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The museums under the National Museum had massive modernization and education campaigns since the start of the 21st century. From 2000 to present, the museums under it advanced in public education and cooperation. The National Museum also magnified its role in nation-building and national identity. In 2016, the entrance of the entire National Museum Complex (including all its branch museums) became permanently free due to the high spike of visitors in all of its museums, especially among the youth. It is now one of the most active state museums in Asia. |
The museums under the National Museum had massive modernization and education campaigns since the start of the 21st century. From 2000 to present, the museums under it advanced in public education and cooperation. The National Museum also magnified its role in nation-building and national identity. In 2016, the entrance of the entire National Museum Complex (including all its branch museums) became permanently free due to the high spike of visitors in all of its museums, especially among the youth. It is now one of the most active state museums in Asia. |
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==Mission and Vision== |
==Mission and Vision== |
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==Museums== |
==Museums== |
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===National Museum of Fine Arts=== |
===National Museum of Fine Arts=== |
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The National Museum of Fine Arts, formerly called the '''National Art Gallery''', is housed in the [[Old Legislative Building (Manila)|old Legislative Building]] |
The National Museum of Fine Arts, formerly called the '''National Art Gallery''', is housed in the [[Old Legislative Building (Manila)|old Legislative Building]]. |
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The |
The building was originally designed as the public library by Ralph Harrington Doane, the American consulting architect of the Bureau of Public Works, and his assistant Antonio Toledo. Construction began in 1918 but was suspended several times because of lack of funds. When it was decided that the building should be used by the Legislature, the revisions of the plans was entrusted to Juan Arellano, then supervising architect of the Bureau. The building was inaugurated on 16 July 1926, and by then had cost four million pesos. |
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The building was part of Daniel Burnham's plan for the development of Manila. Upon its completion, the second, third, and fourth floors were occupied by the Senate and House of Representatives while the ground floor was occupied by the National Library. |
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On July 16, 1926, the building was formally inaugurated. During the World War II, the building was heavily damaged, though built to be earthquake resistant.<ref name="Alarcon"/> After the war, it was rebuilt albeit less ornate and less detailed. During the Martial Law era, the Legislative Building was closed down. Today, the building holds the country's National Art Gallery, natural sciences and other support divisions. |
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The 1934 Constitutional Convention was held in this building. On its front steps Manuel L. Quezon was sworn in as President of the Commonwealth. The Legislative Building was a casualty during the bombing and shelling of Manila in 1945. It was reconstructed in 1946 following the original plans but with some revisions, such as the replacement of flat pilasters of the stately rounded engaged columns. In mid-1996, the Senate of the Philippines moved out of the building. In 2003, renovation started to transform it into National Art Gallery of the national Museum. |
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Today, the building holds the country's National Art Gallery, natural sciences and other support divisions. Once the National Museum of Natural History is finished, the natural sciences division shall automatically transfer to it.<ref>http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/Museums%20and%20Branches/National.html</ref> |
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{{Gallery |
{{Gallery |
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{{main|Museum of the Filipino People}} |
{{main|Museum of the Filipino People}} |
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The National Museum of Anthropology, formerly called the '''Museum of the Filipino People''', is a component museum of the National Museum of the Philippines that houses the anthropology and archaeology divisions. It is located in the Agrifina Circle, [[Rizal Park]], [[Manila]] adjacent to the main National Museum building which houses the National Art Gallery. The building was formerly housed by the [[Department of Finance (Philippines)|Department of Finance]]. |
The National Museum of Anthropology, formerly called the '''Museum of the Filipino People''', is a component museum of the National Museum of the Philippines that houses the anthropology and archaeology divisions. It is located in the Agrifina Circle, [[Rizal Park]], [[Manila]] adjacent to the main National Museum building which houses the National Art Gallery. The building was formerly housed by the [[Department of Finance (Philippines)|Department of Finance]]. |
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The building was originally designed as the public library by Ralph Harrington Doane, the American consulting architect of the Bureau of Public Works, and his assistant Antonio Toledo. Construction began in 1918 but was suspended several times because of lack of funds. When it was decided that the building should be used by the Legislature, the revisions of the plans was entrusted to Juan Arellano, then supervising architect of the Bureau. The building was inaugurated on 16 July 1926, and by then had cost four million pesos. |
