TASK/INSTRUCTION:

a. If visiting a museum involves an educational experience, is there an

educational value in the way a museum is labeled and presented? Why or why
not?

b. Discuss briefly 5 materials that are seen in the museum and state their
relevance in understanding the Philippine history.

c. Expound this statement: “The Philippines, even if not conquered, has its own
civilization.”

DISCUSSION:

Cultural properties symbolize the identity of a particular people and community. It

also a unifying factor that brings them close together because of their similarities on
dealing with their natural setting, such as using the available resources in their
environment; like the bamboo utilized as kitchen utensils or the bark of a tree as a clothing.

Museum is a place that unfolds the story of our origins through the cultural
materials used by our ancestors in their daily life. It is a place that brings us to the past
and understands that early Filipinos have their own ways and culture before the colonizers
came. In terms of their houses that were built in accordance with their surroundings. As a
student, it is an avenue for us to appreciate our roots and be equipped with proper
knowledge about who, what, and how they are in their times.

Furthermore, Saint Louis University (SLU) Museum of Arts and Culture gave us a
variety of things that we can ponder upon such as religion of first Filipinos, where they
were actually have one that considered to be unique and different among others before
Christianity came- a religion which is close to the nature. As well as similarities between
ancient people around the world like their houses or clothing but it differs in how they
presented it through their designs and colors.

Some of the cultural materials that can be found from the SLU Museum of Arts and
Culture that are relevance in understanding Philippine history were the following: the
weaving device, traditional musical instrument, and Igorot Kaleleng Player, body
ornaments, and the Betel Nut chewing implements. First is the Tilar, Ilocos Loom weaving
equipment that signifies family unity and solidarity. Tilar is significant in appreciating our
own history as its display how creative Filipinos, especially the Ilocanos, through its long
weaving process up to its varying designs and colors that can reflect the patience,
cooperation, and involvement of each family member. Music of early Filipinos not limited
only to drums or guitars, by using their resourceful and imaginative mind they created a lot
of musical instrument made from the materials found in their surroundings. One of these is
the Tongatong is an instrument from Kalinga which is a bamboo percussion with differing
lengths. It is also used as device to communicate with the spirits during house blessing.
Tongatong can be used to understand our past since it tell us that we have our rich own
music and instruments before the colonizers came that can serve as an inspiration for
making new songs. Third is the Igorot Kaleleng Player, it is made from Acacia tree by Jose
Dong-e, Kalaleng pertains nose flute; the artwork has a purpose of uniting the Igorots
together (Ibalois, Kankanaeys, Bontocs, Ifugaos, Kalingas, Isnegs, and Tinguians). It is an
essential tool to see the significance of the Philippine history as it traces the connection
among all the Cordilleran no matter how they are unique and different from each other. It
also tries to promote unity among people despite of given differences. Fourth is the Tangkil,
it is a warrior Arm band of Western Mountain Province made out of wild boar tusk that
joined together to make a band. It signifies that Filipinos in early times have their
creativity that also suits their needs like the Tangkil that worn by warriors to prevent them
from having muscle cramps. Its importance in understanding the country’s history is that it
opens the minds of Filipinos how their ancestors were very dependent on what their
environment could offered to them. Lastly, the Betel Nut chewing implements, as what the
curator said that the Betel Nut is the original cultural icon of Filipinos that is slowly fading
because of decreasing usage of it. The Uppit or Upit serve as a container for the Betel Nut
and its purpose is like a cigarette case that is common among people of Western
Pangasinan. Betel Nut and its implements can be used to remember the importance of
Philippine history because it is originally come from Filipino people that hand over to many
generations especially in Cordilleran region.

The Philippines has its own civilization even if not conquered because of its rich
culture and tradition that reflects the identity of one nation. Early Filipinos having their
systematic beliefs and customs showed in their burial practices like the mummification in
certain areas of Benguet and Mountain Province similarly to being devoted with their gods
and goddesses by worshipping them due to good harvest, or praying before and after eating
their food. They also created ties and established good relationships with their neighboring
countries and nearby areas through trade; like the lowlanders will barter their products to
people from Cordillera in exchange of objects that they can also use.

