Day at the National Museum of Anthropology

Pictures taken by Ayshaa Magadam at the National Museum of Anthropology

I head to the museum via InDrive and noticed that the overall environment felt different. Things felt very familiar, but they don’t look as familiar as they did when I was a kid. Curiosity also struck me because, as embarrassing as it is, I’ve never actually visited any of the national museums before.

Upon entering, I immediately got the sense of familiarity and nostalgia. Even though it was my first time, it truly shows how historical buildings do have an effect; you could feel the heaviness as you pass through security and halls. You could feel the stories that linger through the walls -untold tales that want to be heard.

Ungut: Coconut shell that served as a container of fermented sugar can juice (basi) or rice wine (bayah) offered to spirits during rituals and celebrations

The artwork that caught my attention was one that wanted its tales to be heard, known, and remembered. The ungot coconut shell is a reminder that past civilizations were already advanced, unlike what the colonizers had fooled everyone into believing. The ungot shows you the amazing craftsmanship and innovation of earlier civilizations and tribes, the creativity that many already had, by using coconut shells to make bowls, cups, jars, and spoons.

Though the inside of the museum was amazing, I would say the most memorable experience had to be in the hallways and outside the museum. The architecture was amazing, and it made me a bit emotional for no reason . The sense of the past meeting the present made it very memorable, and it reflects on different cultures and ethnic groups in the Philippines. The Museum of Anthropology has artifacts that tell the tales of the past — rare items that cannot be seen elsewhere.

I learned that museums are not boring like what shows and cartoons taught us as kids . Museums exist for a reason; they are here to continue telling the tales of the past and to show that the current civilization also had advancements and its own technology , and how the past contributed to modern civilization and technologies . I definitely will make it a part of my bucket list to visit all three museums in one day.