. How are you all doing? I hope you're doing well today. Now, we'll be having a virtual history tour and I'll be your tour guide. So, let's not wait any longer, let's go!
As a Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Social Studies student, learning history and culture is close to my heart. So, when I knew about the USC Museum especially the Bahandi: The Rosita Arcenas Collection of Chinese and Southeast Asian Tradeware , I knew I had to visit. The Bahandi Gallery showcases various ceramic artifacts from China, and Southeast Asia. It is dated from the 11th century down to the 19th century.
HOW TO GET THERE?
The University of San Carlos Museum is located at P. del Rosario Street, Cebu City, Philippines. The museum is open from Monday to Friday (8:30 AM – 5:30 PM) and Saturday (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM), so, it is very accessible, especially for those who wish to travel back in time within the middle of the modern city of Cebu.
When I entered the Bahandi Gallery, it was as if I had returned to a time when every piece of ceramic ware was considered a treasure. Chinese ceramics from the Song Dynasty are evident at the gallery which is amazing because I only learned about this before through reading books. This shows the Philippines' strong trade relationship with other Asian countries.
One of the unforgettable displays in the gallery was the huge map that shows the trade routes connecting the Philippines to countries like Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, and Iran, a clear proof of our country's long-standing connections with other Asian countries.
Blue and white wares from the Ming Dynasty of China are another of the unique features of the Bahandi Gallery. Thanks to Arcenas' passion, the gallery offers a glimpse into our maritime trade history.
As I wandered through the gallery, I couldn't help but admire each piece that seemed to scream a story from the past. Every artifact are witnesses to our ancestors' lives. These artifacts are not just items, they are testament to the long history of maritime trade between China and Southeast Asia. Visiting here gave me a deeper appreciation of our history and identity as Filipinos.
As a future Social Studies teacher, I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to visit the USC Museum , especially the Bahandi Gallery . I can truly say that this experience was one for the books! Seeing artifacts I used to only read about in books was unforgettable. I am inspired to share my learnings from this visit with my future students. I will make sure to encourage them to appreciate our history and culture and encourage them to visit museums to better understand the beauty of our past.
Hence, I encourage everyone, especially history enthusiasts, to visit Bahandi Gallery . Every display here has a fascinating story to tell, and I'm sure you'll leave the USC Museum filled with new knowledge and a deeper love for our rich history. This experience is a reminder that history is not just something we read about; it is alive, just waiting to be rediscovered and appreciated.
Overall, visiting the USC Museum especially the Bahandi Gallery was a truly worthwhile experience. The artifacts, spacious and airconditioned galleries, and the knowledgeable museum guides, it exceeded all my expectations. If you ever find yourself in Cebu City, Philippines, make sure to add this to your itinerary. I'm confident you'll enjoy it as much as I did. Until next time, beautiful Hivers!
That's all for today's virtual tour, beautiful Hivers! I'd really appreciate it if you could upvote, comment, and share my blog. Thank you so much and have a fabulous day ahead!
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