Celebrating National Heritage Month in the Philippines

We are celebrating the National Heritage this month of May, under Presidential Proclamation  439 series of 2003, and the National Museum reopened after its renovation. It was easy to navigate around since it was fully air-conditioned. The museum is located near Rizal Park and Intramuros Manila and seeing the Spoliarium is the highlight of my visit, a famous painting  by Juan Luna (often mispelled Spolarium). The Spoliarium garnered the 1st gold medal at the Exposicion Nacional de Bellas Artes in 1884 in Madrid.  The Oil on Poplar depicts about dying gladiators. It currently hangs at the ground floor of the National Museum of the Philippines and it is the first work of art that greets visitors upon entering the museum.

Spoliarium

Juan Luna's other Artworks, which includes his "Self-Portraits".

Ang malinis na bungad ng Museum.

The facade of the building had classical features and Renaissance inspired cultural forms. The exhibition at the National Arts gallery begin at Level 2 and cover Philippine art from  17th to 20th centuries. Exhibitions continue at the 3rd floor, and feature modern and contemporary Philippine art from the 20th to 21st centuries as well contemporary exhibitions.

The Philam Life Manansala Collections were also presented at the National Museum like The Philam Life Manansala Series (No.1) - "Manok" capturing the panorama of Philippine rural life with intense colors showing a group of multihued roosters. The Philam Life Manansala Series (No.2) - "Kalabaw" which renders a rustic vibrant colors and interlocking shapes with carabaos as a subject resting on a field. Recently, two paintings of National artist Vicente Manansala (1910-1981), were collectively declared National Cutural Treasure by the National Museum. These were commissioned in 1962 by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). An IRRI Hall at the National Museum of Fina Arts, in which the Manansala paintings were installed.

Paintings and more of it!

Jose Rizal's painting were there too. When Dr. Jose Rizal was exiled in Dapitan Zamboanga, he made use of his talent to create a piece of his martyrdom and the exploitation of the indios by the colonizers. The Homage to Dr. Jose Rizal can be found at Gallery V. He is known for his patriotism and acclaimed novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

South Wing Galleries

Gallery I is the Luis Ablaza Hall (The Religious art from 17th to 19th centuries) - When we were under the Spanish colonial rule, Christian themed art in the Philippines was prevalent. This gallery also features a national cultural treasure, a Retablo (altar piece) from the church San Nicolas de Tolentino in Dimiao, Bohol.

Gallery II (Art Prints from the Archives of the Royal Botanical Garden Madrid)

Juan Jose de Cuellar, a pharmacologist and botanist, commissioned Filipino artists to make drawings for Philippine plants that he collected in Luzon. The collection is now hanged in the gallery.

Gallery III (Academic and Romantic Art)

Gallery IV (Fundacion Santiago Hall) - The Academic and Neo-Classical Sculpture

Isabelo Tampico, a contemporary of Jose Rizal who was known for developing the Estilo Tampico style of carving and ornamentation. Tampico's contemporaries and artistic successors are distinguished by a strong academic and neo-classical style, including Graciano Nepomuceno, Anaciado Caedo and Florentino Caedo whose works are displayed there.

The classical art from the 20th century can be seen at Gallery VI. The notable artists included in this gallery are Fernando Amorsolo and his cousin and mentor Fabian dela Rosa, Jorge Pineda, Ireneo Miranda, Pablo Amorsolo, and numerous artists who shaped our Philippine art prior to the advent of modernism in our country.

Gallery VIII (Silvina and Juan C. Laya Hall)

Filipino artist depicted scenes that expressed the sufferings and conflict during the World War II, which portrays the Imperial Japanese Occupation from 1941 to 1945 (the Liberation of the Philippines by American and Filipino forces, and the destruction of Manila.


Gallery X (The Progress of Medicine in the Philippines)

Inside this gallery is a four set of large paintings by National artist Carlos "Botong" V. Francisco. They specially commissioned for the entrance hall of the Philippine General Hospital in 1953. The paintings in Gallery X are on indefinite loan to the national Museum by the University of the Philippines to secure their preservation for future generations.


Gallery XI (SPPC Hall) - Drawings of Fernando Amorsolo

Fernando Amorsolo, the first National artist of the Philippines, was known for his oil paintings of rural life in classical style. The gallery contains 100 drawings by Amorsolo, who made a black and white pencil and ink sketches of his artwork prior to making his final artwork. Also displayed is an artwork by his nephew, painter Cesar Amorsolo.

Gallery XII (Security Bank Hall) - Works of Guillermo Tolentino

National artist Guillermo Tolentino's works dominated Filipino culture particularly in the field of portraiture and human forms. He used metal and plaster to create his sculptures.

Sad to say that I wasn't able to capture photos at some galleries, because my camera's battery has been drained. But definitely, learning our cultural heritage is an adventure too. Visit the National Museum of the Philippines this May for free. It is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, 10 am until 5 pm. 

My indomitable strength carried me here. Headstrong. Meditate.