Miracle on T. M. Kalaw Street: The New Natural History Museum of the Philippines
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A panoramic view of the Museum of Natural History with its new dome in its central courtyard as designed by Architect Dom Galicia. (Photo by Virgilio Reyes, Jr.)
These are handsome representatives of the Commonwealth style ushered in by American architects Daniel Burnham and William Parsons and brought into fruition by top Filipino architects such as Juan Arellano and Antonio Toledo. Devastated by the Second World War, they were painstakingly reconstructed, and they served as government buildings in the first decades of the Third Philippine Republic.
The official statement on behalf of the Board of Trustees was delivered by Chairman Ramon del Rosario in the presence of Director Jeremy Barnes and Executive Director Ana Labrador and such luminaries as NCCA Chair Virgilio Almario, former National Museum Director Gemma Cruz Araneta, trustee and former Museum Foundation President Maribel Ongpin and Rev. Rene Javellana, S. J.
Ms. Gemma Cruz Araneta with NCCA Chairman Virgilio Almario (Photo by Virgilio Reyes, Jr.)
The last 20 years were not without many stops and starts, with countless political and financial obstacles to be hurdled. This author himself, as onetime secretary of the NGO Concerned Citizens for the National Museum, witnessed the recalcitrant attitude of some politicians who resisted moving their institutions out of these historic edifices despite legislation and Presidential fiat. One could only imagine, in the worst-case scenario like terrorism, the risk of damage had the quarters continued being shared by the “Spoliarium” with political offices and personalities.
In 1998 the 100th anniversary of Philippine Independence from Spain, the Finance Building was converted into the Museum of the Filipino People, now called the National Museum of Anthropology. This housed such stellar exhibits as the recovered treasures of the shipwreck San Diego and artifacts such as the Manunggul jar.
In 2001 the centennial year of the National Museum itself, the former Legislative Building was converted into the National Art Gallery, now called the National Museum of Fine Arts. This now houses some of the finest and most representative of Philippine art, including works by Juan Luna, Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, Fernando Amorsolo as well as other National Artists and contemporary Filipino artistic trailblazers of art. Special rooms have been dedicated to Jose Rizal, Philippine ecclesiastical art, the Basi wine revolt, textiles, and sculpture. The Assembly Hall that once housed the august Senate is now a magnificent chamber for splendid receptions, sparkling concerts, and events. It now also features historical murals that once resided in the Manila City Hall.
In the Museum's magnificent central courtyard are Executive Director Ana Labrador, Ms. Gemma Cruz Araneta and former Ambassador Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr. , taken on International Museum Day, May 18, 2018 (Photo courtesy of Virgilio Reyes, Jr.)
The National Museum has been fittingly transformed for the 21st century, in an era of climate change and rapid social media. In 2012 then-President Benigno Aquino III agreed to support the conversion of the Department of Tourism building, through extensive retrofitting and renovation, into the National History Museum. Despite advances made in the previous two decades, what was lacking was generous space to highlight the priceless geological, botanical, and zoological collections of the National Museum that had been virtually hidden from public view.
Through a private foundation, an ambitious project was launched to create in the courtyard a state-of-the-art design by renowned Philippine architect Dom Galicia. This would unite a glass and aluminum dome that would simulate the canopy of a giant jungle tree with the trunk serving as its central elevator conveyance to its topmost fifth floor. This was to be known as the Tree of Life, with references to an intertwining DNA double helix in its configuration. This was described as “a symbol of the encompassing embrace of all life on earth under God and nature and likewise the central structure and landmark unifying the National Museum of Natural History.”
The central courtyard features a futuristic tree trunk with a DNA pattern whose elevator transports visitors to the Museum's five floors. Huge posters feature endemic Philippine animals such as the Philippine tamarau and the native tarsier. (Photo by Virgilio Reyes, Jr.)
