Explore Singapore, Colours and Heritage exhibit opening

Museo Pambata , Roxas Boulevard cor. South Drive, Manila-Philippines

facade of Museo Pambata

  It was cloudy day , When i arrived at around past 8:00 am at the Museo Pambata lobby . Museo Pambata is the country’s first fully dedicated museum for children . I have went several times to this museum and being a member of Heritage Conservation Society ( office is located at the back-side of the museum ) always makes me feel like the place is like a second home. I was greeted by the friendly receptionists and staffs of the museum .

Museo Pambata reception committee members

I am one of the privilege “few” member of the philatelic community in the country to get an exclusive invitation to the event. As a writer , blogger , travel guide and collector ,  The exhibit  plays an important role  that is closes  in my heart which is “philately ” or stamp collecting .

lion dancers delighted visitors and guests to the museum

group of school children and teachers were delighted by lion dancers performance

Dr. Nina Lim-Yuson CEO and president of Museo Pambata address the crowd

Dr. Nina Lim-Yuson, President & CEO of Museo Pambata said, “Museo Pambata is honored to have been chosen by the Singapore Philatelic Museum for this exhibit, “Explore Singapore!”. SPM and MP have much in common, not only in the close relationship that we have forged with their professional staff, but also with both museums’ target audience, which is young children. SPM has many attractive and excellent exhibits, but one of our favorites is their Singapore Heritage Room. How fortunate that this room was replicated in our museum, and now our Filipino kids can learn about and pretend they are in Singapore! Thank you SPM and Mabuhay to our partnership.”

Dr. Nina Lim-Yuson received a token gift from his excellency Ambassador Mr. V.P. Hirubalan of Singapore to the Philippines

Mayor Alfredo S. Lim

group picture of the organizers  Dr. Nina Lim-Yuson -CEO and president of Museo Pambata , Mayor Alfredo S. Lim- chairperson of Museo Pambata  ( 4th from the left), Singapore Philatelic Museum General Manager Tresnawati Prihadi and Ambassador V.P. Hirubalan

Mayor Alfredo S. Lim together with Honorable V. P. Hirubalan and Mrs. Hirubalan

Mr. Robert Tan- President of Philippine Philatelic Federation and Dr. Nina Lim-Yuson -CEO and president of  Museo Pambata

members of the Quezon Philatelic Society led by their President Mr. Stanley Siu ( standing 6th from the left standing beside Mayor Alfredo S. Lim )

The exhibit is divided into 6 themes:

sample of traditional costumes from Singapore 

The People of Singapore : authentic traditional costumes of Chinese , Indians, Malays , Indonesians and Peranakans  are exhibited . Early photographs of the immigrants and their way of life .

Replica of authentic commercial district are re-created.

Ketupat– a traditional boiled rice skillfully wrapped in coconut leaves,  empty ketupat made of colorful ribbons are commonly used to decorate homes during festive season.

Festivals: Christmas, Chinese New Year, Easter ,  Hari Raya Puasa, Pongal  and Deepavali are given a more tangible form through an interactive cabinet display. People can see the items on display from nativity scenes, pottery , shoes , pictures, eater eggs among others.

Food: Singapore is known for its food culture,  street hawkers and their tasty delicacies.  This  exhibit gives greater depth into the origins of iconic dishes such as Wonton noodles, Kway Chop , Satay, Hainanese Chicken Rice ,  Ice Kacang ,Katong laksa , Bak Chang , Rojak among others.

replica of Chinese traditional drug store in Singapore 

Vanishing Trade:  With the rapid modernization and industrialization of the country most of the traditional arts, crafts , agriculture are slowly vanishing in popularity. Among the items shown here are items that represent aspects of clog making, spice manufacture and a Chinese apothecary.

traditional kites

Traditional Kites : Different  kites  designs ranging  from dragon, butterflies  , dragon flies  are hung on the ceiling of Museo Pambata . Kite flying is believed to have been brought to Singapore by the Chinese settlers and have been popular with the kids and even adults.

