Couple starts gallery to revive Benguet culture

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

    

(The piece below is by the Philippine Information Agency)

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – “Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations.” - UNESCO

Prompted by concern on the indigenous culture becoming a thing of the past, a gallery cum museum enshrining Benguet cultural heritage  was recently  opened in this capital town of Benguet. 

Located at the Dangwa Square along km 6 near the Strawberry fields, the Dap-ayan Gallery cum Museum houses carved wood artifacts and crafts, farm implements, woven bags, tools, accessories, gallery of photos, portraits mainly from the 13 towns of Benguet and nearby provinces.

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The gallery is owned by spouses Jocelyn and Martes Atonen who both hail from Bakun, Benguet.  It started as a hobby back in 1998 when the couple established their first restaurant which afforded them to purchase priceless items and other collections.

Jocelyn noticed then that apparently indigenous culture is becoming a thing of the past. Add to this the fact that some tourists who go to their restaurant ask if there is any gallery or museum they can visit in town.  In La Trinidad is the Provincial Museum at the Capitol Compound. which is under repair.

The idea to put up one grew bigger. Visiting galleries and museums was an opportunity for Jocelyn to pick some concepts in coming up with a display of an array of collection.

As the Atonen’s restaurant business flourished with a number of branches in the La Trinidad valley, the Dap-ayan Gallery cum Museum, which is named after the restaurant, finally became a reality.

Preserving and promoting culture

One of the oldest heaps the Dap-ay boasts of are native baskets like the kayabang and labba. 

There is also a gallery of Benguet landscapes and tourist landmarks.  The old photos date back in the 1960s. There are also portraits sketched by Crispin Alangdeo, an artist in their home town in Bakun.

              Asked if she would be selling some of the items in her collection, Jocelyn said it is “for your eyes only” and solely intended for the gallery. Nowadays, finds of such kinds are difficult to chance upon, she added.

Governor Crescencio Pacalso said this would be a venue for children to reconnect and trace back their ancestral origins while showcasing the talents and craftsmanship of local artists. 

The place can also accommodate potential and unknown artist to display their artworks. Hopefully, several years from now, a local artist will emerge and be at the national limelight, Pacalso quipped.  Exposure is vital which paves the way for the development of artists’ talents and skills, he said.

Fr. Marlon Urmaza of the Diocese of Baguio – Benguet, who administered the religious rites in the gallery,  shared insights on the integration of culture and religion introduced by Vatican II which is now embraced by the Catholic faith.  

It is important to go back to culture which traces back the origins of one’s existence. With the advent of gadgets in the digital age, Fr. Urmaza said, the setting up of the gallery cum museum is fitting for the people to look back to on the way of life back then.

Acting Provincial Tourism Officer Eleazar Carias also recognized the efforts of the owners who emerged as their partner in realizing one of the tasks of the Provincial Tourism Office which is   preservation and promotion of culture.

 “It is high time for us to look back to history. Relearn from our history and pass it to the next generation,” he said adding that culture and tradition are being forgotten and worst may eventually resort to losing one’s own identity with the changing times focused on other developments.

The showcasing of crafts would also open the market for those in the weaving industry to promote and preserve the province’s culture, Department of Trade and Industry Provincial Director Freda Gawisan said.

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For now, no fee is collected for one to know, understand and appreciate the rich culture of Benguet in the Dap-ayan gallery.

Municipal Mayor Romeo Salda said tourism is one of the priority programs of the local government.  The Dap-ayan Gallery and Museum will be part of the town’s destinations such as the Strawberry Farm, Stobosa, Bell Church, Mt. Yangbew and be incorporated in the town’s tourism plan, he said.  

The Dap-ayan is one of the vehicles in promoting the town, Salda said as he acknowledged the owners and expressed hope that their partnership with the local government will be sustained.

Pacalso also enjoined tourism officers to include and promote the place to tourists and locals alike.

 The gallery’s opening is timely as the provincial museum is currently under repair.