Nat’l Museum of Natural History opens
After a decade of hard work, the National Museum of Natural History finally opened its doors to the public yesterday on the occasion of International Museum Day.
Opening six out of the planned 12 galleries, the museum is the third building of the National Museum located in Manila, together with the Museum of Visual Arts and the Museum of Anthropology.
“Today, on International Museum Day, we are opening the National Museum of Natural History to the public, marking the completion of the conversion of the Department of Tourism Building (originally the Agriculture and Commerce Building) into a world-class museum facility that will benefit all Filipinos by helping us all to know better and develop a greater appreciation for the gifts of nature, with which our country is so richly endowed,” said Ramon R. Del Rosario, Jr., National Museum board of trustees chairman.
Del Rosario, together with National Museum Director Jeremy R. Barns, Associate Director Dr.
Ana P. Labrador, board of trustees member Maria Isabel G. Ongpin, and Fr. Rene Javellana, SJ, welcomed members of the press for a tour of the museum’s six galleries.
These included a gallery for mangroves, beaches, and intertidal zones, another for marine life, and a hall that features the skeletal remains of “Lolong,” the once largest crocodile in captivity.
“This project is a prime example of a unique world-class project pursued through various administrations over three decades,” Del Rosario added. “All who are interested or merely curious are able to come because admission is free.”
With the opening of the National Museum of Natural History, Ongpin hopes that it would spark added enthusiasm from the public to discover more about the country’s geological and ecological history, as exemplified by its rich and diverse animal and plant life.
She said that the museum would serve as a venue for Filipino scientists to reach out to younger audiences, thanks to having specialized classrooms to house lectures and conferences.