DFA and Museo Pambata Conduct Panel Discussion, Launch 360° Virtual Tour for Museum and Galleries Month
(Left to right, clockwise): Moderator - OPCD-CDD PA Royce Lyssah Malabonga and Panelists - Dr. Ani Almario, Ms. Tasha Tanjutco, and Ms. Lisa Flores. (Photo credit: DFA Official Facebook).
PASAY 24 OCTOBER 2023 – In celebration of Museum and Galleries Month 2023, the Department of Foreign Affairs - Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy (OPCD), in collaboration with Museo Pambata Foundation Inc., organized an online panel discussion entitled “Laro, Sining, at Imahinasyon: An Interactive Learn and Play Experience” with the theme “Museo Pambata and the Filipino Children: Championing Learning through Art and Play,” held on 19 October 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (PHST) via the Zoom platform and live streamed via the DFA’s official Facebook page.
During the online panel discussion, the panelists composed of experts from the field of children’s publishing, art, and museology shared insights on how Museums and Galleries pave the way for the educational, play, and artistic developments of the Filipino children. Ms. Tasha Tanjutco, member of the curatorial team of Museo Pambata, discussed the current projects and programs of the museum and its plans to develop its structures to further promote children’s artworks and children’s rights. Next, Ms. Liza Flores, illustrator and author of Filipino children’s novels and member of the Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (INK), presented the INK’s numerous local exhibits and the ways its members and local artists are furthering their craftsmanship and sharing this to a wider international audience. Finally, Dr. Ani Almario, Vice President for Product Development of Adarna House, provided a reaction on furthering children’s 21st century skills such as creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking to create innovative materials and tools that would enrich the learning development of Filipino children.
After the panel discussion, clay artist Mr. Ali Estrella, led a clay art workshop demo using simple clay materials. He rolled, kneaded, and molded different clays to create elements or pieces such as the Museo Pambata’s sorbetero cart and Cesca the MGM 2023 icon. He added all these elements into his main clay artwork, which is now on display at Museo Pambata.
(Center): Mr. Ali Estrella doing the clay art demo. (Photo credit: DFA Official Facebook).
Finally, the 360° virtual museum tour of Museo Pambata was launched and viewers were able to explore the different exhibits through the walkthrough video. Viewers are also given a chance to win exciting prizes by interacting with and collecting the different museum objects in the theme rooms. The Museo Pambata virtual tour may be accessed from the website https://tours.exsight360.com/dfa-mgm-museo/index.html to check all the wonderful things it has to offer!
(Left to center): Cesca the MGM 2023 Icon and the 360° virtual museum tour of Museo Pambata. (Photo credit: DFA Official Facebook).
In his closing remarks, Deputy Assistant Secretary Gonaranao Musor emphasized the role of museums and galleries in helping shape the new generation.
The livestream of the panel discussion may be rewatched via this Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/dfaphl/videos/346812221042147/?mibextid=zDhOQc.
The event is the second part of the Department’s celebration of the Museum and Galleries Month with the theme “Exhibits and Reflections: Crafting Opportunities for the New World.” It was attended by the Department’s personnel, Foreign Service Posts, guests from different schools abroad, and the public. END