The Museo de Iloko, (also called the Agoo Museum or the Agoo Presidencia), is a heritage building and museum located in Agoo, La Union,[1][2] Philippines, known for its collection of "artifacts and other pieces of cultural importance to the Ilocanos",[2][3] and for being one of few surviving examples of American Colonial Era architecture in the Ilocos Region.[1]

Museo de Iloko
Map
Established1981
Coordinates16°19′24″N 120°22′00″E / 16.32331°N 120.36675°E / 16.32331; 120.36675
Building details
Map
Former namesAgoo Presidencia
Alternative namesAgoo Museum
General information
StatusCompleted
LocationAgoo, La Union, Philippines

It is one of only two major public museums in the province of La Union.[2][4] The first floor of the building was converted into a franchise of fastfood giant Chowking[5] in 2013.[6]

Artifacts in the museum include religious paraphernalia connected with Archbishops Mariano Madriaga and Antonio Mabutas,[7][8] some personal effects of former president Elpidio Quirino,[7] and locally excavated Ming Dynasty artifacts.[7][9]

History edit

The Museo de Iloko was originally created in the days of the American occupation as the Presidencia or municipal building of Agoo.[10] The presidencia was renovated and converted into a museum in 1981, part of a wave of local museums created during the later days of the Marcos administration,[10] with the influence of then-tourism minister Jose D. Aspiras.[7]

It was severely damaged during the 1990 Luzon earthquake, so its collections were temporarily transferred to the nearest museum, the Museo de La Union in San Fernando, La Union.[4][11]

The structure was repaired and restored after the earthquake, retaining its heritage design until 2013, when the local government of La Union approved the conversion of the first floor of the building into a franchise of fastfood giant Chowking.[5][6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "The Great Perhaps". The Varsitarian Vol. LXXXIV No. 12. Manila. University of Santo Tomas. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Tourism - Cultural Encounters - Museo de Iloko". Province of La Union Official Website. Provincial Government of La Union. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  3. ^ "A town full of history – Agoo La Union". Philippines Lifestyle News. 2016-03-11. Archived from the original on 2016-03-11. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  4. ^ a b Dacumos, Jane. (22 June 2012) Museums of La Union. vigattintourism.com https://www.vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/Museums-of-La-Union accessed 30 August 2015
  5. ^ a b "A day at the museum–with Jollibee". Lifestyle. Makati. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 2 July 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Newly re-elected congressman faces sins of the past". Op-Ed. The Manila Times. June 12, 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d Sals, Florent Joseph (2005). The history of Agoo : 1578-2005. La Union: Limbagan Printhouse. p. 80.
  8. ^ "A Vigan journal". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  9. ^ "About La Union Province, Philippines". www.islandsproperties.com. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  10. ^ a b ZERRUDO, ERIC BABAR (April 29, 2015). "Making Museums: The Development of Philippine Museums from 1901-1998". National Commission on Culture and the Arts. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  11. ^ "Museo de La Union". National Museum of the Philippines.