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SORSOGON CITY - Funds to be realized from the series of cultural, historical
and economic activities during the Kasanggayahan Festival, October 17-30,
this year, and succeeding Kasanggayahan Festivals thereafter, with this city
as main center of activities, will go to the establishment of a museum for
the City of Sorsogon and the whole province.
Identified as site for the proposed museum is the old two-story, wood and
concrete Sorsogon Municipal Hall along Burgos St., that used to house the
Municipal Session Hall, the Office of the Municipal Mayor, and most of the
offices of the old municipio.
The building itself is of American vintage, constructed during the early
American period, with its singurlarly distinctive architectural feature -
its twin winding, or semi-circular, concrete staircases leading, from both
sides, to the second floor balcony that forms the imposing facade of the
historic building that faces de Vera St., the short street that leads to the
Sts. Peter & Paul Cathedral in the center of downtown Sorsogon.
The old building now mainly houses, on the groundfloor, the Bureau of Fire
Protection, with its firefighters and firetrucks. There are other entities
and agencies occupying other parts of the building, including the local
youth federation, an NGO taking care of streetchildren, the district office
of the Commission on Elections, and a health clinic. The groundfloor used to
be the main police headquarters, with a jail cell at the back which served
as holding room for local petty criminals, town toughies and troublemakers.
As envisioned, the building will be reconstructed and restored to its
original state, especially its facade. It will mainly be a museum, including
a library and exhibition area for local artists.
During a recent meeting of the Kasanggayahan Festival Executive Committee
with Sorsogon City Mayor Sally A. Lee and international businesswoman Loida
Nicolas-Lewis, the mayor consented to the conversion of the historic
building into a museum.
Some of the Festival activities that are expected to generate funds for the
museum project include the Agro-Industrial, Trade and Technology Fair, the
Search for Miss Kasanggayahan Pageant, the Search for Miss and Mrs.
Balik-Sorsogon, and some sports competitions and cultural performances.
Other possible fund sources include corporate sponsorships, and possible
donations or support pledges from Balik-Sorsogonaons who are expected to
visit Sorsogon this year and participate in the Festival activities.
Ms Lewis, who is a native Sorsoganon but now based in New York, promised to
generate interest in the project among Sorsogon and Bicol associations in
America.
The establishment of the museum is a joint project of the Kasanggayahan
Foundation, Inc. (KFI), the Sorsogon Arts Council, Inc,. the Sorsogon
Provincial Tourism Council, and the city and provincial governments. KFI is
chaired by Msgr. Francisco P. Monje, who is also concurrent chair of the
Kasanggayahan Festival Executive Committee.
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