Sunday, January 15, 2012

Crisologo Museum/Monday Doorways & Our World-Tuesday


My first contribution to Monday Doorways---another meme to enjoy.

The main door of the Crisologo Museum in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.  It is housed in a century-old mansion of the Crisologos, a prominent political clan in Vigan.  The museum was established after the patriarch of the family, Floro Crisologo, then a Congressman, was gunned down inside the cathedral in 1970 just as he stood up at Sunday mass to fall in line for communion.  The murder hasn't been solved.

The rooms in the Crisologo mansion exhibit family photos, book collection, antique furniture and china, gowns and shoes of the widow, religious artifacts and other memorabilia.  It basically shows how the family lived in those days---the 20-seat dining table fits the life of a political family.


Crime scene photos, the slain politician's bloody clothes and shoes, news clippings of the murder occupy the former office at the ground floor of the mansion.  They are too gruesome to be posted here.  Crisologo's widow Carmeling, then the provincial governor, promised she wouldn't take any action to exact revenge and she didn't.  But her eldest son Bingbong did, infamously burning down a village occupied by supporters of their family's political opponent.  He went to jail for that and became a born-again Christian.  Some years after his release from prison, he was elected to Congress. Source


Receiving/Living room


The master's bedroom


Vigan is now a safe place, with its 18th century ambiance and calming rhythm of  kalesas clattering on cobblestone streets.  But long before Ninoy Aquino's murder on the airport tarmac, Crisologo's killing inside the cathedral symbolized just how bloody Philippine politics is.  Source


Linking to Our World Tuesday

14 comments:

Unknown said...

So sad to think that guns were even brought into a house of worship!!

Oman said...

i can't keep up with these meme na :)

i haven't entered crisologo museum yet. maybe next time.

docgelo said...

charming door with rich history.
i almost forgot how it looks inside.
nabitin ako sa post, akala ko may free tour ako sa blog entry mong ito. i shall wait patiently :D

Louis la Vache said...

This is a very interesting post. Guns in a cathedral? This reminds «Louis» of T.S. Eliot's play Murder in the Cathedral about the assassination of Thomas Becket. Eliot has each of the assassins offer Becket a temptation; accepting any one of them would spare his life but compromise his stand against the king. The temptation offered by the last assassin was particularly difficult for Becket, but Becket turns it down saying, That last temptation's the greatest treason.
To do the right deed for the wrong reason.


«Louis» appreciates your fine contribution to Monday Doorways.

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

Quite a gruesome history, biut a lovely museum. Great shots!

Photo Cache said...

so many memes so little time. beautiful post, it seems like i've been there myself.

Red Nomad OZ said...

What a violent, but fascinating history! And all behind those imposing red doors ...

Anonymous said...

So lovely. That door is just gorgeous!

Rajesh said...

Wonderful museum with very nicely arranged items.

Anonymous said...

What an interesting museum! Loved going through your photos of an era in which a family of such standing lived.

Dianne said...

all those portraits on the walls!
I love room exhibits, really shows you how people lived

Ebie said...

Photos and memories are well preserved in this mansion.

I have never been to Vigan.

LifeRamblings said...

looks like a wonderful museum with a great sense of history.

Joyful said...

It was great to visit this museum through your eyes. I love that red door.