Republic of the Philippines

SORSOGON STATE UNIVERSITY

School of Graduate Studies
Office of Advanced Education
4700 Sorsogon City

Assignment No. 1 FULO, INA ISABEL C.

Class Number 133 2020-2021 Midyear MaEd Filipino
Education 502: Philosophical, Sociological, and Psychological Foundations of
Education

Stephen Henry S. Totanes, Ph. D.

Associate Professor V

MUSEO SORSOGON: Rediscovering History, Heritage, and Identity in

the Province of Sorsogon

The Bicolandia is blessed with the great heritage of

Sorsogon, located in the southernmost tip of Luzon,
therefore it is named the Gateway to Southern
Philippines. There are yet to discover about the
province that most of Sorsoganons don’t seem to
realize its richness and significance to the Philippine
History.

And here is how

the Province of Sorsogon appreciates its
importance -- through the initiative of Governor
Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero, the century-old
provincial jail, and the courthouse is converted
into a public museum which is now called
Museo Sorsogon.

Xiao Chua a Filipino Historian, narrates the entire story through video clips in every
corner of the building. He tells ‘Sorsogon’ is derived from the word ‘sogsog’ which
meant crossing a river, lake, or canal.

Pieces of evidence from the limestone caves in

the town of Bacon, and the burial jars in Pilar
show that our ancient people have lived inside
the caves and store their remains in the jars.

But Chua indicates that all the artifacts cannot

fully narrate what happened in ancient times.
That’s why the written history started in 1569 wherein an explorer named Luiz
Enriquez De Guzman and an Agustinian Friar Alonzo Jimenez reached the
Gibalon which is now called Magallanes.

Although there is no exact recorded

date on when or where was the mass
happened, the written history
considered that there was a first mass
conducted in the Province of Sorsogon
and the entire Luzon.

The Spanish colonization brought out the Sorsogon’s potential in creating

local products which are prominent and useful until now. These are the
production of ropes through the use of abaca fibers.

The remnants of the past are still seen in the present communities which
depict the influence of Spanish colonization in the Province of Sorsogon. These
are the majestic structures of catholic churches and ruins in Barcelona and
Bulusan as well as the religious beliefs and celebrations like fiestas, novena, and
festivals.

This picture above shows the ruins which is called the Punta Diamante located in
St. James the Greater Parish Church in Bulusan, Sorsogon.

Let me take you to the memory lane

in which Museo Sorsogon will tell how
Sorsogon makes the Bicolandia became
the home of the ‘Oragons’ as the hymn
says.

When the Spaniards left, Filipino

leaders took care of the land and several
Bicolano governed the Bicolandia. Don
Macario Adricatico led the first election in
the province. Don Celestino Mercader
became the first governor. Several Bicolanos stood up against the Americans --
Lieutenant Colonel Emetrio Funes, and was supported by Dr. Bernardino Monreal
and Ysidro Fungo Gallanosa.
 The brotherhood of Francisco de la Cruz and Francisco Colache fought
against the Americans when Funes made peace with them.

On this picture, the Museo exhibits the original artwork made by inmates of the
provincial jail. This is painting of the Lady of Justice on the second floor.

Tough, Americans ignited the Bicolanos to revolt against their settlement in

the Philippines, they built the education systems as well as buildings like Gabaldon
and municipal halls which became an architectural heritage in the province.
Father Felipe Orense and Don Indalencio
Hernandez from Donsol, kindled their spirits against
the American colonizers. During the Japanese
occupation, gerillas led by Governor Salvador
Escudero and Licerio Lapus created the movement
against them. Today, the battle left some of their war
tunnels in the province located in Bulan, Sorsogon.
Seen in these pictures were the weapons used
by our Sorsoganon heroes. It is stored in the former bartolina of the provincial jail.
Some say, people jailed in here didn’t survive this dungeon and yet I’m smiling
beside these deadly guns.
During the
dictatorship of Marcos’
regime, Sorsoganon also
stood up and became
martyrs under the 1986
Martial Law, namely
Cesar Gavanzo, Liliosa
Hilao, Antonio Arlado, Dr.
Johnny Escandor,
Manuel Dorotan, and
Nanette Vitiaco.
In present times, there are still Sorsoganons who
continue to pave the way for the historical flow of
the province. Even our dearest professor, Dr.
Stephen Henry Totanes, historian, a resident of
Pinuntingan, Gubat, Sorsogon, continues to
contribute in the history and it humbles me, that he
is currently teaching us, educators in Sorsogon State
University.

One of the most colorful festivals in the province

of Sorsogon, my favorite one, the Pantomina sa
Tinampo -- a folk dance that depicts the steps of
dancing doves. It is sometimes called ‘sinalampati’
because of swinging the arms of the man to the
woman who is twisting her palms in the air. It also
shows how the lovers dance and how the man
courts the lady. It also narrates the culture of
weddings in Bicolandia.

The lyrics tell and describe the lovers’ or

newlyweds’ experience during the celebration of
tying their knots as newly wedded couples.

Just on October 31, 2019, when the Province

of Sorsogon bagged the Guinness World Record for
the largest Filipino Folk Dance consisting of 7,127
dancers of Sorsogon headed by Governor
Escudero. The sons and daughters of Sorsogon danced for 30 minutes in 5
kilometers of streets in Sorsogon City in celebration of the 125th founding
anniversary as a province.
 I can say that I am so proud to be a
Sorsoganon, and was included in the 7,127
participants in the record-breaking attempt.
I truly miss the swinging steps, the kunday of
the palms, the stomping of our feet on the
streets of the city, and facing the beaming
smiles of our partners. This heritage is in my
blood, running and continuing grow as a
daughter of Sorsogon.

These pre-pandemic times were truly missed

and we are still waiting and hoping that
maybe sooner, there will be a celebration of
love to our history, heritage, and to the
fellow Sorsoganon in the province through this phenomenal folk dance.

References / Sources :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjL_xSbuusQ&list=PLPozg80exzd36sU0nc-
2xOuxXhMjTx7rk&index=2

https://mb.com.ph/2021/03/13/sorsogon-converts-provincial-jail-courthouse-
into-a-big-museum/

Jobeth E. Jerao Pantomina Photos