National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu
The Aduana Building as a museum in 2023
Established2023
LocationAduana Building, Cebu City, Philippines
Coordinates10°17′30″N 123°54′16″E / 10.29167°N 123.90444°E / 10.29167; 123.90444
TypeNational museum

National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu (Cebuano: Nasudnong Museyo sa Pilipinas – Sugbo; Filipino: Pambansang Museo ng Pilipinas – Cebu) is a museum in Cebu City, Philippines under the National Museum of the Philippines system.

Hosted at the Aduana (Customs) building, the museum building was known as Malacañang sa Sugbo (English: Malacañang of Cebu; Filipino: Malakanyang sa Cebu) when it served as the official residence of the president of the Philippines in the Visayas.[1] It was named after Malacañang Palace, the official residence of the president in the capital city of Manila.

History

Aduana Building
Former namesMalacañan sa Sugbo (2004-2022)
General information
Current tenantsNational Museum Central Visayas
Inaugurated1910
Renovated2004
OwnerNational Museum of the Philippines
Technical details
Structural systemReinforced concrete
Design and construction
Architect(s)William E. Parsons

Construction

Customs House, 1910.

Previously known as the Aduana (Customs) building, it was originally built in 1910 to house the Bureau of Customs (BOC) office in the Port of Cebu City. It was designed by William E. Parsons, who was assigned as the architect of the Philippine government from 1905 to 1914. Parsons was chosen by Daniel H. Burnham to execute the plans for the city of Manila and Baguio. Parsons made his own plan for the development of the city of Cebu, and the Customs Office was the first building constructed according to his plan.[2]

Malacañang sa Sugbo

The building would be used as the Customs office until 2004, when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo converted the structure into Malacañang sa Sugbo. The Aduana was restored by the national government at a cost of ₱700,000.[1] The Bureau of Customs was forced out of the building, and moved to a rented building from the Cebu Ports Authority (CPA).[3]

The facade of the building from the coast.

In July 2012, the Bureau of Customs attempted to repossess and return to the Aduana after the building they were housed in suffered damages from an earthquake on February 6, 2012. Huge cracks on the ceiling, floor, and interior walls were noticed in the building after the temblor. The Aduana, which is still owned by the BOC, was not being used and is seen by the Customs office as a "white elephant." Michael Rama, Mayor of Cebu City, wanted to preserve the building as Malacañang sa Sugbo for its historical value as the symbolic seat of the presidency in the south, and as a tourist attraction.[3]

Ownership issues

In 2013, the Malacañang sa Sugbo building was cordoned off and declared off-limits after structural engineers of the Cebu City's Department of Engineering and Public Works determined it had been rendered unsafe by the October 15 earthquake.[4] The building was reopened on July 19, 2016, for inspection and ongoing assessment to identify the repairs it needed and to determine how much would be spent. Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (PAV) Michael Dino held office in the room at the left wing of the building as the PAV office.[5][6]

Malacañan sa Sugbu in 2018.

In 2018, the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) requested President Rodrigo Duterte to return the road and the berthing area at the back of the Malacañang sa Sugbo. CPA General Manager Angelo Verdan said a member of the Cebu Port Commission, the policy-making body of CPA, brought their letter to newly appointed Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles to facilitate their request. They wanted Nograles to forward the letter to the President after the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas failed to do so.[7] The berthing area, he said, could ease the congestion at the port and the roads could decongest the traffic around the area. It can be recalled that the declaration of Malacañang sa Sugbo by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2005 included the occupation of the port road which was regularly used by truckers and motorists and the berthing area was used by shipping lines. However, the building, the road, and the port were left idle. The closure of the road also caused traffic congestion, especially at the nearby Pier 1 because trucks have to U-turn instead of proceeding to M.J. Cuenco Avenue as the exit. However, Verdan said that they are only interested in the port and not the building, in which under the law, BOC owns the building, while the CPA is the owner of the road and the berthing area.[8]

In 2019, the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) will soon open to traffic the road behind Malacañang sa Sugbo to decongest the area from Pier 1 to the viaduct leading to South Road Properties (SRP).[9] The CPA also wants to convert the berthing area behind Malacañang sa Sugbo into a docking area for international cruise ships to promote tourism. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea officially returned the century-old building of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) after the Malacañang sa Sugbo office was dissolved. However, there was no mention of whether the berthing area would be returned to the CPA.[10]

Personnel of the Bureau of Customs – Port of Cebu will be transferred back to the old Customs house. Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero is determined to repossess the old building which used to be the customs clearinghouse of the port. Presidential Security Group (PSG) stationed in the Malacañang sa Sugbo were ordered to vacate the property, in preparation for the repair of the edifice. A letter signed by PSG chief Col. Jose Eriel Niembra informed Guerrero that they have pulled out their Cebu contingent housed in the Malacañang sa Sugbo and the letter also stated that the President approved the same effective 31 October 2018. The agency's central office will subject the old Customs building to a major rehabilitation. However, the old Customs house could no longer accommodate all 19 divisions and sections now occupying its existing office at the Cebu International Port (CIP) complex in Pier 6.[11]

Heritage recognition and conversion to a museum

In 2019, the building was declared a National Cultural Treasure. Then, the building was converted as the National Museum Central Visayas. The museum was inaugurated on July 28, 2023, and was opened to the public on August 1, 2023.[12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Malacanang of the South (Malacanang sa Sugbo)" Archived 2013-02-10 at the Wayback Machine. Pueblo Philippines. Retrieved on 2012-12-20.
  2. ↑ Rebori, A.N. (1917-04). "Architectural Record, Vol. 41 – The Work of William Parsons in the Philippine Islands, Part II", pp. 424–426. Government Printing Office, Washington.
  3. 1 2 Palaubsanon, Mitchelle L. (2012-07-31). "Win-win solution" eyed for Malacañang sa Sugbo ". PhilStar Freeman. Retrieved on 2012-12-20.
  4. ↑ Bongcac, Doris (October 26, 2013). "'Malacañang sa Sugbo' among 25 structures declared unsafe in Cebu City". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Inquirer.net (Visayas). Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  5. ↑ Matus, Carmel Loise (July 20, 2016). "Malacañang sa Sugbo seen to reopen by October". cebudailynews.inquirer.net. Cebu Daily News Digital. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  6. ↑ "OPAV to hold office at Malacañang sa Sugbo". www.philstar.com. The Freeman. July 16, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  7. ↑ "CPA wants return of road, berthing area". sunstar.com.ph. Sunstar Cebu. November 25, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Palace's help sought in CPA's takeover of berthing area". www.sunstar.com.ph. Sunstar Cebu. January 24, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  9. ↑ "CPA to open Malacañang sa Sugbu to motorists soon". www.sunstar.com.ph. Sunstar Cebu. February 21, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  10. ↑ "A docking area for cruise ships". www.sunstar.com.ph. Sunstar Cebu. March 7, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  11. ↑ Saavedra, John Rey (February 28, 2019). "BOC-Cebu staff poised to go back to old Customs house". Philippine News Agency. www.pna.gov.ph. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  12. ↑ No-ot Magsumbol, Caecent (July 28, 2023). "National Museum partially opens to public next week". The Freeman. The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 28, 2023.

Further reading

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