IN HER welcome remarks, Sylvia Lorenzana, executive director of the Davao Museum Foundation, gave a brief background of the early beginnings of the museum.
On Aug. 3, 1977, Davao Museum of History and Ethnography was formally opened to the public by Zonta Club of Davao City, whose members have either donated or loaned their collections to the museum.
Forty-eight years later, on April 23, 2025, Davao Museum of History and Ethnography, with Zonta Club, presented an exhibition of the works of Ann Tiukinhoy Pamintuan and Josie Carriedo Tionko, both recipients of the prestigious Datu Bago award. These two ladies are members of the Board of Davao Museum Foundation, Inc.
Present during the formal opening were Datu Bago Awardees Brenda Z. Barba, Patria Montemayor, and Mary Ann Montemayor. Also present were Philippine Women’s College of Davao Chancellor Vicente Antonio Pijano III, Fr. Karel San Juan SJ, president of Ateneo de Davao University, executive vice president Jeremy S. Eliab, sculptor Brando Cedeño, Zonta Club officers and members, and resource speakers—Prof. Emi-Alexander Englis and Wilfred Dexter Tanedo, and various sponsors and donors who have been supporting the museum. The two curators of the exhibition were Pam del Rosario Castrillo and Igy Castrillo.
Josie Carriedo Tionko said, ”Art has been a blessing in my life. It has given me emotional, spiritual, and intellectual stability. Artists are among the most generous people. They are generous with their time, techniques, and knowledge. I have learned many things from them. It is a joy to work with artists.
It was announced that the Davao Museum will be transferred to the Ateneo de Davao University.
Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ chimed in, “We warmly welcome the announcement that the Davao Museum of History and Ethnography will soon make its home at Ateneo de Davao University. This development carries deep significance for all who value the stories, objects, and traditions that have shaped Davao and Mindanao. We are grateful to take part in this new phase of the museum’s life, and we see it as a shared responsibility and opportunity.”
Finally, Judy Ann C. Prantilla, president of the Davao Museum Foundation, added: “All I can say now is thank you, thank you very much to all in the community in Davao City for your financial help, moral support, and academic and technical help, through the years. We thank the pioneers of the Davao Museum, the Zonta Club of Davao, who started it all. We thank the Filipinas Foundation, now the Ayala Foundation, for donating the property in this Village, which has housed Davao Museum for the past 48 years. Thank you to our past presidents, Mrs Pat Montemayor and Dr Rizalina Pangan, for their commitment to Davao Museum.”
Photo Credits: Charisse R., Wong/Marilyn C. Roque
