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Art groups help revive Makati's dormant museum

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Text and photos by Angelo G. Garcia

<div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/life/04/08/1.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/life/04/08/2.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/life/04/08/3.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/life/04/08/4.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/life/04/08/5.jpg"/></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>A contemporary art installation by an art group collective in front of the museum</p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>A diorama depicting old locals getting water from pasog river</p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>A wooden diorama of Makati&#x27;s Panatang Sayaw</p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Belzasar Rocky interprets an old portait of a woman</p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Jodinand Aguillon&#x27;s 9 Muses</p></div></div><p>A few days before barangay Poblacion in Makati kicks off its Holy Week festivities, a celebration of the creative kind transpired at its center. </p><p>The once quiet Museo ng Makati was brought back to life last Thursday by several artistic performances, a projection mapping show, colorful art installations, and new exhibits.</p><p>The one-night event, called “Throwback Thursday: A Night at the Museo,” aimed at loudly and colorfully announcing that Makati is committed to showcase its vibrant art scene while also preserving its rich heritage and culture.</p><p>Built in 1918, this old stone building with capiz window shutters served as Makati&#x27;s town hall until 1961. More than two decades after, in 1990, the city decided to convert the building into a museum, housing the city&#x27;s important historical artifacts like fossils and earthenware.</p><p>However, in recent years, the museum and its collections have remained dormant. With no curatorial staff, the museum only sporadically opened to the public.</p><p>“Before, when it was still operational, we invite school children to visit the museum,” Makati Poblacion Heritage Conservation Project development officer Dwayne Samarista recalled.</p><p>“For the longest time, the museum was not well-curated. Since 2013, when it was renovated, we wanted to hire a curatorial consultant for the museum but it did not push through. That is why the city approached these art groups to help us activate the museum,” he added.</p><p>As part of the Makati Customs and Traditions program, the city partnered with Fringe Manila, Pineapple Lab, and Kapwa Studio to mount an event that highlighted the heritage and culture of Makati. </p><p>All three organizations are located in Poblacion, confirming the area&#x27;s vibrant art scene.</p><p>“For the past three years, there has been a resurgence of interest in Poblacion because there&#x27;s a lot of independent artists and independent crafts people, coming here and putting up their own businesses. That also attracts younger crowds, it helps the local businesses. It has always been this way here, it&#x27;s just a case of rediscovering the place,” shared Pineapple Lab creative director and Fringe Manila festival director Andrei Pamintuan.</p><p>The event featured performances by the Makati MAPSA band, Adinkra Lumads Djembe Community, Tiples ng Makati, Daloy Dance Company, Burgos Beatboxers, Ralph Escamillan, Leslie Espinoza, Hersey, and Joee &amp; I. </p><p>There was also a live painting performance by Jappy Agoncillo and a projection mapping art show (3D virtual reality projected on buildings). A night market was also set up outside the museum for local businesses.</p><p>A highlight of the event is the pop art exhibit at the second floor exhibition space of the museum. The organizers enlisted their artists to interpret and put a contemporary spin on old archival photos of Makati, like portraits and historical events. </p><p>The exhibit will run until the end of April along with the museum&#x27;s permanent collection of dioramas which depict Makati&#x27;s history and culture.</p><p>“What we&#x27;re doing is very relevant, by taking an old space and breathing life into it. Calling people&#x27;s attention that this historical landmark is important. It is part of the fabric that makes Makati, makes Poblacion, makes our Filipino arts and culture so dynamic and so diverse, so robust and so inspiring,” said Fringe Manila creative producer Jodinand Aguillon.</p><p>“One goal is to highlight the local artists but also bring other artists from different parts of Manila to Makati and bringing in their networks and followings, elevating the fact that this can be done here and highlighting this neighborhood,” he added.</p><p>The museum will be undergoing another renovation and all the groups involved in this event hope to see a much more active public museum in the near future.</p><p>“Hopefully we can create a program that will benefit the public and tourists. There&#x27;s a lot of backpackers here and always looking for something to do. There will be some kind of re-imagination of Museo ng Makati after a few months,” Pamintuan ended.</p></div>

<p>A few days before barangay Poblacion in Makati kicks off its Holy Week festivities, a celebration of the creative kind transpired at its center. </p>

A few days before barangay Poblacion in Makati kicks off its Holy Week festivities, a celebration of the creative kind transpired at its center.