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Archaeology in the spirit of Christmas: The bronze bell from Kalanay Cave

Posted on:  |  National Museum of the Philippines Posted in Uncategorized.

As we draw nearer to the peak of the holiday season, join us in unwrapping yet another archaeological treasure as this week’s #TrowelTuesday features a bronze bell from Kalanay Cave, Masbate!

The church bell has always been a popular Christmas symbol. In Christian tradition, the ringing of bells serves as a call to the community and signals the start of the Simbang Gabi (Night Mass) and Misa de Gallo (Midnight Mass). 

Did you know that there are bells recovered from archaeological sites in the Central Philippines?

The Kalanay Cave site is a small burial cave located in Aroroy, Masbate Island. Archaeological investigations were conducted in the 1950s by the late Wilhelm Solheim II, an American anthropologist and archaeologist who pioneered the excavations on Masbate Island. The cave contained large quantities of pottery, stone and iron tools, and some fragmentary skeletal remains.

Potteries in various forms, shapes, and decorations were present in the cave, and most were classified as Kalanay. The majority of the Kalanay potteries are plain, while some of the decorated vessels are incised, impressed, and slipped. Jars vary in size, while bowls have a rounded bottom or a ring foot. Interestingly, a bell was also found inside the Kalanay Cave. The small, thinly encrusted bell is made of bronze and measures 27 mm in length and 12.5 mm in diameter. It has a loop top (with a 2-mm opening) and a free-swinging clapper inside, attached to a bar from the bottom of the bell.

Only little can be inferred about the life of the people who used the Kalanay Cave. Four individuals were likely interred in the cave, and one was below 18 years of age. Associated finds, other than pottery, are shell artifacts, nephrite adze, tektite, jade beads, and a number of metal artifacts including the bronze bell. There was no indication that the cave was inhabited; thus, it is classified as a burial site.

See some of the distinct Kalanay earthenware pottery by visiting the “Palayok: The Ceramic Heritage of the Philippines” exhibition at the National Museum of Anthropology. We are open Tuesdays to Sundays, from 9 AM to 6 PM. Admission is FREE!

#NationalMuseumPH #BronzeBell #KalanayCaveSite #UnwrappingThePast #Aroroy #Masbate

Shell Bracelets

Posted on:  |  rochelle-van reyes Posted in Uncategorized.

Shell Bracelets in Prehistoric Philipines

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The holiday season is just around the corner! It’s that time of the year when we put on our best clothes for merry-making. Other than offering body protection from the environment, clothing is one of several means for people to express themselves. Body adornments, such as jewelry, are usually worn as an extension of clothing and enhance an individual’s look. Today’s #TrowelTuesday features shell ornaments—bracelets in particular—from the National Archaeological Collection!

Did you know that the oldest articles of jewelry were fashioned out of shells? Among these were beads made from the shells of dog whelks (Tritia gibbosula), a type of marine snail. The shell beads, dating to at least 142,000 years ago, were excavated at the Bizmoune Cave in Morocco. Archaeologists believed that these perforated shells, which could have been worn strung together, conveyed the wearer’s individual or group identity. 

In the Philippines, shell ornaments such as beads, bracelets, and pendants were recovered from several archaeological sites, with the earliest dating to 4,700 years ago in Duyong Cave. Specifically, shell bracelets possibly emerged in the archipelago around 3,500 years ago, as evidenced by shell artifacts recovered from Leta Leta Cave in northern Palawan. 

Shell bracelets are made from different types of shells such as cone snails, limpets, top snails, and giant clams, each exhibiting varieties of form and design across time and space. Their technology and usage seem to have persisted until the arrival of the Spanish. In fact, until the 20th century, anthropologists still documented a few indigenous communities manufacturing shell bracelets. An example of such a bracelet is displayed at the Lumad Mindanao Gallery of the National Museum of Anthropology.

Visit these artifacts at the National Museum of Anthropology! Open Tuesdays to Sundays, from 9AM to 6PM. Admission is FREE!

#NationalMuseumPH #ShellBracelets

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“ALAMAT: REVISITING PHILIPPINE FOLKLORE” SPECIAL EXHIBITION OPENS AT NMA

Posted on:  |  National Museum of the Philippines Posted in News and Events, Uncategorized.

A special exhibition featuring award-winning, multidisciplinary artist Leeroy New and other emerging Filipino artists is now on view at the National Museum of Anthropology (NMA). “Alamat: Revisiting Philippine Folklore” draws from the mystical narratives and iconography of Philippine folklore, offering a harmonious confluence of tradition and modernity. 

Through a collection of paintings and sculptures on loan from J Studio, the exhibition pays a nostalgic tribute to the stories that have contributed to shaping the Filipino psyche. They beckon to embark on a stimulating journey between the ethereal and the quotidian, showing alternative views of the grotesque spaces of our imagination.

