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PANGLAO, Bohol — A museum will rise at the old municipal hall in this tourist town to preserve the heritage and identity of its people.
The Municipal Tourism Office, through the Culture and the Arts Division, had identified and gathered old artifacts during the “Karaang Butang” display contest, which are on public display for the entire month of February.
Anthony Ceniza, adviser on culture and arts, said Panglao Mayor Boy Arcay would pursue his plan to transform the second floor of the old municipal town hall into a museum.
“It’s a wonderful thing that residents and tourists can come and marvel at the old items of what Panglao was before,” he said.
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“We rescue and preserve our heritage not only because it is our past but because it is an identity of the people of Panglao,” he added.
Leonides Senica, the town tourism officer, said the assessment was ongoing and the project would start in the midyear.
The two-story historic old municipal building, which was built in the 1800s, was the first seat of government until the 1960s.
It underwent renovation after it suffered minor damages due to its exposition to the vagaries of nature.
Panglao is a prime tourist destination in the country because of its white sand and clear water.
Local tourism makes up 15 percent of Bohol’s economic output.
Panglao town was established as an independent parish in 1782. The Recollect friars took charge of the town in 1803.
Gerurd Reyes, information officer of the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP)- Bohol said they would provide technical assistance to the municipal government of Panglao for the creation of a museum.
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It would be the first local government-run museum in the province.
In the “Karaang Butang” display contest, the 10 barangays—Bil-isan, Bolod, Danao, Doljo, Libaong, Looc, Lourdes, Poblacion, Tangnan, and Tawala—combed every nook to find old things and valuables.
Old artifacts from the 1800s and early 1900s include the charcoal flat iron, tsarira (tsarira teapot), giant wooden spoon and fork, wood basin, jars,petromax (kerosene lamp) and wooden cotton gin.
Hat, coat and umbrella rack, chinaware, planer, candelabrum (candle holder), and old wooden baby walker also inspired interaction among visitors.
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Musical instruments such as drums, trumpets, and guitars were also on display.
One noticeable item was the 114-year old saxophone owned by the late Maximo Domasin.
It was used by the Sapa Orchestra during the fiesta celebrations of San Sebastian in Sitio Sapa in Barangay Bolod.
Even the first school uniform of the Lourdes National High School in 1993 was on display with an identification card of the owner.
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Vice Mayor Noel Hormachuelos said the “Karaang Butang” display would help to preserve the heritage and identity of Panglao.
“This will serve as preservation of our cultural identity, our human ability and the skills of the Panglaoanons, both those in the past and at present,” he said.
With the changing times, he said many of these things could be forgotten or lost altogether if they’re not preserved.
“And especially this time that we’re already in the tourism modern time that we face many challenges, the new generations will appreciate where we came from and all these things will be a testament of the identity and hard work of all Panglaonons,” he added.
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