Journey Through Singapore With Stamps ( Tourism ) :  In cooperation with   Singapore Philatelic Museum which  features various key historic sites and famous attractions in Singapore that are featured in their local stamps.

presentation folder of Garden by the Bay stamps

Spanning 101 hectares, Gardens by the Bay is an integral part of a strategy by the Singapore government to transform Singapore from a ‘Garden City’ to a ‘City in a Garden’. The stated aim is to raise the quality of life by enhancing greenery and flora in the city.

stamps

Singapore’s development into a garden city started four decades ago with the establishment of greening program. This was initiated with the launch of the Tree planting campaign in 1963.

Some of the newest issue included 2012 Olympic stamps and first  day cover , Flora and Fauna , Historical places.   Singapore stamps are highly collectible and sought after by stamp collectors from all over the world.

Singapore Post issued a set of four stamps to commemorate Games of the XXX Olympiad London 2012. The Olympic stamps features Table Tennis – 1st Local, Swimming – S$0.65, Sailing – S$1.10 and Badminton – S$2.00.

Singapore -Philippines joint issue of bridge in 2009 ( 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations)

Date of Issue: 28 August 2009
Denominations: 1st local, 65¢, 80¢ & $1. 10
Stamp Size: 40.8mm x 29.85mm
Miniature Sheet: 120mm x 75mm
Perforation: 13
Paper: Unwatermarked
Printing Process: Offset Lithography
Printer: Secura (Singapore) Pte Ltd Sheet Content: 10 stamps per sheet
Designer: Victorino Z. Serevo
Graphic Designer: Chan Willie

After the ceremonies, guests and vips were treated to an array of Singapore dishes .  I would like to personally thank all the staffs and curator of Museo Pambata. The roving exhibit which will run until August 2013 .

Admission Hours

8 AM to 5 PM (Tuesdays to Saturdays)
1 PM to 5 PM (Sunday)

Admission Fees
Php 100 (for children and adults)
Museum workers and teachers – FREE

Manila residents with valid IDs – FREE on Tuesdays and 50% discount on other days.

The museum is closed on Mondays and selected official holidays.

 Land-line : 523-1797 to 98 and 536-0595

Links:

Embassy of the Republic of Singapore – Manila

www.mfa.gov.sg/manila

Ministry of information , Communication  and the Arts : www.mica.gov.sg/

Museo Pambata : http://www.museopambata.org/

National Heritage Board : www.nhb.gov.sg/

Singapore Philatelic Museum : http://www.spm.org.sg/

Singapore Post: http://www.singpost.com/

Advertisement

Explore Singapore ! Colors of Heritage Exhibit

Museo Pambata in cooperation with Singapore embassy , Singapore Philatelic Museum , National Heritage Board , Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts , City of Manila invites everyone to a year-long festival known as ” Explore Singapore ! Colors of Heritage Exhibit “.

The original schedule of the exhibit was supposed to be held on August 8, 2012 however due to strong rains caused by southwest monsoon the schedule was moved to September 5, 2012 and will run until September 5, 2013 .

Guests of Honor includes Honorable Alfredo S. Lim , Singapore ambassador to the Philippines , Ms, Gretchen del Rosario , Mr. Robert Tan , Mrs. Maria Josefina Dela Cruz .

For more information :

Landlines : 523-1797, 523-17-98 , 536-05-95

Email: info@museopambata.org

De La Salle University – Inaguration of Mr. Henry Sy Sr. Hall

DLSU campus Taft Avenue, Manila

The author had the privilege of witnessing the closing ceremony of DLSU centennial celebration last June 15, 2012  Friday .  The event was highlighted with the inauguration of a new building that was name after Mr. Henry Sr. Sy .

