A Look at the National Museum

John Silva, National Museum consultant, showed members around the refurbished National Museum (now housed in the former Department of Finance Building, Valencia Circle, Rizal Park, Manila). Among the exhibits viewed were the Story of the Filipino People, Philippine Art, Five Centuries of Maritime Trade, and the wreck site of the Spanish battleship San Diego.

The San Diego exhibit shows the countless artifacts recovered such as potteries, jewelries, coins, and armaments. The Best of Philippine Art consists of selected pieces from the National Museum collection including sculpture done by Jose Rizal and paintings by Filipino masters Luna, Hidalgo, Amorsolo, Manansala, Legaspi, Joya and Edades. The Maritime Trade exhibit is a collection of various ceramics and other commodities from China, Vietnam and Thailand which show the dynamic trading among Southeast Asian countries even before the coming of the Europeans. The Story of the Filipino People presents the country's diverse inhabitants by anthropological geography, and one can see Maranao architecture, Mangyan culture and the Pahiyas fiesta.

Members were later treated to a tasty lunch at L'Eau Vive.