Fifteenth International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

The community has emerged to be an essential component of museum development. In the past years, community museums have been establishing their own cultural identities and understanding through heritage education and interpretation. The Museo San Rafael in San Rafael, Bulacan has veered away from its potential as an effective tool for the promotion of San Rafael culture – a cradle of the town’s rich heritage that is. The research explores the engagement of the community in evaluating, researching, and planning an exhibition design. Though rich in culture and history, perceptions of local heritage are fixated on a contested festival, tragic, and oral history. To deeply expound on the identity of the town, cultural heritage mapping and memory mapping were implemented. The cultural mapping identified San Rafael as a town with a heritage anchored on farming and faith. The assessment of these cultural assets is based on their level and nature of significance. Varying significance across timeline and event is sufficient to structure its heritage. Moreover, the results have identified the dilemmas such as sustainability, interpretation, and awareness. The memory matrix mapped certain changes that occurred within the aspects of politics, economics, religion, and the environment. This study features the community as the epicenter of the history and heritage of the town. Community involvement strengthens their role as the main stakeholder of their heritage. It enables them to increase their awareness and development of their heritage which will empower the continuity of the town’s cultural heritage for the succeeding generation.