164. History of the Isabela Museum and Library

History of the Isabela Museum and Library

Dr. Troy Alexander Gozum Miano

29 December 2022

The Isabela Museum and Library Building, located at Barangay Osmeňa in the Capital-City of Ilagan, was the former Provincial Capitol Building of Isabela that housed the Provincial Government of Isabela from 1950 to 1991. Most of the funding for the structure came from war-damage claims and restoration of public properties by virtue of the Philippine Rehabilitation Act of 1946. The edifice was completed in 1950 during the tenure of Governor Silvino M. Gumpal. Isabela Lone District Congressmen Domingo B. Paguirigan and Samuel F. Reyes; and Provincial Board Members Delfin B. Albano, Felipe Padua and Tranquilino V. Madamba were also instrumental in the construction of this two-storey building. Other significant personalities involved in the works were: Provincial Treasurer Gregorio S. Castelo, District Engineers Pacifico Pinili and Vicente L. Francisco and the contractor, Calixto Aquino. The following Provincial Governors served office in this structure: Hon. Felix T. Caro (1952-1959), Hon. Melanio T. Singson (1960-1965 & 1986-1987), Hon. Leocadio E. Ignacio (1965-1967), Hon. Samuel F. Reyes (1968-1971), Hon. Faustino N. Dy (1972-1986 & 1988-1992) and Hon. Silvestre H. Bello, Jr. (1987-1988).

In 1990, Governor Faustino N. Dy, transferred the site of the Capitol to Alibagu, an outskirt barangay of Ilagan along the Maharlika Highway to accommodate more local and national offices since the area of the old site was already cramped. In 1992, the new capitol building was completed and for the next eight years, the old capitol building lay neglected, deserted and unutilized.

In 1999, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 68 sponsored by Hon. Rosa P. Alindada legislated the conduct of research that will establish an institution for the depository of history, culture and arts including a permanent library for the province. As a result, during the third term of Governor Benjamin G. Dy, he instructed the renovation of the old capitol building under the supervision of Baltazar L. Gigantone, the same architect of the new capitol building. On May 11, 2000, on the occasion of the 143rd founding anniversary of the province, the Isabela Museum & Library (IML) was inaugurated – the first of its kind in the province. The IML was placed under the Office of the Governor and a massive campaign to collect old memorabilia, artifacts, relics, antiques and the like from Isabela started. The museum is headed by Engr. Jesus Ferdinand C. Ordoňez up to present while the library services was first headed by Luisa M. Gonzales, then Librarian in charge Miriam G. Montes and at present by Christine Gayle A. Maximo, RL. During the incumbency of Governor Faustino S. Dy, Jr., the IML was headed by Dr. Constante B. Andres, Litt.D. up to 2004.

The first employees were: Luisa M. Gonzales, Jesus Ferdinand C. Ordoňez, Miriam G. Montes, Ma. Rosario Oliva M. Olaňo, Cynthia L. Barbosa, Marlo S. Angel, Eric P. Cacabelos, Mae Zoe E. Rapadas, Queenie Abad and Aristotle Balderas. Additional staff eventually assigned in the IML which include: Edgar F. Daquioag, Teresita P. Olivete, Marry Grace A. Daguro, Victor Florence C. Cadeliña, Joana A. Gabatino, Emmanuel D. Borromeo and Eunice M. Villa.

In 2004, the Municipal Government of Ilagan used most part of the building as temporary office shelter since the municipal hall in San Vicente was burned to the ground. The munisipyo stayed at the IML until 2006. In 2013, the second floor of the edifice was used as office by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA-Isabela), National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP-Isabela) and the group of Patriotic Action For Democracy Equality and Reform (PADER) until 2019. The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) also used the left wing as their regular seminar area.

In 2017, to sustain and maintain the significance of our nation and province’ heritage and treasure, Governor Faustino G. Dy III assigned Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano, DPA, Provincial Tourism Officer, as head of the IML. Upon the recommendation of Atty. Noel Manuel R. Lopez, Provincial Administrator, funds were allocated to rehabilitate the dilapidated structure including the fencing of the compound. In 2020, during the governorship of Rodolfo T. Albano III, the renovation of the IML building including the construction of a perimeter fence was finished.

In 2019, over 46,000 books from Children’s International (from Kansas, USA) were donated to the provincial government. In 2020, Governor Albano ordered that the elementary and high school books be distributed to DepEd’s last mile schools to address gaps in isolated and disadvantaged area including the four towns of Coastal Isabela. This personally distributed book program earned Dr. Miano the “Most Outstanding Public Library Administrator in the Philippines 2021” Award given by the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) and The Asia Foundation (TAF) on August 25, 2021 during the 1st ASEAN Virtual Regional Conference of Pubic Librarians. To immortalize this day, Dr. Miano loaned to the IML his personal Filipiniana Book Collection for the researching public to use.

The Museum in the ground level houses the following: Tilamsik ng Liwanag Exhibit, Art Capital of the North Gallery (visual arts & scale models and Queen Isabela Pageant memorabilia), Special Exhibits (numismatics, notaphily, philately, teapots collection & ATOP), Awards & Bambanti Gallery, Cultural Heritage & Antiques Gallery and Portraits of Power Gallery (photos of Governors, Vice Governor & Assemblymen and Congressmen and Senator Heherson T. Alvarez Memorabilia).

The Library, on the other hand, contains the 22,000 books, periodicals, newspapers, and manuscripts. Included in the collections are films, maps, prints, documents, CDs, cassettes, videotapes, DVDs, and other library materials. Other divisions at the second floor are: the Provincial Archives, Children’s Library and the Multi-Media Room. The IML is a yearly recipient of books coming from the NLP. Other public libraries also donated books and other reading materials in the past years including from the private individuals and institutions. The Isabela Library receives annually a recognition from the NLP for a 100% compliance in monthly reports.

In the past two decades, the Isabela Museum and Library Building stood the test of nature and man-made catastrophes. Reviewees for bar and board exams are permanent clients even during the pandemic. Students from the neighboring university and other educational institutions contribute much to the daily populace of the IML Building, including the the halls and compound. The Isabela Museum and Library has built a reputation of being a second home to learners and heritage lovers not only in the Province of Isabela but also visiting local and foreign tourists. It has also been instrumental in contributing to the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) of the province in the field of tourism, culture and the arts, six times in a row. The Isabela Museum and Library will continue, for the next century, to be the bastion of history, culture and the arts in this part of Northern Luzon.