The Silliman University Anthropology Museum

Debulgado, Javier, Redillas, Aliviado, Tanac

Founded in 1970 by Dr. Hubert I. Reynolds, the Anthropology Museum of Silliman

University is located within Hibbard Hall, which houses the Cultural Research Center’s
collection that has been active since 1964. As its name implies, the museum revolves
around Anthropology, which is the study of human societies, cultures, and their
development both in the biological and physiological characteristics of their evolution
(Oxford Languages, Google).

Silliman University Anthropology Museum, Main Hall, 2022.

Inside, are precious collections of ancient ethnological and archaeological items

that date from 500 to 200 B.C. gathered from all over Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao and
are arranged in chronological order. Most of the artifacts are displayed within see-
through glass cases, cabinets, and on stands that ensure their preservation and safety.
Silliman University Anthropology Museum, Gemstone Exhibit, 2022.

The museum moved to Silliman University Hibbard Hall’s second story fairly
recently in 2015, which is substantially sturdier and more modern than its previous
location in the University’s oldest structure, Silliman Hall (SOUL, Anthropology
Museum) where it spent more than 40 years harboring the collection. Its main purpose is
to preserve and display historical objects that tell us how humans have evolved through
time, where adding descriptions enables us to understand more its significance. Walking
up the small staircase that leads to the entire second story of the building, visitors are
greeted by the museum’s peculiar entrance. There are a variety of anthropology-related
exhibits within, such as the many archaeological finds, pieces of significance, vases,
gemstones, and the collection of witchcraft. An example of the many eye-catching pieces
within the museum is the "Haplit," a tiny doll that serves as a victim and can be used to
inflict agony on the subject, which is more or less a voodoo doll.
Silliman University Anthropology Museum, Haplit Exhibit, 2022.

There are a lot of points that make up the museum’s assets; from the historical
aspects, all the way to its physical aspects. According to our observation, the museum's
strengths are the number of artifacts within its possession which they preserved well. The
overall quality and significance of the artifacts prove its uniqueness in comparison to
other museums of its kind. Another strength would be its location. Being located within
a university, it also serves as a point of inspiration or academic prowess for its students
both in related academic fields or for those who are interested in general. In that manner,
the organization and placement of the collections were excellent and each collection was
easy to find and access.

With that said, despite being quite the attraction, the museum still has areas within
that could have been done better. Although the museum in itself is unique because of its
collection, given how ergonomically unappealing and obscure its entrance is could drive
away its visitors. In spite of the fact that being located within a university is an asset, it
also is a weakness solely because of the nature of its location within the museum; being
on the second floor of a building that wasn’t meant for or doesn’t seem like a museum in
the first place, seeing as there are more museums whose locations are far more eye-
catching and free in comparison. Another weakness would be the low lighting inside,
which could hinder a visitor’s capacity to analyze and appreciate an artifact clearly.
Moreover, there too was an instance where a specific staircase leading to a lower floor
where more artifacts are located is far too steep and unsafe to be appropriate for a
museum.

Silliman University Anthropology Museum, 2022.

With the advancements in today’s technological prowess, one could find it hard
to place museums such as these in our society. Despite that, museums still have relevance
in today's technologically advanced culture, even within the corporate world. According
to reports, museums help a nation's economy by bringing in money for the towns and
cities where they are situated, boosting the tourism industry, and enticing visitors or
residents with artifacts that reveal the interconnectedness of human history. What makes
a museum relevant is; that it provides visitors with an engaging and personal experience
while still being instructive and amusing since it is designed for people to see and
discover new information from museum tour guides about specific objects that may not
be available online, as is the case with Silliman University’s Anthropology Museum.
Silliman University, Hibbard Hall, 2022 (Where the Museum is located).

To conclude, despite minor caveats, the Silliman University Anthropology

Museum is a unique and significant attraction as it holds precious collections of ancient
ethnological and archaeological items that date from 500 to 200 B.C. gathered from all
over Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

ABSTRACT

“The Silliman University Anthropology Museum,” by Debulgado, Javier, Redillas,

Aliviado, Tanac.

Last October 21, 2022, held Silliman University Accountancy and Business Management
(ABM) Grade 12 section CC’s field trip to the University’s Anthropology Museum.
Included within this paper are our group’s observations, analyses, and evaluations of
the said museum.

The themes addressed within this paper are the museum’s exterior, interior, and contents.
These are the basis for the analysis that is in line with the world of business and its impact
on society, assessing the museum’s strengths, and weaknesses, including our group’s
proposals and recommendations. The purpose of this report is to evaluate its different
aspects using a set criterion. Further discussions concerning the relevance of museums to
the business world are made. The correlation between the museum's theme and our
course is also discussed.