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It was my first time to see what inside the Palawan City Museum that¶s why I¶m
so excited when our teacher told us that we are going to visit the museum, I saw many
paintings, different kinds of seashells, jars, accessories, Baskets (bayong), dart holders,
blowgun (supukan), darts (baslay) with several types of points,Tagbanua ritual
paraphernalia: stoneware jar for the rice wine, porcelain plates and bowls to contain
areca nuts and betel leaves, gongs and drums, bamboo pole on which hung dried
pandan leaves, woven mat,Human bones, ceramics and other archaeological materials
with dates ranging from 30,000 years ago to 14th century A.D. ,Bamboo segments with
indigenous syllabic scripts of the Tagbanua and Pala¶wan ,Palawan flora and fauna. I
read that SAPPHIRE is a protection from spirits of darkness encourage pure thoughts
preserves wears from enemies, protection against snake bites. I also read about the
PALAW¶AN, it is one of the cultural minorities of Palawan. This tribe is found in Brookes
Point, Bataraza and Quezon. They are generally fairer complexion than the Batak and
Tagbanua, fairly short of slender build and with straight hair. Their women show much
fondness of earrings, necklace, bracelets and anklets. Men wear G-strings. They live in
villages situated on hillsides. The Palaw¶an is swidden cultivators with an emphasis on
rice, although this is intercropped with many other cultigens including corn, sweet
potatoes and cassava. As I walk, I saw the history of UNDERWATER ARCHAELOGY,
since the invention of the aqualung in 1940s, archaeologist have developed new
techniques to systematically excavate and preserve our unique Underwater heritage
providing valuable information about our ancestors, their way of life, trade, and art. For
the past decades, the National Museum have been conducting Underwater
archaeological investigation of several ancient shipwrecks of the early South China sea
traders which find its destiny along the dangerous reef zones of the Palawan waters.
The study of these shipwrecks gives us valuable data on the inter-Asia trade before the
coming of the Europeans data that become even more meaningful as we now assert
our Asian solidarity. It is therefore cultural heritage sites be protected against loiters and
preserved just as we protect and conserve our very own marine natural resources. I
also read about the PAGDIWATA (thanksgiving ritual), it is addressed to the Spirits, the
souls of dead relatives who died recently, believed to be responsible for their bountiful
harvest, the safe delivery of the baby, etc..It is also a petition for blessings and
communion with supernatural. The priestess is called BABAYLAN . She is respected in
the community and regarded as a representative of the deities or Gods. The religion of
the Palaw¶an, Tagbanua, is simple. They believed in the spirits of the nature and the
cult of the dead, but it is essential in their lives and culture.The Pagdiwata Tribal Ritual
is said top have dual purpose. This festival is thanksgiving for the many blessings that
Palawan and its inhabitants receive while the other purpose is to seek the help of the
gods in healing the sick. The Pagdiwata Tribal Ritual originated from the indigenous
group Tagbanua and their ceremony includes traditional dances while wearing their
costumes and body paint and singing in their dialect. It is held in December on a full
moon because this is the time believed to be the most effective when it comes to
healing and when the good spirits are strongest. The Pagdiwata Structure is a typical
house of a µbalyan¶ (ritual specialist) where µpagdiwata¶ ritual paraphernalia are
displayed. The µpagdiwata¶ ritual is a religious practice of the Tagbanua performed to
cure sickness or to give thanks after a bountiful harvest or before planting. The colorful
and elaborative ritual is executed inside the house of the µbalyan¶ who acts as the
medium. Drinking the rice wine (tabad) by participating local residents highlights and
rituals. Manunggul Jar, a Late Neolithic burial jar found in Manunggul Cave. It has a
cover depicting souls sailing to the afterworld in a death boat.

One might be thinking that museums are dull and doesn¶t understand what the
hype is about visiting the Palawan Puerto Princesa National Museum. Palawan is a
famous tourist destination because of the resorts that have been built here, the beautiful
and serene beaches and diversity of flora and fauna. But how can one say that they
truly experienced Palawan unless they understood its culture and learned its history?
This is the role that the Palawan Puerto Princesa National Museum plays and here,
archeological finds dating from centuries back that help us understand how our
ancestors lived are on display. Our ancestors hunted animals for food and the museum
showcases the tools used in the olden days to trap the animals. Porcelain jars costing a
hefty amount are also on display and from these we learn that the Filipinos welcomed
with open arms the Chinese and embraced their arts.

Palawan¶s history is on display at the Palawan Puerto Princesa National Museum

and it does not just showcase the ancestors who occupied the lands. Notice how the
designs of brassware, the craft of making tools and musical instrument changed before
and after the Spanish times. However, the history of the museum itself doesnt date as
far back as its collections since the Palawan Puerto Princesa National Museum is a little
less than a decade old.