Name of museum : University of San Carlos Museum Period built : USC Main Campus - 1930, Museum opening - 1967

Original function : First floor of Administration Building in USC Main Campus History of the building : (taken from the USC website, Museum webpage) The University of San Carlos Museum first opened in 1967 through the efforts of Fr. Rudolf Rahmann, SVD, a German anthropologist and former president of the University. From a modest collection of ethnographic and archaeological materials from various research and collecting expeditions, the museum has grown to include a Spanish colonial gallery and a natural science gallery. It is now, as it has been since the early 1970's, a general museum. Its present collection, is a product of research endeavors and collecting expeditions of the faculty and students of the University that date back even earlier than the museum's establishment. The first of these happened in 1953 when Dr. Marcelino Maceda collected ethnographic materials from the Buhid Mangyans of Mindoro. The following year, Dr. Maceda, this time accompanied by the Fr. Rahmann, went on various expeditions to collect the material culture of the Negritos of Antique and the Mamanuas of Surigao. The museum's ethnographic collection has since increased with more fieldwork activities carried out by other anthropologists. Archaeological finds exhibited in the museum include unique finds like the limestone burial urns acquired as a result of studies conducted Dr. Maceda on the Kulamana Plateau in 1963 as well as excavations he made at Fort San Pedro in downtown Cebu in 1969. Dr. Rosa Tenazas added more artifacts to the collection from her work on imported protohistoric tradeware ceramics from Pila, Laguna in 1968 and important earthenware burial goods from Magsuhot, Bacong, Negros Oriental in 1974. The materials in the Spanish Colonial gallery were mostly collected by Fr. Pieter Jan Raats, SVD in 1965 on the occasion of the celebration of the 400th year of Christianity in the Philippines. Dr. Rosa C.P. Tenazas, however, also collected Spanish colonial materials from Argao, Cebu. Over the years the collections have grown through donations by University's alumni and friends, purchases and scientific expeditions of the University's faculty and students. As a result, the museum has grown to be one of the major museums in the Philippines and as a museum of international stature. Galleries : There are four galleries.

The Spanish Colonial Gallery is a showcase of religious evidence to the Christian heritage of the Filipinos under Spanish influence. It contains the baptismal records from a Cebu parish dated from August 26, 1843 to April 1856, a 19th-century carved altar of Cebu, wooden carved figures of saints, and Spanish peso coins minted in the colonies of Central and South America. The Ethnographic Gallery displays the hunting and gathering culture of tribal Filipinos through weapons and tools from Lanao, Cotabato and Sulu. Included are various sizes of bows and arrows, daggers, a sikohan (for netting), a suput (blowgun) and udyong (trap for birds, monkeys, and pigs) created by the Negritos from Mindanao and Palawan. Also shown are amulets and betel chewing containers. In the Archaeological Gallery are manifestations of the diverse burial practices among pre-Hispanic Filipinos, showing their deep belief in life after death and giving a clear view of their artistic talents. Included are various burial urns and covers excavated from caves in Menteng, Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao. These date to about 500 A.D. Also displayed are Chinese-exported earthenwares dating from the 14th century, antiques of the Sung and Ming dynasties, ash containers from Laguna, a boat coffin carved from a log from Bohol, earthenware jars and coffins from Negros Oriental. The Natural Science Gallery exhibits the flora and fauna of the Philippine islands, showing visitors our wealth in resources. Showcased are fossils excavated from Cebu, rock samples, preserved species of fish, shells, bees, flies, moths, and birds and a herbarium containing preserved plant species. Along with the display of silkworms and its stages of silk production, it also houses an impressive butterfly collection courtesy of Professor Julian Jumalon. Reactions: This museum is really helpful for students particularly the Biology majors like us because plant, animals and even insects species are sophistically prepared and displayed there together with their detailed descriptions. Here, you'll find a fascinating collection of indigenous artifacts dating from pre-Spanish times. Any one can see the rich culture and history of the Visayan people. Just visit the USC museum. Much more if youre a Carolinian. Entrance fee is free! Yeah! The museum contributed to Cebus college. Like I said the lot to catch up on. And of my school! Just knowing that my school preservation of its heritage..I am proud of my history of Cebu is a big mystery to me. I have a I mean a lot!