Seatwork: Local Heritage

It’s already 6:30 pm, and I am here riding my bicycle going to the museum of our city. You
might be wondering why I am doing this. Well, it’s for our history class, we are asked to
share about our local heritage. I once asked my mom if she know some of our local heritage
when she told me this brilliant idea "why don’t you go visit our city museum and asked the
paintings about our history and heritage of Gingoog City" I looked at her in disbelief because
at first, I thought she was joking, since she never lets me out especially after 5 pm, but she
just shrugs and told me to get going before the museum closes. And so here I am breezing
through the highway on my bicycle

“Manong, taysa lang!” I called ringing my bicycle bell when I saw Manong Theo locking the
entrance of the museum. I hurriedly jump out my bicycle just to stop Manong Theo which
surprise him. “Oh, manirado na raba ko” he acknowledges. “Manong Theo, 30 minutes lang
please” I said trying to catch my breath. He scratches his head then looked at his watch, then
sighed “Sige ha, 30 minutes” I sighed in relief and promised him to only take 30 minutes.

As I entered the museum, glassed artifacts and archives greeted me. I was about to take a
picture of it when the painting behind it caught my attention.

Kiponay. I read. The painting shows the old building

of the museum and the people. I was truly amazed
looking at these painting comparing the change as
time goes by. I took a picture of it.

“Do you want to know more about us?” someone

asked. I looked around and thought that it was
manong Theo who asked. “Manong? Nandiyan po ba
kayo?” looking at the entrance door in the distance

“Oi, naa rako diri” the voice called. Which send goosebumps to me since I heard no reply of
manong Theo and there was no one else but me. When I was about to run, I heard the voice
again

“Oi naa sa imong luyo!” the voice demanded which made me stopped my steps. With fear
and shaking knees I looked behind me and saw the painting of the old building of the
museum and the people in it smiled…while…waving at me?!
I need to scream. I thought when the person in the painting made a shush sound

“Shh, ayaw ug kahadlok” they comforted. They chuckled when they realized how pale I am.
And continued to explain itself “Gang, ayaw ug kahadlok kay ingani nga oras mulihok ug
mutingog nami”. I felt my knees weak and my vision blurring when the person in the painting
stopped me “oi oi oi, ayaw sag ka kuyapi diha kay naa pa raba kay assignment diba” with that
I pinched myself; when I felt the sting on my skin that when I realized that this is real and
that I indeed have an assignment to submit.

“Yeah, naa koy assignment” I faintly answered. “o sakto, kay naa mi diri para esturyahan ka
about sa atong local heritage diri sa Gingoog City.” With confused mind and fear I was kind
of proud of myself with how I managed to nod

With blank thoughts, my mind zoned out to the history of Gingoog City my mother once
talked. The city was founded by Spanish missionaries in 1750. It was the oldest city in
Misamis Oriental Province, even older than the province’s capital and economic hub,
Cagayan de Oro, which was founded in 1871.

The term Gingoog originally came from the word “Hingoog”, which means “Goodluck”,
from a Lumad tribe of Manobo who settled in the area.The word implies good fortune, thus
Gingoog City means the City of Good Luck. The natives of this place are the ones with the
family names of “Gingco”, and “Gingoyon”.

In 1957, the sitio of Binuangan was converted into a barrio known as Talisay.

“Hoi! Naa paka?” the people in the painting asked, which bought me back to the reality.
“Oo,” I answered absentmindedly. Which made them chuckle.

They then began with the historic local heritages which is the museum itself. They share that
this old City Hall building, restored and rehabilitated under the careful scrutiny, guidance and
direction of Her Honor, City Mayor Ruth de Lara Guingona (2004-2013), is lovingly
dedicated to the memory of past town and city officials who first erected it, walked in its hall
and faithfully served the people of Gingoog. Originally built as CASA TRIBUNAL in circa
1910 through the efforts of CAPITAN CATALINO CONDEZA. This old City Hall was
rebuilt in circa 1939-1940, and from then on, became the seat of government of the
municipality of Gingoog. It was in this Hall that the historic transition of Gingoog from town
to city thru R.A 2668, known as the City Charter of Gingoog, occurred. Except for the city
jail on the ground floor, the building was abandoned when, between 1981-1984 all offices
started to move to their new home, the new City Hall-Barangay 22-A.

