09 October 2014 - The Philippines participated in the 6th Asia-Europe Museum Network (ASEMUS) from September 24 to 27 at the Weltmuseum Wien in the Hofburg Palace complex in Vienna, Austria. National Museum of the Philippines Assistant Director Dr. Ana Maria Theresa P. Labrador led the Philippine delegation. Other members of the Philippine delegation were Department of Finance legal consultant for special projects and privatization Atty. Maricel Baltazar, Museo ng Kaalamang Katutubo Executive Director Mrs. Corazon Alvina, and representatives from TAO INC, a museum development corporation in the Philippines.
The bi-annual ASEMUS General Conference has served as an inspiring arena for cultural encounters between museums. The 6th ASEMUS General Conference co-organized by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) under the theme “Exploring Borders”, covered a comprehensive and intense program of talks, keynotes, discussions and roundtables on major museum developments, visions and trends in Asia and Europe.
During the conference, Dr. Labrador presented the proposed Philippine National Museum of Natural History. She also talked about how the Philippine government, with the support of the private partners, is developing a new museum that will focus on the Philippines’ unique heritage of geology and biodiversity. Philippine Ambassador to Austria Lourdes O. Yparraguirre and other Philippine Embassy personnel attended the said presentation and other sessions during the conference.
The Philippine Embassy also served light refreshments consisting of lumpia and sapin-sapin during the last day of the conference. END