New museum to boost cultural tourism and creative sector in northern Philippine province of Pangasinan

The city government of Dagupan, Pangasinan in the Northern Philippines formally broke ground for a new museum celebrating the lives and work of National Artists Victorio Edades and Salvador Bernal, both of whom are native sons of the province.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Edades-Bernal Cultural Centre was held last 15th November. The construction is mandated under Philippine Republic Act No 11726 authored by Christopher de Venecia, representative of the 4th district of Pangasinan.

De Venecia, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony, remarked on how the new museum would not only inspire young and old creatives in the province to excel in the arts like Bernal and Edades, but would also provide a safe space for local creatives.

He said: “They will finally have their ultimate platform: a cultural centre and museum in Dagupan City. It’s safe to say that the future is bright and the future is creative, most especially with the addition of this cultural institution to our proud city’s cultural and community life.”

A point of pride 

The permanent home for the works of Bernal and Edades will not only bring pride and honour to their hometown but will also boost tourism and the creative industry in Pangasinan province.

Edades was acclaimed as the “Father of Modern Philippine Painting” and proclaimed a national artist for painting in 1976.

Bernal, on the other hand, was dubbed the “Father of Theatre Design” in the Philippines after he was named as national artist for Theater and Design in 2003. 

The construction has been estimated at US$2.5 million.