DAVAO CITY—The National Museum of the Philippines in Mindanao opened its doors to the public last Dec. 1.
The museum, which is housed in a durian inspired six-storey building, showcases the rich natural and cultural heritage of Davao region through several thematic exhibits.
According to Arvin Manuel Villalon, director National Museum of the Philippines Mindanao, the new museum located inside Davao People’s Park serves to educate the public of the region’s heritage which is now widely known.
“Lahat ng museo na hinahawakan ng National Museum of the Philippines ay naglalayon na i-preserve at conserve ang ating mga heritage, Amin pong pinapakita ang yaman ng kultura at natural heritage ng Davao Region,” Villalon said.
(All the museums handled by the National Museum of the Philippines aim to preserve and conserve our heritage. We show the cultural resources and the natural heritage of the Davao Region.)
The exhibits are located on the three floors of the museum.
Visitors are greeted with artist Kublai Millan installation piece “Agungan sa Pagkakaisa” or the “Hanging Gongs of Harmony” which is made of nito vines, rattan and abaca created by the Manobo weaving community in Jose Abad Santos town in Davao Occidental.
Artworks of Joel Geolamen “Habilin” and Jong Tangiday “Mebuyan” are also displayed. While the late National Artist Victorio Edades, who spent his latter years in Davao City will have his art work “Industries” exhibited at the ground floor.
The second floor will feature the natural history of the region.. “You talk about plants, animals, geology, minerals, those from the past you can find on the second floor,” Villalon said.
The third floor will feature exhibits associated with rituals of the life cycle among the indigenous peoples in the region.
“It is titled Bahandi and is about indigenous peoples. The indigenous cultural communities, the Moro peoples the objects they use spanning their life cycle from birth to death,” Villalon said.
The fourth floor is about textiles of the region. Called Kabilin: Enduring Textile Tradition of Mindanao, it showcases the various textiles, ornaments used by the peoples in the region.
The museum’s textile exhibition was put up in partnership with Sen. Loren Legarda, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) under the Hibla ng Lahing Program. National Museum Davao is the 7th Hibla ng Lahing Filipino Regional Gallery.
Besides the textiles, the life and works of GAMABA or the Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan (National Living Treasures) are also exhibited as part of Kabilin.
One portion of the fourth floor showcases art works of artists with one section dedicated to Davao-born National Artist Ang Kiukok.
The fifth floor is allocated for the Davao City local government-run Museo Dabawenyo.
Built at a cost of P300-million, the museum was realized through a usufruct agreement between the National Museum and the City Government of Davao which provided the land where the structure was built. This is the 17th National Museum in the country and the fourth in Mindanao.
Entrance is free to the public. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (RGA)