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The building was part of Daniel Burnham's plan for the development of Manila. Upon its completion, the second, third, and fourth floors were occupied by the Senate and House of Representatives while the ground floor was occupied by the National Library. |
|||
The 1934 Constitutional Convention was held in this building. On its front steps Manuel L. Quezon was sworn in as President of the Commonwealth. The Legislative Building was a casualty during the bombing and shelling of Manila in 1945. It was reconstructed in 1946 following the original plans but with some revisions, such as the replacement of flat pilasters of the stately rounded engaged columns. |
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In mid-1996, the Senate of the Philippines moved out of the building. In 2003, renovation started to transform it into the National Art Gallery of the National Museum. It now serves as rge National Museum of Anthropology.<ref>http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/Museums%20and%20Branches/Filipino.html</ref> |
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{{Gallery |
{{Gallery |
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{{main|National Planetarium (Manila)}} |
{{main|National Planetarium (Manila)}} |
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The idea of putting up a modern Planetarium in Manila was conceived in 1970’s by the former National Museum Director Godofredo Alcasid Sr. with the assistance of Mr. Maximo P. Sacro, Jr. of the Philippine Weather bureau (now PAGASA) and one of the founders of the Philippine Astronomical Society (PAS). The Planetarium is located between the Japanese Garden and the Chinese Garden at the Luneta Park. The project was presented to the former First Lady Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, then the Chairman of the National Parks and Development Committee (NPDC). As one of her priority projects, Mrs. Marcos requested the Department of Public Works and Highways to prepare the Planetarium in one month’s time and allocate the funds for the construction. Construction of the building began in 1974 and took nine months to complete. It was formally inaugurated on October 8, 1975. The Presidential Decree No. 804-A, issued on September 30, 1975, affirmed the Planetarium’s status. Its primary function is to disseminate astronomical information through planetarium shows, lectures, demonstrations, exhibits and actual celestial observations. The unique feature of the Planetarium is the true-to-life projection of astronomical bodies that captures the interest and tickles the imagination of viewers. The GM-15 Goto Planetarium Projector was acquired through the Japanese Reparation Program in the Philippines. Through the years, improvements have been made in the Planetarium building through the efforts of its former Directors. In May 2010, Director Jeremy Barns approved the funds for the major repair of the Planetarium Projector which is considered to be the heart and soul of the Planetarium. Efforts to continually develop its facilities are ongoing.<ref>http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/Museums%20and%20Branches/Planet.html</ref> |
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The Planetarium was planned in 1970’s when former National Museum Director Godofredo Alcasid Sr. with the assistance of Mr. Maximo P. Sacro, Jr. of the [[Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration|Philippine Weather bureau]] and one of the founders of the Philippine Astronomical Society. |
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The building started on construction on 1974 and completed 9 months after. It was formally inaugurated on October 8, 1975. The Presidential Decree No. 804-A, issued on September 30, 1975, affirmed the Planetarium’s status. The Planetarium is located between the Japanese Garden and the Chinese Garden at the [[Rizal Park]].<ref>[http://nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/Museums%20and%20Branches/Planet.html Branches of the National Museum]. ''National Museum of the Philippines''</ref> |
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===Branch Museums=== |
===Branch Museums=== |
Revision as of 12:28, 28 August 2016
Pambansang Museo ng Pilipinas | |
File:National Museum PH logo.png | |
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 425: No value was provided for longitude. | |
Established | October 29, 1901[1][1] |
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Location | Padre Burgos Avenue, Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila |
Director | Jeremy R. Barns |
Owner | Government of the Republic of the Philippines |
Public transit access | Light Rail Transit: LRT-1 via Central Terminal and United Nations stations |
Website | www |
The National Museum of the Philippines (Filipino: Pambansang Museo ng Pilipinas) is a government institution in the Philippines and serves as an educational, scientific and cultural institution in preserving the various permanent national collections featuring the ethnographic, anthropological, archaeological and visual artistry of the Philippines. Since 1998, the National Museum has been the regulatory and enforcement agency of the National Government in the restoring and safeguarding of important cultural properties, sites and reservations throughout the Philippines.
The National Museum operates the National Museum of Fine Arts, National Museum of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, National Planetarium, and numerous Branch Museums in specific locations in the country.
History
The National Museum began as the Insular Museum of Ethnology, Natural History, and Commerce in 1901 under the Department of Public Instruction through Philippine Commission Act No. 284. It was subsequently transferred under the Department of Interior as the Bureau of Ethnological Survey after the passage of the Philippine Commission Act No. 841 in 1903. This new bureau was responsible for the Philippine participation in the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. After the exposition, it was abolished as a separate bureau and was renamed the Philippine Museum.
