WE STARTED the trip to Roxas City from Kalibo, Aklan.
We drove through “the long and winding road”, to borrow the title of the Beatles’ popular song. The road was paved with minimal inconveniences along the way owing to road improvement. The view was again picturesque, so characteristic of the Philippine idyllic setting.
As we approached Roxas City, Google directed us to a path that led to nowhere, haha! I can hardly believe it! Google committed a mistake after so many correct turns! I made a mental note about it.
We arrived in Roxas City towards late afternoon and immediately looked for the city museum. Thankfully it was opened on a Sunday! A note for museum operators: Please open on Sundays. Some local tourists can only drive and visit on weekends and it disappoints us no end to be told that the museum is closed on account of the weekend.
The city museum is called “Panublion”. It is a Hiligaynon term which means guardian of precious things.
According to museum literature, the museum building, once a circular water tank, is an excellent example of intelligent architectural reuse. For a bit of history, in 1910 President Pastor Alcazar, third president of Capiz town (1908-1912), constructed a water tank near the Municipio to provide water to the Kapisnon during the dry months. Isn’t that proactive governance? It is!
Museum information further said water flowed from the roof of the two-storey municipal building to the tank. The Municipio was unfortunately destroyed during World War II. However, the water tank which is 11.5 meters in diameter and 6.10 meters in height, reinforced by a 27.5 centimetre thick wall, was spared.
The literature further said that after the war, offices were built around the tank completely hiding it from view. Only a water spout was visible. Ah but there is always a turning point. History would always find a way to connect to the present!
In 1993, the offices were demolished and for the first time in several decades, the water tank resurfaced! Of course, it had outlived its usefulness as Roxas City had a new water system by then. That didn’t deter the city government and other enlightened citizens to convert the water tank into a museum and voila! the Roxas City Museum – Ang Panublion, was born!
One of the most interesting displays in the museum are the fragments and other broken pieces of artifacts, some dating back to the 14th century, found in a shipwreck area off the coast of Roxas City in March 2012. Can you believe that! The ship sinking to a depth of 130 feet was believed to be a Chinese trade vessel or a Spanish galleon. I wondered as I read the sad poem poignantly crafted to highlight the find, how the loot would have looked, had they been preserved at the museum instead of sold to traders. They must have been magnificent!
Of course, a visit to Roxas City wouldn’t be complete without a signature pose by the huge statue of Roxas City’s most illustrious son, President Manuel Acuña Roxas, the last president of the Commonwealth and the first president of the Philippine Republic.
Manuel Roxas was born in Capiz, Capiz Province, on Jan. 1, 1892. Formerly known as the Municipality of Capiz, it was named Roxas City after it became a chartered city on May 12, 1951.
I strolled along the city plaza after my museum visit and intentionally viewed the Spanish-built city bridge from the river bank planted with blooming bougainvillea plants. What a sight to behold! Looking at the profusion of colors against the backdrop of the vintage bridge gives you a vicarious feeling that you are standing at a portal towards another place and time. That’s me, an old soul.
Naturally, our exploration of Roxas City ended at Baybay for a taste of their seafood. I was surprised to see so many people congregate at the Baybay. It was alive, animated and people were having fun. I surmised though that it was a Sunday and the best day to go out with your family to the relaxing shoreline. After all it’s just within city limits. We dined while watching the sun kissed the sea and disappeared into the horizon.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
“Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.” – Dalai Lama
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For comments, you may reach the writer at belca.87@gmail.com./PN
