DON MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY

South La Union Campus

Agoo, La Union
Website Address: www.dmmmsu.edu.ph

Educational Trip In Manila: Exploring the Historical, Sociological and

Anthropological Sites and Institutions of the Philippines

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A Report

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Submitted by:

Oropilla, Kristine B.

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December 15, 2023

 DON MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
South La Union Campus
Agoo, La Union
Website Address: www.dmmmsu.edu.ph

Introduction

In order to make sense of the concepts and theories we learn within the
confines of a classroom, witnessing them come to life before our eyes is a vital way
for us to deeply grasp them through real-time experience. As a social studies student,
exploring the grassroots of humanity is among the basic practices we must delve into
in order to strengthen the foundation of our consciousness on various trends and
issues we come across in our contemporary time. Hence, it requires us to come out of
our comfort zone in order to holistically understand the reality that lies beyond it. To
fulfill the requisite of our course, Socio-Cultural Anthropology, under the instruction
of Prof. Nestor Ulpindo, the 3rd and 4th year Social Studies students under the
department of Bachelor of Secondary Education at DMMMSU-SLUC traveled from La
Union and conducted an educational trip in Manila on December 6, 2023.

To help students deepen their understanding of various Philippine cultures

and heritage, the itinerary includes Rizal Park, Intramuros, San Agustin Church, Fort
Santiago, the National Museum of Anthropology, and the National Museum of Natural
History, which they visited together with other Social Studies faculty members and
their assigned tour guides.
 DON MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
South La Union Campus
Agoo, La Union
Website Address: www.dmmmsu.edu.ph

Narrative

The DMMMSU-SLUC Social Studies students' educational trip to Manila

provided an excellent opportunity for these pre-service teachers to meet the learning
outcomes of their Socio-Cultural Anthropology course, which focused on applying
concepts through experiential learning and appreciating historical and cultural sites
and materials that were essential to bolstering their approaches to teaching and
learning.

Upon arriving in Manila at 6 o'clock a.m., the bus we occupied went straight
towards Rizal Park, where our Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, was executed
and the place formerly known as Bagumbayan during Spanish occupation. Along the
way towards the monument of Dr. Rizal, we first visited the site where the Rizal
fountain is found. The said stone drinking fountain was originally found in a rectory in
Wilhelmsfeld, Germany, where Rizal stayed as a guest while finishing his first novel,
Noli Me Tangere. It was granted by the German government to the Philippines as a
symbol of historic affinity between the two countries and was placed in the park on
December 30, 1964. In addition to this historical information, we paused to admire
the Independence Flagpole, which is the tallest flagpole in the Philippines. It is 150
feet tall and located across Kilometer Zero and to the west of the hero's monument.
For the main event, our tour guide lectured us about the historical context of the
Rizal Monument. The monument, which was once known as Motto Stella, depicts the
hero's struggle for Philippine independence by using his two well-known novels to
subvert Spanish domination. We also went to Dr. Jose Rizal's execution site, where
bronze statues are erected to dramatize the final moments of the hero's life. We also
had an overview of the execution site of three Filipino martyred priests, where a
memorial monument existed in honor of GOMBURZA.

We continued our educational trip in Intramuros, where the remaining

historical sites included in our itinerary are located. For us to savor the sights of
Intramuros, we walked along its streets, rich with historical landmarks and houses
that emanated the Spanish colonial influence through their architectural styles. We
were able to witness with our own eyes the remnants of the past found inside the San
Agustin Church. As if we had traveled to the past, the first religious site in Luzon
never failed to make us feel the narratives that stayed within it. We were also
amazed by the view of its ceiling, which appears to be very intricate due to the
fantastic illusion made by its 3-D painting. Another religious site that we got to
explore was the Manila Cathedral in front of Plaza de Roma. We stayed inside the
cathedral for some minutes to appreciate its beauty, purchase some souvenirs, and
pray for our personal intentions. The Fort Santiago fortress was the last location we
visited in Intramuros. They merely told us stories of the military personnel and
prisoners who died in the underground cells during World War II since the dungeon was
closed that day because of an earthquake that happened the day before our trip.
Before we proceeded to the last two museums, we were given an hour and thirty
minutes to rest and have our lunch break. We had a brief orientation about what to
expect inside before we toured around the National Museum of Anthropology. We had
seen various Filipino artworks and artifacts on display, along with the stories that
accompanied their workmanship. We were also stunned at how geometry played a
magnificent role in the structure of the National Museum of Natural History. We were
able to discover various flora and fauna inside, including the remains of Lolong, the
 DON MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
South La Union Campus
Agoo, La Union
Website Address: www.dmmmsu.edu.ph

biggest saltwater crocodile in the Philippines. Apart from that, we also enjoyed the
entertaining and interactive activities found on every floor of the museum.
Conclusion

As Social Studies students, we have had the opportunity to learn a great

deal by participating in our department's recently concluded educational trip. We
were able to experience the accounts that have been preserved in the
aforementioned historical, sociological, and anthropological sites in Manila. We also
gained an appreciation for some of the historical treasures in our nation as a result of
this long-day trip. Our visit back to the classics provided us with lifelong lessons that
we will carry over to our future careers as educators. We will become the storytellers
who will relate the lessons we learned about the humanities and the history of the
Philippines to the next generation, thereby preserving their relevance in the ever-
changing world that we shall all continue to live in. Overall, it was a rewarding
experience, and I am extremely grateful that I was able to take part in and journey
back in time for my education.
 DON MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
South La Union Campus
Agoo, La Union
Website Address: www.dmmmsu.edu.ph

APPENDIX

The Rizal Fountain found along the way to Rizal monument

 DON MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
South La Union Campus
Agoo, La Union
Website Address: www.dmmmsu.edu.ph

The 150-feet tall Independence Flagpole infront of the R

My photo in front of the Rizal monument

The site where the three Filipino martyred priests were executed
 DON MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
South La Union Campus
Agoo, La Union
Website Address: www.dmmmsu.edu.ph

The ceiling of San Agustin Church that appears to be in a 3-D style

 DON MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
South La Union Campus
Agoo, La Union
Website Address: www.dmmmsu.edu.ph

The dramatization of Rizal’s execution in Rizal Park

The artworks along the hallway of National Museum of Anthropology

Our photo with the bones of Lolong in the National Museum of Natural History
DON MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
South La Union Campus
Agoo, La Union
Website Address: www.dmmmsu.edu.ph