Karla Ramos
Villa Escudero Heritage Museum
A mere inherited hobby of collecting artifacts is now a source of historical and cultural knowledge. This massive collection of artifacts at the Villa Escudero Museum can also help foreign tourists get a glimpse of Philippine culture and history.
Villa Escudero Museum
As part of the day tour activities, Villa Escudero in Tiaong, Quezon Province, allows the public to tour their Museum, which houses a vast collection of religious and cultural artifacts. The comprehensive collection was initially a private one owned by Don Arsenio and Dona Rosario.
The private collection of artifacts is vast. It comprises life-size religious statues, altars, rare items, and other artifacts dating back to the pre-colonial era in the Philippines. The rare collection also includes souvenir items that the couple brought back from their overseas travels. And new items are added to the collection as the Escudero siblings continue to pursue the same hobby of collecting religious and cultural artifacts.
In this article, I’d like to share the list of artifacts in the Villa Escudero Museum that I find memorable and unique.
11. Baptismal Font of Lucban Church
You can find the original Retablo Baptistery from the Lucban Church at the Heritage Museum. Lucban Church is only one of the many century-old Catholic Churches in Quezon Province. The Retablo Baptistery is believed to be the actual baptistery in which Hermano Pule was baptized.
Hermano Pule (sometimes called Hermano Puli) was a religious leader and a Filipino hero during the Spanish colonial period. Other artifacts related to his life story are also featured in the Heritage Museum.
10. Jesus’ Third Fall
The Heritage Museum displays a wide variety of religious statues. This includes 14 Stations of the Cross, which depict the suffering and Death of Jesus Christ. But what I find rare is the tableau of Jesus Christ’s Third Fall.
9. Carroza del Santo Entierro
The Carroza of Santo Entierro at the Heritage Museum surely doesn’t go unnoticed. The Santo Entierro refers to the holy burial of Jesus Christ.
So, here, the statue that represents the dead body of Jesus Christ is found in the glass bier with a “kamagong” frame. The bier is designed with angels, ornaments, and carvings. And was originally housed and paraded in Sta. Cruz Church, Manila, way back before World War II. The sculpture and the carroza were made by the world-renowned Filipino artist Isabelo Tampingco.
8. An Original Quiapo Altar
One of the main highlights of the Heritage Museum is the original Quiapo Altar. The original Quiapo Altar is made of silver with carvings. It was offered to the Escuderos for restoration since the Church head wanted a new altar for the old church.
7. Design of San Francisco Church
From the outside, the AERA (Arsenio Escudero, Rosario Adap) Heritage Museum looks like a Catholic Church, but it is painted pink. The truth is, it is actually a replica of the San Francisco Church in Intramuros.
The original San Francisco Church was destroyed during World War II. To have it reconstructed, Spain handed over the Church’s blueprint to the Marcos Administration. However, its reconstruction did not push through, and Don Ado, then working with the Intramuros Administration, tried to memorize the blueprints and based the new AERA museum on its architecture.
6. Xian Terracotta Warriors
Aside from the local artifacts, the Heritage Museum displays the items the Escudero Family acquired from different countries. One of these is a replica of the Terracotta Warriors of Xian, China.
It is just incredible how well-crafted and sturdy the Xian Terracotta Warriors are. They were created during the time of their first Emperor.
5. Carrozas or Parade Float
When you enter the Museum, you’ll be greeted by life-size religious statues on carrozas or parade floats. These life-size religious statues depict the highlights of the life of Jesus Christ.
The well-dressed characters and gilded carriages not only sit in the Museum the whole year. These are also often paraded in the streets within their vicinity every Good Friday, one of the most significant events in the Calendar of the Roman Catholic Church.
4. Mary, Mother of God
Among the life-size Santos or religious statues in the Heritage Museum is a wooden statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. What makes this interesting is that while the statue’s body is carved in wood, its face is ivory.
Another statue of Mary, Mother of God that stood out is the one carrying a Sto. Nino or child Jesus. The image of the Blessed Virgin Mary is dressed in a red cloak with a gold rococo floral design. The image of the child Jesus is wearing silver armor.
3. Carmelo and Batangas Rose Petal Miracles
The Heritage Museum exhibits the Rose petals with different religious imprints. They are believed to have miraculously fallen from the sky of Lipa, Batangas.
Another rose-petal miracle is linked to Carmelo Cortez. He is believed to miraculously make religious characters appear on rose petals. He is also believed to be able to heal sick people.
2. Kulaman Burial Jars
Many Philippine artifacts give us a peek at the life of Filipinos even before the colonial era. These kinds of artifacts, from our ancestors’ clothing and accessories to burial jars, can be found in this Museum.
But the most interesting Philippine artifact is the Kulaman Burial Jars. Kulaman Burial Jars are those retrieved from the Kulaman Plateau in South Cotabato, Mindanao. Unlike most clay burial jars, the Kulaman Burial Jar is made of limestone.
1. Painting with the New Testament
One of the AERA Museum’s rarest artworks is a painting of Jesus Christ. In the painting, you can see ascending Jesus Christ with cherubs surrounding Him and a dove above Him. It looks like an ordinary painting. But, when you look closer, you can read the New Testament of the Bible handwritten all over!
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