about the
EXHIBITION
Human religiosity is rarely separated from the material environment through which it is expressed.
– Julian Droogan, Religion, Material Culture and Archaeology (2013, p.3)
The year 2021 marks five centuries since the introduction of the Catholic faith in the Philippines. Throughout these 500 years of belief and believing, clergy and devotees alike acquired a plethora of liturgical and devotional materials that have helped shape Cebuano faith and devotion.
A devotee from Boljoon, Baldwin Navarro, attests to the significance of religious objects to his faith formation “…maka-ingon ko nga very important kay lagi, tungod aning mga imahen, na-umol, namugna ang atong gitawag nga debosyon. Tungod aning mga imahen nakita nato kon unsa ka dedikado ang usa ka tawo para lang anang iyang gitawag nga debosyon… They play a role to inspire people to become devoted. They mold people into becoming better Christians.” (I can say that it is very important because always, because of these images, what we call devotion was formed. Because of these images we see how dedicated a person is just for what he calls devotion…they play a role that is no other role but to inspire people to become devoted. They mold people into becoming better Christians.)
He further expressed that the value he holds for religious objects was passed on from his elders: “akong apohan deboto kaayo to sa kasingkasing ni Jesus. Ni-ingon gyod siya sa iyang deathbed nga wala koy bahandi nga ikabilin ninyo…wala nay lain kay ang debosyon bahandi nga kabilin.” (My grandmother was a devotee to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She said on her deathbed, “I have no wealth to bequeath to you. There is nothing else; this devotion is the wealth I bequeath you.”)
“Treasures of Devotion” is a virtual exhibition of religious objects or objects of devotion presented by a collaboration of partners – the Office for the Initiatives in Culture and the Arts of the University of the Philippines Cebu, the Kabilin Center of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and the Archdiocese of Cebu – to commemorate the 500 years of Cebuano Catholic devotion.
Through photo and video documentation, the religious objects found in diocesan and parish museums and private collections in Cebu were cataloged, unearthing layers of memories and experiences accrued by generations of believers and discovering stories of faith and devotion as shown, shaped, and sustained by these religious artifacts.
Efren Bolo, the current Parish Pastoral Council President of the St. Augustine de Hippo Parish Church in Alcantara, Cebu and one who has endeavored to work for the preservation and conservation of the church’s immovable cultural heritage, reinforces the necessity for such work when he says, “Dako kaayog kahigayonan nga ma-preserve ni aron makita sa umaabot nga mga henerasyon o kabatan-onan nga atong gibuhat naa gyoy gibug-aton og naa gyoy value, sentimental value, nga atong makita sa sinugdan hangtod karon nga ni-abot na kita sa ika-500 years sa atong pagka-Kristiano, gikan sa atong pagkabinunyagan.” (There is a great opportunity to preserve this so that the future generations or the youth can see that what we are doing has weight and value, a sentimental value, that we can see from the beginning until now that we have reached the 500th year of our Christianity, from the time that we have acknowledged ourselves as among the baptized.“)
In this digital exhibit, collections of sacred objects that could translate meanings and values that speak of the aspirations of the 500 Years celebration are curated. These religious artifacts, some of which were previously hidden inside convent walls or museums that are seldom open to the general public, are now “housed” in virtual galleries according to thematic and conceptual groupings. Through new media, they are given ample promotion in order to reach a wider audience, especially the youth, tourists and other nationalities. The viewers are also allowed to immerse themselves in and have a dialogue with religious art and uncover significant stories and meanings that reinvigorate the way people look and care for religious art.
These sacred objects are indeed treasures because of their historical, socio-cultural and aesthetic significance. Moreso, they tell a story of our biggest treasure – our journey of faith and devotion through 500 years of Christianity.
