
Women weave baskets and toys. We were told that it was the first and only living museum in the Philippines. I thought I should dispute that, recalling how the distinction might be rightfully owned by the Lamlifew Village Museum run by the B’laans in Sarangani, which was inaugurated by the National Museum of the Philippines in late 2007, and launched in the Lamlifew Village almost a year later. But researching on that recently, I realize that it’s not called a living museum anymore. Maybe it was then just an informal tag for the cultural village that offered samples of B’laan architecture, art and crafts, specifically their music, dress and beadwork. Established by the Lamlifew Women’s Tribal Association, it has since become a functioning museum displaying an artifact collection that includes antique garments and weaponry. Where we were over a week ago, in Malay town, Aklan, the jump-off point to Boracay, we had the privilege of visiting the Motag Living Museum, which is but a brief ride from Caticlan. We had spent the day and night at Finca Verde, a private farm and prospective wellness spa run by Binggoy and Niña Remedios with their little daughter Chabeli. It was so close to the dream island with the 7th best beach in the world, per Trip Advisor, that we managed to slip away from the farm close to sundown and make the crossing in time to have Saturday dinner at Binggoy’s Dos Mestizos. Then we went right back by boat to the Read More …