De La Salle brothers together with Brother Armin Luistro , DEPED secretary(second from left ) Dr. Paulino Tan – ( third from the left – Chairman board of trustees SM foundation ) Brother Narciso Erguiza Jr.  DLSU chancellor and president ( six from the left ) Ms. Elizabeth Sy – 8th from left ( President of SM hotel )Mrs. Teresita Sy-Coson 9th from left ( Vice -Chairperson SM Investments Corporation , Mrs. Felicidad -Sy (  4th from right – wife of  Mr. Henry Sr. Sy)  , His Excellency Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto – 3rd from right ( Papal Nuncio ) , Mr. Han T. Sy  – second from right ( President of SM prime Holdings ),He is a mechanical engineering graduate of De La Salle University and Mr. Herbert Sy -director ( SM Food Retail Group )

This building is the first major building under the Centennial renewal plan, along term development master plan to rationalize the whole campus set-up and responds to the need for more space for research, development and learning.

Designed by the country’s leading architectural firm Leandro V. Locsin Partners.

Website: http://locsinarchitecture.com/

Architects designed the Mr. Henry Sr. Sy hall. The building is comparable to a “ Habitable tree”, a concept that seeks to capture the university continuous role in the Philippine education.

Facade of  Mr. Henry Sy Sr. Hall within the Da La Salle campus inaugurated last June 15, 2012 with thousand of alumni, students, vips, media , family members of Mr. Henry Sy Sr.  , De La Salle brothers attending the opening .

It’s institution’s stand on environmental responsibility, sustainability and continuity can be seen thru its GREEN spaces and environmental projects

Barringtonia asiatica (Linn.) Kurz. locally called Botong , Boton ( Tagalog), Banilad , Bitoon ( Bisayan/ Cebuano )

Botong  is a tree growing to a height of 8 to 15 meters. Leaves are large, obovate or obovate-oblong, 20 to 40 centimeters long, entire, thick, shining, stalkless, blunt-tipped, and pointed at the base. Flowers are very large and white, borne in short, erect, few-flavored racemes.

The DLSU Botong tree is the counterpart of  UP centennial tree, Metro Manila College – Tandang Sora or Katipunan Tree , FEU – Heritage Tree. This particular tree is said to have been planted within the campus  during the 1920’s by the founders of the university . This had been recently marked with appropriate marker .

Vanda Penang- Manila one of the dozens of orchid species and hybrids that are planted within the DLSU campus garden

Its present campus is the equivalent of a mini-oasis in this part of Taft Avenue where high rise condominium units, pollution and lack of green space in the surrounding areas.     There are also several pocket gardens that can be found within  the campus.

 Vertical landscape which consists of Asplenium nidus , microsorium  ferns planted on a wall .

The campus showcases a lot of pocket gardens with lovely flowering plants, orchids, ferns , indoor plants  and old native and introduced trees.

Commemorative marker marks the massacre of innocent lives during the closing days of the second world war

The school had also witness a lot of turbulent moments in our country’s history such as the atrocities of the last world war which not only left the university’s building and archives in chaos but the lost of innocent lives during the last days of the battle of Manila.

Repeated bombings of the area resulted in the total destruction of the gymnasium and the loss of library holdings and laboratory equipment. On February 12, 1945, a band of Japanese soldiers massacred 16 brothers and several families who had taken refuge with them in the college chapel.

DLSU Saint  La Salle Hall  shorty after the liberation  in 1945  ( Photo courtesy : DLSU archives and Mr. John Tewell.

Most of the earlier buildings were designed under the classical Greek revival of  Neo- Classical style, It is similar with the other famous buildings of pre-war Manila which includes the National Museum for Filipino People (formerly known as Finance Building) National Art Gallery Museum (Legislative or Old Congress Building), Manila Central Post Office and countless of major government buildings built during that era.

 75th anniversary commemorative stamp of De La Salle University with the neo-classical building on the background and Saint Benile on the foreground  issued in 1986 scanned from personal collection of the author . It was issued by the Philpost in June 16, 1986 , Lithography by : APO- Neda with perforation 13x 13 1/4  Wmk 3 ,   php 3.00 stamp was printed on 500,000 quantity issue .

