Vital in every province or community is the promotion of its historical and cultural heritage among its peoples to foster cultural identity, nationalism, patriotism and sense of pride among them.

‘Bisita Museo sa Kasanggayahan’ realizes this ensuring awareness and promotion of Sorsogon’s historical and cultural heritage, through a month-long guided tour being held at the Sorsogon Museum and Heritage Center, Inc. (SMHCI) in time for the Kasanggayahan Festival 2009.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Bicol regional director Maria Ong-Ravanilla said proponent of the activity, the ‘Bisita Museo sa Kasanggayahan,’ which started on Oct. 1 and to last until Oct. 30 this year, is open for tour-visitation from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays giving priority to elementary and high school students, teachers and visitors from other places who want to have a glimpse of Sorsogon’s past.

The general public, however, is also encouraged to visit the museum especially during Saturdays since it is closed on Sundays.

Trained volunteer-students from tertiary schools in the province facilitate the guided museum tour.

“These volunteers underwent the Museum Tour Guiding Training Workshop on September 18, 2009 facilitated by personnel with tourism orientation and tour guiding expertise from various organizations and government agencies here,” Ravanilla said.

Guidelines provided during the Tour Guiding Workshop will be adopted by the SHMC as its official tour guidelines.

Sorsogon governor Sally Lee said that the’Bisita sa Museo’ highlights the pre-history information, like the significance of burial jars and stones, the Chinese wares during the Ming Dynasty as part of barter trade with China, the Galleon Trade with Donsol’s Astillero and Magallanes’ shipyard, the Fil-Am war and abaca industry during the American Era and the important personages/structures in Sorsogon’s history.

Visitors will also find in the museum Sorsogon’s breathtaking eco-tourism destinations based on dioramas, Philippine Daily Inquirer’s collection/library and other informative and multicolored presentations.

‘Bisita Museo sa Kasanggayahan’, the first formal guided tour at the SMHC, is realized through the Kasanggayahan Foundation, Inc. (KFI) in cooperation with the Sorsogon Museum and Heritage Center, Inc. (SMHCI), Sorsogon Arts Council (SAC), Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the Department of Education (DepEd) Sorsogon City Schools Division.

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