My National Museum Adventures!

March 2012, Albert and I decided to visit the National Museum, a month before his flight. We've always planned to go there but due to our different schedules our plans never pushed through. After 5 months, we we're able to make time for this field trip. yaaaay! :)

 

credits: Google Maps

To start it off, first we need to know the location and find out how to get there. If you're going to commute your way to the museum, I advise that you take the LRT and get off at the UN Ave station. The museum is in between the Central Terminal and UN Avenue station. From there, you will see the Manila City Hall and walk in that direction. You'll pass by a children's playground and a relief map of the Philippines. The National Museum of the Philippines is located in P. Burgos Drive, Rizal Park, Manila. The National Art Gallery is currently undergoing renovations so entrance fee is FREE until renovations are completed. 

According to the NM official website, The National Art Gallery was originally designed as the public library by Ralph Harrington Doane. In 1918, the construction begun and was suspended for several times due to lack of funds. Later on, the building was decided to be used by the legislature. Revisions of the plan was done by Juan Arellano. The building was inaugurated on July 16, 1926. costing only four million pesos. In the mid-1996 the Senate of the Philippines moved out of the building. In 2003, the renovation started to transform it into National Art Gallery of the national Museum.

Sergio Osmena by Guillermo Tolentino

 Before entering the museum, you'll see two sculptures done by the artist Guillermo Tolentino. They are the heroic monuments of Manuel Quezon, former Senate President; and Sergio Osmena, former Speaker of the House.

There are different rooms/halls inside the museum. Each caters to different artists, artifacts and historical pieces. One of my favorite room is the Hall of Masters 

 According to the NM official website, the Hall of Masters, "This room is dedicated to the 19th-century Filipino painters Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo who achieved prominence at the 1884 Madrid Exposition. Luna's Spoliarium received one of the three gold medals and Hidalgo's Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al Populacho (Christian Virgins Presented to the Populace) received one of the fourteen silver medals" 

My panoramic view of the Hall of Masters (Spolarium, not included.)

Another favorite of mine is the Amorsolo Gallery. According to Kilay-diwa.com, "Fernando C. Amorsolo, named National Artist in Painting in 1972, was the first Filipino to ever be given that distinction. He was also called the “Grand Old Man of Philippine Art” at the inauguration of the Manila Hilton’s art center, where his paintings were exhibited, on January 23, 1969. His works covered a wide range of subjects, but he was best known for his idealized female images of the dalagang Filipina. He also painted scenes of traditional Filipino customs, fiestas and occupations, and series of historical paintings on pre-Colonial and Spanish Colonization scenes. He preferred to paint in natural light and developed the backlighting technique, which became his trademark. "

My panoramic view of the Amorsolo Gallery.

Other galleries includes the Arellano room, dedicated to the prolific-painter Juan Arellano, who is also one the architects of the building. The Beloved Land, "This room introduces the scope of the history of art in the Philippines through a timeline." (Nat'l Museum website, 2011). The Vessels of Faith, "This room presents the various expressions of Philippine spirituality." (Nat'l Museum website, 2011). The Hall of National Artists for the Visual Arts, "This room is dedicated to the visual artists who have been named National Artists by the government." (Nat'l Museum website, 2011). The Freedom Yearned For, "This room expresses the theme of struggle of Filipinos against colonialism and the forms of oppression that persist to this day." (Nat'l Museum website, 2011).

I won't be posting pictures of the other galleries because I want you, readers to visit the Museum and see it you own eyes and hopefully be able to learn from it. Anyways, We weren't able to tour the whole art gallery and see the other art pieces due to renovations. Some of the hallways are also closed due to the constructions inside the building. After we finished the National Art Gallery, we went to our next destination, The Museum of the Filipino People.

The Museum of the Filipino People

Across the National Art Gallery building is The Museum of the Filipino People. It houses the Anthropology and Archaeology division. The Museum of the Filipino People houses different exhibits. From the origin of the islands of the Philippines up to the arrival of the Spaniards. The building formerly housed the Department of Finance. Here are a few of my pictures inside the museum.

Paintings from different artists

From the burial jars

A replica of the San Diego

 

Re-enactment of how the relics/artifacts were acquired  from the San Diego

 

Paintings from different artists

 

To be able to see them up close, please visit the National Museum Art Gallery and the Museum of the Filipino People. Entrance fees varies from 30 pesos to 100 pesos. Both museum are open from Tuesdays to Sundays. From 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Admissions is FREE on Sundays.






Author's Notes: 

Am sorry that I wasn't able to finish this blogpost on time. Its been overdue for a month because I am currently having a writers block (yep, poor me :c ).