The National Museum went through the division and distribution of its functions to other government agencies. The Philippine Legislature passed Act No. 4007 in 1933 abolishing the museum and appropriated its divisions to the following agencies: the Division of Fine Arts and History to the National Library, the Division of Ethnology went to the Bureau of Science, and the Division of Anthropology which included archaeology, ethnography and physical anthropology and the other sections of natural history of the Bureau of Science were organized into a National History Museum Division. The latter was transformed into an independent unit under the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce through Commonwealth Act No. 453 in 1939.
The Japanese Occupation brought back the divisions under the National Museum of the Philippines as provided by Philippine Republic Executive Order No. 94. But the museum will lost a large part of its collection during the liberation of Manila when the Legislative Building was destroyed by American artillery. Fortunately, the Legislative Building was immediately restored through the American reparation funds bringing the museum back to its operations.
The museum’s role in cultural growth was recognized as contributory to government’s desire for national development.[2] It was revitalized in 1966 when President Ferdinand Marcos signed Republic Act No. 4846 or the Cultural Properties and Protection Act. The law designated the museum as the lead agency in the protection and preservation of the nation’s cultural properties through the conduct of census, study, and declaration of such properties and the monitoring and regulation of archaeological exploration, excavation, or diggings in historical or archaeological sites. With its new powers, it was able to strengthen its cultural mandate by declaring properties, structures, and sites of historical and cultural value to the nation. The educational mandate was strengthened because it was able to inform the public of the researches it conducted and through the acquisition and exhibition of archaeological finds.
The National Museum has a three-dimensional goal covering diverse of fields of knowledge through various educational, scientific and cultural activities. As an educational institution, the National Museum disseminates scientific and technical knowledge in more understandable and practical forms through lectures, exhibitions, interviews and publications for students and the general public.
As a scientific institution, the National Museum conducts basic research programs combining integrated laboratory and field work in anthropology and archaeology, botany, geology, and zoology. It maintains reference collections on these disciplines and promotes scientific development in the Philippines.
As a cultural center, the National Museum takes the lead in the study and preservation of the nation's rich artistic, historical and cultural heritage in the reconstruction and rebuilding of our nation's past and veneration of the great pioneers who helped in building our nation.
The museums under the National Museum had massive modernization and education campaigns since the start of the 21st century. From 2000 to present, the museums under it advanced in public education and cooperation. The National Museum also magnified its role in nation-building and national identity. In 2016, the entrance of the entire National Museum Complex (including all its branch museums) became permanently free due to the high spike of visitors in all of its museums, especially among the youth. It is now one of the most active state museums in Asia.
Mission and Vision
Mission
"A Filipino nation unified by a deep sense of pride in their common identity, cultural heritage and natural patrimony and imbibed with the spirit of nationalism and strong commitment to the protection and dissemination of Filipino legacy."
Vision
"A Filipino nation unified by a deep sense of pride in their common identity, cultural heritage and natural patrimony and imbibed with the spirit of nationalism and strong commitment to the protection and dissemination of Filipino legacy."
Museums
National Museum of Fine Arts
The National Museum of Fine Arts, formerly called the National Art Gallery, is housed in the old Legislative Building.
The building was originally designed as the public library by Ralph Harrington Doane, the American consulting architect of the Bureau of Public Works, and his assistant Antonio Toledo. Construction began in 1918 but was suspended several times because of lack of funds. When it was decided that the building should be used by the Legislature, the revisions of the plans was entrusted to Juan Arellano, then supervising architect of the Bureau. The building was inaugurated on 16 July 1926, and by then had cost four million pesos.
The building was part of Daniel Burnham's plan for the development of Manila. Upon its completion, the second, third, and fourth floors were occupied by the Senate and House of Representatives while the ground floor was occupied by the National Library.
The 1934 Constitutional Convention was held in this building. On its front steps Manuel L. Quezon was sworn in as President of the Commonwealth. The Legislative Building was a casualty during the bombing and shelling of Manila in 1945. It was reconstructed in 1946 following the original plans but with some revisions, such as the replacement of flat pilasters of the stately rounded engaged columns. In mid-1996, the Senate of the Philippines moved out of the building. In 2003, renovation started to transform it into National Art Gallery of the national Museum.
Today, the building holds the country's National Art Gallery, natural sciences and other support divisions. Once the National Museum of Natural History is finished, the natural sciences division shall automatically transfer to it.[3]
National Museum of Anthropology
The National Museum of Anthropology, formerly called the Museum of the Filipino People, is a component museum of the National Museum of the Philippines that houses the anthropology and archaeology divisions. It is located in the Agrifina Circle, Rizal Park, Manila adjacent to the main National Museum building which houses the National Art Gallery. The building was formerly housed by the Department of Finance.
