local museum

At last a small, modest museum more accessibly located to the populace initialy opened prior to the city's charter day celebration. It is called Museo Dabawenyo, with a pragmatic facade (renovated from an old government building) that somehow reflected the young and pioneering history of the city.

Recalling nearly eight years ago, I once lamented in a defunked publication of a local artist group:

"The local government may be making plans for multi-million projects like a sports dome, an international airport, coastal roads. However, we still have to hear from them plans for constructing a museum that will truly be accesible to every Davaoeno, that will preserve the soul of this city and ensure that it will not be lost in the chaotic rush for development."

The sports dome had become a white elephant, an ultra-modern airport is now busily servicing the city, and the coastal road fell victim to the Asian financial crisis. But then, the vision of having a more accesible museum has finally been realized.

There will be no turning back for this will be the beginning of an era when an individual need not continually suffer at living with any historically unaware, art-clueless, culturally insensitive society.