MUSEO SORSOGON: Rediscovering History, Heritage and Identity in The Province of Sorsogon

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
SORSOGON STATE UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES (SGS) OFFICE OF ADVANCED
EDUCATION
4700 SORSOGON CITY
ASSIGNMENT No. 1 DAPYAWIN, GERALDINE MAE B.

Date Due: July 2, 2021 A.Y. 2020-2021
EDUCATION 502: Philosophical, Sociological and Psychological Foundations of

Education
Stephen Henry S. Totanes, Ph.D.

Associate Professor V
MUSEO SORSOGON: Rediscovering History, Heritage and Identity in

the Province of Sorsogon
Looking back at our history we can find, again and again, numerous
historical facts about our common cultural heritage that will help us realize
the importance of the past. History will always teach us the importance of
life. From our way of thinking to our way of working, history have always
something to teach. We have a Filipino dictum that says, “Ang hindi
marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay ‘di makararating sa
paroroonan.” This dictum emphasizes the weightiness of our heritage, may
it be cultural or historical. And so in order to understand the monumental
essence of our history,we visited Museo Sorsogon to learn at least some of
the significant events and witness personally some of the remnant or traces
of the past that has been preserved in a very long period of time.
Museo Sorsogon in itself is a very significant remnant of the past.
Before it has been converted into a provincial museum on the 12th of March,
2021. This edifice was first used and served as Provincial Jail and Court
House during the administration of the Honorable Victor Eco, then the
provincial governor (October, MCMXVI).
Museo Sorsogon is one of the most beautiful museums in the
Philippines and indeed a prominent structure in the entire province of
Sorsogon. Upon entering Museo, I was amazed by its fascinating beauty.
Inside the two-floor museum is the ten galleries that displays the significant
historical and cultural aspects of the province. It shows how the
communities started in Sorsogon, the ensuing American occupation in the
province, and its participation in the Philippine revolution. Artifacts on loan
from the National Museum, as well as from the local residents, are also part
of the display.
Some that also caught my attention are the original artworks done by
inmates of the provincial jail such as a painting of the Lady of Justice on the
second floor and a prominent communist figure in the Cuban Revolution,
Che Guevara.
Aside from the art-galleries, an open-air amphitheater was also built at
the back of the edifice for events and performances.
Furthermore, one of the most interesting features and facts being
exhibited inside the museum is the prominent Sorsoganon who zealously
fought for the freedom and peace of the province. These people caught my
attention since I don’t have enough idea about the people behind the rich
history of our province. Antonia Teresa Vytiaco, Liliosa Hilao, Antonio
Ariado, and Bonifacio Gillego of Bulan, Ceasar Gavanzo Jr. of Matnog,
Juan Escandor of Gubat, Manuel Dorotan of Irosin, Catalino Brocka of Pilar,
Juan Frivaldo of Santa Magdalena, Eugenia Apostol and Gregorio Honasan
of Sorsogon and many other brave Sorsoganon are all listed inside Museo
Sorsogon. I am sure that not all Sorsoganon of today are familiar with these
prominent people of the past. They are unknown to many but their
contributions and legacy in our history are, indeed, great blessings not just
for us people of today but also for the people of tomorrow. Their influence
will always radiate until the next generation.
Among these many other people is Monsignor Jorge Barlin of the
Roman Catholic Church whom I do not know personally. I tried to finish
reading all the information attached besides his statue and I found out that he
was a Filipino! Yes, the very first filipino to be elevated to the episcopacy. A
filipino clergy who happened to be the Vicar forane (administrator of a
certain territory in the diocese) of Sorsogon in 1887 until 1905. The
information written in the museum were very limited but my curiosity begun
to look for a good and much detailed information about his leadership in the
province or at least a short information about his life as an administrator
before or after the colonial rule of the Spanish colonizer. And so I tried to
find some documents, although most of the sources are came from the
internet, that will help me know more about this unknown person to me.
This unknown person intensified my interest to know more about him
since he was the only filipino priest to manage and govern both the Church
and the civil governments simultaneously. If this was the case, the
leadership was more on religious rule. I should not be surprised if
Sorsoganon are religious people.
“From the parish of Libon, in Albay, Fr. Jorge Barlin was assigned in
1887, as parish priest and Vicar Forane of Sorsogon, which was then under
the Diocese of Nueva Caceres. He held this position in Sorsogon for almost
16 years, or untill 1903. Jorge Barlin has the distinction of being , not only,
the first Bikolano to become bishop, but for being the first Filipino to be so
elevated to the episcopacy. On June 29, 1906, the Bikolano priest was
consecrated bishop, to the great jubilation of his countrymen, particularly the
Bikolanos. Padre Barlin was born, April 23, 1850, in Baao, Camarines Sur,
to parents Mateo Barlin and Francisca Imperial. He entered the seminary in
Naga, at the age of 12. He was ordained to the priesthood on September 19,
1875 and was immediately appointed Capellan de Solio del Santisimo
Rosario and majordomo of the Naga Cathedral. Padre Barlin was soon
assigned to the remote village of Siruma, Camarines Sur, where he spent
three years until his transfer to Albay in 1883. After which, he was promoted
as Vicar Forane of the whole province of Sorsogon. During the 1896
revolution, Padre Barlin, who was then still the Vicar Forane of Sorsogon,
joined the other religious officials in Bikol in counteracting the spread of the
revolution in the region. He joined the province's clergy to keep watch of
signs of disorder in their parishes so that they could be immediately reported
to the Spanish colonial authorities. He particularly directed the parish priest