The building was originally designed as the public library by Ralph Harrington Doane, the American consulting architect of the Bureau of Public Works, and his assistant Antonio Toledo. Construction began in 1918 but was suspended several times because of lack of funds. When it was decided that the building should be used by the Legislature, the revisions of the plans was entrusted to Juan Arellano, then supervising architect of the Bureau. The building was inaugurated on 16 July 1926, and by then had cost four million pesos.
The building was part of Daniel Burnham's plan for the development of Manila. Upon its completion, the second, third, and fourth floors were occupied by the Senate and House of Representatives while the ground floor was occupied by the National Library.
The 1934 Constitutional Convention was held in this building. On its front steps Manuel L. Quezon was sworn in as President of the Commonwealth. The Legislative Building was a casualty during the bombing and shelling of Manila in 1945. It was reconstructed in 1946 following the original plans but with some revisions, such as the replacement of flat pilasters of the stately rounded engaged columns.
In mid-1996, the Senate of the Philippines moved out of the building. In 2003, renovation started to transform it into the National Art Gallery of the National Museum. It now serves as rge National Museum of Anthropology.[4]
National Museum of Natural History
It was recently announced that the third building of this museum complex — the one presently occupied by the Department of Tourism, shall be developed into the Museum of Natural History, once the Department moves out and transfers to its permanent location in Makati. The National Museum of Natural History will have a hexagonal DNA tower structure in its center which will be the base for the ventilating roof-dome of the whole building. Living trees will also be planted within the interior of the building. It was expected to be finished in the last quarter of 2015[5] but the opening of the museum was moved sometime in 2017.
National Planetarium
The idea of putting up a modern Planetarium in Manila was conceived in 1970’s by the former National Museum Director Godofredo Alcasid Sr. with the assistance of Mr. Maximo P. Sacro, Jr. of the Philippine Weather bureau (now PAGASA) and one of the founders of the Philippine Astronomical Society (PAS). The Planetarium is located between the Japanese Garden and the Chinese Garden at the Luneta Park. The project was presented to the former First Lady Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, then the Chairman of the National Parks and Development Committee (NPDC). As one of her priority projects, Mrs. Marcos requested the Department of Public Works and Highways to prepare the Planetarium in one month’s time and allocate the funds for the construction. Construction of the building began in 1974 and took nine months to complete. It was formally inaugurated on October 8, 1975. The Presidential Decree No. 804-A, issued on September 30, 1975, affirmed the Planetarium’s status. Its primary function is to disseminate astronomical information through planetarium shows, lectures, demonstrations, exhibits and actual celestial observations. The unique feature of the Planetarium is the true-to-life projection of astronomical bodies that captures the interest and tickles the imagination of viewers. The GM-15 Goto Planetarium Projector was acquired through the Japanese Reparation Program in the Philippines. Through the years, improvements have been made in the Planetarium building through the efforts of its former Directors. In May 2010, Director Jeremy Barns approved the funds for the major repair of the Planetarium Projector which is considered to be the heart and soul of the Planetarium. Efforts to continually develop its facilities are ongoing.[6]
Branch Museums
There are currently 13 Branch Museums of the National Museum of the Philippines located outside of the main Museum Complex in Rizal Park, Manila. Out of this 13 branches, 3 are currently closed due to rehabilitation (Vigan, Magsingal, and Angono-Binangonan) and 1 is currently closed due to change of location (Cebu).
The Bolinao Museum in Pangasinan has formally been closed and has ceased to operate due to unspecified reasons. Prior to its official closure, [7]
Angono Museum
The Angono Petroglyphs Site Museum is situated at the municipality of Binangonan, province of Rizal, three and a half kilometers southeast of the town of Angono. It was discovered in 1965 by National Artist, Carlos “Botong” Francisco during a field trip with a troop of boy scouts. He reported to the National Museum the existence of a cave with drawings of a primitive quality.
In October 1965, a National Museum interdisciplinary research team headed by archaeologist Alfredo Evangelista recovered four stone tools from the site. Subsequent excavations in the cave and its vicinities also yielded fragments of earthenware, obsidian flakes and shells. Jesus Peralta, an anthropologist and former Assistant Director of the National Museum, brought the Angono Petroglyphs to the public’s attention through his research. To heighten consciousness on the cultural value of the site, the National Museum in 1998, established a museum showcasing the cultural and artistic heritage of the province of Rizal.
