SLU Museum of Culture and Arts

Brief History

 The SLU Museum of Arts and Cultures started in 1969 when Anthropology was added to the curriculum in the College of Human Sciences. With anthropology, a museum was inevitable. The dean of the College of Human Sciences through the newly organized University-wide Department of Social Sciences initiated the initial and voluntary collection of artifacts from basic social sciences classes in the college and then joined in by those of other colleges. The response exceeded expectations. Interest in the collection of artifacts gained momentum. Donated items were temporarily deposited in a corner in the outer office of the dean of the College of Human Sciences. The following year the student council joined the campaign. The BIBAK, a federation of students in SLU from Cordillera cultural communities donated a big bulk of cultural artifacts. In 1971, with the increase in the collections, not only ethnographic materials but also historical documents and folk arts items were collected. Developments in the social sciences brought about systematic collections on folk life and folklore. Students were encouraged to do research papers, ethnographic reports, term papers and even theses on folk arts, folkways, and beliefs and lifestyles of different cultural communities. The output of these research endeavors were also added to the museum. Sometime in 1971, the Museum, which was initially and informally named College of Human Sciences Museum, was transferred to the Burgos Center Conference Hall and was a major attraction during the 1971 international Philippine Association of Travel Agencies Conference. Later, the Museum was again pushed out from the Conference Room to the corridors of the Burgos Center where it stayed temporarily for more than two years. Finally, with the completion of the Msgr. Charles Vath Library Building in 1973, the museum found a permanent home, until its recent transfer to the present location at the Bishop William Brasseur building. Since then, it was renamed Museum of Arts and Cultures.

This was the first museum of its kind north of Manila. Mr. Renato Fernandez, an anthropology instructor who underwent training in museulogy at Silliman University, was named officer-in-charge of the museum. The museum artifacts were organized and formally displayed for viewing to the public and to the university community. The museum attracted donations of artifacts from various personalities like Dr. Alejandro Roces, Chairman, and SLU Board of Trustees, former Gov. Alfredo Lam-en of Mt. Province, Msgr. Odelo Etspueler of the Diocese of Abra, and Mayor Molina of Tayum Abra, among others.

The museum continue to interest and amuse students and other visitors within and outside of the region. Some Cordillera families who share the common concern to collect and preserve the cultures have made pledges and donations of artifacts to the museum. The Gaidan (Stone Gold Ore Crusher) and other gold processing paraphernalia and the Okisan de Kape (coffee shredder) were donated by the Waldo family from Dalicno, Itogon, Benguet; the Tilar (Ilocos loam weaving) from the Espiritu family and the Dadapilan (sugar cane presser) from the Villanueva family of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur; and some photo documents of burial practices in Bakun, Benguet from the Tolito family, picture of Cordillera ethnic dances from Dennis Wandit of La Trinidad Benguet, and portraits of some cultural communities in the Philippines by the Abalos family of Baguio city. The museum adopted the theme, "Unity in Cultural Diversity" -- a theme chosen more for its practicality and with the hope of subsequently developing the attitude of cultural relativism and tolerance among the students in particular and the visitors in general. It is only when the cultures and traditions of a people are properly appreciated and understood by others will a bridging between cultures becomes possible. True to its commitment of serving the students and the community, the museum soon became a place for guided visits for students, researchers, tourists, excursionists, and university visitors.

From 1979 to the 1980's, there was slump in museum activities due to the absence of a permanent staff to maintain its operations. In 1985, the museum was placed under the auspices of the Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. A staff of the college was then appointed as museum consultant to oversee the on-gong operations of the museum. Finally in 1990, the SLU Museum of Arts and Cultures and the CICM Archives was placed under the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. A part-time museum curator/archivist, Mr. Isikias T. Picpican, secretary at the SLU Research Journal Office, was appointed to maintain the continuous operations of the museum and the separately organized SLU-CICM Archives.

In the last quarter of 1997, the curator tried to organize the living tradition component of the museum, which shall include the collection of folk tales and songs, chants, folk beliefs, ritual performances, ethnic dances, etc. Volunteer Cordillera students who are interested in the promotion, preservation and development of their respective cultures were tapped and organized for this living tradition component. Such songs, rituals, arts and crafts, and dances are expected to be transformed into future research-based live shows and performances.