U.S. Ambassador announces Php7.5-Million grant for Baguio Museum Rehabilitation

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The United States is supporting the rehabilitation of the Baguio Museum through a cultural preservation grant valued at Php 7.5 million ($133,526), U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson announced during her visit to Baguio City last week.

“The U.S. Embassy is pleased to be a part of the Museum’s continuing efforts to preserve local cultural treasures,” Ambassador Carlson said during the relaunch of the Baguio Museum on September 2.  “Through the State Department’s Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), we are working together to build the Museum’s capacity to care for its wonderful collection of artifacts and cultural objects from the seven major tribes of the Cordilleras.  These are incredible pieces of Philippine history, and we share your dedication to maintaining the collection for future generations.”

Established in 1977, the Baguio Museum houses cultural artifacts of the Cordilleras while also serving as a hub for cultural and educational activities in the Philippines’ summer capital.

The AFCP funding will expand the Baguio Museum’s capacity to conserve and protect its ethnographic and cultural collections.  The U.S. grant will also fund the installation of climate control and monitoring equipment, the organization of exhibits, and staff training on preventive conservation, collection management, and curatorship.

“The Baguio Museum, being taken care of by Stella de Guia and her team, showcases our ancestors, rich history, struggles, and traditional items.  The long overdue renovation provides a better place for residents and tourists alike to learn about our people and how Baguio came to be,” Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said.  “Thank you to the U.S. Embassy for investing in preserving our culture for future generations.”

Ambassador Carlson announced the grant during her first visit to Baguio City from September 1 to 3 where she attended the City’s 113^th Charter Day anniversary and met local government officials, institutional partners, and cultural groups to highlight the deep historical ties shared by the United States and Baguio City.

“This partnership with the Baguio Museum is just one aspect of our broad commitment to the Baguio community.  We have longstanding relationships with many institutions here, including the Philippine Military Academy, the Baguio City Public Library, the Baguio Museum of course, and St. Louis University – home to an American Corner where the public is always welcome to read, study, participate in programs, and learn more about the United States,” Ambassador Carlson added.  “We are truly grateful for the many ways that these collaborations strengthen the relationship between the United States and the Philippines, and we look forward to many more years of friendship and partnership.”

For the latest on Ambassador Carlson’s activities in the Philippines, please follow her Twitter account, @USAmbPH.