At the core of this exhibition, visitors may now explore the intersection of pre-colonial oral histories and futuristic science fiction that Leeroy New conveys with “Balay Balete”, a large-scale installation that appears to engulf the NMA Courtyard. In Gallery 2, he alludes to old tales about the pillars that cradle the earth, creating a fluorescent forest environment composed of reusable resin foam, upcycled plastic, bamboo, and other found materials. Together, these works transform the traditional anthropology gallery space into a thought-provoking, immersive experience. They were commissioned by pop culture magnate, Tim Yap, specifically for this exhibition, launching in conjunction with his annual star-studded Halloween costume ball last 30 October.

Experience “Alamat: Revisiting Philippine Folklore” at The Courtyard and Gallery 2 of the National Museum of Anthropology until 31 December 2023! Open Tuesdays to Sundays, from 9 AM to 6 PM. Admission is FREE!

NMP IS NOW ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED; PRIME-HRM LEVEL II ACCREDITED IN RSP AND PM

Posted on:  |  National Museum of the Philippines Posted in News and Events, Uncategorized.

This year’s Museums and Galleries Month has been more meaningful as the National Museum of the Philippines received two recognitions this first week of #MGM2023: the NMP’s first ISO 9001:2015 Certification for its Quality Management System (QMS), covering the processes on the provision and management of museum exhibitions, visitor experience, and support services that are compliant with international standards, and the Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM) Maturity Level II in Recruitment, Selection and Placement (RSP), and Performance Management (PM) from the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

In a brief awarding ceremony conducted earlier today, October 6, Chairman Mr. Renato Navarrete and the President and Managing Director Mr. Joselito Soler of Certification International Philippines Inc. awarded the ISO Certificate to the NMP which was received by Chairman Andoni M. Aboitiz, Director-General Jeremy R. Barns, and Deputy Director-General for Administration Atty. Rosenne Flores-Avila. The entire NMP QMS Core Team, who made this long-standing goal a reality for the institution, were also present in the ceremony. This milestone certification was made in recognition of the NMP’s commitment to quality public service delivery.

Meanwhile, CSC Director II Claudia Abalos-Tan awarded the Certificate of Recognition to the NMP last October 4 for obtaining the PRIME-HRM Maturity Level II in Recruitment, Selection, and Placement, and Performance Management, recognizing the institution’s continuing efforts to improve its human resource management systems and practices. The certificate was received by DG Barns, DDGA Flores-Avila, Deputy Director-General for Museums Jorell M. Legaspi, and Chief Human Resource Officer Angelo S. Macario, together with the Human Resource Management Division Team. 

This achievement is a significant milestone for the NMP as it demonstrates its commitment to providing excellent service to its employees. The HRMD is steadfast in completing the evidence requirements in Learning & Development and Rewards & Recognition systems in its bid for the PRIME-HRM Bronze Award. 

The NMP warmly received both recognitions, which serve as tangible testaments to our commitment and ability to provide quality and timely services both to its personnel and to the Filipino people.

#NationalMuseumPH #ISOCertified #PRIMEHRM #HumanResources #QualityManagement

Tigsik

Posted on:  |  National Museum of the Philippines Posted in Uncategorized.

An Pilipinas may-on san mayaman na surmaton/istorya, huli ta may-on san daghan pa sa sanggatos na iba-iba na grupo sa nacion. Alagad sa niyan, may-on lang san tulo na ICH na nakalista sa UNESCO, hali sa 367 na nasa listahan san NCCA. Niyan na bulan san mga lenggwahe, na may tema na, Filipino nan mga Katutubo na surmaton: Surmaton san katoninongan, seguridad nan inklusibo na pagkakakamayon san kapantayan sa banwa, ipapakilala san #NationalMuseumPH an Tigsik, saro san mga ICH sa Bicol.


San Hunyo 1 hanggang 10, 2023, nagbatog san pagdokumento san tigsik an grupo na hali sa Ethnology Division san National Museum na sira Dr. Marrianne Ubalde, Senior Museum Researcher nan Mr. Jubal Kenneth Bernal, Museum Technician II, kaupod si Ms. Pauline Gumabao, Museum Researcher II san NMP-Bicol. Nagkadto an grupo sa iba-iba na lugar sa siyudad san Masbate nan bongto sa Ticao Island, syudad san Sorsogon asin bongto san Magallanes para makiistorya an mga nagtitigsik nan may aram sa tigsik. Kaupod an Albay sa una na plano pero dire nadagus kay bigla na nagtuga an bulkan Mayon.


