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This is the very reason why the different cultural organizations of Sorsogon came together to form the Sorsogon Museum and Heritage Center, Inc. precisely to establish the Sorsogon Provincial Museum and Heritage Center that will provide the Sorsoganons themselves and the visitors with a thread through which to trace our material culture and heritage. The origin of the name Sorsogon, after all, is, in the vernacular, sosogon, solsogon or sogsogon, meaning, to trace.
The building itself, which used to be the Sorsogon Provincial Hospital building, is considered a local historical landmark and heritage structure, or built heritage, having been constructed during the American colonization, together with the imposing Provincial Capitol building, or during the years 1916 to 1920.
The building will be restored to its original state. There will be no major alterations, except in the interior divisions or partitions for the different sections of the museum. The basic concept is adaptive re-use of a heritage structure which will be preserved and conserved. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts, National Historical Institute, and the National Museum itself are assisting us in this project.
The Sorsogon Provincial Government has already officially turned-over the heritage building to the Sorsogon Museum & Heritage Center, Inc. for perpetual use as a museum, under a Memorandum of Agreement.
Kasanggayahan Foundation, Inc.
Sorsogon Arts Council, Inc.
Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Council, Inc.
Sorsogon Heritage Society, Inc.
Balik Sorsogon Associations in America
Msgr. Francisco P. Monje, Chairperson (Kasanggayahan Foundation, Inc.)
Loida Nicolas-Lewis, Vice-Chairperson (Balik Sorsogon Associations in America)
Reynaldo T. Jamoralin, Secretary (Sorsogon Arts Council, Inc.)
Milagros Z. Duana, Treasurer (Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Council, Inc.)
Teresita N. Borromeo, Auditor (Academe)
Eugenia D. Apostol, Member (Sorsogon Heritage Society, Inc.)
Cecilia H. Duran, Member (Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Council, Inc.
Minda D. Gerona, Member (Sorsogon Arts Council, Inc.)
Edwin Hamor, Member (Kasanggayahan Foundation, Inc.)
Macario L. Jeresano, Jr., Member (Balik Sorsogon Associations in America)
Stephen Henry Totanes, Member (Sorsogon Heritage Society, Inc.)
Gov. Raul R. Lee, Ex-Officio Member (Government Representative)
Mayor Sally A. Lee, Ex-Officio Member (Government Representative)
Museum Administration/Information Office
Provincial Tourism Office
Exhibition areas for Sorsogon artifacts, relics and memorabilia
Sorsogon folkarts and crafts exhibition area
Ecclesiastical/Church artifacts & reliquary exhibition area
Visual Arts gallery
Bikoliana Library
Audio/Video/Music Room
Function room/performance hall for conferences, lectures, chamber music, or experimental theater
Café & souvenir shop
Dormitory for visiting lecturers and artists
Guided tours specially geared for children’s and students’ groups
As a true “living museum” – demonstrations by local expert artisans and craftsmen on how local traditional arts and crafts are crafted, made and produced
As a repository of “living traditions” – shows, demonstrations, exhibitions, lectures by local folk artists of local traditional or folk art forms in literature, music, dance, theater, visual arts and architecture
Arts exhibitions
Special exhibitions of new discoveries. finds or indigenous craft, etc.
Lectures, seminars and workshops on local history, arts and culture
Publications
Historical and Cultural research facilities/opportunities
Museum souvenir shop
Cafeteria services
Your Museum, Heritage and Cultural Center
Sorsogon Provincial Capitol compound
Rizal St., Sorsogon City
Philippines 4700
e-mail address: sorsogonmuseum@yahoo.com
Fax No: (056) 211-1573
. . . FOR DOLLAR DONATIONS . . .
issue checks payable to:
Sorsogon Museum & Heritage Center, Inc.
Account No. 191-700321-2
China Bank-Sorsogon Branch
Magsaysay St., Sorsogon City
Philippines
or to:
Ayala Foundation USA
255 Shoreline Drive, Suite 128
Redwood City, CA 94065
or:
BPI Express Remittance FAO
Ayala Foundation USA
Account No. 0381-0126-38
BPI Express Remittance Corp.
Milpitas Branch, Ulferts Center
642 Barber Lane, Ste. No. 205
Milpitas, CA
e-mail add: afusa@ayalafdnusa.org
fax no: 1-650-508-8988
tel. nos: 1-650-598-3126/
1-650-508-2000, local 127
. . . FOR PESO DONATIONS . . .
issue checks payable to:
Sorsogon Museum & Heritage Center, Inc.
Account No. 1910967517
China Bank-Sorsogon Branch
Magsaysay St., Sorsogon City
e-mail add: sorsogonmuseum@yahoo.com
fax no: (056) 211-1573
tel. nos: (056) 211-2083/211-1204
for further inquiries, call:
Reynaldo T. Jamoralin, at:
tel. nos: (056) 211-2083/211-1204
email add: toots528@hotmail.com
fax no: (056) 211-1573
In the USA, contact:
Loida Nicolas Lewis
e-mail add: loida834@aol.com
or,
Macario L. Jeresano
e-mail add: scorpio_sting03@yahoo.com
tel. nos: 1-650-598-3126/
1-650-508-2000, local 127
Sorsogon Provincial Museum and Heritage Center
Sorsogon Museum & Heritage Center, Inc.
