This year marks MVP's 20th birthday. Towards the end of the year, we intend to celebrate in a typically MVP way: with a museum exhibit. The exhibit--The Malong Story: Highlights of the Mastura Collection--will present the Islamic weaving cultures of the Southern Philippines (in particular the Magindanao, Maranao, and Tausug; with emphasis on the first two) and will show the people, their history, and social setting portrayed through the work of their hands.

The exhibition will be held in the National Museum, where the MVP had its beginnings. How did it all begin? Very informally with one woman, Margaretha Gloor, who just decided to follow her sense of curiosity about the Philippines and its people. She described it in an article written in 1988 and which we reprint below.

As a newcomer to any country, the first thing one wants to know about is its people-who they are, where they came from, and so forth, especially in the case of the Filipinos, whose races are so varied that one can see a multitude of blood-lines crisscrossing the archipelago, always ending up in a new puzzle. In 1979, our friends in Hong Kong-with whom we spent some years in Iran-planned to come to the Philippines and see the country, its people but especially the Tabon Caves with us. Since it was the National Museum that did the excavations, I knew that I would get the best and most accurate information from them as to where to go, when and so forth.

It was not easy to find them, since they were cooped up in a tiny place on Pedro Gil. I also hoped to find out whether anyone could come in as a volunteer and help in their archaeology/ethnology division. Dr. Peralta mentioned that a group of ladies had previously done voluntary work but the group "collapsed". Well, that was not very encouraging and I put the idea of a group off for a while.

First, we made the trip to the Tabon Caves. We were invited to stay at the National Museum station and had the best time exploring and meeting the people there. Upon returning, I eventually got back to Dr. Peralta. I had gathered enough courage and wanted to start volunteering myself and get other volunteers. He was very supportive and hoped that I would do it. I felt the need of such a group in Manila, since there is so much to learn and so little to see, visibly, in this big city.

I also knew that once I started I would not give up for anything-and I did not, even when the going was not easy.

I started off accessioning bone after bone, then shard after shard. Eventually, Timmy Barbosa felt that maybe I should like to move over to Ethnology. The storage room was chock-a-block full with very interesting and unusual baskets, wooden artifacts, etc. Little by little, I got volunteers. The first was Ann Arliedge, who stayed on for many years. Then more and more joined and before we knew it we had quite a good group going (and we had so much fun)-describing, measuring and drawing the ethnic artifacts.

We were then looking for more opportunities in other departments at the National Museum. Orientation tours were organized, ladies signed up in the conservation laboratory, conchology, botany, enthymology, ethnology, restoration of paintings, etc., etc. The most important duty was coordination with the National Museum, getting them to tell us what was needed, since they did not quite believe that we really meant to help.

One big job done by one of our volunteers (Bibbi Lee) was photographing all the existing exhibits before those halls were turned into storage areas due to pressure from above and below! Those slides have then been used to visit schools with the narration done by Nancy Perez.

To get volunteers then and still now is a challenge, but once people are found (usually with a bit of convincing), they love every moment of it and of course usually invite one or two of their friends to join. Most important always is to get a commitment of one or two days a week, since only in this manner can a voluntary program work.

We also realized that there are people with certain interests or backgrounds who, during their short stay, cannot pursue their hobbies or careers and this very often fills in that void.

At about this time, I met Diane Umemoto, who had just come here from Bangkok. Bangkok has a very organized Museum Group and I was eager to learn (since I had never done this before) how it ran there. Diane talked about the study groups. We felt that it was a great idea and started to plan. The membership grew!-We lined up guest speakers at tour meetings and whatever we needed to do, got done. We always felt miracles were happening!

It was hard work, though--calling people and especially convincing people at the museums that we meant to help. Ayala Museum was a "hard nut to crack" but finally Diane managed to get Fr. Casal* to come and speak to us and that opened up the door for us and held it open for us ever since.

We had Volunteers working at the National Museum, at Casa Manila, at Ayala Museum and had visits to the University of Sto. Tomas Museum, as well. We also established a good contact with Fr. Moreno, who is a great source of information and inspiration.

Study Groups started under the wise guidance of Diane Umemoto and the Voluntary Work progressed by continuous encouragement at our meetings, through tours and with the proper guidance of the different museums.

Some of the very first volunteers who contributed everything to the group and helped make it happen were, apart from Ann Arlidge and Diane Umemoto: Ann Southard, Bonnie Hooker, Nancy Freeman, Julie Fenimore, Elspeth Gmuender, Diane Torres, Barbara Pritchett, Carol Stratton, Mary Ng, Mary Stephens, Carolyn Noering and many others too numerous to mention, plus of course the present steering committee under the very able Barbara Davies.

Each and every member has left an impact and has helped to make the group stronger and stronger, yet it has remained informal.

The first four years were hard but one day, after a meeting at Diane Torres's house, both Diane Umemoto and myself had that "gut feeling" that, Y E S, the group was going. to stay. We did it. We felt wonderful because we knew that the roots were strong enough to hold up the ever-growing memberships' needs and demands.

While voluntary work at the different museums has continued to be somewhat difficult at times for various reasons, the Study Groups really have been the backbone of the group, including tours, visits to galleries, artists homes, etc. and the "Mini" study groups during the summer months.

What binds us together, though, is the common interest in learning from the country we live in, sharing our thoughts and simply making friends with people who enjoy the same things.

I know that my stay would not have been as fulfilling had it not been for the Museum Group and we know that everyone who leaves, leaves with happy memories and very often plans of doing just the same in another country.