Three unique animals endemic to the Philippine archipelago are featured in giant tapestry posters along the Shell Philippines Centennial courtyard. These are the Philippine national eagle, the native tamarau and the Philippine tarsier. They recall the Philippines’ marvelous biodiversity while also calling attention to its fragility and vulnerability. It is striking that many Filipinos, especially of the younger generation, may not even be aware of the existence of these special creatures. Now they are staring into them right in the central courtyard.
Former Director of the National Museum Gemma Cruz Araneta poses beside the Philippine Eagle nicknamed Gemma to honor her. (Photo by Virgilio Reyes, Jr.)
Attracting equal public attention in the center is a replica of the Indo-Pacific crocodile nicknamed “Lolong.” As recounted in the accompanying Museum commentary, “Lolong, a male Indo-Pacific or Saltwater Crocodile, was captured in the wetlands of the Agusan Marsh … by his namesake, Ernesto “Lolong” Canete, a veteran crocodile hunter, on September 3, 2011. This was the culmination of a hunt, which lasted three weeks, in search of a crocodile that was blamed by locals for the deaths of a fisherman, a young girl and several water buffalos. After his capture, Lolong, estimated to be at least 50 years old, was found to be 6.17 meters (20 feet, 3 inches) in length and 1,075 kg (2370 lbs.) in weight, which qualified for his official certification by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest crocodile in captivity. Tragically, Lolong did not live long in captivity, dying on February 10, 2013.”
The original remains of Lolong are now permanently exhibited at the National Museum of Natural History while the replica is now in the centennial courtyard. The intention is to eventually transfer it for public display at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife in Quezon City. It is a safe bet that the public may clamor to keep the replica in place where it is now.
State-of-the art exhibits in the Museum of Natural History awaken enthralled visitors to the Philippines' early biodiversity and ancient prehistory. (Photo by Virgilio Reyes, Jr.)
Sure to stun at the newly opened museum are remarkably preserved fossilized rhinoceros skeletons, which show cut and percussion marks made by early humans 709,000 years ago. These were found with stone tools from a site excavated in Rizal, Kalinga province that included six cores, 49 flakes, and two possible hammerstones. This rewrites not only the ancient prehistory of the Philippines, but raises controversial questions about theories of human migration out of Africa to Southeast Asia. Until this discovery, the earliest human remains found in the Philippines had been those of the Tabon Cave in Palawan, dating back some 50,000 years.
The Museum of Natural History features an exhibit which demonstrates that a humanin (early human) species butchered a rhinoceros with tools some 709,000 years ago in the Cagayan Valley. Thus far, the earliest human species discovered only date back to 67,000 years. (Photo by Virgilio Reyes, Jr.)
The Museum of Natural History is still a work of progress, with the two top floors being in the process of organization and final refurbishment. But what is already open to the public shows polish and panache that will excite many visitors and schoolchildren. Instead of static artifacts, there are interactive video corners and picture screens, attractive blown-up materials on flora and fauna, reproductions of mangrove swamps and underwater seascapes. This imaginative presentation will surely inspire renewed interest in our own natural history as well as respect and awe for scientific discovery and fact. Viewers are also given a glimpse into the storied history of the Philippines, with outstanding naturalists such as Fathers Francisco Manuel Blanco and Georg Josef Kamel, S.J. (after whom the camelia flower is named), and explorers like Juan Jose Ruperto de Cuellar and Alessandro Malaspina, who came to our shores in the 18th century to record our diverse flora and fauna. Filipino scientists such as botanist Leon Maria Guerrero Sr. and biologist Eduardo Quisumbing are also given proper recognition in places of honor in the Museum.
Indeed, the gleaming Antonio Toledo neoclassical building on T.M. Kalaw St., now known as the National Museum of Natural History is a miracle that should delight Filipinos everywhere. Mabuhay!
Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr.
A career diplomat of 35 years, Ambassador Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr.served as Philippine Ambassador to South Africa (2003-2009) and Italy(2011-2014), his last posting before he retired. He is now engaged in writing, travelling and is dedicated towards cultural heritage projects.
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