Tracing the Magellanic Expedition (Spain to the Philippines)
Friday, June 26
Learn more about the travails of the Magellanic expedition in this webinar by Dr. Jose Eleazar R. Bersales, an archaeologist, historian and writer, who currently serves as USC Museum’s Director and Provincial Consultant on Museum Affairs. This was hosted by the University of San Carlos Museum and Museo Sugbo
The Journey of the Cebuano Palate
Friday, July 24
From kinilaw and buwad to lechon and puso to “painit” as puto and sikwate, Cebuanos have never been afraid to be creative with what we have and experiment with various flavors, and whip up our very own dishes and homegrown delicacies. Uncover a history lesson on Cebuano dishes and snacks in this Gabii sa Kabilin online activity hosted by Palm Grass The Cebu Heritage Hotel.
Visayan Tattooing and Tattoo Designs
Friday, August 28
Did you know that tattooing was widely practiced by our ancestors in precolonial times? In his book Barangay, William Henry Scott wrote that tattoos were considered a sign of valor and likened it to modern military decorations given after battle. Traditional tattoos are intricately and skillfully done and are worn with pride and meaning by precolonial men and women.
Learn more about Visayan tattooing and its deep significance in this insightful webinar by Mr. Piper Abas of Atawu Culture and Tradition.
Fujian Ceramics Traded in Precolonial Philippines
Friday, September 26
This webinar focused on the history of ceramic artifacts dating from the Song to Ming dynasties that were found in the country, and its significance in precolonial Filipino-Chinese trade relations. It featured resource speaker Ms. Deliza Ridoloso, who obtained a degree in Anthropology from the University of the Philippines Diliman. She served as former board member and vice president of the Oriental Ceramic Society of the Philippines (OCSP) and is currently promoting the organization’s Fujian Ware Project. This was hosted by Museo Parian sa Sugbo: 1730 Jesuit House and the University of San Carlos Museum.
Keynote Address: “The Impact of 500 Years of Christianity to Filipino Life and Culture”
Friday, October 2
This address provided a historical assessment of the enduring influence of five centuries of Christianity on the lives of Filipinos. It is part of the local Catholic Church’s series of online activities in preparation for the quincentennial celebrations.
Keynote speaker Dr. Danilo Gerona is an author, scholar and historian who specializes in pre-Spanish and Spanish colonial period accounts and currently serves as the director of the Magellan-Elcano Studies Center at Partido State University in Camarines Sur. He is also a member of Sevilla 2019-2022, an international council spearheading the celebration of 500 years of the circumnavigation of the world.
This keynote address was presented in partnership with the Archdiocese of Cebu.
Feature: “The Fort known as Fort San Pedro”
Friday, October 9
The fort is considered the oldest and smallest fort in the Philippines built in 1565 under the command of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. Get a chance to virtually visit the triangular-shaped fortress and learn more about its rich history and the significance of forts during the Spanish colonial period from the comfort of your home in this video feature produced in partnership with Fort San Pedro.
Storytelling: “Visayan Myths and Legends”
Friday, October 23
Did you know that Visayas holds a rich and colorful collection of myths and legends? Our ancestors told stories about gods and goddesses, monsters and creatures, and heroes, often reflecting their environment, morals and traditions.
Get to know the various myths and legends of our Visayan ancestors in a storytelling session both kids and adults will surely enjoy. Stories featured include the Legend of Maria Cacao and the Lost Epic of Central Visayas. The event was hosted by Saint Theresa’s College – Folklife Museum.
Bulawanong Tahom: The Aesthetic Life of Precolonial Cebuanos
Friday, November 27
The lecture, led by Prof. Jay Nathan T. Jore, looked into the creative practices of precolonial Cebuanos as recorded by the chronicler of the Magellan expedition Antonio Pigfetta and other archival documents. It discussed how precolonial artists and artisans in Cebu imagined, created, and performed artistic works and how the people made use of them in relation to their physical, social, and cultural environment.
By looking into the practices of tattooing, teeth ornamentation, head-binding, jewelry-making and textile weaving, the lecture teased out the crucial place of the human body as site and symbol of power in relation to precolonial aesthetic attitudes and conception of beauty.
This was organized in partnership with University of the Philippines – Cebu.
Lapulapu, The Man and The Myth: Setting the Record Straight
Friday, December 18
This webinar featured historians Dr. Jose Eleazar Bersales and Dr. Danilo Gerona who focused on topics such as Lapulapu’s heritage and the Battle of Mactan. They also provided sources on Cebuano history to counter false claims.
Dr. Bersales is the director of the University of San Carlos Museum and provincial consultant on Museum Affairs. Dr. Gerona is the director of the Magellan-Elcano Studies Center at Partido State University, and a member of Sevilla 2019-2022, an international council spearheading the celebration of 500 years of the circumnavigation of the world.
This webinar was tied with the National Quincentennial Committee (NQC) celebration and was hosted by the University of San Carlos Museum and RAFI The Kabilin Center.
Feature: “49 Questions with Magellan”
Tuesday, December 29
In this fun and educational video feature, Ferdinand Magellan shared facts and stories about his early life and his expedition to the so-called Spice Islands. He also answered and clarified queries about, what some would say, a terrifying voyage. Enjoy an informative conversation with Ferdinand Magellan in this video feature hosted by Casa Gorordo Museum.
