Portrait Of an artist as a curator

CEBU, Philippines - Museo Toledo was built to be part of Toledo City’s tourism trail. It is seen to definitely increase the interest of Toledanos and visitors on culture and heritage.

   “So many are asking for the official opening already. Daghan nang gusto mosulod. Kon sa movie pa ni, Museo Toledo will be a blockbuster,” says Toledo City Vice Mayor Arlene “Daydee” Zambo. “I’m sure with the unique and special showcase we have, we might become a model sa ubang LGUs. Hopefully, we can bring in study tours (engineering schools),” she mused during the museum’s inauguration last January 6.

   To have a city museum makes for a well-rounded development for Toledo. But it never materialized during Zambo’s term as mayor. She explained that it was a seven-year-old dream which was set aside, prioritizing what the city council considered as “far more important projects to pursue.” So she was kind of emotional during the inauguration, pointing out that cultural and tourism development is as important as any other development project because it brings out the pride of the Toledanos. “It develops the talents and ingenuity of our people. It is important for our future generation who does not even know our past. It is the only way to preserve our identity as Toledanos. We will never appreciate what we have today if we don’t know our past. This project is for the youth of Toledo. I hope it will inspire them to love and appreciate more the city.”

   Further, the vice mayor shared that luckily, she was able to tap Marvin Chito Natural (a visual artist from Barangay Sangi and also a draftsman at the City Engineering Office). “He is so passionate with the project and I took advantage of it. I was emotional because I saw the hard work was well appreciated. I know from then on people would be able to see the importance of our past and culture/heritage to reach our future developments,” she added.

   The FREEMAN (TF): It was mentioned that you shed tears for this project? Why is that?

   MARVIN CHITO NATURAL (MCN/museum curator): That was because I was at the verge of giving up. I thought this would never materialize. It was on the fourth month when harsh realities grated on my nerves. Together with museum acquisitions officer Joshua Honoridez, we had to endure the insults, kay mobisita man mig mga balay in the process of gathering relics, antiques, artifacts, etcetera. Unya makasaka mig balay nga kontra partido. And immediately we would be shooed away.

   TF: What else gave you the idea the museum is a difficult project to pursue?

   MCN: Paper works. You know what it is to be working in government. We were only given five months to fill up all four galleries (Ethnographic, Historical, Art, and Toledo Copper Mining). Also, representing the vice mayor in doing follow-ups at the Carmen Copper Corp. (formerly Atlas Mining) as they have their own space to fill became another challenge. Bisan mo-explain pa ko nga I’m working on behalf of Ma’m Daydee, gisita lang gihapon kos security guard. He thought nga aplikante ko. That’s when I realized nga ordinaryoha ra gyod diay nako nga singka-singkahan lang. But that also served as eye opener ba nga bisan og ordinary ra ta, wa siyay katungod mangasaba labi na tinarong atong tuyo.

   TF: How passionate are you about this project? I understand you are an exhibiting artist.

   MCN: I am a part of the ongoing exhibit at the Art Gallery. The exhibit is dubbed “Thirteen,” mounted by Qube Gallery. I share in the dream of the LGU to have a museum. Two years ago, when the first city hall cum fiscal’s court was renovated, I got so excited at the prospect of turning it into a museum. In fact, when Ma’m Daydee offered me the curatorship, I didn’t have second thought about it because this is one of the things I want to do. I really dream of a birth of culture appreciation here in my city. So when the directions were set, I prepared the storyline for the Museo. As for the authority to authenticate the items we tapped the expertise of Prof. Jojo (Bersales) and of course, there’s Joshua in-charge of acquisitions.

   TF: How hard was it to gather the items on loan?

   MCN: Kabilin man gud na, so the first question thrown at us was: nganong ako mang ipiyal ninyo? The second was: how much would we pay because they are willing to sell. But we educate them that we definitely won’t buy anything, or that defeats the purpose of establishing a museum.

   TF: Your commitment to this project must have affected the quality time you pour into your paintings?

   MCN: For five months, wala koy na-paint! It was good enough that I was able to come up with “Self-Righteousness” just before I got so engrossed with the project. The other painting – “Shadow” – featured at the Art Gallery for the “Thirteen” exhibit is an old piece; it was already featured in a recent exhibit in Dumaguete.

   TF: I learned during the inauguration that you still have to close the museum and reopen it once the Board is all set.

   MCN: We are to convene yet (last January 15) wherein we have to tackle questions regarding operations and fees. The vice mayor assured, though, we will make it very affordable for everyone. We also have to finalize terms and arrangements for the items on loan.

   TF: How was the city museum funded?

MCN: Everything is being funded by the city. The historical museum alone already costs a million pesos. The LGU requested financial assistance to Governor Gwen. I heard from Ma’m Daydee that it was already approved. As for the Copper Mining Gallery, we owe everything to the generosity of CCC (Atlas Mining) officials, like its president Adrian Ramos, its resident manager Rodrigo Cal, Archt. Andre Bordon, corporate communications officer Sofia Picardal. The support is just so awesome!