The National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo enjoins the public to celebrate the National Heritage Month by participating in the free public lectures, workshops, and events it prepared. These activities are in lined with the theme, “Preserving Legacies, Building Futures: Empowering Communities through Heritage.”
On May 10, the free public lecture “Mariit: Understanding Palibot through Western Visayas Oral Traditions” will cover two topics that will explore the relationship of Western Visayas communities with the environment – as expressed in belief systems that merge folk traditions and Christianity. Heritage worker Sashah Diosio of Center for West Visayan Studies will discuss his studies on local mythical beings and folk illnesses practices in Panay while educator-visual artist El Dosado, a part-time art teacher at Gamut Cogon Waldorf School will give forms to the intangible mythical creatures of Panay oral lore. The lectures are introduction to another heritage event, Mariit: A Heritage Costume Play of Mythical Creatures of Panay, set on May 24.
On May 17, let us expand our imagination and push our craftsmanship as we learn how the Oton Gold Death Mask, a national cultural treasure, was crafted. Visual artist and heritage worker Boy Masculino and the Oton Visual Artists League (OVAL) will guide the participants craft replicas of the funerary mask, particularly its unique feature of floral motifs made through repoussé technique. Relatedly, the participants will learn about the Oton Gold Death Mask, its significance not only for the Ogtonganons but to the Filipinos as reflected in our burial traditions, which is also shared with our nations in Southeast Asia as explained in the exhibit “Dumaan nga Pagpangabuhi sa Panay: Subsistence, Trade and Funerary Practices.”
May is also important for NMP Iloilo because it commemorates the birth anniversary of National Artist J. Elizalde Navarro, whose body of works are on exhibit in Halangdon: The Art of J. Elizalde Navarro. To celebrate his works and his artistry, NMP Iloilo is hosting the Magbinalaybay Kita: Speaking the Visual Arts of J. Elizalde Navarro on May 18 to let the public give words to the artworks of Navarro through spoken poetry. Ilonggo author and poet Alain Russ Dimzon will share his talent and expertise on understanding poetry, as well as guide the participants in their exploration of their creativity. This will let the art enthusiasts run their imagination freely, and verbalize how the artworks of Navarro and its varied themes resonated to them.
Because NMP Iloilo believes that no one must be left behind in enjoying its services, it will again invite the elderly of Iloilo city and province to join in the Pag-ulikid: Art and Wellness Lecture-Workshop for the Elderly, with visual artist/activist Raz Salvarita of Baryo Balangaw Creative Initiatives on May 28.
Lastly, recognizing that not everyone can visit the museum due to distance and economic limitations, NMP Iloilo is bringing the Pambansang Museo sa Paaralan/Barangay to Guimbal National High School on May 22 and to the island-barangay of Unisan in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras on May 31.
For details and updates, check the Facebook Page of National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo.
