Filipinos celebrate International Museum Day on May 18

Wherever you find yourself on May 18, you can celebrate International Museum Day, as over 30,000 museums in around 100 countries are joining the event.

 

Museums all over the world are organizing activities, from scientist talks to workshops and tours. For some, the celebration extends to a week or even an entire month. 

 

International Museum Day is "an occasion to raise awareness on how important museums are in the development of society," according to the International Council of Museums, which has held the annual celebration since 1977.

 

This year's celebration marks its 35th anniversary with the theme “Museums in a Changing World. New Challenges, New Inspirations.” 

 

"IMD2012 is as much about museums growing and shaping their future, as it is about displaying and interpreting new issues like climate change, new media or social responsibility," says ICOM on its official website. 

 

Museums in PHL

 

Ayala Museum in Makati City offers free admission on May 18 in celebration of the event. 

 

The Mind Museum in Taguig City offers a discounted rate on all-day passes. For P500, visitors can attend talks by Filipino scientists, join special workshops and activities, and explore the exhibits and the museum's Science-in-the-Park. Special interactive exhibits will be set up only on May 18. Visitors can make their own compost with earthworms, learn basic robot building, or compete with others on who knows the museum best. Limited slots are available. To buy tickets, visit the website. 

 

The Philippine Science Centrum in Marikina will allow the first 200 visitors to come in for free. For the entire month of May, they offer a 50 percent discount on their P120 entrance fee. 

 

In Tuguegarao City, over a hundred museum workers will celebrate on May 24 and 25, with a half-day seminar and a visit to Lyceum of Aparri Museum, Heritage Churches of Cagayan, Piat Basilica Minore including the Cagayan Museum, and the Callao Caves Tourist Zone. 

 

In Tarlac City, the Kuliat Foundation Inc. hosts the IMD celebration at the Museo ng Probinsya from May 24 to 26, with museum visits and lectures on "The Role of Museums in a New Society, Using the Past to Build the Future, New Media and Innovation." 

 

In Cebu City, 11 museums and seven heritage sites will open from 6 p.m. until midnight on May 27 for "Gabii sa Kabilin." The "one-night only" heritage tour is held in celebration of International Museum Day as well as National Heritage Month in May.

 

The Anvil awardee event aims to "foster understanding and to bring local art and culture closer to the public," a news release from the Philippine Information Agency said. 

 

This year's tour features performances by Izarzuri Vidal and Children’s Orchestra Marigondon Public School at Casa Gorordo Museum, storytelling at Cathedral Museum of Cebu, a tribal band at Fort San Pedro, a Santacruzan sa Parian procession at Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House and Cebuano dances at Museo Sugbo.

 

There will be Cebuano songs and harpist performances at the Museo Parian sa Sugbo, an art fair at Sacred Heart Alternative Gallery, an exhibit of World War II memorabilia collections at CNU Museum, paintings at Cebu City Museum; and a cooking demonstration of native delicacies of Mandaue at the Mandaue City Central Plaza. Colon Street vendors will also hold a night market outside USPF Rizal Museum. –KG, GMA News