NMP RECEIVES SIX SCALE MODELS OF HISTORICAL SHIPWRECKS IN CORON, PALAWAN

Last 2 February 2026, six (6) scale models of shipwrecks in Coron, Palawan were handed over by Engr. Holger Buß to the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) as gifts to the nation. These models were produced through hundreds of hours of diving, photogrammetry documentation and modelling, 3D printing, and hand painting.

These models depict the shipwrecks of six Japanese Navy vessels—𝙊𝙡𝙮𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙖 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙪, 𝙄𝙧𝙖𝙠𝙤, 𝙊𝙠𝙞𝙠𝙖𝙬𝙖 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙪, 𝘼𝙠𝙞𝙩𝙨𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙖, 𝙀𝙠𝙠𝙖𝙞 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙪, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙆𝙤𝙜𝙮𝙤 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙪—as they appear in late 2025. These ships were fleeing American air raids in Manila Bay and seeking shelter in Coron, Palawan, when they were struck by US Navy planes in 1944.

As models, the initial impression highlights the craftsmanship put into them. Beyond this, however, their significance lies in documenting a specific point in the inevitably transitory existence of shipwrecks. Given the challenging environments that some of them are in and the resources that they demand, documentations like these are not easy to come by, much more in tangible form. Furthermore, they are also useful in planning and executing heritage conservation and management work on these sites. As our underwater cultural heritage (UCH) generally goes unnoticed and is often inaccessible to the general public, these donations are significant contributions in NMP’s mission to promote accessibility, raise awareness, and foster appreciation of our heritage among our people. Utilizing 3D models to talk about heritage protection not only aids in making this more appealing to younger generations but also shows how technology can be harnessed to for conservation works.

The NMP extends its gratitude to Engr. Buß for these gifts to the nation and looks forward to further collaborations in the future.

#NationalMuseumPH #GiftToTheNation #Coron #UCH