By Lara Charmaine Lagorra and Ryanne Czarina Villegas
Beyond the muddy grounds lies another side to the 11-day celebration. Tucked away in the far corners of the university is the quieter but equally rich Hibalag experience: the open houses hosted by different departments.
These open houses feature relics and exhibits that reflect identity, creativity, and community spirit—offering a deeper and more personal connection towards their cultural community and the spirit of Hibalag.
Museum spotlights Silliman history
Stepping inside the Silliman University (SU) Anthropology Museum during Founder’s Week is to step into layers of Philippine history and identity. Each year, the open house brings forth a unique exhibit, with this year’s spotlight resting on Dr. Horace B. Silliman, the philanthropist whose generosity gave birth to the founding of the institution…
“Because it’s his 200th anniversary, it is only fitting that we showcase him and his legacy. All the items and descriptions were generously lent by Kuya Moe (Moses Atega), who is truly the historian when it comes to anything Silliman,” shared Asst. Prof. Christine Batiles, curator of the museum.
The formal opening of the exhibit took place during Founder’s Week, though the museum had already held a soft opening last July 4 in celebration of Filipino-American Friendship Day. Beyond simply displaying artifacts, the exhibit reminds visitors of Dr. Silliman’s vision—one deeply rooted in generosity and care for Filipinos.
“He once said that those who would graduate from this institution would be his children and that thought is deeply touching. Somehow, someone far away contributed to us becoming Sillimanians,” Batiles reflected.
The museum’s traditional open house began in 2007, revived under then-president Dr. Ben Malayang III after years of dormance. Since then, it has been a yearly event during Hibalag. Students, particularly members of the Junior Anthropologists and Sociologists of Silliman, play an active role in organizing the event, alongside faculty and staff.
Batiles emphasized that beyond showcasing artifacts, the museum serves to educate and preserve culture. “People often think museums are boring because they deal with old stuff. But old things carry stories, and it’s those stories that matter. Without them, objects are nothing,” she explained. For her, the museum’s role is to ensure these stories—of ancestors, of culture, of identity—remain alive.
The open house also represents the museum’s way of giving back. “Normally, we charge fees, but during Founder’s Week, we opened our doors for free. It’s a homecoming for alumni, a chance for students to connect with heritage, and a reminder that what we choose to preserve today will define how future generations understand us.”
Moreover, it is not just an exhibit but a bridge, connecting the past to the present, and Sillimanians to a deeper story of their roots.
IEMS shines in bioluminescence
A few miles away from the main campus is an extension of Silliman, the Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences (IEMS) welcomes visitors into a world of biodiversity, where creativity and science converge. Each year’s open house highlights a different facet of marine and environmental life, and this year, the star is something rarely seen: bioluminescence.
Bioluminescence is the natural glow created by organisms such as fireflies and some marine species. It is science that feels almost like magic, a quiet reminder of how much wonder still lives in the natural world.
“For this year, we wanted to showcase the wonders of bioluminescent marine life,” said Asst. Prof. Danielle Fukuda, the extension and fieldwork coordinator of IEMS. “We wanted people to experience the beauty of something that usually can’t be observed on land.”
Alongside the bioluminescence display, IEMS features viewing tanks and partitions filled with local marine life, crocodiles, and the ever-popular Whalebone Museum and Gonzaga Shell Collection.
These exhibits are a collaborative effort. “It’s not just the faculty or the staff,” Fukuda noted. “It’s everyone—graduate students, undergraduates, faculty, staff—working together as one unit. Most of our materials are even recycled from previous exhibits or fieldwork.”
Preparation for the exhibits can even take weeks to months, depending on their complexity. Some, like the shell collection updates, begin as early as summer.
While the open house is officially held once a year during Founder’s Week, the exhibits themselves often stay open for much longer—sometimes until the next celebration.
For IEMS, the open house is more than just a showcase—it’s a call to action. Fukuda explained, “The message we want to deliver is that no single organization can solve our environmental crises. Sustainability is a team effort. By educating people on what we have and what we risk losing, we make the whole community stronger. From fisherfolk to students, everyone has a role in protecting the environment.”
Ultimately, the IEMS open house shines not just with the glow of bioluminescence, but with a message of responsibility—reminding visitors that protecting our seas is a collective action for generations to come.
CENTROP preserves the threatened
Located beside the Cimafranca ballfield, visitors enter the SU Center for Tropical Conservation Studies (CENTROP) through a simple green gate surrounded by lush trees.
Globally recognized for its captive breeding program, the center is a conservation of the “Big Three” threatened and endemic wildlife species—the Philippine spotted deer, Visayan warty pig, and Negros bleeding-heart pigeon, and four other species, all found only on specific islands in the Philippines.
During Founders Day, CENTROP holds open houses welcoming alumni and visitors, offering a chance to promote conservation—one of the university’s core advocacies alongside biodiversity protection.
These events not only showcase the animals but also emphasize the critical role of conservation efforts and human intervention in saving endangered species.
In collaboration with the biology department and the larger Silliman community, volunteers support these open houses, reflecting the department’s dedication to the study and preservation of endangered wildlife.
“Animals don’t only simply live and breed on their own,” CENTROP coordinator Leandro Cabrera said, explaining that human activities such as habitat loss, illegal hunting, and poaching have pushed these species to the brink of endangerment.
“If we don’t talk about it, people might think it’s okay and take it for granted. That becomes dangerous because we cannot protect what we don’t know. If we are unaware of their existence, we won’t make the effort to protect them,” he emphasized.
This wildlife sanctuary nurtures a deeper understanding and respect for nature, reminding visitors that education and awareness are powerful tools in promoting conservation for all.
Natural history preserved in timeless frame
Meanwhile, in the heart of the Science Complex, the Rodolfo B. Gonzales Natural History Museum has been a preservation beacon since 1973, housing a rich collection of natural history specimens—shells, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds, and marine life. These are preserved through taxidermy, bones, skin, and remains, offering a glimpse into the Philippines’ biodiversity.
The museum is named after a long-time chairperson of the biology department and pioneering ornithologist, Rodolpho B. Gonzales, known for his research on the Philippine eagle. A preserved specimen of this majestic bird is prominently displayed within the museum.
The museum also features taxidermied remains of animals found in CENTROP, such as the Visayan Warty Pig, Bleeding-heart Pigeon, and the Visayan Leopard Cat.
Esteven Nacar, the museum coordinator, explained that the museum regularly conducts open houses, especially during Hibalag, with the mission of making these unique collections accessible to alumni, students, and the general public.
These events are supported by the Biology Society and the museum’s dedicated volunteers—mainly students passionate about maintaining the specimens and sharing knowledge through guided tours.
“It is important to hold these open house celebrations so that we can promote conservation, raise awareness about the status of these animals, explain why they are unique, and highlight their importance in the ecosystem and their role in the environment,” he said.
Nacar also emphasized that the open houses play a crucial role in promoting conservation, educating visitors about the ecological importance of these animals, and sparking curiosity among younger generations, potentially inspiring a lasting interest in biology.
Each open house at SU—whether at the Anthropology Museum, IEMS, CENTROP, or the Gonzales Museum of Natural History—weaves together stories of heritage, science, and conservation. They form mini-museums of cultural identity, offering quieter but equally profound experiences alongside the festivities of Hibalag.
Together, they reflect identity, memory, and care at the heart of being a Sillimanian. When the lights of the festival fade, these spaces remain.
They remind Sillimanians and visitors alike that beyond the performances and food stalls, Hibalag is also about roots, continuity, and stewardship—celebrating not just what the university is, but what it aspires to preserve for the future.
The heritage we keep, and the future we choose to protect.
