October is Museum and Galleries month. Here are exhibits to visit, activities to do 

MANILA, Philippines – The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) leads this year’s celebration of Museums and Galleries Month (MGM), in accordance with Presidential Proclamation No. 798, signed in 1991.

With the theme ”Honoring Traditions, Fostering Innovation,” this year’s MGM aims to connect the past, present and future by incorporating the country’s local traditions while inspiring evolution to society, and highlight the significance of national awareness and pride in Filipino culture. 

Whether you’re an art enthusiast, history buff, or simply curious, this month is packed with exciting activities. Explore interactive exhibits, join hands-on workshops, and take part in guided tours that let you uncover hidden gems in your local museums. 

Here’s a list of activities and exhibits you can visit:

NCCA Gallery

The flagship activity of the NCCA Gallery launched two exhibits for MGM. 

“Katribu, Kapwa Pilipino” by Alberto T. Magsumbol aims to value indigenous cultural communities through narratives about their way of life. The exhibit features stories about their culture, habits, daily life, and community, which will be presented in various mediums such as painting, sculpture. 

Aspiring to discover and emphasize the encompassing beauty of creation, “Creation: A Journey of Discovery for the Divine Self” by HIBLA collective explores dreams, memories, image, behavior and roles by examining nature, roles, and symbolism.

The exhibits will run until Saturday, October 31 at the NCCA Gallery in Intramuros, Manila. 

Cultural Center of the Philippines

The Cultural Center of the Philippines Visual Arts and Museum Division (CCP VAMD) joins the celebration of this year’s MGM by preparing a series of upcoming exhibits. 

In the National Museum of Fine Arts, you may check out “The Possibilities of Luminance (Gallery  XXVII)” and “Man and Nature (Gallery XXVIII): Selections from the 21st Century Art Museum (21AM) Collection.”

The exhibit “Impressions” is located in the sixth floor hallway, Ceremonial Hall and Conference Room, while “Viewpoints” is on the second floor hallway of the Senate of the Philippines. 

There’s also “Printmaking Open Studio Series” on October 4, 5, and 12, and the opening of the “Association of Pinoyprintmakers Annual Exhibition” on October 19 at the Bulwagang Roberto Chabet. 

Lastly, the “Kwentong Kahoy: Selections from the 21st Century Art Museum (21AM) Collection” will be at the Sevina Park Pavillion starting October 30.

Metropolitan Museum of Manila

The Metropolitan Museum of Manila also takes part in the celebration with its ongoing exhibitions. 

Located at the North Gallery and South Gallery, the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence (MADE)’s “Sibol: MADE’s 40th Anniversary Exhibition” is on view until October 19. The exhibition is free. 

Curated by Patrick Flores, the exhibition “Chances of Contact: Contemporary Prints from the Philippines and Singapore” features a collection of works from 16 Filipino and Singaporean artists in celebration of 55 years of bilateral relations between the two countries. It is located at the North Gallery until October 26. 

Ateneo Art Gallery

The Ateneo Art Gallery (AAG) is offering special guided tours of “A Synergy of Ventures: The Postwar Art Scene” on all Saturdays of October, as well as on Sundays, October 6 and 20. 

Each guided tour session can only accommodate 20 people. Museum entrance fee is free for confirmed participants.

Registration is open at go.ateneo.net/AAGTours. 

UP Vargas Museum

The University of the Philippines (UP) Vargas Museum is also holding exhibitions and workshops this month. 

Exploring the subliminal and symbolic notion of the sea that acts as a mirror of the soul, the exhibit “TAONG DAGAT (People of the Sea)” by Jon Cuyson can be viewed on the first floor galleries.

There will be a somatic movement workshop, “Ripe for Pleasure,” for ages 40 and above on Thursday, October 10 at 2 pm. 

To be facilitated by dancer and choreographer Ea Torrado, the workshop will revolve on Torrado’s Brown Madonna piece, integrating pleasure, embodiment exercises, meditation, somatics, intuitive movement, sound and voice, writing prompts, discussion, ritual, and ceremony for aged bodies. 

The workshop is open to everyone, with or without a dance or theater background. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothes and bring their favorite fruits in order to enhance the experience. 

Workshop fee is P650 per person. Registration is open at bit.ly/UPVMRipeForPleasure.

Furthermore, the third iteration of “Vargas After-Hours” is happening on October 12. 

Sound and visual artist Arvin Nogueras will be engaging the records from the Vargas memorabilia to create a new piece and will be debuting this new work for Vargas After-Hours: Vinyl Night.

You may purchase limited pre-selling tickets via bit.ly/VargasAfterHoursVinylNight.

Which of these museums and exhibits are you planning to catch? – Rappler.com

Rev Dela Cruz is a Rappler intern studying AB Journalism at the Universty of Santo Tomas.