Among the collections in the museum include the remains of giant turtle, tusks, fossils, molar of Elephas sp., tradeware ceramics, and paintings.
The Angono Petroglyphs date back to circa late Neolithic. They are located in the rear recess of a cave, carved in a rock formation belonging to the Pleistocene Guadalupe Formation. There are 127 figures engraved into volcanic tuff that was soft enough to be worked on by a denser piece of stone. Unlike other examples of prehistoric art, there is no indication that colors were ever incorporated in the drawings.
Presidential Decree No. 260 declares the Angono Petroglyphs a National Cultural Treasure. The petroglyphs are also included in the World Inventory of Rock Art under the auspices of UNESCO, ICCROM and ICOMOS and are included in the “100 Most Endangered Sites of the World” in 1996. At present, efforts are directed for the sustained restoration and preservation of this national treasure.[8]
Padre Burgos Museum
This museum is the ancestral house and birthplace of priest patriot Fr. Jose Burgos. Known as Padre Burgos House, it is one of the notable historic structures of Vigan, the capital of the province of Ilocos Sur. It is a two-story structure located near the Provincial Capitol and close to St. Paul’s Metropolitan Cathedral. It was renovated by the Filipinas Foundation, Inc. and inaugurated on May 3, 1975. In January 1989, a Contract of Lease was executed by the Ilocos Sur Historical and Cultural Foundation, Inc. leasing the memorabilia for 50 years, and turning over the administration to the National Museum.
Vigan is strategically located at the delta of Abra River and was the center of political, religious, economic, social and cultural activities in Northern Luzon for more than three centuries. This city became the hotbed of social unrest against colonial abuses. Among those who led the cause for patriotism were the Bigueños Fr. Jose Burgos, the poetess Leona Florentino, her son Isabelo de los Reyes (father of Philippine Labor Unionism) and Elpidio Quirino, the second President of the Republic.
The historic city of Vigan was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 2, 1999.
Among the collections of this museum include Iloco-Kankanay-Itneg material culture: wooden plates and bowls; wooden coffins; burial chair; musical instruments such as drum (tambur), bamboo mouth flute (paldeng), and brass gong (gansa); weaponry such as shield (kalasag) and spears; weaving implements and wooden loom (pag-ablan); textiles; jars, trade ceramics; models of two trading vessels, dioramas of local historical events; photographs of individuals who contributed to the socio-cultural development and history of the region and of the Philippines, old books and historical records, memorabilia of Father Burgos and his family; period furniture pieces., oil paintings of the Basi Revolt of 1807 by Don Esteban Villanueva, and liturgical collections.[9]
Kabayan Museum
The Kabayan Branch Museum was established to ensure the proper implementation of P D. 260 which declares the Kabayan Mummy Caves of Kabayan, Benguet a National Cultural Treasure. The mummy caves are secret niches of the native tribes particularly the Ibalois and Kankanays located in the far-flung mountains of Benguet Province.
Among these caves are Timbac located in Singkalsa Mountain 8,000 feet above sea level; Tenongchol, a man-made burial rock located in Barrio Kabayan, Benguet; Opdas Burial Cave, otherwise known as the "cave of skulls"; Bangao Cave; and, the Ambacdet Burial Cave. The Kabayan Museum has been declared an "Endangered Site" by the World Monuments Watch which needs immediate preservation. The American Express Company through the World Monuments Fund extended imancial assistance for the initial conservation and protection of the caves.
Among the collections include Ibaloi, Ikalahan/Kalanguya and Kankanai material culture: wooden bowls to contain food, baskets to store and contain agricultural produce, a bulbous pottery jar to store and contain a ritual rice wine called tapuy, and a ritual skull of a pig. This museum had also exhibited four mummies, which were eventually returned for burial in Timbac Caves on February 18, 2004.[10]
Kiangan Museum
The Kiangan Museum is an ethnic museum which serves as a showcase of priceless Ifugao artifacts and ancient traditions. It stands on the historic PVAO compound facing the war memorial shrine. Kiangan Museum was previously administered by PANAMIN until it was officially turned-over to the National Museum on May 30, 1984.
The museum is a two-story concrete building that stands on the historic Philippine Veterans Administration Office (PVAO) compound facing the War Memorial Shrine. The shrine symbolizes the victory of the Allied Forces against the Japanese invasion forces during World War II. The people of Kiangan still practice the Hudhud chant, a 40-episode epic that was declared National Cultural Treasure on November 14, 2001. It was included in UNESCO痴 list of 閃asterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity・on May 18, 2001.
