On the tour for the Museum Volunteers of the Philippines
in late October 1999, John Silva,
(in photo on the right with MVP members) the knowledgeable
consultant of the Museum welcomed the big group after which we
watched a short film "The History of the
Filipino Today" at the Object de Theater. The
film is a great introduction for students who want to know more
about their common ancestry and in generating national pride. It
does have a slightly propagandist approach, but if it is able to
produce future young generations with deep interest and
appreciation in their culture and ethnic origins, it will have
more than served its purpose.
The gallery showing the geological landscape of the Philippines in the prehistoric age provides a fascinating glimpse of how ea rly man lived in the islands. Fossils, stone implements and bone jewellery that have been excavated are displayed here. What a visitor should not miss looking at closely is the small human skull tucked away on a shelf in the gallery. The discovery of this skull in Butuan is one of the major finds in the anthropological history of the Philippines. An exhibit I found rather interesting was the natural shell formations with an empty coke can at the apex to show the contribution of modern man!
When my friend Mary Ng and I visited the Museum with my son Rechung and his friend Marc in early November, the two boys gave new meaning to the word "tour". For one thing, I had to run to keep up with the two second-graders. They showed more interest in skating in the hallways of the Museum than in looking at all the priceless treasures. I still have not given up on the idea of giving children an early start with museums and other cultural activities, hoping it will spark off something creative in them too!
The San Diego Exhibit was one gallery which had them completely focused and awestruck. According to Rechung, he liked the shipwreck exhibit the most. "I was surprised how heavy the cannons and the cannon balls are, because in one movie that I saw, they looked light. People were carrying them easily" he said.
The presentation of the San Diego Exhibit was excellent. The blue lighting with the airconditioning turned up very high created the effect of being smack in the middle of the shipwreck in the cold, blue sea. Wooden crates holding some of the unpacked artifacts, broken ceramics and furniture strewn over wooden decks and sandy floors added to the eerie feeling of having stepped back in time to the 1600s when the San Diego, a ship of the famous Manila Galleon that plied between Manila and Acapulco was sunk by a Dutch battleship. About 2000 pieces from the shipwreck including pottery, coins, jewellery and weapons are on display here.It is truly surprising that many of the artifacts are intact and in excellent co ndition.
Still on the subject of shipwrecks, the special exhibition titled "Five Centuries of Maritime Trade Before the Arrival of the West" has a fantastic collection of ceramics and jars that have been retrieved from sunken vessels including the Pandanan shipwreck. The artifacts are tangible evidence that a thriving trade existed among the countries of Southeast Asia and China even before the coming of the Europeans A model of the pearl farm in Pandanan showing how the pearl divers accidentally found the large jars and the subsequent excavations that took place to look for the unexpected treasures is beautifully displayed.
To learn about this island country's diverse inhabitants, visiting the exhibit of the "Story of the Filipino People" is a good idea. The world-famous rice terraces of Banaue, the Pahiyas Fiesta, Maranao architecture and Mangyan culture are presented in visually appealing ways.
The hands-on, interactive exhibit "Peoples of the Philippines"
is great for schoolgoing children. They can study weather
patterns by studying the tides and what an actual archaeological
dig looks like. The Mandala (someone at the Museum told me that
was the correct term for the TV screen with the simulated musical
instruments.) seemed to be the no-contested favourite with the
two second-grade visitors. "I like the place with the TV
screens where I can pretend to play musical instruments"
said Marc Lee. "I thought it was fun when the instruments we
were pretending to play produced real music!" said Rechung.
For art lovers, there is the gallery the "Best of Philippine Art" with selected paintings from Filipino masters Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo, Cesar Legazpi, Felix Hidalgo, Vicente Manansala, Joya and Edades. You will not want to miss the sculpture done by Jose Rizal.
One visit will not be enough to really appreciate the treasures that the Museum holds. This is truly the Museum of the Filipino People.
--Kezang Uden Penjor