HERITAGE VOLUNTEERS? Meron ba noon?

Our young historian and technical consultant, Qusaj. 

May is National Heritage Month! As this year also marks the 10th year of our organization since we had that Culture Orientation, Strategic Planning, and Festival Management Workshop that brought together all the culture advocates of our town, I would like to show you some of the activities  that we had, being volunteers and friends of the museum.

Of course, we conduct meetings. We used to have it outdoors like in Matinik Beach and in Pansol Floating Cottage, but in order to adjust to the availability of our members, our museum has become the official meeting place for all our recent get together and discussions. 

SCA Lopez Chapter has joined us since December 2012 when we had Huntahan at Historyan to discuss the errors in our existing local history. 

They were basically the reason why we proceeded with the project  Ani ng Sining 2013.

L-R: Mila Capanzana, Gemma Suguitan-San Jose, Elsa Basila-Paraiso, Adrien Argete-Merjudio, Milagros  Zamora-Loreto, Marietta Arella-Suguitan, Rose Requiron-Arella, and Raquel Olivo-Villanueva 

L-R: Perla Basanta, Gemma Suguitan-San  Jose, Belen  Lonisa, Ching  Flavier, Mila  Loreto, Margie Suguitan

Adrien Argete-Merjudio, Wilda Soliman-Bobier, and Marietta Arella-Suguitan,  are  but three of our  active members.

We don't miss important gatherings as much as we could. Friendship has grown among us. 

Here are but some of  the activities we have done for the past decade: 

Recognition of  international and local artists from Lopez (photo  courtesy  of  Armenta  Family)

I saw these chairs in one of the barangays. Was it an original design? Notice that  it's  personalized,  with the name of the child that owns it. It can still be improved, and we do support local talents. We also help them promote their work.

Publication of the books ABC Begins with H and  KATUTURAN  Dictionary  of  Lopez  Tagalog

We supported the research work of the students at LNCHS on their entry on Language by providing relevant information regarding Salitang Lopez.

We went to the booth that they prepared at the SM Mall of Asia to give last minute insights about our own unique language.

And they won in the Language Category, National Competition!

Promoting volunteerism, Qusaj interviews Col. Vener Rojas on her personal advocacy to help our veterans. 

Huntahan is one of the best ways to get to know the culture  of  our barangays.

Bead making workshop with indigenous kababayans in Villaespina

Cultural immersion with the "kulot" community in our town.

Gathering historical data about our town (photocopy of the Expediente  from  National  Archives courtesy of the Local Government of Lopez) 

Inventory of  local flora and fauna

Preservation of indigenous art

Continuous research on local foods, culture, arts

Promotion of local products. In this photo by JR Arella, Qusaj hands a  siete colores shell  fan  to  Miss Young International during the  1st World Art Experience held at the Art Capital of the Philippines, Angono, Rizal.

Product development... Small fans were made into leis for special guests.

Documentation of local products

Exploring Lopez and its natural resources 

Coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry on their  assistance to  local  entrepreneurs

Conducting heritage education

Organizing seminars on culture, history, and the arts

To assist the Chief Girl Scout working on preservation of cultural  heritage, we  conducted a  "Seminar  sa Pamana ng Kultura sa Kasalukuyang Henerasyon" with the theme "Babaeng Iskawt at Kabarangay, Tagapagtaguyod ng Tradisyon at Kaunlaran."

In the same project, there was storytelling and even reenactment of  the legend of the barangay. To preserve the Dalit Kay San Roque, it was recorded and taught to the younger generation.   

Tisod, piko, balud, and siklot were some of the traditional games that  were  taught to the  younger  generation.

Supporting seminar workshops on culture and the arts

Coordinating cultural activities 

Heritage Education through Lakbay-Aral  is usually gained  by attending the  meetings and events  of the Southern Luzon Association of Museums (SLAM) 

During the Sesquicentennial of Jose Rizal, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, together with other cooperating agencies encouraged everyone to be Rizal's kalakbay by visiting all the places that had significance in the life of Rizal. Rose Requiron-Arella, together with her daughter and son-in-law completed that tour. Queen Suguitan San Jose likewise visited those places, except for Cebu and Iloilo, but she went to as far as Dapitan. It was in Dipolog Airport that she met the team of her relatives.

