“Aesthet Activity IA #4: National Museum of the Philippines”

“A requirement.” Going to the National Museum was just a requirement for me — an assignment given to us by our professor. Well, that’s what I thought but I was wrong because the moment I stepped on and saw what’s inside of the Museum, I was in awe. Why? First, because of its beauty, not just of the artworks but the way the structure of the museum was built. It’s like we’re back in ancient times. Second, because I saw how the employees preserve and take care of the artworks. Thus, how good they are when it comes to accommodating people. And third, because I saw a lot of people there. Not just Filipinos, but foreigners. I remember, when my friend and I were roaming around, there’s an American and a Filipino who explains to him each and every artifacts — the reason behind its creating, who made it, etc. This Filipino explained every artwork clearly to the American and he also adds up trivia like the painter of this particular artwork is a Filipino national artist who won several awards not just locally but also internationally. I just feel so proud whenever people from another country go to places where there are things which reminds and informs them of the history of our country.

It was such a great experience for me to be able to visit our country’s National Museum. Going to this place turned out to be not as a requirement but as an adventure because I was able to go back and reminisce our country’s past through the artworks.

8 Artworks: A hidden message

I intentionally picked artworks which somehow serves as one of the many characteristics of us, Filipinos. Or things that we are known for. These are the ff:

1. Pamilya

Obviously, Filipinos are known to be family-oriented. We put family, second to God, in the center of our lives. I love how this was painted because it emphasizes there the importance of the family especially when eating meals and praying before and after it. Indeed, a family that eats and prays together are blessed and stays together.

2. Girl reading book (left) & Seated girl reading (right)

For me, these artifacts best illustrate how we, Filipinos, are passionate when it comes to studying and learning new things through reading books and others like articles, etc.

3. A Praying Cherub

I think the artist made and used this marble artwork as a symbol to tell people how Filipinos are prayerful and how big we believe God’s impact is to us. It also shows that people must be taught how to pray and reflect on their sins at a young age, instead of teaching them when they’re already old, so that they can carry it as they grow up.

4. Altar de San Francisco

I love this painting because it just goes to show how Filipinos exert their time and effort in designing and making their altar for Jesus as creative as possible. In almost all Filipino houses, we can see that there is always a part designated and made into an altar.

5. The Black Nazarene Quiapo

As seen in this painting and in real life, there are really thousands of devotees of the Black Nazarene. It was seen in the painting how hard and tiring it is to join the procession but despite that Filipinos are motivated to go because they consider it as a sign of giving back to what the Black Nazarene has granted in their lives and because Filipinos basically believe in the power of the Black Nazarene.

6. Confetti Rhythm

I have always admired artworks like this because of how pleasing and colourful it is to the eye. This artifact depicts the Filipinos or people in a way that whatever trials or challenges life might throw at them and no matter how dull an indiviual’s life is, there will always come a time where our life will be filled with colors and happiness.

7. Argo ng Pagkakaisa para sa Kalayaan

I love this painting because it simply shows here how Filipinos come to unite in order to achieve freedom and democracy in the Philippines. The artist illustrated here some people who had a big impact in order to achieve and obtain what we have now like Ninoy and Cory Aquino, etc.

8. Mother Nature

I admire how this artwork was made. The image of the woman and the animals and other resources are embossed well and cleanly. I believe we, Filipinos, love our mother nature as much as we love our own moms.