ILOILO City – From mythical creatures of Panay Island to the intricate craftsmanship of ancient gold masks, the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) is taking National Heritage Month celebrations in Western Visayas beyond museum walls — reviving local oral traditions, empowering artists, and reaching underserved communities with heritage education.
Highlighting the region’s distinct cultural identity, NMP Iloilo kicked off its series of events with immersive workshops and lectures that bring to life the age-old practices and beliefs of Western Visayas.
Among the most notable was a hands-on demonstration held on May 17 in partnership with the Ogtonganon Visual Artists League, focusing on the recreation of the Oton Gold Death Mask — a national cultural treasure dating back to the 14th century.
Dating from the 14th to early 15th century (Age of Trade), the Oton Gold Death Mask is one of the few funerary gold masks and face covers found in the Philippines, the museum stated. It is decorated with repousse dots and curvilinear motifs for both the eye and nose covers. Repoussé or repoussage is a metalworking technique in which a malleable metal is shaped by hammering from the reverse side to create a design in low relief.
Ogtonganon artist Boy Masculino, known for his metal and mixed media works, led the workshop where participants learned to apply the same ancient repoussage technique.
The activity served not only as a tribute to local artisanship but also as a way to introduce contemporary artists to traditional methods they can adapt to modern expressions.
Earlier in the month, NMP held a public lecture titled “Mariit: Understanding Palibot through Western Visayas Oral Traditions.”
The lecture featured heritage researcher Sashah Diosio from the Center for West Visayan Studies, who explored folk illness and mythical beings in Panay, while visual artist El Dosado rendered these intangible elements into visual form.
The lectures are an introduction to another heritage event, Mariit: A Heritage Costume Play of Mythical Creatures of Panay, set on May 24, NMP said.
In line with its commitment to bring cultural programs to far-flung areas, the NMP will hold outreach activities under its Pambansang Museo sa Paaralan/Barangay initiative at Guimbal National High School on May 23 and in Unisan, an island barangay in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, on May 31. These events aim to make the national collection more accessible and raise heritage awareness in grassroots communities.
The museum also honored the birth anniversary of National Artist J. Elizalde Navarro on May 18 through a spoken poetry session and reflective discussions on his artistic legacy.
Meanwhile, a specialized art and wellness lecture-workshop for the elderly is scheduled on May 28, signaling a more inclusive approach to heritage appreciation.
With this year’s theme, “Preserving Legacies, Building Futures: Empowering Communities through Heritage,” the NMP’s activities in Iloilo highlight the region’s living cultural fabric — one that is constantly reimagined, taught, and celebrated across generations. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency)/PN