Among the collections of this museum include Ifugao carvings on wood; household items like spoons, bowls and dishes; ritual paraphernalia, wooden granary idols (binulloll) in various positions, baskets of different forms and sizes, metal weapons such as spears and shields, musical instruments: wooden and bamboo clappers, bamboo nose and mouth flutes, brass gongs, wooden drums covered with animal hide, personal adornments: brass earrings and bracelets, armlets, neck ornaments, belts made of shells, and Ifugao clothing.[11]
Magsingal Museum
The Magsingal Museum in Ilocos Sur was formerly a convent of Spanish architecture built in 1676. Restored and transformed into a museum in October 1982, the Magsingal Museum showcases the material culture of Northern Luzon. A short distance from this museum is the P Burgos House, birthplace of Filipino priest patriot Fr. Jose Burgos. The P Burgos House was turned over to the National Museum in January 1989. It exhibits the collections depicting the cultural development of Vigan and the memorabilia of Fr. Burgos and his family. Some of the highlights of the collections are the priceless 14-piece Villanueva paintings depicting the famed Basi Revolt of 1807, some religious images, Vienna furniture and ' other period pieces and heirlooms, antique collections of ethnographic and archaeological objects revealing the colorful Ilocano past.
The branch museum is situated behind a centuries-old belfry that towers magnificently over the town of Magsingal, Ilocos Sur. Magsingal was founded by the Spanish colonizer, Capt. Juan de Salcedo, who worked for the conversion of the Itnegs, the first inhabitants of the place, to Christianity.
The museum was once the rectory of the parish priest and was built simultaneously with the church in 1676. Its strong foundation of bricks, lime and stone withstood disastrous calamities like fire, typhoons and earthquakes. The old rectory was converted into a school building during the early American regime. During the Japanese occupation, the museum served as an interment for the residents of Magsingal when a Japanese captain was murdered. In 1977, then Secretary of Education Juan Manuel directed the Division School Superintendent of Ilocos Sur to vacate the building and turn it into a museum that would house the antique collections and artifacts of Magsingal.
The Magsingal branch museum is among the first branch museums established to meet the Department of Education’s goal of establishing more local and regional museums all over the country. The museum stands on a 1,170 square meter lot donated by the municipality of Magsingal on October 6, 1986. It was formally opened to the public in October 1982.[12]
Palawan Museum
The Palawan Museum was formerly a station for museum fieldmen before it was developed into an orientation museum. It preserves, maintains, and interprets the artifacts in situ of the Neolithic habitation site of ancient Filipinos and houses the ethnographic and natural history objects of the province. The Sub-station 2 in Tawa-tawa maintains, preserves, and protects the Tabon Caves Complex located in the Lipuun Point Reservation where numerous archaeological artifacts have been discovered.
The museum was a field station that was turned into an orientation museum after the discovery of Tabon Caves. The extensive archaeological explorations and excavations of the Tabon Cave Complex from July 3, 1962 to June 30, 1965 was initiated by Dr. Robert Fox, an American archaeologist, then the Chief of the Anthropology Division of the National Museum.
The branch is in the town of Quezon in Palawan, 586 kilometers southwest of Manila. Quezon is approximately 148 kilometers away from Puerto Princesa City, the provincial capital. Palawan is home to the Tagbanua, Pala蜘an, Tau稚 Batu and Batak ethnolinguistic groups and also a sanctuary for rare species of flora and fauna.
Among the collections included are Baskets (bayong), dart holders, blowgun (supukan), darts (baslay) with several types of points, Tagbanua ritual paraphernalia: stoneware jar for the rice wine, porcelain plates and bowls to contain areca nuts and betel leaves, gongs and drums, bamboo pole on which hung dried pandan leaves, woven mat, Human bones, ceramics and other archaeological materials with dates ranging from 30,000 years ago to 14th century A.D., Bamboo segments with indigenous syllabic scripts of the Tagbanua and Pala蜘an, and Palawan flora and fauna.[13]
Bohol Museum
The Tagbilaran Branch Museum is housed in an old City Library. It presents the results of archaeological exploration and excavation of sites in Anda Peninsula. The archaeological data give insights to the prehistory of the island of Bohol.[14]
Butuan Museum
The museum is located in Butuan City, the provincial capital of Agusan del Norte. It was established after the accidental discovery of archaeological materials by the City Engineering Office of Butuan City in 1974 while draining the water confined inside a man-made river system. Succeeding excavations conducted by the National Museum, yielded tremendous archaeological finds of collectors・value. The most significant find were the prehistoric Balanghai or Butuan boats that date from 4th to 13th centuries A.D., just five kilometers from the city proper. The National Museum conducted a scientific research, sending its archaeologists and researchers at Ambangan, Libertad.
