The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
In this day and age of economic downturn and stark poverty, not only in the many parts of the world but in the Philippines as well because of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other woes, what and how does a museum contribute to bounce back a robust economy?
Can artifacts and other relics of the past be purchasing powers for foods to feed the stomachs?
Can repository of articles bring back the glorious days of progress and development long been absent in Philippine society?
These are valid questions that require answers from museum owners and supporters.
According to artist Gem Suguitan, representative of Southern Luzon to the National Executive Committee of the National Commission on Museums of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), “museum is also a source of livelihood and if thought deeply would mean reaping economic progress.”
Gem mentioned her trainees, mostly students of Bachelor of Culture and Arts Education from the Southern Luzon State University in Lucban, Quezon, on building museums and its curation to be very enthusiastic about museums.
“Na-realize nila na bilang mga estuyante ng Education, hindi lang daw pala pagtuturo ang puwede nilang gawin pagkatapos magtapos kundi puwede rin silang magtayo ng museyo o kaya ay mag-curate ng mga nilalaman nito (They realized Education students that teaching isn’t only the work they could do after graduation but they can put up museums or curate on their contents),” smiled Gem, part-owner of the Arella-Suguitan Museum in Dolores Street in Lopez town in Quezon province.
It turned out the family-run museum of the Arellas and Suguitans is the training ground of the nine students who have been doing off-campus practicum to obtain fifty four academic hours as requirements before graduation. “Museum Education is not confined within the museum itself. So we go out and do cultural tours that also tackle history, biodiversity appreciation, and experience community hospitality. Tourism is best promoted when it goes hand in hand with cultural education,” Gem explained.
These students cleaned and arranged the museum disarray caused by its closure and effects of natural elements for years because of family emergencies like health concerns when Gem’s dad Guillermo Suguitan, former high school teacher, suffered a stroke years before the CVID-19 pandemic struck. The whole family had to migrate to Manila to take care of the patriarch medically thereby forsaking their museum which is part of their house.
Her mom, Marietta Arella-Suguitan, a retired secondary school mentor, was the brainchild of the museum when she was still active in teaching. “Mahilig si Mama sa kolekyon ng mga sinaunang bagay o kahit ng mga makabagong gamit (Mama was fond of collection of old things o even modern articles),” informed Gem, an artist.
It was the mother built the private museum on 2003 with her various collection of relics in Lopez displayed on it. “May tinatawag na carnival pitcher. Ito ‘yong napapanalunan ng mga tumataya sa karera ng daga pag may pista sa amin sa Lopez (There’s carnival pitcher. This is what we won when betting on mice/rat race during fiestas in Lopez),” chuckled Gem.
Historical footnotes and documents on the contents of museums can also augment and support financial needs.
“May authenticated photocopy kami ng record ng municipality ng Lopez sa museum mula sa National Archives. Dito, may mga impormasyon na noong unang panahon, ang lupa pala sa aming bayan ay bagay at maraming nagtatanim na paminta at cacao. So, kung tutunghayan ang kasaysayan, makakatulong sa agrikultura ang lumang tala. Puwedeng magtanim at magnegosyo ng paminta at cacao sa amin at kikita nang malaki ang mga tao (We have an authenticated photocopy in our museum of the old record of the municipality of Lopez from the National Archives. There’s information in it that in the old days, the Lopez soil was conducive to planting black pepper and cacao. If we back it up with historical accounts, the old record can boost agriculture. We can still plant black pepper and cacao for sustenance and livelihood),” gushed Gem excitedly.
The Arella-Suguitan Museum might be under repair for presumably six months so the SLSU students thought of bringing its contents in ragtag, thus the title “Museum on the Move” which they gathered in a two-day exhibit at Ciudad Candida in Almase Street in Lopez.
“Our museum continues to serve the community as it showcases its collection to various destinations and to carry on with its objectives: an institution that promotes, preserves, and popularizes cultural and historical heritage; and the arts.
“On 27-28 July, 2022 we are putting some of our collection on exhibit.
“It is our belief that cultural education is important as it helps individuals and communities define identities and it brings the spectators close to the values of nationalism and patriotism.
“The two-day event will be participated in by the public for whom this activity is intended. Impressions will be collected through a freedom wall that would serve as feedback and new additions to the museum collection. Interactive activities like bead-making and painting will likewise be offered to willing visitors, FREE!” Gem elucidated.
Akin to a museum is preservation and conservation of heritage and the Arella-Suguitan Museum is also an extension of Lopez cultural traditions which the Lopez Heritage Conservation and Historical Society which Gem is also the founder and de-facto head.
Gem has rediscovered a historic spot in one of the villages in Lopez called “Tibag” (cracked/smashed/splintered), believed to be a remnant of the Japanese occupation in the early 1940s. “This place must have been a historical site during the war, when Japanese Troops were here in our town. The tunnel opens along Talolong River going to the hills with thick greens but we haven’t found an account that would attest to this,” she hypothesized.
“Research needs to be done,” Gem proposed.
Suguitan and her trainees were thrilled by the experience of passing through this man-made cave. She thanked Kapitana (Woman Captain) Zol for welcoming the group from SLSU.
According to oral history of the town, “Tibag” was a hangout (tambayan) for hangers-on (tambay) or tamban (absentee from school) for generations.
Looking at the photo of “Tibag,” Gem said “…no more tambays, no more tambans. Only visitors that appreciate history, arts and culture.”
The Arella-Suguitan Museum is also the testament of the true foundation of Lopez on June 30, 1857 instead of April 30 which annually celebrated people like Gem want rectified.