By Eva C. Visperas

 

WE walked down memory lane, so to speak, as we did an educational tour at the Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum located at the historic Casa Real in the capital town of Lingayen on September 4, 2023.

It was a rainy Monday but it was a blessing to know that our province’s rich history can be learned through the various artifacts displayed in the province’s first museum.

We started the tour at the Casa Real lobby where our tour guide explained the video of a colorful landscape of a salt farm on one side of the wall, and a landscape video of bamboo poles on the other side. It’s asinan and cabuloan.

As we entered the orientation room with a huge screen for video showing. I felt my memory during my elementary grades in our Araling Panlipunan refreshed as the chart showing the founding dates of the Pangasinan towns and cities was explained.

Then we were ushered in to the third gallery on the museum’s ground floor called ‘Asin Gallery’ for contemporary artists and artisans. Upstairs, Pangasinan’s flora and fauna are on display.

A cattle caravan, a traditional mobile store drawn by a cow that sells brooms, baskets, hammocks, clay pots in the olden days is featured and a lot more that I saw during my childhood years in San Carlos City.

Want to read more about the displays? Just scan their QR codes. Thanks to modern technology. One click does the trick.

There are other galleries that feature myths and legends, i.e, the Legend of the Hundred Islands, an image of Princess Urduja, Galleon Trade, American Colonialism, World War II memorabilia, replicas of Chinese junk, Pantranco bus which I used to ride going to Baguio… and the Dagupan train.

National artists from Pangasinan, and prominent leaders like the late president FVR… churches and faith healers are featured there, too, and I really had to say “pwera bambano laki bai” as I passed by and saw replicas of skulls.

The past and present combined in the museum, depicted by works of contemporary artists are displayed as well.

It was a good one and a half-hour guided tour of 11 galleries mounted with priceless collection of individuals and groups composed of heritage exhibits, historical artifacts, artworks, art installations, and a lot more.

We were joined later for a press conference by Gov. Ramon Guico III, Provincial Administrator Melicio Patague II and PTCAO officer Malu Elduayan.

Gov. Monmon underscored the meaning of ‘Banaan” which means convergence, a meeting place, no negative connotation at all. Through the museum, he said people, especially Pangasinenses will “trace our roots, study our roots, strengthen the culture and tradition”.

Of course, there’s a lot more about Pangasinan and its people as pointed out by the governor. “The challenge actually is not making or constructing the exhibit but how to compress everything about Pangasinan in a few rooms,” he said.

It’s a work in progress and expect some changes to happen later on in the displays or how the museum is run. It was inaugurated on Sept. 8 and will be open to the public on Sept. 11.

Tourism Officer Elduayan said Banaan Museum is a product of extensive study, discussions and collaboration of various researchers, historians, historians, cultural workers, artists.

A visit to the museum is free only for the whole month of September in celebration of the tourism month. Online reservations may be made by visiting https://seepangasinan.com/ website. Walk-in visit is discouraged.

PA Ely Patague hit it right when he said, “We’ll never know who we are as a province, as a people unless we know our history. And that’s what Banaan Museum will contribute to the province of Pangasinan.”

It’s our place of pride, our identity, of who we are and where we’re going to. It’s a dream come true, finally, for Pangasinan and its people, to have our own provincial museum.

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