SURIGAO CITY — At the vicinity of the provincial capitol in Surigao City stands a structure that is more than just a building, it is a living repository of memory, identity, and collective pride. Known as the Bayay Surigaonon, or the "House of the Surigaonon," this community museum is a project of the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte, conceived in 2020 as a show-window to a particular period characterizing Surigao's cultural development on social history. It recalls how life was with the Surigaonons during the early contacts into colonial cultures, nurturing the rich and enduring Surigaonon heritage and inspiring pride of place.
A Testament to Resilience and Community Spirit
The journey of the Bayay Surigaonon has not been without challenges. The museum was partially damaged after Super Typhoon Odette hit the Caraga region in December 2021. What could have been a story of loss became one of collective determination. Various organizations from the government, non-government organizations, civil society organizations, and media worked hand-in-hand to repair and preserve the community museum. It took a year to restore the facility, with the provincial government committed to making the Bayay Surigaonon a repository of artifacts and other memorabilia, curating, preserving, interpreting, and displaying them as contributory narratives to the history and culture of the Surigaonon.
A Glimpse into 1900s Lifestyle
The museum serves as a time capsule, transporting visitors to the lifestyle of Surigao City in the 1900s. Arturo Cruje, consultant for culture and the arts, stressed the need for the young generation to be well-aware of this social history. The concept for the museum was inspired by heritage houses across the Philippines, the Pamintuan House in Pampanga, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bataan, and the old houses in Vigan, Bohol, and Iloilo. Some of the artifacts and decorations inside the museum are also up for sale, with suppliers of abaca baskets and other handicrafts constantly producing the same products, as a way of support of the provincial government to their livelihood.
A Space for Culture and Community
Beyond its role as a museum, the Bayay Surigaonon also serves as a Function Hall for Culture and the Arts-related activities and for provincial guests. It is a space where the community gathers to celebrate, learn, and remember. The museum policies, gallery protocols, and regulations have been approved and adopted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, institutionalizing this museum on Surigaonon social history. The Bayay Surigaonon addresses the insensitivity of the young generation in nurturing cultural heritage and serves as a repository of artifacts and memorabilia contributory to the narratives of the culture and arts of the Surigaonon.
