Let me take you on a journey from 1997 up to the present (2013), then judge for yourself if the old adage "nothing happens by chance, everything happens for a reason" is true. There is a long story before this chapter. But to shorten the sojourn a little bit, let me start with the day that I decided to become a volunteer.
First I went up to the office of then Municipal Mayor Querubin Relova in Pila, Laguna and informed him of the first project that I would do, THE PILA REPORTER Community Newsletter. And so it all began. I was able to work with the succeeding mayors, Apolo Del Rio and Wilfredo Quiat, and even with the former Parish Priest of the Shrine of San Antonio de Padua in Pila, Rev. Msgr. Renato Cosico; and a little during the time of Egay Ramos, judging various competitions; and continuing my research about the town.
During the first term of Mayor Quiat, I was appointed to the Pila Municipal Tourism Council and got elected as cultural officer and president of Pila Commission for Culture and the Arts (PCCA). This was our group in the year 2001:
I saw the need to open Pila Museum to the public so I volunteered with the support of the PMTC. I made a museum program that promoted Pila's culture, history, and the arts.
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| We did a good job, that's all I can say. I attended all the seminars and meetings so that Pila would be included in tour packages of Laguna and Southern Luzon. |
I made a proposal to the NCCA for a museum guidebook, even lost my mobile phone to a snatcher while I was following up the project in Manila, all in the name of volunteerism.
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| Some members of the research team that worked on "Imprints of Philippine History," Pila Museum Guidebook. |
On August 31, 2001, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) organized the SOUTHERN LUZON ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS (SLAM) by calling all stakeholders to a meeting at Villa Escudero in Tiaong, Quezon. Don Conrado Escudero became the Founding President and the very first set of officers were elected. In celebration of the 12th Anniversary of SLAM, I would like to share some photographs of what we have been through in the past, looking forward to a bright future ahead.
Meetings at Casa Segunda, Lipa City, Batangas
Second meeting of the SLAM since it was created was in Casa Segunda. We feasted on lanzones and rambutan while having a meeting. Julie Lao and I were seated beside Millet Katigbak and Dennis Areola, two of the faithful attendees of SLAM who have already joined our Creator at such a young age. (Millet was our secretary after Chona Malabanan who was elected first secretary of SLAM).
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| Second time around at Casa Segunda in Lipa City, Batangas. |
Meeting and 2nd ELECTION for 2004-2007 Board of Trustees, held in UP Los Baños: Mrs. Emelita Almosara, who is now the Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) was our guest.
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| It was during this meeting that Prof. Jun Esguerra was elected President. It was also on this occasion that Arella-Suguitan Museum became a member-institution. |
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| The youth leaders of Lopez joined the meeting of heritage advocates. |
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| Poor quality of my photograph is less important than documentation of the event. |
Meeting in Victoria, Laguna
Meeting in Calauan, Laguna
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| Margie Suguitan, owner of Arella-Suguitan Museum poses in front of the Dairy Farm in Calauan. |
Meeting in Pagsanjan with a tour in Caliraya, Laguna
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| Caliraya, Laguna |
Christmas Party at Adelina Peak, Kalayaan, Laguna
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| with Dennis Areola as Santa Claus |
First Annual Convention on May 8, 2006, IRRI, Los Baños, Laguna
Meeting in Santa Rosa, Laguna: September 11, 2007
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| Casa Zavalla in Santa Rosa, Laguna |
Meeting hosted by ARELLA-SUGUITAN MUSEUM, Lopez Culture, Arts, and Tourism Council in cooperation with the Local Government Unit of Lopez, Quezon
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| One of the thrusts of SLAM is to encourage putting up museums in communities. Arella-Suguitan Museum was inspired by, hence, a product of the Southern Luzon Association of Museums. This private museum (shared with the community) was put up on May 19, 2003, the first in Southern Quezon. |
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| On November 14, 2006, SLAM was in Lopez! |
Pila Day (Laguna) July 29, 2009:
International Museum Day and Meeting in Lucena City
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| After Jun Esguerra, Angelina Amat was elected President. |
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| Gemma San Jose and Rose Requiron-Arella got appointed to the Quezon Provincial Commission for Culture and the Arts at the time when Dr. Mitzi Piad was the Culture and Arts Consultant under the administration of former Governor Rafael Nantes. |
Meeting at PILA MUSEUM, 2008
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| SLAM members with Cora Relova at her ancestral house in Pila. |
Meeting at the House of Paciano Rizal, Los Baños, Laguna;
UPLBs Harana sa mga Bayani March 9, 2011
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One of the good things about our SLAM camaraderie is being invited to memorial celebrations like this one. Thanks to SLAM-UPLB!
