Orientation planned for museum visitors

CEBU, Philippines - To put things in place, including how one should behave while inside the Museo Sugbo, its director Jose Eleazar Bersales and curator Radcliff Estrada are keen on coming up with a five-minute video orientation on the proper things to observe while inside a museum.

Rules on taking photographs for example are often broken by some visitors who are not familiar with how the flashes affect memorabilias such as textiles and paper.

“Camera flashes do increase humidity. Sa body heat pa lang daan, it affects humidity. So, if we take into consideration non-airconditioned rooms, the increased heat would affect displays such as textiles. Mosamot ka-brittle ang papel,” Bersales explained.

Also, it is important to educate people on museum etiquette so visitors will come to realize why group size is limited; why foods and drinks are strictly prohibited; why it would be most appropriate to put mobile phones on silent mode; and why very young children are better off museum grounds.

One has to really be observant or mindful with the presence of others, careful not to bump into the other guests; and that one has to be respectful to displayed works of arts like sculptures and artworks. Touching could damage details of priceless art pieces.

Further, it is important to observe courtesy by not cutting in front of people observing displays or not walking in front of a person looking closely into an encased display.

The move is just one of the points of a community training that Bersales and Estrada will be initiating to strengthen appreciation for the arts and for the museum itself which holds mementos of eras past.

“You can tour around the Museo Sugbo in about two hours. But the ideal is six hours for you to enjoy every bit of information stored in here,” Bersales said.

As for Estrada, he pointed out that the planned five-minute orientation video will help visitors understand that while they are most welcomed in the Museo Sugbo, they also have to be sensitive to the needs of others who like them would want to relax and savor snippets of history. – Maria Eleanor E. Valeros    (THE FREEMAN)