The La Sallian education in the country was said to date back in the year 1905 when Archbishop Jeremiah James Harty – an alumnus of a La Salle School in the United States petitioned the Superior General of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools .

a 6 centavo De La Salle College commemorative stamp issue which marked the 50th anniversary of the college. photo by Courvoisier printed in Switzerland . 3,000,000 pieces were issued in June 16, 1961 .

– FSC for the establishment of a De La Salle school in the Philippines due to the very small number of Catholic institutions at that time.

Archbishop Jeremiah Harty

Archbishop Harty’s request was rejected at first due to lack of funds,  He would  continue to appeal to  Pope Puis X for the establishment of additional Catholic schools in the country.

De La Salle University 75th anniversary commemorative souvenir sheet – Php 7.20 face value with 20,000 pieces quantity issue

From March up to June 1911, nine De La Salle Christian Brothers from Europe and the United States led by Brother Blimond FSC of France arrived in the Philippines. Together On June 16, 1911, the Brothers established the first Christian Brother school in the Philippines, De La Salle College, on Calle Nozaleda (now General Luna St.)  in Paco, Manila.

With an ever-growing student population, the brothers decided to relocate at the present location on Taft Avenue in the district of Malate in 1921.

Green and White buntings -add to the festive atmosphere inside the campus

Campus Celebration:

There was a mass officiated by his Excellency, Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, as the new Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines  installed last May 10, 2011.

DLSU chapel

Archbishop Pinto is the 15th Papal Representative and the 10th Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines. He entered the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See on May 1, 1984, and has served successively in Papua New Guinea, Argentina, and the Vatican City State Secretariat.

GMA Kapuso channel 7 executive Mr. Mike Enriquez , Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim, Dr. Lydia B. Echauz – President of Far Eastern University ( Picture courtesy of Andrew Pamorada)

He also served as Apostolic Nuncio to Cape Verde, Senegal, Mali, and Guinea-Bissau, and was Apostolic Delegate to Mauritania.Born on May 26, 1952, in Bari, Italy, Archbishop Pinto was ordained a priest on April 1, 1978. He holds a doctorate in Canon Law and is fluent in Italian, French, English, and Spanish.

 Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim – a special guest  together with Mr. Stephen Pamorada a DLSU student pose for a souvenir shot in front of the chapel

After several minutes at the chapel, I was warmly greeted by Ms. Marge Liggayu ( office of strategic communication )  and  Mr. Stephen Pamorada( HCS member and DLSU student ) , He acted as my impromptu tour guide  around the DLSU campus . He thought that it was my first time to come to a campus event. I told everyone that  i used to come as a seminar participant in our graduate school program  and probably three or four more occasions .

A proud DLSU student with matching green t-shirt and green archer cap

Mr. Henry Sy Sr. Hall one of the newest landmark inside the DLSU campus

The building, which has yet to be opened, is 14- story high and will house research facilities and study areas. SM Investments Corporation donated  P300 million for its construction.

SM Prime Holdings:http://www.smprime.com/s mprime/index.php?p=587&type=2&sec=49&aid=12506

I also saw Far Eastern University president Dr. Lydia B. Echauz during the building inauguration and mass.

School Bazaar

There are about 50 to 60 bazaar style market , selling different items from handmade accessories , shoes, pins, umbrella, foods, home made pastries and different t-shirts.

Green and White colored DLSU ANIMO  baller – a hotcake item for DLSU alumni, students and memorabilia hunters !

DLSU t-shirt were selling like hot cakes – Long lines of students , alumni  and memorabilia collectors were on buying spree in a university wide bazaar

The most sale-able items were T-shirts and collectible merchandise  lists  in every DLSU  students , alumni and memorabilia collectors  . Unfortunately , the centennial DLSU stamps issuance was shoved -off  according to a member of the stamp advisory committee member of the Philippine Postal Corporation last year ! Sayang ! The next stamp issuance for DLSU  if granted  will be  25 years from now. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will issue a DLSU centennial commemorative overprint but the public must still wait for now  .

