realize how much more powerful it is to see things in person. There’s something about seeing real artifacts that makes history feel so much more real. It’s one thing to read about something online, but being there in front of the actual items really brings the past to life,” Eparwa said.
Her two sons, who enjoy online gaming and surfing the internet, have also come to appreciate museums and the history behind various artifacts.
“My parents insisted we check out the Cebu National Museum a few times… I wasn’t expecting much, but it actually turned out to be a completely different experience. Each visit feels like a completely new experience. Seeing everything in person is way more powerful than just looking at it online,” said 15-year-old Julio Miguel M. Eparwa.
His younger brother, 13-year-old Marco Joaquin, described his experience as unforgettable.
“It’s one thing to see something on a screen, but being there with it right in front of you makes it feel real in a whole new way. Honestly, there are more ‘wows’ and ‘ohhhhs’ in person than when we’re looking at it on a monitor. You almost feel like you want to touch everything (even though we can’t), and seeing it all in 3D makes it way more exciting. It’s like virtual reality, but without the headset—and it’s way cooler!” Marco said.
Preserving heritage and tradition
Cabañes explained that the component museums in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Iloilo showcase the natural and cultural resources specific to each province, which were researched and acquired by the NMP.
“For Cebu, ang gifeature nato dira kay ang mga talagsaon nga mga endemic species of Flora and Fauna. And then we also have an exhibition of our archaeological collection gikan sa mga excavations nga gipahigayon sa NMP dira sa Cebu in the past and the recent ones katong sa San Remigio and we also have a maritime exhibition of our maritime history,” Cabañes said.
(For Cebu, we feature rare endemic species of flora and fauna. We also have an exhibition of our archaeological collection from excavations conducted by the NMP in Cebu, both in the past and the more recent ones in San Remigio. Additionally, we have a maritime exhibition showcasing our maritime history.)
Cabañes also noted that the museum’s fine arts collection features the works of Martino Abellana, a local artist from Carcar City and a former student of National Artist Fernando Amorsolo.
“We are also in the works in the initiative aron mahimo siyang usa ka national artist for visual art,” she added.
(We are also working on the initiative to have him recognized as a National Artist for Visual Arts.)
Weaving tradition
In addition, NMP also highlighted the “Lala Series,” a flagship program initiated by NMP-Cebu, designed to promote and preserve Filipino cultural heritage through interactive workshops and exhibitions.
Lala is a local term for weaving.
“We want to introduce that term especially for the younger generation. It’s also a product demonstration of the different weaving traditions we have in Cebu,” Cabañes said.
NMP-Cebu holds workshops every year, featuring a specific weaving tradition and invites participants to join the demonstration in the hopes that the weaving tradition will not be forgotten.
The program, which started in 2023 with the “Banig sa Badian” of Badian, was followed by the “Sarok sa Consolacion” of Consolacion, Cebu.
NMP-Cebu is set to hold new sessions of the Lala Series this year, though details are yet to be announced.
Printmaking Workshop
For the National Arts Month celebration, the museum hosted a printmaking workshop and a lecture on the life of Manuel “Maning” Rodriguez Sr., a Cebuano artist known as the “Father of Filipino Printmaking” and one of the featured artists in the Philippine Center New York Core Collection of 1974.
Cabañes also announced an upcoming lecture in March by Dr. Humaida Jumalon of the Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary, which will reintroduce Julian Jumalon, a Cebuano artist and lepidopterist.
“Probably the new generation of mga kabatan-onan wala na kaila ni Julian Jumalon. Ang ubang nakaila ni Julian Jumalon kato rang nakaduaw sa mga educational tours. So, we want to reintroduce these figures to the Cebuanos to remind them that we have great scientists and talented artists here whom we should take pride in,” she added.
(Probably, the new generation of young Filipinos is no longer familiar with Julian Jumalon. Only those who have visited educational tours may have known about him. So, we want to reintroduce these figures to the Cebuanos to remind them that we have great scientists and talented artists here whom we should take pride in.)
In addition to lectures and programs, NMP-Cebu will conduct school visits that include lessons on proper museum etiquette to help preserve historical artifacts. (MYP/PIA7 Cebu)
