PH Embassy in London Conducts Community Co-curation Workshop with the Tanner Vintage Filipiniana Collection
Members of the Filipino community in the United Kingdom actively participated in the community co-curation workshop. (London PE photo)
LONDON 02 Novemer 2022 — The Philippine Embassy in London recently conducted a community co-curation workshop, “Well-worn Belongings – A Source Community Co-curation Workshop with the Rachel and Clare Tanner Collection” of vintage Philippine clothing and other items at Sentro Rizal London on 02 November 2022.
The collection consisted of indigenous costumes and objects mostly from the Cordillera Autonomous Region and Mindanao and was acquired by Mr. David Tanner, a British national who worked for a multinational corporation in Manila from 1975 to 1980, and his family, particularly his mother, during their travels around the Philippines. Rachel and Clare are Mr. Tanner and wife Jackie’s Philippines-born daughters.
The community co-curation workshop, in collaboration with the Philippine Studies programme at SOAS University of London, was moderated by its Project Head, Dr. Maria Cristina Juan. Members of the Filipino community in London belonging to the two (2) Igorot organizations - the Igorot Charity UK and the Igorot Organisation UK – as well as the Philippine Muslim Association (PMA) eagerly participated in the workshop. Mr. Tanner, whose family owns the collection, was likewise present, and spoke about his interest and fascination with Philippine indigenous cultures. As the son of an anthropologist, Mr. Tanner said he recognized the historical and cultural significance of the collection, hence, his wish, together with his family, to donate the items to the Philippines.
In her opening remarks, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Rhenita B. Rodriguez extolled the idea of community groups coming together to share their stories and recollections in order to paint a picture of their communities’ history and heritage. CDA Rodriguez also expressed her gratitude to Mr. Tanner for loaning his family’s collection of vintage Filipiniana items to the Embassy for the workshop, which is in preparation for an exhibit of the collection at Sentro Rizal London in 2023.
Dr. Juan discussed the main ideas and steps of community co-curation, which involves the source communities and is aimed at reconnecting the items with the cultural bearers.
The activity was an opportunity for the participants to view, touch and assess the significance of the collection. A Tausug participant shared that one of the headscarves in the collection is mostly worn by warriors. The participants also tossed around ideas on how they want their respective cultures to be represented in an exhibit of the collection. END
The co-curation workshop participants with Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Rhenita B. Rodriguez (seated, 2nd from right), Mr. David Tanner (seated, 3rd from right), whose family owns the vintage Filipiniana collection, Dr. Cristina Juan (standing, 2nd row, 7th from left), Third Secretary and Vice Consul Emilio O. Lopue, Jr. (last row, 2nd from right), Cultural Officer Grace M. Banez and Attache Ms. Jehli Liggayu (last row, leftmost and 2nd from left, respectively). (London PE photo)
Workshop participants demonstrate the use of the malong (top photo) and headscarf (below), which are part of the vintage Filipiniana collection. (London PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.londonpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/pg/PHLinUK, https://twitter.com/philippinesinuk or https://www.instagram.com/philippinesinuk/.