POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

WRITTEN REPORT ABOUT

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES

SUBMITTED BY: ESPEA, JOHN PAULO M. BSME II-2

SUBMITTED TO: MR. MARIANITO M. DIMAANDAL

APRIL 2, 2012

FUTURE GALLERIES, EXHIBITS, BRANCHES MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Department of Tourism to be transformed into Museum of Natural History
The Department of Tourism building will soon be retrofitted to house the third museum in what shall become Manilas Museum Precinct. Anchoring the precinct is the newly completed National Gallery of Art, formerly the Senate Building on Burgos Drive, where the countrys definitive collection of paintings is on display. Across the street is the Museum of the Filipino People that once was the Department of Finance Building, whose curved faade frames Agrifina Circle. Across the Circle is its twin structure, the DOT building, originally the Department of Agriculture building. The three heritage buildings, all in Neoclassical style, dating from pre-World War II American colonial era, form an elegant architectural cluster on the eastern end of Rizal Park along Taft Avenue. This urban ensemble, once completed, will undoubtedly evolve into one of the most remarkable open-air spaces, a landmark in congested Manila. The National Museum of the Philippines invited five architects to submit design concepts in a closed competition for the DOT retrofitting. The board of trustees awarded the project to the team of architect Dominic Galicia and interior designer Tina Periquet. In preparation for their design, Galicia and Periquet combed the National Museum premises, went into its laboratories and dug into storage facilities, looked at specimens and interviewed the staff of scientists before realizing that DNA is the stuff that connects us all.

National Museum of the Philippines

The National Museum of the Philippines is the official repository and guardian of the Philippines' natural and cultural heritage. As one of the lead government cultural agencies, it is tasked to achieve the goals of instilling cultural consciousness and a sense of pride and nationalism among Filipino citizens through its activities covering the sciences, education and culture. Established in 1901 as an ethnography and natural history museum, and subsequently housed in its present building which was designed in 1918 by the American Architect, Daniel Burnham, the National Museum has since then broadened its concerns in the arts and sciences. Today, it occupies the main building (former Old Congress Building) where the arts, natural sciences and other support divisions are housed and the adjacent former Finance building in the Agrifina Circle of Rizal Park now called The National Museum of the Filipino People where the Anthropology and Archaeology Divisions are housed.

HISTORY
The National Museum started in 1901 as the Insular Museum of Ethnology, Natural History and Commerce under the Department of Public Instruction by virtue of Act No. 284 passed by the Philippine Commission. The name was changed in 1903 to Bureau of Ethnological Survey under the Department of Interior. After the St. Louis Exposition in 1904 the Office was renamed the Philippine Museum. The Bureau of Ethnological Survey which had a division called the Philippine Museum was abolished as a separate bureau and was made merely a Division of Ethnology under the Bureau of Education by virtue of Act No. 1407. In 1906, the Philippine Commission transferred the Division of Ethnology of the Bureau of Education to the Bureau of Science which had other branches of Natural Science such as botany, geology and paleontology, entomology, ichthyology, herpetology and mammalogy.

In 1916, the Philippine Legislature passed Act No. 2572 organizing the Philippine Library and Museum from the former division of archives, patents, copyright, trademarks and corporation of the executive bureaus; the former law library of the Philippine Assembly and the former Philippine Library. The Division of Ethnology continued to function under the Bureau of Science. In 1926, Act No. 3437 passed by the Philippine Legislature recreated the National Museum of the Philippines as part of the Department of Agriculture and National Resources and these consisted of the Ethnology Division and the Division of History and Fine Arts. The Division of Natural Science was not included in the organization. Again in 1933, the Philippine Legislature passed Act No. 4007 abolishing the National Museum and distributing its activities, functions and materials to the following: 1. The Division of Fine Arts and History to the National Library; 2. The Ethnology Division to remain with the Bureau of Science; 3. The Division of Anthropology which included archaeology, ethnography and physical anthropology and the other sections of natural history of the Bureau of Science were organized into a National Museum Division with Dr. Leopoldo B. Faustino as its first chief. In 1939, an administrative order renamed the division as the Natural History Museum Division, but after the Commonwealth Act No. 453 made the Division an independent unit directly under the office of the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce.

