Preserving the Legacy: The NDJC Heritage Hub and Its Cultural Mission
At the heart of Notre Dame of Jolo College (NDJC) stands a humble yet powerful institution committed to the preservation and celebration of Sulu’s rich cultural heritage—the NDJC Heritage Hub, formerly known as CISCUL, or the Coordinated Investigation of Sulu Culture. What started as a small library and museum has since grown into a vital center of heritage, scholarship, and community identity in the province.
Since its establishment, CISCUL—and now the Heritage Hub—has served its purpose well: providing essential support to researchers, scholars, and students seeking to better understand the social fabric, artistry, and history of Sulu. It functions not only as a cultural archive but also as an academic partner that enriches the college’s teaching, research, and extension programs.
The Coordinated Investigation of Sulu Culture (CISCUL) was founded through the inspiration and initiative of Fr. Frank Lynch, SJ, of the Institute of Philippine Culture. At its core, CISCUL was envisioned as a response to the increasing threat of Western cultural encroachment, aiming to document and preserve the authentic customs, beliefs, and material culture of the Sulu Archipelago.
The NDJC Heritage Hub houses an impressive collection of artifacts, documents, and cultural materials in both physical and visual forms:
Traditional musical instruments: kulintangan, agung, gabbang, biyula, and ganddang, reflecting a deep-rooted musical heritage.
Tausug attire and adornments, echoing centuries of trade and cultural blending with neighboring Asian civilizations.
Weapons and blades such as kris and barong, once used in warfare and ritual, crafted by skilled Tausug blacksmiths.
Pottery and earthenware, used in both everyday and ceremonial life.
Brass utensils, royal kitchenware, and grave markers, offering glimpses into traditional lifeways and spiritual practices.
Books, journals, photographs, and visual records that chronicle the people, rituals, and societal transitions in the region.
The Heritage Hub operates with a clear and enduring mission:
Preserve and Promote Cultural Identity
By collecting, safeguarding, and exhibiting artifacts and records, the Hub ensures that the traditions of Sulu remain visible and respected amidst rapid societal change.
Support Teaching and Research
It enhances the academic environment by providing culturally rich learning materials and access to primary sources for student and faculty research.
Assist Extension and Community Programs
When requested and properly funded, the museum assists academic departments in cataloging, preserving, and displaying cultural materials for education and outreach.
Act as the College’s Cultural Archive
Serving as the official repository of NDJC, the museum ensures that materials of permanent scientific or cultural value are maintained and made accessible to the community.
Partner with Stakeholders for Heritage Preservation
In collaboration with the Sulu Provincial Government, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), and cultural agencies, the Hub contributes to surveys, site documentation, and public heritage initiatives.
As part of NDJC’s broader mission of peacebuilding, the Heritage Hub plays a meaningful role in strengthening cultural pride, identity, and awareness. It fosters connections with Tausug, Sama, and Bajau communities by helping them reclaim and retell their histories through educational exhibits and dialogue.
It also provides services to administrative units within the college, supporting exhibitions, events, and academic activities. Its work aligns with the mission of the library—serving scholarly needs—but focuses specifically on tangible cultural objects rather than texts.
The NDJC Heritage Hub is more than a museum. It is a living archive, a center for critical thinking, cultural appreciation, and academic growth. Through decades of dedicated work, it has helped anchor the identity of Sulu in the face of change, and it continues to serve as a bridge between the past and the future.
Whether you are a student exploring your heritage, a researcher studying Tausug material culture, or a visitor drawn to the stories of Sulu, the Heritage Hub offers a meaningful space to learn, reflect, and reconnect.
The Sulu musical instruments, when categorized, also fall under the four major classifications of musical instruments as classified by the Hornbostel-Sachs classifications. They are (1) the idiophones- the kulintangan, agung, gabbang and the kuwaing; (2) the aerophones- the suling and the saunay; (3) the chordophones- the biyula; and the last but not the least, (4) the membranophone the ganddang. These musical instruments create music not only singlehandedly, but in a splendid ensemble that even a renowned artist and audience in France, and some other part of the world, were stunned by its extraordinary musicality.
The people of Sulu were also active partners of the people in Southeast Asia, India, Middle East and China in trade and in commerce, commencing from the 7th century AD. As noted by the historians, the Sulu Pearl is one of the most precious gem that its trading partners was up to.
Through trade and commerce, cultural borrowing and sharing took place. Thus, they had developed an equally exquisite cultural heritage line with dress and accessories. These dresses are of Indian Indonesian origin as well that of the Chinese. And, by just looking at their colorful and magnificent dresses and accessories, one can say that they are highly sophisticated in their own right.
The grave markers of Sulu present a fascinating and complex subject for study. Variety of materials and variations in form and style exist not only between communities, but even within single grave site. Wood, coral, and concrete are used for forms ranging from an unadorned surface to a large, colorful, ornate, and abstract carving, or clearly recognizable human and animal forms.
Throughout Sulu there are blacksmiths producing iron implements ranging from simple fish spears and crude bolos to the elaborate Kris (kalis) and barong. In terms of artistry the most interesting
work by Sulu smiths are decorated bladed weapons. At one time there was apparently a great variety of these, some clearly derived from Middle Eastern prototypes, but today there are only two types generally found, the kalis and barong. Traditionally these barong are passed from father to son, and it is said that barong exist in Sulu which were once used against the Spaniards and the American troops.
The ancient people of the Philippines had a rich tradition of pottery. The pottery and jars have different usages. Some potteries are used for food and beverage storage, while others are used for burials and religious ceremonies.
Among the Tausug royal household, brass was the common material used. These are seen in their kitchen wares like tray or talam and batunjang, brass teakettle or sili’, brass pot, pamamassalan and the most common betelnut case or pagmamaan.
The Tausug visual arts are also represented by woodworks. And these woodworks can also be seen in their kitchen utensils like ulayan – ja maker, jangatan – grater, gagawi – wooden spatula, luwag – ladle among others.
They have also all types of baskets and food container and food cover that are not simply as they are. But looking at these items closely, these are magnificent work of art that shows craftsmanship and ingenuity. Moreover, other kitchen utensils also represent varieties of food served in Tausug and Sama kitchen. For every type of how certain food recipe is created, they have a perfect utensil to create the gastronomic master pieces. Even these utensils are just made of wood, iron and stone.
