QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- The newly reconstructed Dr. Pio Valenzuela Museum located at Barangay Pariancillo Villa in Valenzuela City was formally opened to the public on Tuesday, February 14, 2023.
Originally built in the 19th century, the house of Dr. Pio Valenzuela is one of the most important structures in the city, which symbolizes our city hero’s courage, leadership, and selfless service to his fellowmen.
The City Government of Valenzuela, led by then Mayor and now DSWD Secretary REX Gatchalian was entrusted by the Valenzuela family to preserve the house and the legacy of the great Dr. Pio Valenzuela.
It started way back in 2013 when heirs of the registered owners of the property met with the Valenzuela City Government to donate the lot to the city for the purpose of preserving the memory of the hero and restoring the trace of the history of their home.
On July 19, 2019, in time with the 150th birth anniversary of Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Arc Lico International Services presented the proposed design to the Valenzuela Family, and in 2021, the reconstruction of the prewar house and the curatorial development of the museum were started.
February 14, 2023 saw the fruition of all the efforts when Mayor WES Gatchalian, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Bernadette Fatima Romulo-Puyat representing the Valenzuela family, and National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) OIC - Executive Director Ms. Carminda Arevalo led the inauguration and unveiling of Dr. Pio Valenzuela Museum historical marker from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).
Inside the museum, old tools and equipment originally used by Dr. Valenzuela, some furnitures that were restored allowing the past and the present period to meet can be found.
The new museum has four sections as follows: Balangkas ng Buhay; Haligi ng Katipunan; Guho at Gunita; and Muhon ng Bayan.
During the event,descendants of Dr. Pio Valenzuela, namely BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Fatima Romulo-Puyat, Pasig City Congressman Roman Romulo and his wife former Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad-Romulo, Architect Arturo Valenzuela, Pasig City Councilor Simon Romulo, artist Olivia d’Aboville and the rest of the Valenzuela Family were recognized as the special guests of the night.
The Dr. Pio Valenzuela Museum is open to the public beginning February 15, 2023, Tuesdays to Sundays, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission is free.
For museum tour reservations and bookings for groups of 20 persons and above, please send an email to piovalmuseum@gmail.com. (pio Valenzuela/pia-ncr
