Palacios, Excalibur Ray V.

Readings in Philippine History BSTM 2-2

Reaction Paper:

After watching the narrated video about the Diorama in Ayala Museum. All I can say is
that the Ayala museum is one of the best museums that made here in the Philippines because its
showcase the Philippine culture, and history that will remains as a big part of the Philippine
society. There has so many things exhibit there like iconic paintings, historic costume and the
historic dioramas. The museum has shown how prosperous our history and culture. It shows us
how Filipinos go beyond that time and how our heroes have done in order to give us freedom and
how our ancestors live. It shown the importance of the Philippine History. Possibly the main
highlight of this museum is The Philippine Diorama Experience which sixty dioramas are on
display that narrates the turning point of the Philippine History.
I have so much respect to all the people especially to Carlos Aquino who is a national
artist for historical literature and Ayala museum first and director, the master’s carver from
Laguna who carved and transformed woods and other people form behind the scene who is
participated to complete this wonderful diorama. It shows us the history of the Philippine before
the invasion of foreigners. They want us to be conscious about how our ancestors succeed and
how much wealth our ancestors were in culture and at the same time suffered. It shows in the
early part the Land bridges that link the Philippines to the Asian continent and allow the
migration of people and animals. It pointed that before, early Filipino were hunters and gatherers
who use simple tools and stones. I love how our ancestor became clever because they develop
tools in different activities like jars for burial practices, pottery for cooking and storage, forged
metals to become weapons. It goes until around 5000 BC when ice berg melted and covered the
land bridges that make me realized that even before climate and environment has become a
factor on how people live because it has a significant effect in our ancestor’s life. It limits their
source of food and transition from being hunters to become mostly farming and fishing. But it
amazed me how they easily adopt to this change. They even built the famous Banaue Rice
Terraces in Cordillera mountain that mark and makes the Philippine known in the world. Banaue
Rice Terraces. Chinese and Arabs also started to trade with our fellow ancestors and it greatly
influence the Philippine society. Islam also introduced and spread particularly in Mindanao area.
Until Ferdinand Magellan expedition brought Christianity to the Philippines and later Spanish
colonization using sword and cross. I really appreciate how Lapu lapu stood up and resisted
Spaniards invasions by killing Magellan but that did not hinder the Spaniards to conquer the
Philippines. Thus, force was used to our ancestors and give them no choice but to surrender and
other made a decision to form alliance to the Spaniards which for me is a valid decision if I am in
that situation. But on the other hand, Spaniard provide medical services and evangelism. I like
how hospitals was established here in the Philippines and how printing introduced because it
gives the people upgrade their way of living. And when newspaper introduced it become crucial
to Philippine revolutionary movement. I salute the braveness of Damian Domingo who is a
painter that specialized in secular themes because he opened school of fine arts that gives
opportunity to other Filipino to showcase and hone their talent. Up until the Filipino stood for
themselves and began the revolution to freed themselves and our own heroes like Dr. Jose Rizal,
Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo were born and help us become a democratic country. But
fate don’t favor our ancestors because when Philippine Independence was proclaimed a few
months later war between Philippine and America occurred. It was an unfortunate event for
Filipino people because when the World War II the Philippine become a battle ground when the
Japanese attack us. It cost many lives of our people which is a disaster. But all those events make
the Filipino become stronger. Its amazing how Filipino fight all the challenges in their lives even
the dictatorship of president Marcos. It makes me realize why Filipino have a strong will that
even disaster will come we will face it with our smile on our face.
Overall, this diorama gave me the feeling as the part of the history as if I was there in the
actual event. I can actually say that it helped me to reflect my identity as a Filipino citizen. In our
present community, it seems that our history was not dying anymore. Some didn’t really care
about our history and culture anymore. Our beliefs, natives, ancestors, and many things related
on what we are as a Filipino. It’s the fact that many of us didn’t appreciate what we are as a
Filipino. Nowadays, were too obsessed in the culture of other countries which leads in forgetting
our own. For me, by the help of these museums strengthen my identity as a Filipino because
these museums represent how our ancestors bravely fought which were in the way to our liberty.
And I will make sure someday down the line I will absolutely visit this museum so that I can
experience these Dioramas in particular first hand.