Kalakbay ni Rizal: Rose Requiron-Arella and Queen Suguitan San Jose  in  Dapitan 

Both Rose R. Arella and Gemma Suguitan-San Jose were appointed to the Provincial Commission for Culture and the Arts (PCCA)

Constant coordination with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for everything that concerns our local culture and arts

Learning to read and write the Baybayin, ancient script of the Filipinos.

ANI NG SINING 2008 By virtue of the project proposal that we submitted to the National Commission for  Culture and the Arts (NCCA) we became one of the few grantees all over the Philippines to celebrate Bountiful Harvest of the Arts in 2008. This was published in the NCCA's Magazine Agung: 

This was our logo for the first Ani ng Sining in 2008

Agung, a publication of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts  (NCCA)

Being one of the few grantees all over the country, our celebration was published   in Agung.

Project Chair Sarah Manza and husband Chris co-sponsored the event .

2013

Arella-Suguitan Museum Volunteers

Lopez Quezon International (LQI) (under the leadership of Emmanuel Yngente) was a major sponsor of this activity,  represented by Beth  Nethel and Rose Arella of LPHS Batch '68.

Balse de Anahaw by Prof. Gina D. Sarahan (music by Julius Dotado)  was launched  during the  2nd Harvest,  Ani ng  Sining 2013.

KATUTURAN Dictionary of  Lopez Tagalog was launched on this occasion.

We had symposium with the following speakers:

Prof. Gina Dotado Sarahan for dance

Writer Boy Villasanta on Pop Culture

Marivic Leopando Sante on Poetry and Dance in a Poem

Aside from the exhibits by artists JayR Arella, Tito Loreto and Macoy Almase,  student artists  rendered their own  interpretations of the theme "Celebrating Icons."

Representatives of Arella-Suguitan Museum with Project Chair  Sarah Manza  hold the artworks  done by the students.

Short Films Festival spearheaded by the SCA  

Mrs. Loreto, receiving the token for artist Tito Loreto her son, who exhibited some of his works during the Philippine Arts Festival.

Heritage advocates with artist Macoy Almase who served as judge and exhibited  some of his works  during the event.

Student Catholic Action  (SCA) Lopez Chapter had their visitors drop  by the  plaza  to witness our celebration.

the organizing committee with guests

Some members of Lopez Heritage Conservation and Historical Society

Adrien Argete-Merjudio and other donors shared in giving away these beads to those who attended the event at the Catholic Center. 

tokens from Queen's Gems 

Medals from Prof. Crispulo Alarde

Annual celebration of International Museum Day

We always attend the Feast of Ascension in Villa Escudero. It's a privilege that we have enjoyed through the years being an active member of the Southern Luzon Association of Museums (SLAM) where Conrado Escudero is President Emeritus. It's a Filipino Feast at its finest, where all the guests are dressed up in Filipiniana, even the diplomats from other countries. 

Jocelyn Olivarez and Qusaj at the Feast of Ascension

Friends of the Museum at the Feast of Ascension in Villa Escudero

We joined SM Hello, Quezon Campaign by bringing our Anahaw Festival   to Lucena.

We try to reach out to more people for cultural/ heritage  education

Continuous learning for better service

We joined the 1st World Art Experience on Nov. 22-28, 2006 where most of our delegates won awards, led by visual artist JR Arella who had a grand slam!

and receiving recognition for all the volunteer work and advocacy to inspire more kababayans to do the same!

There's still a lot of activities not included here but it's a bird's eye view of what we do. As we continue to live happily and do things together, we hope to attract more volunteers who will be with us on this journey and commitment.Now that it's out, you will no longer ask, Heritage Volunteers? Meron ba noon? Meron po!