Cebu City eyes establishing ‘world-class’ museum

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Government is now in discussions to establish a “world-class” museum in the city following a visit by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Foreign Service Institute Chief José Maria A. Cariño to City Hall.

The vision, according to Mayor Nestor Archival, charts a bold cultural milestone as locational clearance for the project moves closer to reality, envisioned as a landmark of heritage and identity.

“Ang museum dili lang ordinaryong building. It is a place where our history, culture, ug identity as Cebuanos will be preserved and shared with future generations,” Archival said in a post.

He stressed that every step, from planning to approvals, is being handled with care.

“Mao nga seryoso ug maampingon nato nga ginadumala ang matag proseso gikan sa planning hangtod sa approvals, because this is part of our commitment to Taking Care and Taking Action for Cebu City,” he said.

The mayor expressed gratitude to the agencies and partners involved in the project.

“Dako kaayo akong pasalamat sa tanang agencies, architects, engineers, ug partners nga nagtinabangay aron matuman kining vision nga adunay world-class museum ang Sugbo… With the support of the national government and our local stakeholders, mas lig-on ang atong padayon nga pagtrabaho alang sa usa ka Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive Cebu City,” Mayor Archival said.

The proposed project will join Cebu City’s roster of respected cultural institutions, such as Museo Sugbo, Casa Gorordo Museum, the National Museum of the Philippines–Cebu, the University of San Carlos Museum, the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño Museum, and the Sugbu Chinese Heritage Museum.

Together, these institutions narrate Cebu’s evolution from a pre-colonial trading hub to a modern cultural capital.

Cariño himself is the founder of Museo Cariño, located along the Transcentral Highway around Pung-ol.

According to reports, the museum took two decades to build and features more than 25 galleries and rooms.

Its permanent collection includes over 20 original works by Juan Luna, including his only surviving sculpture, a Carrara marble portrait of his son Luling.

It also houses masterpieces by Félix Resurrección Hidalgo, Miguel Zaragoza, Fabián dela Rosa, and Simon Flores.

Cariño noted that the museum had to be built “little by little” during his diplomatic career.

With locational clearance now being discussed, Cebu City’s museum project signals a clearer step toward strengthening heritage preservation. — (FREEMAN)