Sorsogon Provincial Capitol compound
Rizal St., Sorsogon City
Province of Sorsogon
Philippines
It was in the Year 2003 when representatives from the
different local cultural organizations came together to talk
about common cultural projects for Sorsogon, when the idea
of establishing a provincial museum and heritage center
came up, as proposed by the Sorsogon Arts Council, which
had been working on the project solo, for over a decade
now. A provincial museum and heritage center of its own
had been a long-felt need in the province, it was observed.
Thus, did the museum project come about, as a common
project, this time, of the different local cultural
organizations.
These organizations and their representatives, include, the
Kasanggayahan Foundation, Inc., represented by its
chairman, Msgr. Francisco P. Monje, and Casiguran Mayor
Edwin Hamor; the Sorsogon Arts Council, Inc., by its
chairman, Reynaldo T. Jamoralin, and treasurer, Minda D.
Gerona; the Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Council, Inc, by
its chairman, Cecilia H. Duran, and vice-chairman, Milagros
Z. Duana; the Sorsogon Heritage Society, Inc., by its
president, Dr. Stephen Henry Totanes, and board chair,
Eugenia D. Apostol; the Balik-Sorsogon Associations in
America, by Loida Nicolas-Lewis and Macario L. Jeresano,
Jr.; and academe, by Dr. Teresita N. Borromeo. The local
government units are also represented by Sorsogon
Governor Raul R. Lee and Sorsogon City Mayor Sally A.
Lee, as Ex-Officio members.
It is this group that became the Sorsogon Museum and
Heritage Center, Inc., duly-registered with the Securities
And Exchange Commission, with Company Registration
No. CN200425848, dated February 11, 2004.
The proposed site for the museum is the old and abandoned
Former Sorsogon Provincial Hospital building inside the
Sorsogon Provincial Capitol compound along Rizal St.,
Sorsogon City. The building itself, built sometime between
1916 and 1920, or during the American period, is in itself
a local historical landmark and heritage structure. Which is
why, extra effort is being exerted to restore the old building
to its original state.
Under a technical assistance arrangement, the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts has already sent its
designated architect and conservator to assess the
suitability of the building as a museum. The National
Museum and National Historical Institute are also providing
technical assistance to the project.
As planned and envisioned, the Sorsogon Provincial
Museum and Heritage Center will not only house a museum
of artifacts, historical materials, relics and memorabilia,
but also a Bikoliana Library; a folk-arts exhibition area for
indigenous and traditional arts and crafts; a separate
section for exxlesiastical/religious artifacts, reliquary and
memorabilia; an exhibition/gallery area for visual arts; a
small performance hall for chamber music or experimental
theater; a function/lecture room; an audio-video-music
room; a café and souvenir shop; and a dormitory for
visiting lecturers and artists.
Based on initial estimates by the NCCA-designated architect
and conservator, including independent consultants, the
project will cost at least Php15 Million for restoration work
alone.
As stated in its Articles of Incorporation, the objective of the
project is,
“To establish the Sorsogon Provincial Museum and
Heritage Center that will be the repository of
Sorsogon heritage and history.”
The Sorsogon Provincial Museum and Heritage Center will
be a permanent structure in the province that will afford the
Sorsoganon himself , as wells as the visitor or tourist, a peek
into Sorsogon’s rich history, heritage and culture.
It is a virtual heritage center, in the sense that it is the center
where all local cultural activities are undertaken, and from
where such activities emanate.
The people of Sorsogon, particularly the coming
generations of Sorsoganons, so that they will know their
history, heritage and culture, and take pride in it.
It is also for the visitor, tourist or outsider, so that they
will know who and what the Sorsoganonn is.
The project was formally launched in October 2003,
during the Kasanggayahan Festival, with the Balik
Sorsoganons who all pledged to help finance the project,
in attendance. This also marked the kick-off for the
fund-raising activities in different parts of the country
and abroad for the establishment of the museum and
heritage center.
Actual restoration and reconstruction work on the building starts Year 2005, and estimated to be completed, on a phase-by-phase basis, within a
period of 10 years.
The museum and heritage center will be a permanent fixture and facility in the province for as long as Sorsogon and Sorsogonons exist.
Restoration and Reconstruction Work Php 15 Million
Installation of Museum Fixtures & Facilities Php 4 Million
Installation of Museum and Exhibit Materials Php 2 Million
______________
TOTAL ESTIMATED PROJECT COST Php 21 Million
(Sgd.) Msgr. Francisco P. Monje
Chairman, Board of Trustees
Sorsogon Museum & Heritage Center, Inc.
Province of Sorsogon
Philippines
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