NMP Caught in Heritage Row over Pulpit Panels

via The Freeman, 02 March 2024: The National Museum of the Philippines faces criticism for its handling of the controversial Boljoon pulpit panels, with accusations of elitism in cultural heritage management. Despite significant outcry from the Cebu community and heritage conservationists over the panels’ alleged theft, the NMP’s call for patience and refusal to acknowledge the panels’ rightful ownership has sparked a debate on the museum’s approach to engaging with local communities.

The panels’ removal and eventual ending up in the possession of the NMP have already sparked significant outcry from local Catholic church authorities, the provincial government, and heritage conservationists, all of whom assert that the panels were stolen. Instead of directly addressing the concerns raised by stakeholders, the NMP is asking for patience and more time from the public, saying that is engaged in “constructive dialogue.” The NMP, through the chairman of its board of trustees, is now even cautioning against hastily labeling the pulpit panels as “stolen”, according to a report by Rappler.

While the NMP is open to dialogue, it is important for them to come clean and engage transparently with the Cebu community. Negotiations for the preservation of these heritage pieces are welcome. But they must be predicated on the unequivocal acknowledgment by the NMP that it has no rightful claim over the panels, which belong solely to the Archdiocese. Any attempt at negotiation without this acknowledgment is disrespectful to the stakeholders. Moreso, it is dismissive for the NMP to suggest how the public should refer to the panels, especially when the term “stolen” simply reflects the community’s outrage and sense of loss.

Source: NMP’s mandate and the need to redefine museum engagement | The Freeman