BONTOC, Mountain Province – The House committee on basic education and culture approved a bill that seeks to establish the Mountain Province Cultural Center and Museum in the province, defining its purposes and objectives and appropriating funds for the said endeavor.
House Bill (HB) 448 authored by Rep. Maximo Y. Dalog, Jr. stated that the province is home to more than 15 ethno-linguistic groups with very rich cultural heritage and traditions worthy of preservation for the benefit of the present and future generations.
However, Dalog disclosed that to date, there is no official cultural center and museum in the province to host, showcase and preserve the various cultural heritage, traditions and historical accounts that must be passed on to upcoming generations.
Further, the lawmaker recognized that the various artifacts, traditional musical instruments and objects of cultural significance are reportedly scattered throughout the province with the possible threat of eventually disappearing if not properly preserved and collected in a single place.
According to him, the different literacy works, songs, ballads and traditional games have no proper documentation in its original form and have no central repository.
Dalog pointed out that without a cultural center and museum, the rich and unique cultural heritage, traditions and historical accounts of the different ethno-linguistic groups in the province are facing at the danger of being lost in due time.
Dalog expressed hope that the proposed bill will be passed by the House of Representatives after the conduct of plenary debates so that this can be transmitted to the Senate for the passage of the required counterpart bill within the duration of the 19th Congress.
Congressman Dalog underscored the need for the establishment of the aforesaid museum for the preservation of the rich culture and tradition of the peoples of Mountain Province.
He recognized that the Bontoc museum is doing its part in efforts to preserve the rich culture and traditions of Mountain Province but it is maintained and operated by the Catholic church and not funded by the government.
He claimed that the people and officialdom of Mountain Province want their artifacts to be stored and preserved in Mountain Province and not anywhere else so that the tourists can really appreciate where the said artifacts come from.
Local cultural experts stipulated that the museums in Baguio did not accurately show the artifacts of the whole Cordillera, especially of the Mountain Province where an example cited that the weaving of the Mountain Province were not often displayed in the Baguio museum.
Moreover, they supported the put up of the museum in Mountain Province because the museums in Baguio do not actually contain the artifacts that should be in Mountain Province like cultural artifacts, the weavings, and other farm implements that are seen in Baguio are actually lacking.
National Museum Director-General Jeremy Barns supported the proposed bill because it could also be an avenue towards the protection of key national treasures in the area like the hanging coffins in Sagada.
He assured Mountain Province officials that the National Museum will extend its support to the said proposal and they are glad that the said bill had been introduced as Mountain Province is simply amazing and there is a lot of materials that need to be gathered and cared for.
