Rev. Robert Ramone was beaming when he received an award for cultural preservation from the then-Education and Culture Ministry in Jakarta in September.

The missionary, ordained in the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, was recognized for preserving the culture of Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, through his Institute for Sumba Cultural Studies and Preservation (LSPBS) and the traditional houses he built in Kalembu Nga'€™a Bhangga, Weetebula, Southwest Sumba.

'€œI'€™m certainly happy to receive this honor,'€ Ramone said. '€œI hope Sumba will be more famous for its unique cultural features. This appreciation also makes me further convinced a great deal of old wisdom remains relevant to present-day life and the future.'€

Ramone, born in Kodi, Southwest Sumba, on Aug. 29, 1962, said the honor would keep him motivated to continue work preserving local culture and rebuilding traditional houses in villages all over Sumba Island.

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The priest has directed the reconstruction in dozens of Sumba traditional buildings in different villages. '€œTwenty-four such houses were restored in Wainyapu, eight in Ratenggaro, two in Bondo Kodi, 10 in Manola, two in Bukaregha and two in Lewa. I mediated between village communities and donors as well as cultural observers,'€ he said.

Ramone says it costs about Rp 100 million (US$8,212) to build a traditional house, well beyond the means of most of the small farmers of the island, who consequently build more modest homes as shelter from the rain and heat.

His birthplace has cultural elements and riches not found in other regions that he won'€™t allow to vanish, Ramone said. '€œWith the desire for preservation, I built the two traditional houses in Kalembu Nga'€™a Bhangga and then sought donors to encourage village people to restore their traditional building.'€

He continues. '€œThe buildings actually reflect Sumbanese values of life, culture and custom. Their shapes alone already suggest a noble and religious philosophy.'€

A traditional building'€™s tall roof or tower represents the Sumbanese people'€™s orientation to the creator, as reflected in the local belief called marapu.

His work has been recognized several times, including by the tourism ministry in 2011 and by the NTT Academia Forum in 2010, when it declared him a preserver of national culture through photography.

'€œLet'€™s hope that Sumba will get more renowned and make further headway. The popularity of Sumba is far more important than my personal fame,'€ Ramone said when asked of his accolades. '€œOther regions in Java for instance, are already so advanced while Sumba still makes slow progress. It means Sumba is neglected or forgotten.'€

It was not an easy job for Robert to construct the two pilot '€œhouses of culture'€ facing each other in Kalembu Nga'€™a Bhangga, Weetebula.

He contacted many people seeking support for the project. An acquaintance with Yori Antar, director of Han Awal Architect, led him to Lisa Tirto Utomo, president commissioner of PT Aqua Golden Mississippi Tbk, which operates the Tirto Utomo Foundation for education and culture.

Lisa provided Rp 1.7 billion. Robert also secured Rp 100 million from the Southwest Sumba regency administration, Rp 25 million from the West Sumba regency administration, Rp 50 million from the NTT provincial government, and Rp 100 million from his own congregation.

It took five years before the buildings were inaugurated in 2011. The project cost Rp 1.8 billion, excluding the price of land, which belongs to his congregation. The structures have cogon grass roofs with a typical Sumbanese architectural design. Robert made the LSPBS buildings a museum, cultural center and pastoral center for his congregation.

The LSPBS is an institute that combines studies and cultural preservation. NTT Governor Frans Lebu Raya, when opening the center on Oct. 22, 2011, said '€œThis is NTT'€™s only institute of studies working in the spirit of cultural preservation, from which the other NTT regencies should learn.'€

The museum has collected 500 artifacts connected with traditional arts of sculpture and music. There are also various kinds of woven products from all parts of Sumba Island, besides different Sumbanese weapons like daggers and spears.

Ramone said that the LSPBS was the government'€™s partner in Sumba'€™s development. '€œWe Redemptorist priests are fully aware that Sumba'€™s tourism management can'€™t be handled by any single party alone. All of us should join hands,'€ he pointed out.

However, Ramone hoped officials would continue to kick in funds, '€œWe do expect the government can support us. We have big ideas but we have no money.'€

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