From Mindanao to Manila: Yuchengco Museum's Exhibit on Mindanao Textiles and Jewelry

- Sept. 22, 2017, Friday.

- The Yuchengco Museum (as of Sept. 29 while writing this article) is holding two on-going temporary exhibits on Mindanao culture, entitled "Origins and Translations: Mindanao Tapestry" and "Silken Courts: The Maranao Malong - Garments of Identity and Continuity." These two exhibits are located at the third floor gallery. I have to thank my department secretary in the university where I work for telling me about this, since she knows that not only do I appreciate cultures in general -especially those involving costumes and jewelry - but I also have my own stash of Mindanao fabric and jewelry in my vast collection of cultural/ethnic wear and jewelry. Of course I screamed at the top of my lungs in my department in excitement after our department secretary told me about this. Needless to say, I just had to visit this exhibit before it ends. (I phoned the Yuchengco Museum and told me that they don't have an end date yet to this excellent temporary exhibit.)

Hello Yuchengco Museum.

- The Yuchengco Museum, by the way, is located in RCBC Plaza, at the corner of Gil Puyat Avenue and Ayala Avenue. The museum is owned by Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco, a prominent Filipino-Chinese figure (he's a philantropist, and ambassador, a businessman, art enthusiast, to name a few things he does.) He passed away earlier this year. His family owns RCBC (Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation,) so it's no surprise that the museum is located inside the RCBC Plaza. This young museum was opened just in 2005.

You'll see this on the way to the museum.

 - Recently, Philippine news has been bombarded with not-so-happy news about certain places in Mindanao (ex. Marawi in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, etc..) I think this relevant back-to-back exhibit gives a subtle nod to those places by celebrating their indigenous cultures and allows people to see these places as rich cradles of Mindanao's colorful indigenous cultures. Some cultures featured include the T'bolis of Cotabato, the Maranaos of Lanao del Sur, the B'laan of Cotabato and Davao, just to name a few.     

- The Maranao malong gallery not only had malongs on display, but what I loved the most about it was the mannequins showcasing the different ways the the malong can be used through a diorama akin to the singkil dance. Of course, knowing me, I brought a few pieces from my collection and wore them so I can get the feel of being one with the exhibit. Ms. Elma, the museum's program officer, saw me walking around with my Maranao inspired getup and told me that I seemed to belong to the exhibit. (I couldn't agree more, and that was the goal.)

A "buraq" on a Maranao ritual blanket. This creature from Islamic mythology was supposed to carry prophets from one place to another.

A male and female Maranao formal costume.

Ready to dance the singkil??

One of them. My yellow/golden shirt was made by my Muslim tailor. It was supposed to resemble a Maranao groom's shirt.

The whole squad; this tableau shows the different ways that a malong can be worn.

This bridge thing at the third floor is the best place to have a photoshoot in the Yuchengco Museum.

Hello, it me.

- Apart from the tableau, there were also spexial malongs exhibited, such as those used by the Maranao royalty, or those with epics embroidered on them. If only I had the chance, I would've wanted to take all of them home!!

This was my favorite: a malong with the epic Darangen embroidered on it.

- In the adjacent gallery on Mindanao tapestry, I had to opportunity to examine the techniques of weaving and jewelry-making from the other groups in Mindanao. It was also an opportunity for me to understand more the things I have in my closet, since it's difficult to find in-depth information on Philippine indigenous clothing and design. Though I knew the basics of all the cultural things that I buy, I always love the opportunity to learn more.

Poster and a female Mandaya costume.

The T'boli's famed t'nalak fabric; it is said that the designs are dreamt by the weavers, and hence the weavers are called "dream weavers."

Brought my own lmimot, which is a kind of T'boli necklace, and the guard at the museum was more excited than me when he saw that the one I brought was a smaller version of the one they have in the exhibit.

Costume change into my Mansaka-inspired costume. The mannequin at the back has a Lumad costume.

With a female Manobo costume.

- After going around the exhibit, I spent some time doing my photoshoot inspired by the exhibit. I changed into my Mansaka- and Tausug-inspired costumes. (I even brought my janggay - silver nail - set for my pangalay photo.)

Mansaka-inspired. The coat was designed by well-respected Davao designer and former member of the Bayanihan Dance Troupe, Alfonso Guino-o.

My Tausug inspired costume. My bandana is an authentic Tausug scarf. My silver-nails used to dance the pangalay dance were shipped from Zamboanga; I bought my nails from a professional pangalay dancer.

I bought my Tausug scarf from the Tausug weavers that the national museum invited to demonstrate their weaving culture (click here to see my interaction with the Tausug people.) The nails on my fingers may be used by both female and male pangalay dancers.

- After going around the exhibit for one last time, I went to see the other permanent exhibits and dropped by the souvenir shop at the lobby. They were also selling ethnic jewelry and fabric aside from the usual books and paraphernalia in the museum's gift shop.

The permanent exhibit area at the ground floor.

Amorsolo's "Urduja" painting.

- I finally left the museum after a whole day of absorbing myself in the stunning exhibit; to think I expected to stay for only around 2 hours. I think there should me more exhibits like this one to let people know that Mindanao is not just a place with "many dangers" (as how Mindanao is usually framed or shown in media), but Mindanao is also a region in the Philippines with a variety of flamboyant, rainbow-touched, and regal cultures that have their roots in the Philippines' glorious pre-colonial past.