MANILA -- Considered as the center for indigenous studies in Cordillera, the University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB) has recently unveiled the first ethnographic museum in the region.

The Museo Kordilyera is billed as a "living museum" that aims to be a repository of both tangible and intangible cultures of the Cordillera.

It also serves as a venue for UPB scholars and faculty to disseminate their research in the field of Cordillera studies through themed exhibitions, symposiums, lecture series, and cultural performances.

Dr. Analyn Salvador-Amores, associate professor of social anthropology of UPB's College of Social Sciences, led the museum's inaugural exhibit, which was attended by various scholars, researchers, and students in the region.

In her welcome remarks, Amores said the Museo Kordilyera’s mission is "to cultivate an understanding of and respect for the identity and culture of the indigenous peoples of the Cordillera and Northern Luzon as an integral part of the evolving Filipino culture."

For its inaugural exhibit, the Museo Kordilyera features a display of traditional tattooing methods by Amores; a visual documentation of Sagada by instructor in English and UPB director of public affairs Roland Rabang; and an exhibit of anthropological artifacts by former professor of anthropology, Dr. Jules De Raedt.

The museum will have its official opening in September.