by: MARIE SHANE KRIZZIA S. DELGADO and JOELLE THERESA V. NGO
THE PAST month was summed up with a different twist.
During October, people usually spend the time thinking of their Halloween party costumes and visiting their loved ones at the cemetery for the upcoming All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
But, this year’s October was more than just spending time on buying make-up and fabrics for costumes... It is the time of the year dedicated to the greatness of Filipino art and cultural heritage.
October is the Museums and Galleries Month in the Philippines. Hence, it is the month of celebrating Filipino arts and culture.
THE PAST month was summed up with a different twist.
During October, people usually spend the time thinking of their Halloween party costumes and visiting their loved ones at the cemetery for the upcoming All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
But, this year’s October was more than just spending time on buying make-up and fabrics for costumes... It is the time of the year dedicated to the greatness of Filipino art and cultural heritage.
October is the Museums and Galleries Month in the Philippines. Hence, it is the month of celebrating Filipino arts and culture.
National Museum
The National Museum of the Philippines celebrated its 113th Anniversary last October 29 opening its doors to the public for free for the month of October.
Despite the towering condos, town centers, and malls rapidly spreading along the city of Manila, it is quite refreshing to still be able to explore a structure like the National Museum.
The museum will celebrate the said event with this year’s theme called “'Connecting National Collections with our Communities.”
Aside from the fact that the building is a historical artifact itself for it has withstood the test of time, it has also served its purpose for years as it preserves and showcases some of the national treasures of the Philippines that represent the Filipino cultural heritage.
The historical artifacts within the museum would surely boost national pride in many Filipinos as they witness the works and masterpieces of our very own artists and their ingenuity through their paintings, sculptures, and a lot more.
Upon entering the first room of the National Art Gallery in the museum, one can immediately be amazed at the first room which houses the largest painting in the Philippines called the Spoliarium.
The Spoliarium is an over life-size masterpiece created by the famous Filipino painter Juan Luna. Another equally stunning Philippine national treasure is located at the same room -The Assassination of General Bustamante by Felix Ressureccion Hidalgo, which depicts the murder of the governor in the hands of the friars and their supporters. This painting was inspired by true-to-life event that took place in 1717 Manila.
Meanwhile, the Museum of the Filipino People, which used to be the Department of Finance, houses both historical and modern works of art. Numerous anthropological and archaeological artifacts can be found here.
The museum’s interior is a combination of traditional and contemporary architectural designs. Visiting the Museum of the Filipino People would give you a touch of modernity and a nostalgic feeling at the same time.
A model of the traditional Ifugao house, known as the Ayangan House, is located near the entrance. There is also a room dedicated to Carolus Linnaeus, the father of Taxonomy, which houses several preserved animals and plants; biology books are also accessible inside this room.
Photographs of modern Filipinos are featured in an exhibit called Kinahinatnan. This exhibit shows how diversity plays an important role in building cultural patterns.
There is also a room displaying traditional Filipino clothes, tools and settlements popularly known as bahay-kubo.
Models of cannons, swords and ship’s anchors reflect the courage of our countrymen who risked their lives to fight for our freedom and territorial rights.
ManilART
The ManilART 2014 featured contemporary art which reflects the genuine skills of Filipino contemporary artists. This event was held at SMX Aura Convention Center from October 16 to 19 and was made possible by the Bonafide Art Galleries Organization (BAGO) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
This year’s theme was “Crossing Borders, Bridging Cultures” which clearly depicts art diversity in terms of genre. It shows how artists from different regions express their own perspective of imagery, value and aesthetics. It also promotes the significant connections between intercultural and interregional works of art.
The exhibit also presented works of art from Europe and other South East Asian countries. Moreover, the Endangered Visions International Art Exhibition was also launched lead by Gromyko Semper, a Cabanatuan-based artist. This exhibit presented original artworks of 40 local and foreign artists.
*****
There are a lot more museums and art exhibits to explore during this art-filled month. It is highly refreshing and awe-inspiring when Filipinos take the time to visit our museums for it will truly make them feel proud of the Filipino culture and its richness as the museum demonstrates the creativity and ingenuity of the Filipino people.
The National Museum of the Philippines celebrated its 113th Anniversary last October 29 opening its doors to the public for free for the month of October.
Despite the towering condos, town centers, and malls rapidly spreading along the city of Manila, it is quite refreshing to still be able to explore a structure like the National Museum.
The museum will celebrate the said event with this year’s theme called “'Connecting National Collections with our Communities.”
Aside from the fact that the building is a historical artifact itself for it has withstood the test of time, it has also served its purpose for years as it preserves and showcases some of the national treasures of the Philippines that represent the Filipino cultural heritage.
The historical artifacts within the museum would surely boost national pride in many Filipinos as they witness the works and masterpieces of our very own artists and their ingenuity through their paintings, sculptures, and a lot more.
Upon entering the first room of the National Art Gallery in the museum, one can immediately be amazed at the first room which houses the largest painting in the Philippines called the Spoliarium.
The Spoliarium is an over life-size masterpiece created by the famous Filipino painter Juan Luna. Another equally stunning Philippine national treasure is located at the same room -The Assassination of General Bustamante by Felix Ressureccion Hidalgo, which depicts the murder of the governor in the hands of the friars and their supporters. This painting was inspired by true-to-life event that took place in 1717 Manila.
Meanwhile, the Museum of the Filipino People, which used to be the Department of Finance, houses both historical and modern works of art. Numerous anthropological and archaeological artifacts can be found here.
The museum’s interior is a combination of traditional and contemporary architectural designs. Visiting the Museum of the Filipino People would give you a touch of modernity and a nostalgic feeling at the same time.
A model of the traditional Ifugao house, known as the Ayangan House, is located near the entrance. There is also a room dedicated to Carolus Linnaeus, the father of Taxonomy, which houses several preserved animals and plants; biology books are also accessible inside this room.
Photographs of modern Filipinos are featured in an exhibit called Kinahinatnan. This exhibit shows how diversity plays an important role in building cultural patterns.
There is also a room displaying traditional Filipino clothes, tools and settlements popularly known as bahay-kubo.
Models of cannons, swords and ship’s anchors reflect the courage of our countrymen who risked their lives to fight for our freedom and territorial rights.
ManilART
The ManilART 2014 featured contemporary art which reflects the genuine skills of Filipino contemporary artists. This event was held at SMX Aura Convention Center from October 16 to 19 and was made possible by the Bonafide Art Galleries Organization (BAGO) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
This year’s theme was “Crossing Borders, Bridging Cultures” which clearly depicts art diversity in terms of genre. It shows how artists from different regions express their own perspective of imagery, value and aesthetics. It also promotes the significant connections between intercultural and interregional works of art.
The exhibit also presented works of art from Europe and other South East Asian countries. Moreover, the Endangered Visions International Art Exhibition was also launched lead by Gromyko Semper, a Cabanatuan-based artist. This exhibit presented original artworks of 40 local and foreign artists.
*****
There are a lot more museums and art exhibits to explore during this art-filled month. It is highly refreshing and awe-inspiring when Filipinos take the time to visit our museums for it will truly make them feel proud of the Filipino culture and its richness as the museum demonstrates the creativity and ingenuity of the Filipino people.