BELLA Galang’s Christmas exhibit of winter scenes and Santas and Elmos and angels and Victorian dolls had been a holiday staple for a number of years at the Dizon-Ramos Museum.
Her mind-boggling collection of the aforementioned was always a favorite among children and families who enjoyed time together during Christmas vacations. The vast Galang collection totals 85 balikbayan boxes!
Tita Bella Galang started her collection by buying dolls beginning in 1956. Then, she fell in love with angels and Santas and even Elmos, and more dolls and the collection just grew and grew.
For eight years, the bulk of the Galang Collection graced the upper rooms and the ground floor of the Dizon-Ramos Museum along Burgos Street every Christmas season.
Children and adults looked forward to viewing the charming holiday scenes every year. Eventually, the museum which is housed in a post-war former residence started to be converted into a bed-and-breakfast, the Santas and angels and Elmos and dolls and the villages had to be returned to their boxes for an indefinite time.
Tita Bella’s dear friend and protégé Raymond Alunan, and the young visionary of Silay heritage Solomon Locsin got their acts together to surprise Tita Bella with a revival of her collection exhibit.
And, of all places, it would be at The Mansion, that famous and mysterious residence of Adela Ledesma that now belongs to Councilor Locsin’s family. Long since reused into a bistro-cum-bar-cum-gallery, The Mansion had evolved from a staid, quiet lady to one of the most sought-after belles of Silay.
The Bella Galang Collection of Christmas villages had found a new home just this third of December.
Because of the number of pieces in the collection, the right wing of The Mansion can only accommodate the Christmas villages – all 300 plus of them! Everyone will love them all! Tiny houses all lit up inside, and little shops and offices.
Just don’t make a lot of noise because there might be Little People fast asleep in their little beds. Yet, it is okay for the kids to get all fired up as they watch other kids ride the carousel, or make Figure 8’s on the skating rink.
A word of caution: The Little People do not like to be touched. So, hands off, please, for we do not want to hurt their feelings.
There are a few Santas who had joined the exhibit. Was it my imagination, or did they put on some weight for the past two years? Ho-ho-ho, Santas! You’ve got work to do now!
Entrance to The Mansion is free as it had been converted into a public place. However, the Christmas Villages exhibit may be viewed for an entrance fee of P50 for the Big People, and the Scrooge-y price of P20 for the Big People’s children. The exhibition will be displayed until January 7, 2018 at The Mansion. Catch it while you are home for the ho-ho-holidays!