A VISIT TO PALAWAN HERITAGE CENTER

(Reaction Paper)

Visiting a cultural art center can be a transformative and enriching experience,

offering a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the beauty and diversity of artistic
expression. Recently, I had the pleasure of exploring the renowned "Palawan Heritage Center," a
cultural institution dedicated to showcasing the works of local and international artists. As I
entered the art center, I was immediately captivated by the vibrant atmosphere and the sense of
anticipation that hung in the air. The walls adorned with masterpieces, the melodic strains of
music, and the whispers of excited conversations all contributed to the electric ambiance. In this
reaction paper, I aim to reflect upon my visit to the Palawan Heritage Center, delving into the
notable artworks, the impact of the center on the community, and my personal connection with
the artistic experience. Through this exploration, I hope to convey the significance of cultural art
centers as spaces for dialogue, inspiration, and cultural exchange. Visiting a well-known cultural
art center here in our province Palawan was a privilege for me as a first year student, where
visiting this kind of place will surely make me a wonderful experience full of knowledge.
Last May 5, 2023 I and my fellow student visits the Palawan Heritage Center with
the help and supervision of our “Palawan Studies” instructor we have accomplished our mission
to visits the center and gain different knowledge about different art and information about our
province. Our tour to the center was very interesting starting from how each one of us arrive the
place. May 5, Friday morning the rain was pouring so hard on that day. A lot of us hesitate to
continue the visit to the center, due to the inconvenience that many of us don’t have our own
service and mainly because of the bad weather. But eventually only few of us didn’t make it.
Upon arriving to the place by a car owned by my classmates we arrived late and did not make it
to the first that will dwell first inside the center but it was fine because there is more time. Upon
waiting we also make our way to the disk where the registration have been placed. After some
couple of minutes, I and my other classmates who came late enters the center. Entering the door
of the center give me an ambiance of full of passion and artistry, where I have first distinguished
a lot of painting hanged on the wall of the center, drawn by different local and international
artist. Since it was my first time visiting that such kind of place I am greatly impress by different
art and artifact and those arts portray different culture and aspects of our beloved province. After
some time one of the employee of the center who stands as our king brought us in a show room
with a screen in front, it was for a video presentation or it was an introductory video presentation
that showcases Palawan as a province, including different feature and culture in Palawan as well
as the different tribe who first inhabit Palawan who is still active the ‘Taot Bato Tribe” also
known as “Palaw’an” in Rizal Palawan. This tribe inhabited Palawan for a very long time, where
which they are alive in the present. The video also showcases some things that Palawan has to
offer, from pristine white beaches to neighboring island and reach culture it also denotes that
Palawan was known as the last ecological frontier that make me more proud of my province.
After the introductory film about Palawan our tour guide or tour officials pass us to another tour
staff where we which introduced to different are on the center. At this time we have our glimpsed
to different art piece made by our local Palaweno’s artist. We have seen different kind of
diorama that portray different kind of scene from the diorama of a typical Palawan hut way back
from the past, including modern day Palaweno’s how set up as well us the scene of nature which
the place where the Palwa’an tribe inhabit. Most of the diorama was made from recycled
materials. Afterwards in the same part of the tour the staff also introduce some important
paintings on the wall who have won different title from different event in Palawan such as
Baragatan Festival as well art festival like Sikatugyaw 2020 Painting Competition. Those
paintings was entitled, Shades of Natives by Michael John Publico, Aborlan; Lost Art by Elordie
Mesac, Cuyo; Patugpo by Shinkin Beguina, Brokes Point; Baka Sakali (Sakal Eh) and my
favorite a painting by Jose Norlo Diosdado C. Hirro III entitled Shield of the Last Frontier this
art work where an entry to the last 2020 Baragatan Festival. After some couple of questions of
my classmates the staff once again directed at to the room where different artifact was in placed.
The different artifacts that we have seen was things from the past use by our ancestors and have
become a big part of us Palawan natives also there are replicated fossils of the first cave man
from Quezon Palawan it was a bone skull, artifacts we have seen includes a necklace made from
wild boar teeth, famous Manunggol Jar, different weaving mattress batak baskets and tingkop
basket original made by the native. Including with those artifacts we have also seen fossils of
bird endemic here in Palawan which includes Palawan Frogmouth owl, Palawan hawk, and many
more that where fossilized. At this time we are almost at the end of the tour but eventually there
is one writings that caught my attention and that is the “Ibalnan Writings” that where usually use
by the Palaw’an tribe in communicating and writing that we have also studied from the previous
lesson. Eventually we move to the next station where the lead staff introduce as to different
marine artifacts and things usually found in the island of Palawan which the staff mainly discuss
the process on how to make a pear in a culture and modern way. The precious pearl produce by
clams in different clam or pearl farm in Palawan was very precious since it take time to produce
a tiny pearl sized of an earing beads which is also very expensive. That was the last part of our
tour.
My visit to the Palawan Heritage Center has left an indelible mark on my
perception of art, cultural and its ability to transcend boundaries. The diverse range of artworks
displayed at the center showcased not only the artistic talent of the individuals involved but also
their unique perspectives and narratives. It was fascinating to witness how each piece evoked
different emotions and provoked thought-provoking questions about the human experience.
Beyond the artworks themselves, the Palawan Heritage Center proved to be a powerful catalyst
for community engagement and dialogue. Witnessing people from various backgrounds come
together, sharing their interpretations and engaging in passionate conversations, emphasized the
unifying power of art. The art center acted as a social hub, bridging cultural gaps and fostering a
sense of collective appreciation for creativity. I was personally motivated to pursue my own
artistic endeavors after visiting the Palawan Heritage Center. The exhibition's artworks' audacity,
originality, and genuineness inspired me to think outside of my comfort zone and find new
methods to express myself. The encounter has inspired me to look out comparable cultural art
institutions, galleries, and exhibitions in the future in order to keep expanding my aesthetic
perspective. Over all it was a very wonderful experience for me to have a solid 10 out of 10 for
the tour and for the Palawan Heritage Center home arts and culture.