A Night at the Museum

Dizon Ramos Museum

Christmas is in the air as you get to feel the cool breeze at night, see houses decorated, lanterns hanging on windows and lights all over, at the mall, the plaza, the park or jeepneys, you hear Christmas carols all over. The season of sharing, gift giving and forgiving, as we spend the time with friends, love ones and family.

On a December night, I chanced upon a visit to a beautiful house owned by Raymundo Dizon Sr. and Hermelinda Ramos, a sugar planter and business man in the 1930’s to the 1980’s.  Located along Burgos Street here in Bacolod City, the house was converted into a lifestyle museum in 2007, a year after the death of the family matriarch in 2006.   Bro. Rolly Dizon, FSC, son and the one who inherited the house founded the Dizon Ramos Museum.

the other Santas

Plum Nativity

Vietnamese Santa

Beside the gate is a glass door that will lead you to the entrance of the museum, courteous volunteer guides will welcome you. Masks representing the famous MassKara festival, art works of local artist such as wooden sculptures of Tatang Bermudez and miniature oil canvass by Rommel Clavecillas is on display. ‘The Nativity’ reminds us of  the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem in Judea, Wherein Mary wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid in the manger because there was no room for them in the inn at that time, is the featured exhibit for the season. There are about 60 sets of the nativity, a collection of Ms. Bella Rivas Galang representing various places, like a Chinese nativity, a ‘retablo’ or the nativity in a box from Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental, a filipino nativity from Rogatti Company in Manila, and an olive wood carving from Jerusalem, American Indian, a colorful one by Fischer Price, one from Peru, and many more which is a mixture of modern and classic works of art in different sizes and scales.

Olive Woodcarving of the Nativity from Jerusalem

From the gallery where a collection of key chains is shown, the 2^nd floor of the house will take you back in time with an exhibit of contemporary items. In one of the rooms, you will experience how it is to be in heaven with the collection of about 2,300 angels made of ceramic, wood, plastic and glass in various forms.

Victorian Dolls

Santa's Sorting hat

            There are a variety of Victorian dolls, a part of Ms.  Bella Galang’s collection that caught my attention as I have some and my mom collects them too, just couldn’t wait for another exhibit of more dolls after the Christmas. My daughter Aimee took some pictures as it is allowed to do so in this museum, the only thing one can’t be done in a museum is run around. Children will have fun with Santa Claus, about 300 of them dancing, singing, cooking, and playing musical instruments, a Santa in barong or Vietnamese attire, from dolls to figurines and a sorting Santa hat.

Dancing Santa

Elmo's World

 Don’t miss the Christmas tree decorated with 50 stuff toys of that red sesame street character with a positive attitude - ‘Elmo’.

Christmas Village

Museum curator Raymond Alunan Bayot

The ground floor is air conditioned and has a display of glass and horse figurines, there is a section for holy land and the best part is the miniature Christmas Village divided into a market area, sweet corner, offices, and residential places, government area, Leisure Park and a dancing park. The sight of the village, the music we hear, and the lights all over and the coolness inside is like an experience of what they call a ‘White Christmas’ in the museum. Dizon Ramos Museum is open daily, from 10:00 in the morning to 9:00 in the evening until the 9^th of February. A group of ten or more is advised to make prior appointments. Entrance is P40.00/adult and P20.00/children. The best place to take your children and experience a night in the museum.