Author: National Museum of the Philippines

Last 16 July, Oceana launched its special photo exhibition “Our Coastal Greenbelts, Our National Treasure” at the National Museum of Natural History.

This captivating photo exhibition highlights the country’s coastal greenbelts and mangrove areas, showcasing their pivotal role as our frontline defense against the profound impacts of climate change. 

Mangroves are a group of trees or shrubs commonly found in areas where land meets the sea between high and low tides. The Philippines is one of the world’s most diverse mangrove areas, hosting at least 50% of the world’s approximately 65 mangrove species.

These coastal forests act as nurseries for important animal species and provide livelihoods for coastal communities. Moreover, these greenbelts absorb the impacts of climate change such as strong winds and waves. Unfortunately, the Philippines ranks the second fastest in mangrove loss in Southeast Asia, primarily due to land reclamation, illegal fishpond conversion, illegal cutting, and marine pollution.

The program began with welcoming remarks from Oceana Vice President Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, and a keynote message from Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Senator Cynthia Villar, highlighting the need to protect our coastal greenbelts and engage in conservation efforts.

In addition, representatives from various government agencies, as well as NMP Trustee and Chief Mangrove Scientific Advisor of the Zoological Society of London Dr. Jurgenne Primavera, gave messages of support towards creating and preserving coastal greenbelts. Likewise, officials from partner institutions also shared their messages of support for the cause.

Through this initiative, let us work together in rebuilding our precious mangrove forests!

This exhibition is available for viewing until 2 August 2024 at the Hyundai Hall of the National Museum of Natural History. It is open Tuesdays to Sundays, 9 AM to 6 PM. Admission is FREE, and no reservations are required. See you there!

#NationalMuseumPH #RestoreMangroveForests #coastalgreenbelt

With beaming pride, the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) raises the Progress Flag in the NMP Complex in Manila for Pride Month!

Designed in 2018 by non-binary American artist and designer Daniel Quasar, the Progress Flag includes a base of the six-colored Rainbow Flag, the hallmark symbol of (LGBTQIA+) pride.

In addition, it also features five arrow-shaped lines to put a greater emphasis on the inclusion of marginalized people of color, trans people, people living with HIV, and those who have been lost, recognizing the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community and calling for a more inclusive society.

The display of these flags is a gesture of the NMP’s strong commitment to promoting gender equality and allyship with our LGBTQI+ brothers and sisters—not just in the Philippines—but also around the world!

#NationalMuseumPH #PrideMonth #Pride #LGBTQIA #ProgressFlag

Last June 28, after a successful observation of Pride Month, the National Museum of the Philippines’ Central and Regional Office employees expressed a simple yet symbolic act of allyship through fashion via the “Colorful Fridays” initiative!

Museum employees and visitors alike have been wearing vibrant colors during all Fridays of June to show solidarity with the LGBTQI+ communities.

In addition to Colorful Fridays, many other Pride-related activities and programs were carried out by the NMP to promote its mission of inclusivity and accessibility.

Beyond Pride Month, the NMP will continue to become a safe and open space for anyone and everyone!

#NationalMuseumPH #PrideMonth #LGBTQIA+

Last 20 June, the National Museum of the Philippines formally turned over the newly-restored Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay to the Archdiocese of Lipa and the people of Taal, Batangas.

The turnover ceremony, coinciding with the 52nd anniversary of the elevation of the then-Diocese of Lipa into an Archdiocese, was graced by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Most Rev. Charles John Brown, D.D., the Archbishop of Lipa Most Rev. Gilbert A. Garcera, D.D., NMP Director-General Jeremy Barns, Rector of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay Rev. Fr. Raul Francisco A. Martinez, Executive Director of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines Carminda R. Arevalo, Chief of the NHCP’s Historic Preservation Division Ar. Reynaldo S. Lita, Chief of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ Cultural Properties Protection and Regulation Division Joseph Patrick V. Lee, and Taal Mayor Fulgencio Mercado, among others.

Furthermore, markers declaring the Shrine a National Cultural Treasure and National Historical Landmark, as well as the marker of the Decree of Dedication were also unveiled.

During the ceremony, DG Barns said that this restoration project is a manifestation of the NMP’s hard work and dedication to preserving this heritage structure. “We are very happy to show our public service at the National Museum in this way by showing to you this complete Shrine that will stand as a cultural treasure and historical landmark for more generations to come,” Barns mentioned.

Archbishop Garcera, meanwhile, described the restoration project as a ‘dream come true’ for Batangueños which has also sparked renewed faith in many. “You will see before us the dream that I detailed in my homily back in 2021; a reconstructed church and a renewed devotion to Our Lady of Caysasay,” he remarked.

Moreover, in his Homily during the first Eucharistic Celebration after the turnover, Rev. Brown lauded the breathtaking beauty of the newly restored Shrine. “When we opened the doors, and I saw the works in the inside for the first time, my breath was quite literally taken away by the beauty of this historical restoration, bringing the church back to its original splendor, simplicity, integrity, and nobility,” Archbishop Brown said.

In 2021, the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay and its complex were put under the care of the National Museum of the Philippines after sustaining damage from the 2020 eruption of Taal Volcano.

Follow this link for more information about the History of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay: https://bit.ly/HistoryofCaysasay 

#NationalMuseumPH #Caysasay #OurLadyofCaysasay #Taal #Batangas

Last Tuesday, 18 June, the National Museum of the Philippines received its latest Gift to the Nation—a replica of a 5,500-Year-Old Cacao Ceramic Bottle from the Republic of Ecuador!

The original ceramic bottle, which belongs to the Mayo-Chinchipe Marañon Culture, was unearthed from the Santa Ana-La Florida archaeological site in southeastern Ecuador in 2002. Traces of cacao found in the bottle offer evidence of Ecuador being the earliest domesticator of cacao in the world, dating as far back as 5,500 to 5,300 Before Present (BP). These cacao beans eventually travelled to different parts of the world, reaching Manila through the Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade from the 16th to the 18th century, and have since become part of Filipino gastronomy.

The replica of the bottle was donated by the Cultural Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of Ecuador Mr. Ramiro Hidalgo, who was represented by Philippine Ambassador to Chile, H.E. Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat, and was received by the NMP’s Deputy Director-General for Museums Mr. Jorell Legaspi.

After the ceremony, brief lectures on the cacao industry and the use of the crop in Philippine gastronomy were given by Ms. Louise Emmanuelle Mabulo and Mr. Guillermo Ramos, respectively.

#NationalMuseumPH #Cacao #Ecuador #CulturalDiplomacy #GiftToTheNation