Would you sell your own birth certificate?
Today, September 14, 2024, a copy of the Philippine Declaration of Independence, the literal handwritten duplicate of the “birth certificate” of our nation, is being auctioned at Leon Gallery for 1.6 million pesos. Although beneficial for the gallery, it raises the question as to whether the opt to auction is beneficial for our country’s history?
The Declaration of Independence is more than just a historical artifact; it is proof of the courage and what we aspired as a nation that fought to have our own freedom. For a country with a long history of colonization, the importance of this document is severely underrated.
You might wonder why such a significant piece of history would be put up for auction instead of being preserved in a museum for public viewing and education. And, since it’s a replica, why not make it available for the public through passing it on to different educational organizations instead of giving it to a bidder? After all, most people would consider their own birth certificate a rather cherished and personal document, signifying the beginning of life and having an identity. Similarly, one might argue that a nation’s declaration of independence should be treated equal to a person’s birth certificate and preserved for future generations to appreciate and learn from.
However, the founder of Leon Gallery shared his own reasoning as to why they decided to bid off the document, and here’s why:
FOR CURIOSITY’S SAKE!
The Leon Gallery do know how to market their items, and for good reason since they’ve been in the industry of artifact preservation for a long time. According to an interview, Jaime Ponce de Leon, the founder of the said gallery shared that by putting the copy of the Philippine Declaration of Independence into auction, they’d reach the curiosity and inquiry of the public more than keeping the document within their premises.
In addition, he stressed that doing the auction lets it be broadcasted to a wider audience and so it offers people a chance to know that the specific item existed. This then would lead to more and more people inquiring about the document alongside individuals in specialized studies to research all about it. The auction brings attention to the historical significance of the document, gaining public interest and discussion.
But, on the other hand, what if the one who takes the bid decides to keep it for himself? Wouldn’t that be detrimental to the purpose of the public knowing about it? Or is the option to auction it out simply available because the item being auctioned is only a copy? With that in mind, does it make it less significant?
Share your thoughts in the comments below, Sugboanons!
