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MVP's Philippine
History and Culture Course
Reaches an Exciting Conclusion---ALMOST
By Valerie Begley
On Tuesday, March 15, 2005, we bid a fond
initial farewell to the EdCom (Education Committee) course, "Philippines –Past & Present," a 23-week course
covering cultural, historical and political events in the Philippines from the
pre-Spanish period to the present. We concluded the course with a stimulating
discussion from Peter Wallace of the Wallace Foundation, who spoke to us about
30 years of economic change in the Philippines. This talk was followed by a delightful
and delicious Graduation Lunch at the Westin Plaza hotel—in
all, a grand finale to a
grand semester.
If you are unfamiliar with the
course allow me to put in a plug. As someone new to Manila last August, I was
assured that this course—differ though it must from the much-lamented but now-defunct
docent course—would be an excellent
introduction to my new city. This was good advice. "Philippines–Past & Present" provided me not
only with a framework from which to learn about this country, but also with a
weekly gathering of extraordinary new acquaintances, all of whom are engaged by
the issues of the Philippines.
Our course met each Monday for
23 weeks—longer than most MVP courses—at the lovely Filipinas Heritage Library in
Makati. (The Library provided a perfect backdrop to our studies, as the
building itself plays a small part in local history, and it displays a rotating
collection of Filipino photography.) In addition to our Monday meetings, we
also met for field trips, including a day trip to Pila, Los Baņos; a December 8
commemorative visit to Corregidor; a walking tour of Intramuros with the
engaging Carlos Celdran; and an insider’s
tour of the CCP complex and the fabulous Coconut Place. A few of us, inspired
by our studies, occasionally put together trips of own, such as visits to the
Metropolitan Museum to see the fabulous pre-Spanish gold collection, or wanderings
around Chinatown. As if all of that were not enough, EdCom organized occasional
luncheons.
The time commitment, though
demanding, was well worth it. The course was organized into 5 chronological
modules: Early pre-history; Spanish colonialism; American and Japanese
occupations; the Independence period, and the Modern Era. Week one of each
module began with a detailed introductory lecture. Week two of each module
featured guest lecturers as well as relevant films. We saw tribal dances and
learned about textiles from Mindanao; listened to a survivor of the Japanese
occupation; met with Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani, who discussed the legacy of
the Marcos era; learned from a volcanologist describing the unique geological
features of the islands; and heard from newspaper publisher, Max Soliven. The
outsider lecturers and films provided invaluable insights into this country’s
social structure and history.
In keeping with the hands-on
approach of MVP courses, we were also each required to give presentations.
Weeks three and four of each module were devoted to these reports. Though
initially an intimidating prospect, I suspect that eventually everyone rather
enjoyed giving their talks; one participant even did an extra assignment.
Bravo! Since the only pre-requisite for the course was an enthusiasm for the
history and culture of the Philippines, the range of experience and background
of the participants–some 40 of us, from all over the world–was part of the fun.
The combination of artists, lawyers, teachers, computer wizards, long-time residents, short-term
residents, and travelers from near and far made the course most enjoyable. Each
week was stimulating and though-provoking in a friendly, convivial atmosphere.
None of this would have been
possible, and it certainly would not have been as pleasurable, had it not been
for the remarkable organizing team of EdCom volunteers who did an outstanding
job of putting together the invaluable information packets, the speakers,
films, trips, and luncheons—not to mention the crucial morning merienda. EdCom
cheerfully collected and distributed documents, money, email addresses, cell
phone numbers, answered questions and even ordered wine at lunch. What a team!
In what is perhaps the highest
compliment we could offer to the organizing team and as testimony to the
enthusiasm and friendliness of the group, we have asked the organizers to
extend the course an additional 4 weeks, as we’re not quite ready to say good-bye just yet.
Enquiries regarding membership of the MVP should be
referred to PO Box 8052, Dasmariņas Village, Makati City, 1222
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All course
participants must be members of the MVP
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