Bulanao: Winston Awing's Gallamoy Mini Museum, a hidden gem in Bulanao, Tabuk, serves as both a personal archive and a cultural sanctuary, preserving the rich heritage of Kalinga. The museum, named after Awing's great-grandfather, Gallamoy, opens its doors quietly through salvaged wooden doors from an old ancestral home, offering visitors a glimpse into decades of history and tradition.
According to Philippines News Agency, the museum was established in 2017 and is registered with the Department of Trade and Industry. It showcases a vast collection of heirlooms and artifacts, many of which were passed down through generations from Gallamoy's house in Lubuagan. Awing's initiative reflects a deep-seated necessity and love for heritage, as Kalinga lacks a formal museum.
Open to the public with no entrance fee, the Gallamoy Mini Museum has welcomed thousands of visitors over the years, including local school students, tourists, and cultural enthusiasts. Amidst challenges of space and a growing collection, Awing plans to reorganize and expand the museum to enhance the visitor experience.
The museum's collection offers a visual narrative of Cordillera life and its encounters with global history. From traditional clay pots and woven rattan bags to wartime relics, the artifacts present a layered history of Kalinga. Among the notable items are Japanese government-issued Philippine peso bills from Gallamoy's time, gifted to him as a token of friendship by historical figures like Franklin Walter Hale.
In efforts to safeguard Kalinga's cultural legacy, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11770, establishing the Kalinga Cultural Center and Museum (KCCM) in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). This institution aims to preserve and showcase Kalinga's rich heritage, including traditional songs, dances, and archaeological discoveries.
The proposed Kalinga Cultural Center and Museum, with its design approved by the Provincial Development Council in December 2025, is set to rise with partial funding of PHP175 million. The facility will operate in collaboration with the NCCA, ensuring the preservation of Kalinga's cultural and historical identity.
Despite challenges in safeguarding the collection, including items lost to collectors, Awing remains committed to preserving the family's legacy. He occasionally sells ceramics from his personal collection to sustain the museum, while ensuring that heirlooms inherited from his ancestors remain untouched.
Beyond artifacts, the museum also highlights Kalinga's natural heritage, with gemstones and petrified wood from the region showcased as part of the collection. Awing's dedication to maintaining the Gallamoy Mini Museum reflects a living story of Kalinga, where history is cherished and kept alive through every artifact and narrative shared with visitors.
