Museum Forum by VAMGI

The VISAYAS ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS & GALLERIES, INC. (VAMGI) and the National Museum of the Philippines in cooperation with the Cebu Provincial Government and St. Theresa’s College will hold a forum entitled: Museums, Heritage and Conservation on May 20-23, 2008 at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Social Hall.

Target participants: LGUs, museums curators, history & science teachers, artists, tour guides, collectors, municipal tourism & heritage councils and interested participants.

Forum fee: Php 2,500 (Inclusive of lunch, snacks, lecture materials and certificate of attendance.

Objective: After the forum, participants should be able to discover and preserve our local heritage through museums, sites and landmarks, therefore, it can be a springboard for the development of sustainable tourism in the region.

Local Expert-Speakers:

1. Fr. Brian Brigoli, Curator, Cathedral Museum of Cebu – The Importance of Heritage
2. Prof. Marlene Samson, Curator, University of San Carlos Museum – Museum Development and Experiences
3. Prof. Dave Valles, Curator, USC Biological Museum - Museum Development and Experiences
4. Prof. Jose Eleazar Bersales – Chair, USC Sociology & Anthropology Department - Museum Development and Experiences
5. Mr. Ruel Rigor, former Curator, Casa Gorordo Museum – Urban Planning & Cultural Mapping

National Expert-Speakers:

1. Mr. Orlando Abinion, Curator for Conservation & Restoration, National Museum of the Philippines – Preventive Conservation of Museums & Cultural Resources
2. Ms. Angelita Fucanan, Head of Archaeological Sites and Branch Museums, National Museum of the Philippines – Museum Management
3. Mr. Nicholas Cuadra, Research Anthropology Department - National Museum of the Philippines – Documentation of Cultural Artifacts & Exhibition Design

After the lectures, museum visit will be undertaken for case study at:

1. St. Theresa’s College Museum
2. Cebu City Museum
3. Cathedral Museum of Cebu
4. Dr. Canton Museum, Talisay City
5. Cebu Provincial Museum
6. Yap-San Diego Residence, Parian

For inquiries and reservations, contact secretariat at Telefax No: 253-3468 – St. Theresa’s College

Boljoon Archeological Diggings Presentation

Boljoon Archeological Diggings, originally uploaded by Lord Carl.

A presentation by Mr. Jobers Bersales regarding the recent archaeological diggings at the Boljoon church plaza will be conducted at the Cathedral Museum of Cebu. There’s no definite date yet but I’ll be posting updates here soon.

To whom the church bells toll

Oslob Church Bells, originally uploaded by Lord Carl.

When I visited Oslob last April I climbed up the five level belfry of the gutted church. From there I saw the vast expanse of land from North to South. Quaint as a town can be, Oslob is measly populated compared to its neighboring municipalities. It was getting late from my view in the belfry when I saw a thick dense of clouds descending upon the mountain ranges at the back of the church that serves as a dramatic backdrop of the town if viewed from the sea. That made my day complete.

Just as I am writing this article my thoughts are brought back to the suggestion of the mayor of Cebu City to make Santander, a town next to Oslob, the capital of the proposed federal state of Central Visayas if ever the country will shift to the federal system with the existing regions converted to federal states. Just as Hong Kong became a great city with a picturesque skyline, I guess Santander-Oslob will make a great federal capital too.