museum of three cultures
Last Saturday, for our weekend together time, I brought Annika and Angela to Capitol University for a visit to the Museum of Three Cultures.
It is an institution within the organization of Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro City. From its main academic base, the Museum of Three Cultures houses galleries of the three rich intermingling cultures present in Cagayan de Oro City – the migrant lowland cultures of Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City and the province of Bukidnon.. the indigenous peoples of Northern Mindanao.. and the Muslim M’ranao of Marawi.
This new tourism site in Cagayan de Oro City is a special dedication of Madame Laureana San Pedro Rosales, founder of the Capitol System of Schools, who started her educational apostolate in Mindanao in 1951 and served the three distinct culture groups of Mindanao. Thus, the museum traverses the three cultures to reach a concert of unity.
We began with the Prehistoric Gallery displaying a rare collection of artifacts of Cagayan de Oro and a collection of Chinese tradeware porcelain and pottery from Butuan City's archaeological sites. The collection of stones and bones and pottery were fascinating. And the girls were so happy to see the story of the "balanghai" and its role in the early trade - a familiar lesson in Philippine history.
The Kasaysayan Gallery houses a mixed and multi-disciplinary collection of historical and ethnological objects. Its main collection consists of rare period photographs of Cagayan de Misamis and North Mindanao, many of which date back to the Hispanic era and to the American era.
At this point, we were joined by Dr. Antonio J. Montalvan II, the Museum Curator and Director, who kindly involved himself into a short conversation with the girls. Annika and Angela discussed with him about knowing Juan Luna and studying about his famous paintings in their Civics class in St. Mary's School.
The center of the museum is the Posaka M'ranao Gallery which houses the personal collection of Madame Rosales. It showcases antique M'ranao brasswares, weaponry, ceremonial crafts, jewelry, wooden crafts, implements and musical instruments, and textiles. This collection is the most extensive in the entire Mindanao. Annika took to the intricate art in the brasswares, while Angela noted the chest laden with mother of pearls so similar to the one at home.
We spent a good time in Galerie Rawari, the girls interpreting the works of local budding artists of the area. Then we ended up visiting the Archive and office, where again Dr. Montalvan so generously shared the photos featured here.
Indeed, aside from being a great way to spend time with two enthusiastic and appreciative daughters, the Museum of Three Cultures now stands as a new place not only to tell the story of its founder's cultural biography, but also to show the dialogical kinship between the three cultures in Cagayan de Oro City.. and more importantly, to preserve the heritage of its people.
Material from the Brochure of the Museum of Three Cultures
Photos from the Collection of the Museum of Three Cultures
