Isabela Museum and Library
On our third day in Isabela, a break in the Bambanti Festival proceedings brought us to the Isabela Museum and Library. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by Mr. Jesus Fernandez Ordonez, Museum Researcher II who was to tour us around the museum.
The Neo-Classical facade
The two-storey museum showcases Isabela’s history and cultural heritage. Among the museum’s collections are antique furniture, fossils, ethnographic items, heirloom pieces, visual arts (photographs, paintings, sculpture, and graphic arts), artworks, historical and cultural dioramas and miniature models of provincial landmarks, among others.
Display at museum lobby
The building where the museum is located, built in 1946, once housed the province’s old capitol until 1991. When a provincial capitol buiding was built in Brgy. Alibagu, Gov. Benjamin G. Dy decided to convert the old building into a museum and library.
Bambantii Festival Exhibit
Architect Baltazar Gigantone was commissioned to redesign the building into a museum. On May 11, 1991, the new museum was inaugurated during the 143rd founding anniversary of the province. In 2019, the museum was rehabilitated by Gov. Faustino G. Dy III.
Diorama of the Capture of Emilio Aguinaldo
Upon entry, one of the first exhibit we noticed was the diorama of the March 23, 1901 capture of Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo in Palanan by American Gen. Frederick Funston. One by one, we toured the museum’s numerous galleries.
Farming Implements
The Cultural Heritage/Antiques Gallery, on the right wing, is the first gallery we visited. It displays, as its name implies, antique furniture, religious artifacts (monstrances, statuary, chalices, candle holders, etc.), relics from old structures (St. Matthias Church, Bungad Bridge, San Vicente Ferrer Chapel, San Pablo Church Ruins, Casa Real, etc.), burnay pottery, ceramic water filter (ca. 1930 – 1960), World War II memorabilia (M1 helmets, canteens, mess kits, Japanese rifle, nesting cups, etc.)and Scouting Jamboree memorabilia.
Check out “Church of St.Matthias“
Sewing machines, typewriters, etc.
Old appliances, office equipment and everyday items on display include typewriters (Underwood, Royal, etc.), gas-operated flat irons, single-burner mini gas stoves, Singer sewing machines, prinsa (old style metal pan filled with hot coals), Gramophone records, an abacus, ash trays, case gin bottles (cuatro cantos), a Mansfield automatic film projector, Canon cameras, an Olympia adding machine, Paymaster check writer/printer, Gramophone, farming implements and a dadapilan (sugar cane crusher) and old wooden storage chests.
Cooking Implements and Wooden Chests
Burnay Pottery
The adjoining gallery houses the memorabilia of the late Sen. Heherson Alvarez (clothes, books, photos, etc.), the Governors’ Memorabilia and the Portraits of Power Gallery.
Portraits of Power Gallery
Memorabilia of Sen. Heherson Alvarez
On the left wing are the Awards and Bambanti Festival Gallery (gowns, photos, etc.), the Selyo Gallery (displays first day of issue Philippine stamps), Revolving Exhibit Gallery and Numismatics Gallery (displays coins and paper currency).
Selyo Gallery (Philippine stamps, first day of issue)
Numismatics Gallery (coins and paper currency)
Awards and Bambanti Festival Gallery
Another room houses the Contemporary Arts Gallery (Art Capital of the North Gallery, Visual Arts and Scaled Models).
Contemporary Arts Gallery
Scaled models
The Tilamsik ng Liwanag (Splash of Light”) Gallery displays replicas of Katipunan flags and photos of historical events (the Propaganda Movement, Katipunan Movement, Philippine Revolution, the Malolos Constitution, Philippine-American War, World War II, the Japanese Occupation, Martial Law years, People Power Revolution, etc.) and personalities (Jose Rizal, Emilio Aguinaldo, Manuel L. Quezon, etc.).
Tilamsik ng Liwanag (Splash of Light”) Gallery
The library has 21,793 books (including the minutes of session of the Provincial Board, from 1909 to 2011, the oldest in the country).
Library
Minutes of Session of the Provincial Board, the oldest in the country
Isabela Museum and Library: Arranz St., Brgy. Osmena, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 307-3004 and (078) 323-3146. E-mail: isabelamuseumandlibrary@gmail.com and isabelatourismoffice@gmail.com. Open Mondays to Fridays, 8 AM – 5PM.