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Rizal's Sesquicentennial: Rizal Concert at UPLB
Meeting in Batangas Provincial Capitol, May 20, 2009 and International Museum Day
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| Tour at Batangas Port |
2010 Meeting and 4th ELECTION in UPLB
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| It was during this meeting that Architect Mario became President of SLAM, with Alex Maralit as VP. |
Sosoy Relova's Treat in Eastwood
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| Our host, Sosoy Relova of Pila, Laguna |
July 18, 2010 Induction of the Board, MUSEO DE SANTA ROSA, Laguna
Meeting of the 2010-2013 Board of Directors at MUSEO DE LIPA, Batangas
1st Activity 2010-2013, held in Sta. Rosa
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| One of the exhibits was Lopez, Quezon's contrbution to SLAM... |
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| ARELLA-SUGUITAN Museum and the WORLD WAR II TUNNEL in Lopez. |
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| President Mario Zavalla of Sta. Rosa welcomed the guests. |
INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY 2011 in the City of Santa Rosa, Laguna
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| Workshop had to be in groups so Gemma San Jose who was representing Arella-Suguitan Museum in Lopez, Quezon had to join Pila Group as she was the first volunteer who managed Pila Museum. |
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| Siony Flores of Lucena City's Gintong Yaman ng Quezon discusses workshop output while grandchild holds the report. |
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| Atty. Antonio Pastor sang a Kundiman at the Closing Program of the International Museum Day. |
Meeting at the Library of University of Batangas, Hilltop, Batangas City on February 23, 2011
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| Terra cotta made by students of Batngas University welcomed us upon entrance at the auditorium. |
Meeting on September 2012 at the GSIS Museum, Pasay City
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| Guest Speaker Pepe Alas discusses how he found the foundation date of Laguna Provnce. |
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| Prof. Dwight Diestro of UPLB is one of the founding members of SLAM. |
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| The controversial painting "Parisian Life" by Juan Luna, before it was transferred to the National Museum. |
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Gemma San Jose distributed copies of her book "ABC Begins with H," which tackles the correction of the date of Lopez, Quezon's foundation from April 30, 1856 to June 30, 1857.
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| ABCs of development begin with learning about hometown's history and heritage, hence the title. Published in Lopez, Quezon on June 30, 2012. |
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| Cecille Torrevillas Gelicame of Museo De La Salle received a shirt with an HR Ocampo print when the names of the attendees were raffled. |
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| Some books were raffled, some were personally given to the attendees, courtesy of Ryan Palad of the GSIS Museum. |
Meetings in Pila, Laguna April 12, 2011 and Pila Museum, 2012
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| I brought fans made in Lopez and gave it to the members as souvenir. It was one coincidence that Sosoy Relova's giveaway were also fans made of anahaw. |
NHCP's Local Historical/Heritage Networks Consultation: August 24, 2012, Manila
HERITAGE ROADTRIP (Biñan to Santa Rosa) with UPLB Group, October 26, 2012:
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| Historical marker at the house of Maestro Justiniano Cruz |
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| Alberto House in the background: Doña Teodora's ancestral house. |
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| Alberto House is right in front of the Municipal Building and Plaza Rizal. |
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| Inside the tabacalera was a boxing gym... adaptive reuse. |
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| Time to eat. |
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| Last stop was at Casa Zavalla, ancestral house of Architect Mario built in 1888. Hosts Ms Gemalin and Pres. Mario warmly welcomed our group. |
That was the end of our heritage road trip. We proceeded to Nuvali before going back to Los Baños.
CHRISTMAS PARTY 2012 held at Pastor Art Center in Batangas City
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| I took the ride from Turbina and saw this empanada being sold by a peddler. There are different fillings for this delicacy nowadays but this one had chicken fillings. |
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| Lusong at Halo reminds us of the times gone by... when everything was made by the hands. |
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| Pagkain sa dahon ng saging...I saw these works of art along the street in C. Tirona in Batangas City. |
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| Atty. Pastor has been graciously hosting the annual Christmas Party of SLAM. |
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| SLAM members pass by this gate yearly to attend the association's celebration of Christmas. |
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| Different kinds of butsi were served upon arrival at the venue. |
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| Ysobel Escudero of Lucena City poses by the large Christmas tree... |
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| We were given 2013 calendars by our host Ka Tunying Pastor. |
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| Ka Tunying signs the calendars while members gather around him for a photo op |
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| This is no ordinary dish. It's called Adobong Pastor, a special adobo recipe that is only available at the Pastor household. So indescribably delicious! |
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| This extra thin okoy was a hit! |
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| We loved this chicharon! |
I was unable to take photos of all the foods. There were so many. I already got busy chatting with friends as if we have not seen one another for years.