The establishment of the museum was facilitated through the support of the Butuan Museum Foundation, Inc., which was organized to assist the National Museum safeguard and preserve the rich cultural heritage of the region.
Then President Ferdinand E. Marcos authorized the release of four units of Marcos-type school buildings while the city government donated a two-hectare lot, to realize the construction of the building. After 19 months, the formal inauguration finally took place on August 30, 1978.
The collections of this museum include ethnographic materials from the Higaonon, Tiruray, Mamanua and Bukidnon ethnolinguistic groups: musical instruments, agricultural tools, baskets, textiles, and personal adornments. Coffins that contain 14th ・5th century materials of pottery shards and human skulls. Other excavated materials: whetstones, mortar, adze and tablet; wooden paddles; ceramic wares Body ornaments and implements made of gold, silver, lead, copper and bronze.[15]
Tabaco Museum
The Tabaco Museum in Tabaco, Albay is one of the latest additions to the Agency's branch museums. This museum showcases the cultural heritage of Region V and is Considered a historical museum. It has a special showcase on volcanoes and a permanent display on Philippine geologic times.[16]
Cebu Museum
The National Museum Cebu Branch is situated within the compound of Museo Sugbo. It showcases the relics and artifacts of "San Diego", a Cebu built galleon which sank in the l6th century off Fortune Island in Nasugbu, Batangas and a rich collection of ceramics and artifacts from various archaeological sites in Cebu Province. This museum was formerly situated in Fort San Pedro which was restored through a P1.3 million grant from the Spanish Embassy.
This museum is currently inactive as it will be relocated for a new location in Cebu.[17]
Fort Pilar Museum
The Fort Pilar Museum in Zamboanga City was initiated and established through the concerted efforts of the Department of Tourism, the Department of Public Highways, the City Government of Zamboanga and the National Museum. This museum is situated within the historic bastions of Fort Pilar and is named after the patron saint of the city, the Nuestra Senora del Pilar. It showcases the indigenous marine life of Zamboanga and the nearby islands and the underwater archaeological finds from the "Grifim" which sank during the l8th century in the waters northwest off Basilan Province. On October 27, 1993, two major exhibitions were formally inaugurated featuring the Peoples of Southwestern Philippines, the Sama Dilaut, the Subanon, and the Yakan.
The establishment of a museum branch in Zamboanga City was made possible by Presidential Decree 260 declaring Fort Pilar as a National Cultural Treasure on August 1,1973. Situated within the historic Fort Pilar, the museum is named in honor of Nuestra Señora del Pilar, patroness of Zamboanga. Zamboanga City is the most important city of Zamboanga del Sur, one of the three provinces in Western Mindanao.
Fr. Melchor de Vera, a Jesuit missionary engineer who accompanied Captain Juan de Chaves on April 6, 1635 with 1,000 Visayans and 300 Spaniards as they landed in Zamboanga, started the construction of Fort Pilar on June 23, 1635. Fort Pilar, Father De Vera’s masterpiece, was abandoned in 1663, rebuilt in 1718, and was for centuries a defense against Muslim, Dutch, Portuguese and British attacks. It was in disrepair after World War II until it was restored by the National Museum.
The restoration and reconstruction of the three structures inside the fort started in the early part of 1980. After six years of rehabilitation work, the museum branch opened its door to the public with a special exhibit on Philippine Contemporary Art. In October 1987, the permanent exhibit on the Marine Life of Zamboanga, Basilan and Sulu was opened at the second floor of Structure II showing 400 species of marine life specimens in giant dioramas. Simultaneously opened was a special exhibit on the 18th Century Relics from the Griffin Shipwreck at the ground floor, which coincided with the formal inauguration of the structure. Then former congresswoman and Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat, one of the staunch supporters of Fort Pilar Museum, and the civic-minded residents of the city greatly contributed to the realization of development projects in the museum.[18]
Marinduque Museum
The branch museum is housed in an old Spanish building that used to be a library and Municipal Trial Court of Boac, Marinduque. Representative and now Governor Carmencita Reyes, who facilitated the restoration of the building and construction of showcases, made possible the turnover of the lot and building to the National Museum by the municipality of Boac. The museum measures 410 square meters including the mezzanine floor.