National Museum (former Legislative Building) before World War II

National Museum (former Legislative Building) after World War II

The Japanese occupation saw the abolition of the Natural History Museum Division, but after the liberation of the Philippines in 1945, it was reestablished under the Department of Agriculture and Commerce

and placed it under the Office of the Executive Secretary. In 1951, Executive Order No. 392 transferred the National Museum to the Department of Education. The reorganization of the Department was implemented in 1988. The National Museum's organizational structure together with its functions were improved and expanded. The Archaeology Division was created from a section of the Anthropology Division. It's function is to conduct researches on the prehistory of the Philippines in order to define the foundation of the culture of the people through systematic archaelogical excavations of land and underwater sites. Two existing divisions were renamed and their functions were expanded: the Restoration and Engineering Division takes charge of the implementation of Presidential Decree Nos. 260 and 756. It conducts nationwide surveys and documentation of important immovable cultural properties of the Philippines and has general supervision over the restoration, preservation,, reconstruction and remodelling of immovable cultural properties. The Archaeological Sites and Branch Museum Divisions that administers. maintains, preserves artifacts in situ in the archaeological sites, is also authorized to establish branch museums in the different regions of the country, concomittant with its goal of bringing the museum closer to the majority of the people in the countryside. In the same year, two Presidential Proclamations on culture were issued by the President of the Philippines, pursuant to the 1987 Constitution, giving priority programs to the arts and culture. These were Presidential Proclamation No. 269, proclaiming the period from 1988 to 1998 as "The Decade of Centennials of the Filipino Nationalism, Nationhood and the Philippine Revolutionary Movement" and Presidential Proclamation No. 270 authorizing the National Museum to conduct a National Educational and Fund Campaign for the period June 12, 1988 to June 12, 1989. On 26 January 1996, President Fidel V. Ramos signed Administrative Order No. 246 that created a Presidential Committee to oversee the rehabilitation of the National Museum complex. Earlier in October 1994, the President instructed the Secretaries of Finance and Tourism to prepare for the eventual turnover of the Finance and Tourism buildings to the National Museum. In December 1995, the Department of Finance transferred to Bangko Sentral Complex and turned over the Finance building to the National Museum. The Department of Tourism was scheduled to turn over the Tourism building by the end of 1997.

In mid-1996, the Philippine Senate, in a historic move, vacated the Senate Chambers of the Executive House paving the way for its turn over to the National Museum thus providing the institution with the three buildings within the Agrifina Circle that would now form the National Museum precinct, the heart and soul of the National Museum system. On February 12, 1998, President Fidel V. Ramos approved and signed Republic Act No. 8492, also known as the 'National Museum Act of 1998' that established a National Museum System and provided for its permanent home, among others. In June 1998, the new National Museum located at the former Finance Building precinct was opened with the formal inauguration of the National Museum of the Filipino People and the exhibition of the permanent exhibit, The Story of the Filipino People, and the worldclass travelling exhibit, The Treasures of the San Diego, which was returned to the Philippines after its world tour of Paris, Madrid, New York and Berlin. The formal inauguration formed a key part of the grand celebration of the Philippine centennial.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The National Museum has a tri-dimensional goal covering diverse fields of knowledge through various educational, scientific and cultural activities. As an educational institution, the National Museum disseminates scientific and technical knowledge in more understandable and practical forms through lectures, exhibitions, interviews, and publications for students and the general public. As scientific institution, the National Museum conducts basic research programs combining integrated laboratory and field work in anthropology and archaeology, geology and paleontology, botany and zoology. It maintains reference collections on these disciplines and promotes scientific development in the Philippines. As a cultural center, the National Museum has taken the lead in the study and preservation of the nation's rich artistic, historic and cultural heritage in the reconstruction and rebuilding of our nation's past and venerating the great individuals who helped in the building of our nation.

BRANCHES
National Art Gallery(Old Legislative Building)
The building was originally designed as the public library by Ralph Harrington Doane, the American consulting architect of the Bureau of Public Works, and his assistant Antonio Toledo. Construction began in 1918 but was suspended several times because of lack of funds. When it was decided that the building should be used by the Legislature, the revisions of the plans was entrusted to Juan Arellano, then supervising architect of the Bureau. The building was inaugurated on 16 July 1926, and by then had cost four million pesos. The building was part of Daniel Burnham's plan for the development of Manila. Upon its completion, the second, third, and fourth floors were occupied by the Senate and House of Representatives while the ground floor was occupied by the National Library. The 1934 Constitutional Convention was held in this building. On its front steps Manuel L. Quezon was sworn in as President of the Commonwealth. The Legislative Building was a casualty during the bombing and shelling of Manila in 1945. It was reconstructed in 1946 following the original plans but with some revisions, such as the replacement of flat pilasters of the stately rounded engaged columns. In mid-1996, the Senate of the Philippines moved out of the building. In 2003, renovation started to transform it into National Art Gallery of the national Museum.

