Reaction Paper

National Museum of Natural History

On March 1 2020, I went to the National Museum of National History in Manila. I have

only visited this museum for the first time. I thought it would be interesting to go gain as my

years of schooling have enabled me to understand and appreciate the field of National History.

The National Museum of Natural History displays a maltitude of information relating to the

natural world. Studies of human’s origins, dinosaurs, the ocean, and geology are all examples of

what is available to explore. The National Museum Experience it is like a “Travel to the Past” a

“Look back to the History” a “Time Travel” and a “Salute to the National Artists”, when we

visited the National Museum of the Philippines. It was just amazing that there were things that

allowed us to look back, to remember and to recognize some events that marked our past, left us

the memories of the struggles of our ancestors, and educated us about our country’s history,

culture and arts. The tour served as a revelation to us to appreciate our history, our culture and

arts and especially our nationalism. The first hall I visited, “Written in Bone: Forensic Files of the

17th Century Chesapeake,” presented the stories of 17th century European and African settlers of

the Chesapeake Bay. The field of science this exhibit focuses on is mostly forensic and human

anatomy related. This introduction provides the concepts needed to understand how they

determine such detailed histories of people from the past from something as peculiar as their

remains. The second hall I visited while at the National Museum of Natural History was the

larger gallery, “Bones.” This exhibit focuses on the palaeontology of a variety of animals, and

displays a large number of complete skeletons. Much of the information focuses on how bone

structures determine the classifications of different organisms, which conveyed once again

through writings on the walls behind the skeletons they are referring to. The National Museum of

Natural History does an excellent job at presenting such a diversity of information relating to the

natural world. From such realistic recreations of dinosaurs to such wondrous jewels as the Hope

Diamond, most anyone can enjoy an intellectual and entertaining place.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATIONAL HISTORY
 Reaction Paper

Museo Valenzuela

The next day I visited the National Museum of National of History, I went to Museo of

Valenzuela located in Fatima Ave, Marulas, Valenzuela City. Same as the National Museum, it is

my first time for visiting the Museo even I am studying in Fatima for almost two years. The

Museo is the city's historical and cultural landmark, named after Dr. Pío Valenzuela in 1963.

Museo Valenzuela features collections of artifacts depicting the city's past and continuing

development, it serves as a repository of the city's rich heritage and a beacon of light to its people

and guests. It is likewise a venue for historical, cultural, and artistic presentations as well as

seminars and symposia on national and local issues. Dr. Pio was a physician and was highly

regarded by the Katipunan. In recognition of his heroism, he was named after a city in Metro

Manila, the City of Valenzuela (formerly Polo, Bulacan). He joined the Katipunan in July 1892,

and almost a week before the secret rebel was formed. He became fast friends with Andres

Bonifacio. He was the great-grandchild of Andrew and Gregoria and the couple stayed at home

when their home was set on fire. In 1896, he was also sent to Dapitan to speak with Jose Rizal

and discuss his support for the armed rebellion. When the Spaniards discovered the Katipunan,

Valenzuela fled to Balintawak but also surrendered to gain the amnesty offered by the colonial

government. He was deported to Spain and tortured in Madrid, Malaga, Barcelona, and Africa.

He was jailed for about two years. In 1899, during the American occupation, he was appointed

the municipal president of Polo. He was president of the military division of Polo from 1902 to

1919, with the executive of Bulacan province. In 1921, he became governor of Bulacan. He was

born on July 11, 1869 in Polo, Bulacan to the family of Francisco Valenzuela and Lorenza

Alejandrino. He studied at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, and obtained a medical license

from the University of Saint Thomas in 1895. He had seven children by his wife, Marciana
Castro. He died on 6 April 1956 in his hometown. Dr. Pio history is too wide to discuss but it is

interesting to know. The Museo is not so big like other museum but its comfy and has still the

aura of decades.

MUSEO VALENZUELA