An tigsik, o pasirimbagan o halip-ot na sarabihon, may-on sin tulo o mas daghan pa na linya na an durho na surmaton magkatunog. An tema san tigsik manungod sa maski nano – pagpuna, pagkaraw, romantiko nan minsan rapsak, nan iba pa. Insasabi san iba na nagtitigsik na an tigsik o tirigsikan, nangyayari sa mga irinuman. An iba, inkukumpara an tigsik sa halip-ot na tula lalo na kun ingagamit na pabati sa tawo na nakukursunadahan. Alagad, an mga tigsik na nababati pag sa irinuman o sa mga mag-aramigo, naggagamit san mga rapsak na surmaton o maski ulagsak. Sa mga bata-bata pa na nagtitigsik, an saro san kanira motibasyon san pagtigsik an pagkantiyaw kay dire masyado nakapikon kun inpaagi sa klase san arte.


An pag-tigsik wara preparasyon kun kaya kaipuhan na matali nan maaram sa lokal na surmaton para magtigsik o makaintra sa tirigsikan. An ingagamit na surmaton sa pagtigsik pirmi may iba pa na boot sabihon, kun kaya importante na maaram san kultura para makaintra nan makasabot. An iba na tigsik pwede maaraman hali sa mga kagurangan, alagad kaipuhan san talento nan pirmi na pagbati san mga nagtirigsikan para maging mayad na paratigsik. Kaya na lamang importante na buhay an tradisyon na ini pero mapagal kay kadaghanan san mga paratigsik gururang na. Kadaghanan san mga kagurangan, nagirumduman san panahon na pirming may nagtitigsik basta may-on san mga okasyon pareho san kasal, adlaw san pagkamundag nan maski sa mga lamay, dire pareho niyan na halos wara na. Alagad, sa ibang parte san Bicol, intutukdo na an tigsik sa iskwelahan sa Filipino o lokal na surmaton na subject, nan sa iba na lugar pareho sa Magallanes, Sorsogon, an pamarayadan magtigsik kaupod san pagselebrar san piyesta.

Surat, poster, nan video hinimo san NMP-Ethnology Division
© 2023 National Museum of the Philippines

NMP INAUGURATES COMPONENT MUSEUM IN CEBU

Posted on:  |  National Museum of the Philippines Posted in News and Events, Uncategorized.

On July 28, 2023, the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) inaugurated its 16th component museum—the NMP-Cebu in Cebu City.

Located in the heart of Cebu City in the historic Plaza Independencia, near Fort San Pedro, the “Aduana” building was designed by William Parsons and was constructed in 1910. It served as the customs house of the Port of Cebu for 94 years and even survived the bombings during World War II relatively intact. In 2004, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo decided to convert the structure into the Malacañang sa Sugbo, which aimed to bring the national government closer to the Visayas. However, in 2013, the building was damaged by a 7.1-magnitude quake, prompting its closure.

Former NMP Chairperson Evangelina Lourdes-Arroyo Bernas stated that she saw it as her priority to “rectify the absence of a National Museum in the International Gateway and Educational, Cultural and Tourism Hub in the Central Philippines.” So in 2019, the Cebu Port Authority and the National Museum of the Philippines signed a usufruct agreement, giving the NMP the right to use the structure to house the NMP-Cebu  for 25 years. 

The inauguration ceremony formally began with the arrival of the President of the Philippines Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. Shortly after the ribbon-cutting was the unveiling of the inauguration plaque, and a presidential tour of the exhibitions. 

A short program followed, starting with welcoming remarks from National Museum Board of Trustees Chairman Andoni Aboitiz.

“The historical building we see in front of us is meant to serve as a temple for not just Cebuanos but Filipinos from all over the country and visitors from all over the world to come and learn about a significant slice of our nation,” Aboitiz said.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco then introduced President Marcos who in his speech highlighted the importance of this institution and called the museum a “milestone for the entire country”.

“[The opening of this museum] is in line with our national agenda to promote tourism [and] nurture our national identity… It is a milestone, not only for the Queen City of the South and the whole Province of Cebu, but for the entire country, as the opening of this museum brings to the fore our rich natural, cultural, and artistic treasures”, Marcos said.

NMP-Cebu features exhibitions that capture the Cebuano spirit and heritage, including the island’s rich and diverse biodiversity, geology, archaeological treasures, art, and ethnographic and maritime traditions. The new museum also hosts a special exhibition featuring artworks from the Philippine Center in New York and will soon feature artworks by Cebu master Martino Abellana. Aside from the five galleries, NM Cebu also boasts a lobby and reception hall featuring additional art by Cebuanos and featuring Cebuano culture and history, a terrace, a courtyard, and the NM’s first-ever museum shop.

The National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu will be partially opened to the public from Tuesdays to Sundays, 9AM to 5PM, beginning on August 1. Admission will be FREE!

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