Museum of the Filipino People (Old Finance Building)

The Museum of the Filipino People is a component museum of the National Museum of the Philippines that houses its Anthropology and Archaeology Divisions. It is located in the Agrifina Circle, Rizal Park, Manila adjacent to the main National Museum building which houses the Museum of the Filipino People. Said latter building formerly housed the Department of Finance.

Planetarium
The idea of putting up a modern Planetarium in Manila was

conceived in 1970s by the former National Museum Director Godofredo Alcasid Sr. with the assistance of Mr. Maximo P. Sacro, Jr. of the Philippine Weather bureau (now PAGASA) and one of the founders of the Philippine Astronomical Society (PAS). The project was presented to the former First Lady Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, then the Chairman As one month of of the her National priority Parks and Development Mrs. Marcos the Committee (NPDC). in projects, the

requested the Department of Public Works and Highways to prepare the Planetarium construction. Construction of the building started in 1974 and took nine months to finish it. It was formally inaugurated on October 8, 1975. The Planetarium is located between the Reading Center and Chinese Garden at the Luneta Park. Affirming its establishment was Presidential Decree No. 804-A that was issued is to shows, on September disseminate lectures, 30, 1975. The Planetariums information exhibits and primary through actual function astronomical demonstrations, one time and allocate funds for

planetarium

celestial observations. The unique feature of the Planetarium is the true-to-life showing of astronomical bodies that captures the interest and tickles the imagination of viewers. The Planetarium main apparatus, the GM-15 Goto Planetarium Projector was acquired through the Japanese Reparation Program in the Philippines. Through the years, improvements have been made in the Planetarium building through the efforts of its former Director Gabriel Casal and presently Director Corazon S. Alvina.

DIVISIONS
ARTS
The Arts Division is primarily concerned with the collection, maintenance and exhibition of the art works by Filipino artists, including, painting, and pieces of sculpture, graphic arts, photography and other art forms. The aim is to be able to delineate the various developments in the history of Philippine art by way of the art pieces. It also provides services including evaluation and authentication of art works conducted by a panel of experts from the private sector, art classes and similar sessions; and technical assistance to other institutions. GALLERIES The Old House of Representatives Session Hall (also known as "The Hall of the 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.
The Spoliarium is the most valuable oil-oncanvas painting by Juan Luna. With a size of 4.22 meters x 7.675 meters, it is the largest painting in the Philippines. A historical painting, it was made by Luna in 1884 as an entry to the prestigious Exposicion de Bellas Artes (Madrid Art Exposition, May 1884) and eventually won for him the First Gold Medal.

In front of Spoliarium is another large painting by Felix Hidalgo entitled La Tragedia de Gobernador Bustamante (The Assasination of Governor Bustamante). In the painting you'll find Spanish priests attacking the appointed Spanish Governor General to the Philippines.

Gallery I (Luis I. Ablaza Hall) Colonial Philippine religious art from the 17th to the 19th centuries, prominent among which is aretablo from the Church of San Nicols de Tolentino in Dimiao, Bohol a NationalCultural Treasure together with a selection of carved religious images (santos), reliefs and polychromes.

Gallery II (FCCP Hall)

The earliest Philippine paintings depicting a historical political event, the Basi Revolt series by Esteban Villanueva of Vigan(on permanent loan from the Ilocus Sur Historical and Cultural Foundation). Done in 1821, these fourteen paintings,were collectively declared as a National Cultural Treasure. They depict in nave and vivid style the famous 1807 uprising in Ilocos against colonial rule that would improve tariffs and restrictions on their famous sugarcane-based wine.

Gallery III
Philippine art of the academic and romantic period, specifically of the last three decades of the 19th century, featuring especially the Museums considerable holdings of the work of Juan Luna and key contemporaries. Highlights include works by Lorenzo Guerrero, Gaston OFarrell, and National Cultural Treasures such as Feeding the Chickens, one the earliest known Philippine genre paintings, by Simon Flores, as well as the famous UnaBulaqueaby Juan Luna. Featured also are nearly 100 works by Luna that formed part of the historic donation of the GraceLuna de San Pedro Collection by the Far East Bankand Trust Company in the early 1990s.

Feeding the Chicken by Simon Flores

Study of Cervantes, Padres Dominicos, and Una Bulaquena by Juan Luna

Gallery IV (Fundacin Santiago Hall) Continuing the theme and late 19th century period of the previous gallery, works by Flix Resurreccin Hidalgo are featured together with sculptures by IsabeloTampinco (Key works of which are the Gift of Ernesto and Araceli Salas).