DLSU – Gokongwei College of Engineering students  posed together with battery powered car which will compete in international car racing in Malaysia this July .

Concerts :

After the whole afternoon of touring around the campus, The group was treated to an evening of cultural presentation , modern dance, music and entertainment .

DLSU- Lipa students performed the religious dance ( Subli ) from Batangas

I opted to stay at the public concert held at the Henry Sy Sr. Hall were thousands of  students, alumni , priests  and invited guests were on hand to see how the DLSU education system had accomplished in their 100 years .

The school had already marked its milestone by having several campuses and affiliated schools from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao . My heartfelt congratulations and thanks to the warm hospitality and accommodation   to the office of Ms. Marge Liggayu , Mr. Vin Ello , Mr. Stephen Pamorada and Mr. Andrew Pamorada  and all those people that the author met during the activity .  Until next visit !

References:

De La Salle University-Manila. Student’s Handbook: 2003-06. Manila: DLSU Press. 2003

page 21, page 108, 1997 Dr. NGO’s Catalogue of Philippine Republic Stamps and Postal Stationeries

Press Kit from Ms. Marge Liggayu and Mr. Vin Ello ( Office for Strategic Communications)

Archbishop Jeremiah James Harty :  http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bharty.html

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas : http://www.bsp.gov.ph/

De La Salle University: https://my.dlsu.edu.ph/

National Museum : http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/

Stuart Exchange : http://www.stuartxchange.org/Botong.html

Flora and Fauna of Manila Exhibit

There was an exhibit of various Flora and Fauna at the Manila City hall lobby  from June 18 to June 30, 2010.  This was to highlight the founding date of the city of Manila.

Mr. Jeremy Barns- Director IV- National Museum, Mr. Larry Henares  – National Museum Chairman , Hon. Alfredo S. Lim -Mayor of Manila, Ms. Gemma Cruz de Araneta – Manila Historical and Heritage Commission during the cutting of ribbon last June 18, 2010 .

Ideopsis juventa manillana, Moore 1883

This butterfly species was first described by Moore in 1883 . This dried taxonomic butterfly specimen was exhibited by the Philippines National Museum . The butterfly species had the word Manila .

Cinnamomum manillarum ( Lauaceae)

Fr. Manuel Blanco (1779-1837), who developed a botanical research garden at the church celebrating its 400th birthday today. Blanco’s Flora de Filipinas, first printed in 1837, has served as a guide to the islands’ plants ever since.

Fr. Blanco described Scyphiphora hydrophyllaces, locally known as nilad: a tree with white star-shaped flowers. He wrote, “Manila denotes a place where there are many of this tree and from this, great Manila derived its name.”

Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea (common names: nilad in Tagalog; chengam in Singapore and Peranakan communities of Malaysia) is a mangrove species  that is about 3 m (10 ft) tall.

It is often found in mangrove forests or sandy beaches. Its leaves are opposite. The leaf blades are broad and drop-shaped. Its terminal buds and young leaves are coated with a varnish -like substance. The flowers have four white lobes that are tinged in pink. They are arranged in dense clusters.

The fruits are elliptic and deeply ridged, becoming light brown and buoyant when ripe. Its dark brown wood can be used to craft small objects. Leaf extracts are known to be helpful for stomach aches. The flowers can be used as a cleansing or whitening laundry agent.

Capital city of the country ( Manila) , got its name from the nilad because the shores of Manila Bay are teeming with this shrub. The place was called “Maynila”, which means “There is nilad” or “Where is Nilad”  . The Capital city’s name   was also probably derived from the Indian – Sanskrit  word “nila” (नील) which means “indigo tree.” but still is subject for scholarly debate on the origin of the etymology.

Caprimulgus manillensis

The Philippine Nightjar (Caprimulgus manillensis) is a species of nightjar   in the Caprimulgidae  family. It is considered as an endemic species found only in the Philippines.

Its natural habitats  are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montanes.

The aim of this exhibit was to create awareness that a significant number of plant and animal species that were named after the capital city of the Philippines which is ” Manila “.