Asean Museum Forum 2024

Museums have long gone beyond their traditional role as static repositories of artifacts. They have found more meaning in promoting intangible heritage, using both physical facilities and online resources to bring heritage closer to the people. Museum educational programs, along with strong community engagement initiatives, make museums awake and alive to the community, serving as catalysts for cultural revitalization and economic empowerment.

The National Museum of the Philippines- Cordillera fulfills its purpose as an educational, cultural, and research institution through its Museum Educational Program. A museum volunteer program, educational tours, and skills training courses were conducted to serve several purposes: to reconnect the community to heritage, to serve as the springboard for tourism-related enterprises as a form of community resilience, and to engage the community in museum activities.

The museum volunteer program involved community members who were oriented on museum services and who served in the museum for a minimum of 50 hours. In Kiangan, Ifugao, this initiative led to the formation of an association called Kiangan Community Heritage Volunteers, based at the Indigenous People’s Education Center. These museum volunteers curated a photo exhibit showcasing Ifugao’s rich history and culture.

Educational tours for school learners were conducted in partnership with local educational institutions, bringing children from nearby and remote schools of Ifugao to an immersive museum experience. From indigenous games to drawing basic weaving symbols, the youth learn and understand more about their cultural identity.

Furthermore, skills training courses are conducted for community members and school learners as part of the museum's educational program. These range from weaving to basketry to rice wine brewing, yeast-making, and gong beating. These skills not only preserve traditional craftsmanship but also hold economic potential, as they could lead to the production of cultural products and tourism-related enterprises, contributing to resilient communities.


			Presenter	Eulalie D. Dulnuan
			E-Mail	eulalied@gmail.com
			Affiliation	National Museum of the Philippines-Cordillera Regional Museum
			Contributors	-
			Date/Time	13-09-2024 / 10:30-12:00 hrs.
			Room	LE CONCORDE BALLROOM

Presentation Title	Community Engagement of Museums as a Medium for Heritage Re-Connection and Community Resilience
Abstract	Museums have long gone beyond their traditional role as static repositories of artifacts. They have found more meaning in promoting intangible heritage, using both physical facilities and online resources to bring heritage closer to the people. Museum educational programs, along with strong community engagement initiatives, make museums awake and alive to the community, serving as catalysts for cultural revitalization and economic empowerment. The National Museum of the Philippines- Cordillera fulfills its purpose as an educational, cultural, and research institution through its Museum Educational Program. A museum volunteer program, educational tours, and skills training courses were conducted to serve several purposes: to reconnect the community to heritage, to serve as the springboard for tourism-related enterprises as a form of community resilience, and to engage the community in museum activities. The museum volunteer program involved community members who were oriented on museum services and who served in the museum for a minimum of 50 hours. In Kiangan, Ifugao, this initiative led to the formation of an association called Kiangan Community Heritage Volunteers, based at the Indigenous People’s Education Center. These museum volunteers curated a photo exhibit showcasing Ifugao’s rich history and culture. Educational tours for school learners were conducted in partnership with local educational institutions, bringing children from nearby and remote schools of Ifugao to an immersive museum experience. From indigenous games to drawing basic weaving symbols, the youth learn and understand more about their cultural identity. Furthermore, skills training courses are conducted for community members and school learners as part of the museum's educational program. These range from weaving to basketry to rice wine brewing, yeast-making, and gong beating. These skills not only preserve traditional craftsmanship but also hold economic potential, as they could lead to the production of cultural products and tourism-related enterprises, contributing to resilient communities.
Biography	Eulalie Dulnuan is an alumna of the University of the Philippines- Diliman, where she earned her degree in Tourism. She obtained her master's degree in Leisure, Tourism, and Environment from Wageningen University and Research Center, The Netherlands. Tourism and heritage conservation have been her areas of interest and study. For various years, she served as a tourism officer at the national, provincial, and municipal levels. Notable projects include the Nagacadan Open Air Museum and the formation of tourism organizations. She entered the academy as an assistant professor at the Ifugao State University. Currently, she is with the National Museum of the Philippines.