The hubby and I visited the Lopez Museum and Library last Saturday and it was one interesting experience. It was eons ago when I last stepped foot on a museum and now that we are a homeschooling family, it is in our must go to places list.
The “After the Fact” exhibit at Lopez Museum literally got us thinking what’s behind the title and Ms. Iday Marpa, the museum’s admin support/assistant, readily indulged our many questions. The After the Fact is based on the questions “What and how did we do?” “Then what?” The “After” in the title being, the gesture to summon to establish lineage and recollected past from the exhibition ensembles. The concept behind the theme encourages us to look backward and forward at the same time. The tour was a memorable one, to say the least. It got us to appreciate the rich culture of our nation all over again and I will be most thrilled to bring my son to this museum in one of our scheduled “field trips” in this upcoming school year.
the hallway leading to the rooms in the “After the Fact” exhibit
Jose Rizal’s binoculars and compass
Lopez Museum Library
Soldiers (Heroes of the Past) by Bencab
the oldest existing detailed map
There are more interesting pieces that our eyes feasted on: artworks of Juan Luna, letters of Jose Rizal to his mother and sisters, selected works of National Artist Fernando Amorsolo and a host of other art pieces that preserve and promote Philippine arts and letters.
Incidentally, Lopez Museum and Library celebrated its 50th anniversary last month by launching the book Unfolding: Half a Century of the Lopez Memorial Museum and Library. This book contains the history of the institution and its preserved works in the library. It serves as a testimony of the passion and generosity of the Lopez clan to preserve the rich history and culture of the Philippines. It is currently sold at the museum for P2,800 (with box) and P2,500 (without box).