Boac, dubbed as a small paradise, is the capital town. The Boac branch museum was formally opened to the public on February 22, 1995.
Among the collections of this museum include Agricultural implements: scythe, coconut-harvesting tools, bolos, plows, pottery: stove, chicken feed containers, flowerpots, rice pot molder, pottery making devices like clay and molders, tuba (coconut wine) containers made of bamboomoriones, Morion masks, colored vests, capes, wooden shield, Modern crafts: carved wooden animals, baskets, wall decors, lampshades, fans, 10th ・8th centuries A.D. tradeware ceramics: stoneware jars, jarlets and plates of Chinese provenance steel skillet, pottery vessels and shards, and metallic and non-metallic minerals; metamorphic, sedimentary and igneous rocks; fossilized shells in limestone and petrified wood.[19]
Jolo Museum
The branch museum is in a two-story building that was once the seat of the Provincial Museum and Library of Sulu. It is located in Jolo, the provincial capital of the main island of Sulu province. The Sulu Museum and Library was established through a Sangguniang Panlalawigan resolution in 1981 to house ethnographic materials of Sulu culture and a library. With public funds and private donations, then Provincial Board member, Mrs. Oswalda A. Cabel, developed the museum. Since its inauguration on July 22, 1982, the Sulu Provincial Museum and Library had served domestic and foreign scholars, tourists and local visitors. It was donated and transferred to the National Museum on May 24, 1994. On September 19, 1997, the Jolo Branch Museum was formally opened to the public.
Among the collections in this museum include Chinese ceramics, Sulu sultan’s bedroom (replica), round and conical hats woven from bamboo strips, Tausug clothes and blankets in colorful intricate designs; spears; a sword called kampilan, musical instruments such as drums, gongs and xylophones which complete the kulintangan ensemble, fishing implements such as fishnet (laya), fish spear (sangkil), fish trap (tugung), fish scoop (sasauk), and a sailboat called pelang; and agricultural tools and implements: baskets called ambung-ambung, winnowing trays called ayagan, coconut graters, wooden plows, mortar and pestles, bolos.[20]
Former Branch Museums
Bolinao Museum
The Bolinao Branch Museum was initially an archaeological museum established following an archaeological excavation that yielded finds of cultural ' value. Through the support and assistance of the local government which donated the lot for the construction of the building, the site was developed into a multi-disciplinary museum featuring natural history objects and ethnographic and archaeological materials collected from the neighboring towns in Pangasinan.
The Bolinao branch museum formally opened to the public in 1970 following an excavation by the National Museum that yielded finds of cultural value. Through the support and assistance of the local government which donated the lot for the construction of the building on the 27th of August 1986, the archaeological museum was developed into a showcase of multi-disciplinary exhibits featuring natural history objects and ethnographic materials aside from the archaeological materials collected from towns of Pangasinan.
The museum was closed during the administration of Noynoy Aquino for an unspecified reason.[21]
References
- ^ a b "Commemorative Program for the 111th Foundation Day of the National Museum" (PDF). Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO). Retrieved 2015-05-30.
- ^ Ferdinand Marcos, New Filipinism: The Turning Point, State of the Nation Message to the Congress of the Philippines, 27 January 1969 [on-line] accessed from http://www.gov.ph/1969/01/27/ferdinand-e-marcos-fourth-state-of-the-nation-address-january-27-1969/.
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/Museums%20and%20Branches/National.html
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/Museums%20and%20Branches/Filipino.html
- ^ DOT building to be transformed into Museum of Natural History. Lifestyle Inquirer
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/Museums%20and%20Branches/Planet.html
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/ASBMD/ASBMD.html
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/ASBMD/Angono.html
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/ASBMD/Padre%20Burgos.html
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/ASBMD/Kabayan.html
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/ASBMD/Kiangan.html
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/ASBMD/Magsingal.html
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/ASBMD/Palawan.html
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/ASBMD/Bohol.html
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/ASBMD/Butuan.html
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/ASBMD/Cagsawa.html
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/ASBMD/Fort%20San%20Pedro.html
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/ASBMD/Fort%20Pilar.html
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/ASBMD/Marinduque.html
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/ASBMD/Jolo.html
- ^ http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/ASBMD/Bolinao.html
Further Reading
- Lenzi, Iola (2004). Museums of Southeast Asia. Singapore: Archipelago Press. p. 200 pages. ISBN 981-4068-96-9.