Aside from the material things that define what were Filipinos back then, language
is utmost important since it unites people all over the Philippine archipelago for the reason
of having the same roots like the Ilocanos and Kapampangan, when the museum curator
tries to call some of our classmates which are native speakers of the said languages, we
realized it actually comparable from one another. Language passes to the succeeding
generations rather than artifacts or relics. Therefore, it is wrong to say that Philippines
become civilized because of the colonizers. Attributing our progress to the conquerors is
incorrect as our forefathers came to existence and developed the things available to them
for our future use. Filipinos are Filipinos even without the colonist.

In contrast, certain issues that are not discussed and presented during the museum
visit are reinforcing the laws that aim to protect and preserve the identity of particular
tribe or community and rights of indigenous people. For instance, the National Cultural
Heritage Act of 2009 or the Republic Act No. 10066 as cited in the website of The LawPhil
Project; wherein, it is directed towards protecting, conserving, preserving, and promoting
the cultural heritage of the country, its cultural properties and histories likewise the
indigenous people and communities. Furthermore, its purpose is to create and improve
cultural organizations and to defend the rights of cultural workers that include
development in their field of expertise.

However, even if the law envisions various things on strengthening our identity as
one nation through the mentioned strategies; it also shows that it has lapses in terms of
strictly implementing the rules and regulations based on the article of Inquirer.net. It is the
conversion of some cultural heritages into business establishments like hotels, boutique, or
café. A great example of this is the famous Vigan City that named in the 1991 World
Heritage List, where, the said landmark is very lively and colorful because some of the old
houses turned into businesses. In one side, it is good since it opens job opportunities to the
people living there and boosts the tourism in that city. On the other hand, it defeats the
essence of the old houses built in that place because its purpose is to relive in the minds
and hearts of the visitors the past and realized the richness of culture and tradition of
Vigan city.

Apart from that, the indigenous people in the Philippines were struggling for their
ancestral lands. The Indigenous People Rights Act of 1997 or Republic Act No. 8371 as cited
by the website of Official Gazette, the law seeks to protect and uphold the rights of the
indigenous people and communities and establishing a commission which monitors if the
rights are duly given to the indigenous people. In terms of the ancestral domains of these
people, this clearly stated in the Chapter 3 of this law, the indigenous concept of ownership
pertains to the ancestral lands and all the resources that considered as significant for their
cultural integrity. In addition to that, the ethnic or local tribes have the right over their
ancestral domains whether be it in land or in water such as sacred places and customary
hunting and fishing grounds, thus, these rights must be recognized.

In the contrary, as the time goes by, the rights of these local communities on their
ancestral lands are not granted to them. It is showed through repression of the Lumad
people of Southern Mindanao. In the article of Pam Tau Lee who is the chairperson of
International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP). She stated the
oppression experienced by the Lumad people because of the militarization and entering of
logging companies and multinational corporations that occupying their spaces and planting
palm oil, rubber, and pineapple and export it to other country. Additionally, they are also
force to fight back against the armed forces of the government because of their ancestral
lands through the use of their war weapons such as spears and arrows compared to
modernized weaponry of the military forces. Thus, they also begun to leave their places due
to these injustices and start a new life in the city. The article of Lee also mentioned that the
young Lumad are thinking and considering joining the New People’s Army (NPA) because
of the suppression they felt and experienced, moreover, due to this continuous violence and
injustices, some young Lumad are new members of the said rebel group.

Identity comes in variety of forms whether material or non-material things. An

imaginary line that connects and unites the Filipino people across the globe; no matter
where they will be, they will come back to know their roots as well as Filipinos from the
country strive to learn about their origins through educational trip, visiting historical
places or museum. As the youth, who are the bearer of the culture and tradition of Filipino,
it is in our hands the future of our national identity by preserving, continuously using, and
innovate the gift from our forefathers. It is important all of us working together for the
enrichment of our cultural heritage through implementing laws protecting historical
landmarks and promoting and recognizing the rights of every Indigenous People and
communities.