Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2863

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. Christopher P. De Venecia

‘AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE EDADES AND BERNAL MUSEUM IN THE CITY OF DAGUPAN,
PROVINCE OF PANGASINAN, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Dagupan City is the home of two distinguished national artists: Victorio Edades and
Salvador “Badong” Bernal.

Known as the “Father of Modern Philippine Painting,” Victorio C. Edades was born on
December 13, 1895 in Barrio Bolosan. In his younger years, his natural ability to create and
appreciate arts was so evident that he was even called as the “apprentice teacher.” After finishing
high schoo}, he travelled to the United States to further master his crafts. From there, he acquired
techniques that veered him away from the conservative academic art. From Impressionisin and
Realism, he gradually adopted the Modernist thought, a style which encouraged artistic
experimentation and allowed the artist to interpret reality in his own way.

Edades participated in various competitions in America and won awards. But when he
returned back to the Philippines, his art did not gain much appreciation from his countrymen.
Not one painting was sold in an exhibit he produced at the Philippine Columbia Club in Ermita. A
lot of critics were shaken by the style of his paintings which were in the form of distorted human
figures in rough, bold impasto strokes. But firm on what he believed was creative art, he stood
tall in his advocacy which was later on embraced by many artists. Edades was named a National
Artist in 1976.

Meanwhile, Salvador “Badong” F. Bernal is a master of contemporary Filipino theater
design. He was able to design more than 300 productions that were distinguished for their
Originality since 1969. Fully aware of the limitations of local productions in terms of budget and
resources, he innovatively and creatively used inexpensive local materials such as bamboo, raw
abaca, abaca fiber, hemp twine, rattan chain links, and gauze cacha. In doing so, Bernal


demonstrated the versatility of Filipino materials for design and proved that the poverty of the
Production need not imply the poverty of the imagination.

Badong Bernal did not keep his talent to himself. He decided to share his skills with
younger designers by conducting classes at the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de
Manila University. He also created programs for the CPP Production Design Center and organized
the PATDAT (Philippine Association of Theatre Designers and Technicians) in 1995 to Promote
and professionalize theater design. Bernal was conferred the National Artist Award in 2003,

Inview the foregoing, the approval of this proposed measure is earnestly sought.

REP. €HR/STOPHER MU,

Fourth/bistrift, Pangasinan



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No,_2863

Introduced by Rep. Christopher P. De Venecia

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE EDADES AND BERNAL MUSEUM IN THE CITY OF DAGUPAN,
PROVINCE OF PANGASINAN, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

CHAPTER |
GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — Article XIV, Section 15 of the Constitution affirms that
“Arts and letters shall enjoy the patronage of the State. The State shall conserve, promote, and
Popularize the nation’s historical and cultural heritage and resources, as well as artistic
creations.” Towards this end, it shall be declared the Policy of the State to preserve the works of
our national artists and lay it in a space that acknowledges their contribution to the nation’s
cultural heritage.

SEC. 2. Establishment. - There shall be a Museum in the city of Dagupan, province of
Pangasinan, to be named after the city’s distinguished national artists Victorio Edades and
Salvador “Badong” Bernal. The establishment of the said museum shall be undertaken by the
Local Government Unit (LGU) under the guidance of the National Museum.

SEC. 3. Functions of the Museum. - The functions of the Museum are:
a) to exhibit, or to make available for exhibition by others, in the
Philippines, or elsewhere, the material included in the Edades and

Bernal Museum collection;

b) to cooperate with other public or Private institutions in exhibiting, or
in making available for exhibition, of such material; and


¢) to develop, preserve and maintain the Edades and Bernal collection in
accordance with this Act.

SEC. 4. Powers of the Museum. - The Museum has power to do all things necessary or
convenient to be done for or in connection with the performance of its functions and, in
particular, has power:

a) to purchase, commission the creation of or take on hire, deposit or
loan the Edades and Bernal collection;

b) to lend or hire out or otherwise deal with the Edades and Bernal
collection;

¢) to recover, or to arrange for or assist in the recovery of, the Edades
and Bernal collection from the National Museum and from other
areas;

d) to dispose of, in accordance with this Act, material included in the
Edades and Bernal collection, and to dispose of material and
collection that is otherwise in the possession of the Museum;

) to collect, and make available, whether in writing or in any other
form and whether by sale or otherwise, information relating to the
Edades and Bernal collection;

f) to make available information relating to the Museum and its
functions;

8) to make available, whether by sale or otherwise, reproductions,
replicas or other representations, whether in writing or in any other
form, of the Edades and Bernal collection;

h) to enter into contracts;

') to acquire, hold and dispose of real or personal property;

4) to purchase or take on hire, deposit or loan, and to dispose of or
Otherwise deal with furnishings, equipment and other goods;


k) to charge such fees and impose such charges, in addition to the
charges fixed by regulations, as are reasonable in respect of services
rendered by the Museum; and

|) to appoint agents and attorneys and act as an agent for other
Persons.

SEC. 5. Site. — The LGU shall provide the land necessary for the construction of the Edades
and Bernal Museum.

SEC. 6. Appropriations. - The implementation of this Act shall be charged against the
budget allocation of the National Museum. Thereafter, such amount necessary for the continued

implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette and in one (1) newspaper for general circulation,

Approved,