During Martial Law, this Old City Hall became the headquarters of the 436th Company of the
defunct Philippine Constabulary. After Martial l.aw, the building looked like a ghost from the
past, and and it took the political will and wisdom of Mayor Ruth Guingona to cause its
restoration and rehabilitation preserving with careful fidelity, its original design and structure
as a constant reminder of its past glory as Gingoog's former seat of government. Renamed
City Museum and Archives pursuant to City Ordinance No.2013-245 enacted on March
13,2013.

“this Old City Hall now houses memorabilia

from Gingoog's past relics, antiques,artifacts
that tell the story of a pueblo, a barrio, a
municipio, a ciudad and a burgeoning urban
center that Gingoog has become today.” They
concluded. I was too stunned to speak but was
able to clap my hands. “I honestly did not
know about that” I shyly said which made
them smile. “Well now, you know”. I was about to thank them when I heard the voice of
Manong Theo, “gang? Naa paka diha?” he called in a distance.

“Ah oo, manong Theo” I replied glancing at his direction of his voice. I turned to face the
painting again when I notice that the people in the painting looked normal. It was liked they
did not talk to me earlier. “Ay naa raman diay ka diha gang, ali na manirado nako lapas naka
sa 30 minutes” he jokingly said. I looked at him and asked “Manong kinsa ning naa sa mga
painting?” I asked while pointing at the painting. He looked at it and said “They are actually
the late Don Manuel A. Lugod Presidente Municipal (1910-1911), Don Antonio C.Yacapin
Presidente Municipal (1912-1916), Don Jose L. Fernandez Presidente Municipal (1917-
1919), Don Romulo L. Rodriguez Presidente Municipal (1920-1921), Don Juaquin Jumo
Presidente Municipal (1921-1925), Romualdo Guanzon Sr. Municipal President (1927 -
1928), Juan C. Sanchez Municipal President (1929-1937), Santiago A. Guanzon Municipal
President (1940-1946), Juan C. SanchezMunicipal Mayor (1947), Julio J. Ganaban
Municipal Mayor (1948-1955), Perfecto A. Ubalde Municipal Mayor (1956-1959), Julio J.
Ganaban City Mayor (1960-1963), Dr.Domingo C. De Lara City Mayor (1964-1967),
Romulo S. Rodriguez, Jr City Mayor (1968-1971), Arturo S. Lugod City Mayor (1972-1978)
,Miguel P.Paderanga City Mayor (1978-1986).”

“And that man...” he said while pointing at the person who just told me about the museum as
heritage “is the late Capital Catalino Condez, he was instrumental in constructing CASA
TRIBUNAL” “and did you know that this old building was originally build as CASA—”

“TRIBUNAL, in circa 1910 through the efforts of Capitan Condez and that this old city hall
was rebuilt in circa 1939-1940 and from then on became the seat of government of the
municipality of Gingoog” I continued. Which surprise manong Theo. “wow, very good,
bantog rasad diay ni sobra ka sa 30 minutes” he jokes which I smiled. “I guess so” I
whispered while looking at the painting.

“Okay na? adto nata kay basin pangitaon naka” Manong Theo guided me back to the exit
then bid ourselves goodbye but before I go, I once again looked at the museum and
whispered “thank you” then rode my bike back home.

As I arrive home, my mom asked about my experience in the museum which I answered not
including about me talking to the painting and that thought left me contemplating but then
she replied, “well, that’s good it would be more awesome if the painting themselves told you
about it” she smiled leaving me dumbfounded.

“Does she know?”

--THE END—