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| Clarity Nuñez took us to Broadway with her lively performance! |
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| VP Alex Maralit of Lipa City provided the music while we were enjoying the food. |
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| And it's Kris Kringle time with Dr. Mitzi Flores-Piad. |
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| Suman treat before going home. |
22 February 2013: Meeting at SALVADOR H. LAUREL MUSEUM and LIBRARY
I went there alone, and I had to commute, so I had so much fun exploring the place that is totally strange to me. I've lived in this province for many years, but never been to San Pedro before.
I had to take a special jeepney trip to get to the top of Holiday Hills. There is no taxi in Laguna so one either hires a tricycle or a jeepney from the main road. To be safe, I took the jeep with a few passengers in it and asked the driver to drop me first to the place.
When I reached the venue, I was amazed that there was a beautiful rest house and garden hidden in the middle of the "wilderness!" It was expected though, thinking that the place was owned by the family of the country's (former) Vice President.
It was one of the well-attended meetings of the Southern Luzon Association of Museums (SLAM), hosted by Ms Celia Diaz-Laurel and son Cocoy.
Yes, Cocoy Laurel the actor, the singer, the artist... son of former VP Doy Laurel...
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| Our President Emeritus was with us. |
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It was such a relaxing experience chatting with friends 'on top of the world' while having our snacks.
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| We also enjoyed the beautiful landscape outside the house. We were told that former VP Doy Laurel planted the trees in this property many years ago. |
The museum and library were very impressive. It had not one but several video walls. Upon entrance, there is a mural on Doy Laurel's funeral. He died of cancer on January 28, 2004 in California.
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| We watched all the videos about his life, his struggles, triumphs... |
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| ...And even the legend of the Laurel Family of Batangas. |
Doy and Cory were among the heroes of the bloodless People Power Revolution in 1986.
These photos were taken from the video presentation at the museum.
They took their oath at Club Filipino.
He was supposed to run for president in the snap election but gave way to the housewife Ninoy Aquino left behind--- Corazon Cojuanco Aquino, who became the first woman president of the Philippines.
The meeting immediately followed after the museum visit. It was during this meeting that the status of our SEC Registration was discussed and next election was set. I was appointed Election Committee Head.
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| Cocoy rendered a few songs to the delight of the crowd. |
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| He sang from the heart and we were deeply touched, aside from being entertained. |
11 July 2013: 73rd Birthday of Past President Teofilo 'Jun' Esguerra of UPLB
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| Before the program started, we posed with our Past President Prof. Jun Esguerra. |
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| Atty Antonio Pastor surprised the celebrator with a song. |
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| Prof. Dwight Diestro recalled the moments when they became friends. |
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| President Zavalla also gave his birthday message. |
Gemalin Diaz let me read the text message from our President Emeritus Conrado Escudero greeting Prof. Jun on his 73rd Birthday.
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| Another shot before going home. |
July 20, 2011 Meeting in MUSEO DE LA SALLE Dasmariñas, and 30 July 2013/ 5th ELECTION
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The Board of Trustees 2013-2016, Dindo Montenegro was represented by Ritchie and Tet Arejola by Prof. Dwight Diestro. Past President and Tanauan City Community Affairs Officer Angelina Amat and Atty. Antonio Pastor not in photo.
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87th and 88th BIRTHDAY of TITA SIONY in Lucena City:
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| The 87th birthday was a Hoopla Party. |
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| Ms Sylvia on Tita Siony's 87th birthday |
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| And we had fun! |
60th Birthday of Mitzi Flores-Piad at SamboKojin, EDSA:
VILLA ESCUDERO TRADITIONS: GOOD FRIDAY and FEAST OF ASCENSION
There are traditions in Villa Escudero that have become part of our lives since SLAM had been created. One of these is the solemn procession during Good Friday in San Pablo City, Laguna; and the other one is the Feast of Ascension where we attend in our Filipiniana. Both are unique and unforgettable.
For two consecutive years, we attended the Good Friday processions (2011 and 2012):
Forty days after Easter, the Feast of Ascension is being celebrated. We have attended this feast since we became members of SLAM, religiously, so to speak.
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| Fluvial procession 2002 |
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| 2002 |
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| Feast of Ascension 2002. Julie Relova-Lao with her mother Betty; Pila Group behind... with Mayor and Mrs. Quiat, former Mrs. Mayor Relova, Ruby Macalalad, Lily Padit, Effie Baisas, Lalaine Noceda, Gemma San Jose, and others. |
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| 2003 |
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| 2003 |
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| 2005 |
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| 2006 |
On its 12th year, SLAM has a new set of officers under the leadership of Cecille Torrevillas Gelicame of Museo De La Salle as President. We are looking forward to more years ahead.
It's been a long way since I volunteered. I didn't know that advocacy for the preservation of Filipino values and heritage was my calling until events and circumstances led me to it. Now tell me, doesn't everything happen for a reason?
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