On May 31, 2023, the National Museum Bohol officially launched its newest exhibition, “PAGLAWIG: The Boholano Way of Life.” The exhibition presents artifacts and ecofacts recovered by the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) in the 1980s in the municipalities of Anda, Mabini, Candijay, and Guindulman. These sites provided evidence of the utilization of stones, shells, and bones as tools and ornaments by early Boholanos. PAGLAWIG also provides an overview of the traditional Boholano crafts such as boat-building, fishing, farming, metalsmithing and jewelry-making, basket and raffia weaving, and the production of asin tibuok (artisanal sea salt).

The inauguration program began with a welcoming speech from the Director for Visayas National Museums Atty. Ma. Cecilia Tirol, followed by a brief overview of the newly-installed exhibition by NMP Deputy Director-General for Museums Jorell Legaspi. Afterwards, messages were given by Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Censoria Cajes-Yap, Provincial Administrator Asteria C. Caberte (on behalf of Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado), and Atty. Abel Damalerio (on behalf of Bohol 1st. District Representative Edgar M. Chatto). The program ended after National Museum Director-General Jeremy Barns gave his closing remarks. Other attendees to the program include NMP Deputy Director-General for Administration Atty. Ma. Rosenne Flores-Avila, NMP Research, Collections, and Conservation Management Division Chief Anne Rosette G. Crelencia, personnel of the NM Bohol Area Museum, guests from the Bohol Provincial Library, and staff from the Bohol Provincial and Local Governments, among others.

The PAGLAWIG: The Boholano Way of Life exhibition is now OPEN TO THE PUBLIC at the NM Bohol Area Museum in Tagbilaran City! Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9AM to 5PM. Admission is FREE!

#NationalMuseumPH#NMBohol#Bohol#Paglawig

Special thanks to the Provincial Government of Bohol- Information and Media Office and Crispy Miranda for some of the photos.

The National Museum of the Philippines renewed its partnership with the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines by extending the loan agreement of the 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝑨𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒖𝒓 𝑾𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒉 𝑭𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒖𝒔𝒔𝒐𝒏, currently on display at the Spoliarium Hall of the National Museum of Fine Arts, for another three years.

Prior to the signing ceremony held yesterday, the National Museum of the Philippines’ Deputy Director-General for Museums Jorell Legaspi gave a brief overview of the provenance of the monument and its creator. It was followed by a message from the US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson who talked about the monument’s symbolism of the long-standing relationship between the United States and the Philippines.

The loan extension was then signed by NMP Director-General Jeremy Barns, Supervisory General Services Officer of the United States Department of State Daniel McCullough, Mr. Legaspi, and Amb. Carlson. After the signing of the documents, Director-General Barns gave his final remarks, recalling the collaborations between the NMP, the US Embassy, and various American institutions.

Other attendees present in the event included German Ambassador to the Philippines Anke Reiffenstuel, First Secretary of the Spanish Embassy in the Philippines Luis Morales Fernández, Bruneian Ambassador to the Philippines Megawati Dato Paduka Haji Manan, and DOT Undersecretary Atty. Shereen Gail Yu-Pamintuan. Representatives from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the National Parks Development Committee, the Intramuros Administration, and the Museum Foundation of the Philippines were also present, among others.

The monument, first loaned to the National Museum of the Philippines in 2017, was created in 1912 by Spanish sculptor Mariano Benlliure y Gil (1862-1947) in honor of Arthur Walsh Fergusson, the first Executive Secretary of the Philippines who held office until his death in 1908. The monument was originally erected and inaugurated in Plaza Fergusson (now the Plaza Nuestra Señora de Guia), adjacent to the US Embassy in Ermita, Manila on November 15, 1913. However, it sustained heavy damage during the Battle of Manila in 1945. Eventually, the City of Manila transferred ownership of the monument to the United States Embassy in the Philippines, who, in turn, later loaned it to the National Museum. The Fergusson Monument is the only monument of its kind to be made for an American in the Philippines and illustrates the shared history of the United States and the Philippines.

The National Museum of the Philippines expresses its deep gratitude to the United States Government for their generous support of the NMP and its mission.

THE LONG WAIT IS OVER! 

The National Museum of the Philippines has finally launched National Artist Kidlat Tahimik’s INDIO-GENIUS: 500 Taon ng Labanang Kultural (1521-2021). 

We are also happy to announce that everyone can now view this exhibition on Saturday, OCTOBER 22, 2022, along with the reopening of the National Museum of Anthropology!

We invited our friends from the press for a media preview of the exhibition last Monday with “Tatay Kidlat” himself giving a tour of his installations depicting his quirky retelling of our cultural struggles throughout history. 

During the launch, Tatay Kidlat, joined by his fellow Indio-Genius, conducted a ceremonial performance – beginning with a “reenactment” of his cultural reawakening followed by various incantations by notable members of ethnolinguistic groups who have collaborated with the National Artist through the years.

Despite the on and off drizzle, members of the NMP Board of Trustees, the National Commission of Culture and the Arts, and other partner agencies and institutions came to celebrate the launching event. Also present in the reception were family, friends and colleagues, members of the academic community, fellow filmmakers, and other guests and artists from his hometown Baguio City.

Such great timing to open the third week of #MGM2022! Coming up this week are some special pop-up performances, including an immersive music and dance experience by UP Diliman’s Kontra-GaPi at the National Museum of Anthropology to kick off the exhibition’s public opening.

See you at your #NationalMuseumPH!

The National Museum of the Philippines invites you to a new and improved exhibition, entitled “Eskultor ng Bagong Lahi: Pagpupugay sa Buhay at mga Likha ni Guillermo Tolentino” / Sculptor of the New Spirit: Honoring the Life and Works of Guillermo Tolentino” at the Security Bank Hall, Gallery XII, of the National Museum of Fine Arts. 

This permanent exhibition, which was first launched in May 2013 as “Eskultor ng Lahing Filipino: Honoring the Life and Works of Guillermo Tolentino”, pays tribute to the artistry and contribution of Guillermo Tolentino in Philippine Art. This upgraded exhibition features works by and about Guillermo Tolentino, including the 14 sculptures of Tolentino donated by the Security Bank Corporation as Gifts to the Nation. 

This upgraded exhibition includes new acquisitions which form the National Fine Arts Collection and some entrusted to the Museum by donors and lenders. One of our newest acquisitions, The Bust of José Corazon de Jesus, popularly known as “Huseng Batute”, was completed sometime in the 1930s, and whose poem “Bantayog ng mga Bayani” describes Tolentino as “Eskultor ng Bagong Lahi.” Tolentino and De Jesus are good friends and the heirs of José Corazon de Jesus surmise that this bust was a gift of Tolentino to De Jesus. The poem written in Filipino, and translated into English by Marne Kilates is displayed in the hall. Tolentino’s medals and awards from the 1950s to the 1970s and pieces of his sculpting tools are a new addition to this upgraded exhibition. 

We express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Frederick Dy, Mr. Sanjiv Vohra, and the Security Bank Corporation as well as to our other donors and lenders for their continued support of our programs.

View this exhibition and more when you visit us! We are open from Tuesdays to Sundays between 9 AM and 6 PM. See you at your #NationalMuseumPH!

Article by the NMP Fine Arts Division

Photos by the NMP Museum Services Division