Skip to main content

Ecclesiastical Museum at the Santa Barbara Parish Convent

Another museum is opening soon in Santa Barbara, Iloilo - the Ecclesiastical Museum of Santa Barbara. It will feature the ecclesiastical art collection of the parish of Santa Barbara. 
It will be located at the convent of the church of Santa Barbara which has been declared a National Historical Landmark in 1991, and a National Cultural Treasure in 2013. 
A budget of P4.85 million from the Government Appropriation Act of 2017 has been allocated for the project, according to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).
The ecclesiastical museum will be the second museum of the municipality, which already has the Santa Barbara Centennial Museum that was built in 1998 as part of the Centennial Freedom Trail Site Project of the Philippine Centennial Commission. The centennial museum houses antiques, artifacts and photos that tell the story of Santa Barbara’s historical heritage.

The ecclesiastical museum will have four galleries with a total area of 393.18 square meters, a curator’s office with an area of 47.29 square meters, and a multi-purpose room with an area of 48.85 square meters.
It aims to exhibit and provide an overview of the different forms of ecclesiastical art and its religious symbolisms, and showcase the techniques used by local santeros to produce the different types of religious images and church furnishings.

The four galleries will include modules on the house of worship, statues of the saints, liturgical objects and liturgical vestments. It will also have audio-visual area.

Built in 1845 by Augustinian priest Francisco Aguerria, it was in this church where General Martin Delgado started the junta that resulted to the first cry of revolution against Spain outside Luzon in 1898.

The Santa Barbara church and convent was also used as the general headquarters and military hospital of the revolutionary forces.
The NHCP is now accepting bids for the museum curatorial design and execution, and once a contract is awarded, the winning bidder is expected to complete the project in 150 days.

The church and convent was restored for the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day in 2015 where then President Benigno Aquino III celebrated the national event.

Credits: Text and last photo c/o Nereo Lujan 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Santa Barbara Centennial Museum

The Santa Barbara Centennial Museum was built in 1998 as part of the Centennial Freedom Trail Site Project of the Philippine Centennial Commission. The museum houses antiques, artifacts and photos that tell the story of Santa Barbara’s historical heritage. The museum has two wings: the left wing is the historical wing while the right wing has been designated as the changing museum. In the historical wing is Gen. Martin Teofilo Delgado’s Exhibit. The items on exhibit here are: Gen. Martin Teofilo Delgado’s Exhibit – the greatest revolutionary hero of the Visayas, and the first Filipino Governor of Iloilo under the American regime. 1. GMTD’s bed 2. GMTD’s backbone – spared by the Delgado clan for display to the museum with document of permission 3. Documents written in Spanish attesting of him as the first Filipino Governor of Iloilo 4. Photos of him with his family 5. Frames explaining the Cry of Santa Barbara and his biography 6. Revolutionary insignia o...
Post a Comment
Read more

Our Lady of the Smile in Jibao-an, Santa Barbara

In time for the Lenten Season, a new attraction has emerged in Santa Barbara particularly in Brgy. Jibao-an near its boundary with the town of Pavia.  Called as the Our Lady of the Smile, the statue sits on top of a man made mound called the Hill of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. Located in a former ricefield, the "hill" is about 2-3 storeys high with snaking paths going all the way up. The winding path is dotted with the Stations of the Cross for simple pilgrimage along the way making devotees and tourists as well experience Via Crucis all year round. At first it may seem so near but as you follow the path, you feel like treading the path Jesus took along the road to Calvary. But it only takes around 15-20 minutes to complete the whole trek, even under the scorching heat of the sun. A brisk walk or a few jogs would make it even faster. The hill is photogenic from almost all angles but the best spot is marked with a selfie or posing deck which captures th...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Catmon tree

The living symbol of Santa Barbara is the only Catmon Tree growing in the entire town. Before the town was renamed after the saint, it used to be called catmon , as this variety of trees were landmarks in the route up Central Panay. Katmon (Family: Dilleniaceae , Synonyms: Dilenia speciosa , other names: Bihis, kulammbug, palali ) has thick foliage and distinctly big white flowers that eventually becomes round fruits. The fruit is sour but refreshing - my tastebuds likened the taste to kamias with hints of green apple and like the pomelo it becomes sweet at some certain points.  The only surviving in the whole town which was previously named after it is right next to the police station - safely guarding it like a treasure. After all it is the only living symbol of  the town of Santa Barbara. Read more.
Post a Comment
Read more