to monitor the activities of outsiders as well as eavesdrop on conversations
during occasions when people gather together. In a September 1896
memorandum issued to the cura parrocos of Sorsogon, Barlin expressed
sadness over developments in Manila which was then already spreading to
Bikol perpetrated by people whom he contemptously dismissed as " ese
punado de ilusos e incantos" (deluded ones and evil spirits). He then called
for the holding of public prayers every day for Divine intervention to restore
peace and order and for the suppression of the revolutionist who were
identified as the "pulahanes". But the stability of Spanish colonial rule in
Sorsogon, as in the rest of the country, rapidly deteriorated so that on
September 20, 1896, after receiving an urgent telegram from Albay that the
colonial authorities there were leaving immediately, then Sorsogon
Governor Leandro Villamil convened the province's Junta del Autoridades
where they also unanimously decided to abandon the province. Villamil then
met with Padre Barlin to whom, he ordered the provincial treasurer to turn
over the amount of 555 pesos representing the local clergy's financial
support from the colonial government. After this turn-over, the Spanish
officials embarked aboard the Bauan and left posthaste for Manila. It is not
clear whether the reins of the Sorsogon government were indeed turned over
to Padre Barlin, as some historians claim. In their report to the Spanish
authorities in Manila, the officials who came from Sorsogon never said that
they turned over the reins of government to Barlin. Their unanimous
declaration states that they "abandoned" the province. Which is why, when
the revolutionary forces, led by Gen. Ananias Diokno, arrived in Sorsogon
during the first week of October, they did not find any provisional
government in place, except for the town officials who stayed in place
waiting for the arrival of Filipino revolutionaries they were expecting to be
sent by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. With this turn of events, Padre Barlin also
had to immediately switch positions as he rationalized in a circular he
issued, On October 27, 1898, to the Sorsogon Clergy, that they were just
following the apostolic recommendation of obedience. He said that since the
leaders of the revolution were all devout Catholics, their triumph was also a
triumph and an honor for Catholicism. He then proceeded to heap praises
upon Aguinaldo , the other leaders, whom he called eminent and devout
Catholics. It was, perhaps, because of this, that Msgr. Barlin was given the
honor give the opening prayers at the first session of the Philippine
Assembly on October 16, 1907. But American duplicity and conflicting
national interests led to the outbreak of the Philippine-American War on
February 4, 1899. Again, higher church authorities in Sorsogon had to
rearrange their positions and ordered all parish priests in the province to
abstain or stay neutral in the face of the conflict. The order, reportedly from
the Vatican , carried severe threats against those members of the local clergy
who involve themselves in the conflict between the Americans and the
Filipinos. In 1906, Msgr. Barlin, who was already a bishop, was stricken ill
for which he had to seek treatment abroad. While abroad, undergoing
treatment, he went to Rome to make a short visit with the Pope. On his way
there, he died on September 1909.”
(For further information about his visit in Rome, the Diocese of
Kalookan wrote a short article about it. Please visit
https://dioceseofkalookan.ph/jorge-barlin-first-filipino-bishop/)
The centenary of the episcopal consecration of Msgr. Jorge Barlin, as
the First Filipino bishop, is celebrated in the year 2007. In one of its pastoral
letters issued January 28, 2007, the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) said, " Dear brothers and sisters, the present day
circumstances to our faith and ministry... However, there are to be found in
our history persons who had shown us that love for God and country are not
incompatible. Among these is Bishop Jorge Barlin.”
However, overwhelmed by new discoveries, I noticed that not all the
important treasures of the province are placed inside Museo Sorsogon.
During my visit, I was looking for the tools of shell and stone as well as
pots and jars made of clay that were found in the limestone caves of Bato in
Bacon District in 1956 and the 24 burial jars along with shells and beads that
were found in the Municipality of Pilar. These treasures, I believe, must be
placed inside the local museum because these are the only tangible evidence
of the early settlement of our ancestors in the province. The locals should be
given opportunity to see it inside the museum so that they can also have the
knowledge about the past history and its importance.
Meanwhile, the province of Sorsogon is blessed with so many
treasures. From its people to its resources, God has blessed our province so
much.
The challenge of the our present time is to preserve this beautiful
Sorsogon Museum because in it are the the beautiful treasuries of the
province that will help the next generation to appreciate and love our history,
culture, and heritage. We are called to participate in our time in every aspect
of life of our society, so that our participation will become a living example
for the youngsters, the future of tomorrow.
SOURCES:
Museo Sorsogon
Balik Tanaw sa Kasaysayan ng Sorsogon, Society and Culture Website,

(https://www.facebook.com/story.php), (Date accessed: June 30, 2021).
https://dioceseofkalookan.ph/jorge-barlin-first-filipino-bishop/ (Date accessed: June 30,

2021)

MUSEO SORSOGON: Rediscovering History, Heritage and Identity in The Province of Sorsogon

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

MUSEO SORSOGON: Rediscovering History, Heritage and Identity in The Province of Sorsogon

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

SORSOGON STATE UNIVERSITY

ASSIGNMENT No. 1 DAPYAWIN, GERALDINE MAE B.

EDUCATION 502: Philosophical, Sociological and Psychological Foundations of

Stephen Henry S. Totanes, Ph.D.

MUSEO SORSOGON: Rediscovering History, Heritage and Identity in

Balik Tanaw sa Kasaysayan ng Sorsogon, Society and Culture Website,

https://dioceseofkalookan.ph/jorge-barlin-first-filipino-bishop/ (Date accessed: June 30,

You might also like