Gallery V Works by the polymath and National Hero, Dr. Jos P. Rizal, including four original sculptures and one fine drawing from his 1886 sojourn in Berlin (the Gift of Aurora OrtegaCarlos in memory of Pablo C. Carlos).

Included is Rizals work MothersRevenge, a declared National Cultural Treasure, as well as several portrait busts and paintings of Rizal by eminent Filipino artists, including IsabeloTampinco, GracianoNepomuceno, Guillermo Tolentino and Martino Abellana from the early 20th century until the 1950s. Gallery VI The late contemporaries and artistic successors of Luna and Hidalgo who were active in the late Spanish colonial period and into the American occupation, including Fabian de la Rosa, Jorge Pineda, Irineo Miranda, Fernando Amorsolo, and numerous other masters who shaped Philippine art before and contemporaneous to the advent of Modernism in the country.

Gallery VIs paintings and sketches:

The center of attraction of the gallery unfinished painting of Fernando Amorsolo

is

the

Gallery IX The works of the great modernists of Philippine Art, featuring important works by Victorio Edades, Diosdado Lorenzo, Vicente Manansala, Carlos V. Francisco, Hernando R. Ocampo, Cesar Legaspi, Manuel Rodriguez, Ang Kiukok, Jos Joya, Fernando Zobel, Mauro Malang and many others. Gallery X (Museum Foundation of the Philippines Hall) A gallery dedicated to The Progress of Medicine in the Philippines, a set of four paintings by Carlos V. Francisco specially commissioned for the entrance hall of the Philippine General Hospitalin 1953. Declared a National Cultural Treasure, these extraordinary works were placed on indefinite loan to the National Museum by the University of the Philippines to secure their preservation for future generations.

ANTHROPOLOGY
The Anthropology Division is primarily concerned with the field study and documentation of the different ethno-linguistic groups in the country. A national reference collection of ethnographic materials is curated, and a number of exhibitions are maintained covering various aspects of ethnic culture. Cultural conservation is one of the more recent concerns with activities geared toward the preservation of still extant aspects of traditional culture: e.g. vernacular architecture, boat architecture, etc. Information is provided to other agencies of government with regard to policy decisions regarding peoples of the Philippines. Marginally assistance is provided to members of the ethnic communities in ameliorating their conditions by working with other government institutions. It is directly concerned with the control of entry to the Tau't Batu area of southern Palawan. The collection inventory includes some 10,000 items, broken down into different ethnic groups. Function Conducts scientific researches on the people of the Philippines, including economic and ecological anthropology, ethnography/ethnology, linguistics, and paleoanthropology that support the research, development and conservation in physical and natural sciences. Collections/Galleries

Gallery of different ethnics mode of dressing

(from left to right) Igorot artifacts, Traditional clothing jewelries and swords of Maranao people, Musical Instruments of Maranao people, garments and items of Badjaos all displayed in Museum of the Filipino People

BOTANY AND ZOOLOGY

The Botany Division is tasked primarily to make a systematic inventory of Philippine flora and vegetation. It maintains the national herbarium which is the reference collection of the different kinds of plants found in this country. At present the collection contains approximately 170,000 specimens. The Zoology Division conducts scientific researches on Philippine fauna; collects, preserves, identifies and exhibits to the public systematically all types of animals found in the Philippines; prepares manuscripts and scientific papers for publication. It maintains the national reference collection of Philippine fauna. Function of Botany Division The Botany Division conducts basic research on taxonomy, systematics, conservation and economic use of Philippine plants; Collects, preserves and maintains botanical reference collection; extends technical assistance and disseminates scientific information to students, teachers, researchers, and scientists. Function of Zoology Division Conducts basic taxonomic research in zoology and its sub disciplines and disseminate scientific information; maintain reference collection. Collections/Galleries

Gallery of drawings of Philippine flaura by Juan De Cuellar, second floor of Old Legislative Building

Gallery of bones and taxidermy of different Philippine fauna. The center piece is the big skeleton of a sperm whale Gallery of preserved body of different Philippine fauna displayed at Museum of the Filipino People

OTHER GALLERIES/EXIHIBITS WRECK OF SAN DIEGO (MUSEUM OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE)

Replica of the sunken 16th century galleon, San Diego. The galleon San Diego was built as the trading ship San Antonio before hastily being converted into a warship. On December 14, 1600, the fully laden San Diego was engaged by the Dutch warship Mauritius under the command of Admiral Olivier van Noort a short distance away from Fortune Island, Nasugbu, Philippines.

Remains of the sunken galleon including jars, cannons, armory and silver coins.