14 July 2015 – A Town Hall Meeting on the Philippine Gold Exhibit was organized by the Philippine Consulate General in New York on June 25 with the purpose of promoting to and involving the Filipino American community on the forthcoming exhibit “Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms” to be held from September 11 to 03 January 2016 at the Asia Society .
The exhibit will feature over 100 artifacts made of gold that showcase the wealth of the golden age of the kingdom of Butuan, in Mindanao. The gold objects date back to the 12th century -- way before the Spanish colonizers came to the Philippines -- when the wealth and prominence of Butuan reached its peak. The exhibit, consisting of gold necklaces, chains, waistbands, bangles, ritual bowls, implements and ceremonial weapons, illustrates the early use of gold throughout the Philippines
The Consulate General invited Atty. Loida Nicolas Lewis, who is the proponent of the project in New York, Mr. Tom Nagorski, Executive Vice President of Asia Society, Dr. Adriana Proser, Senior Curator for Traditional Arts of Asia Society and Dr. Nina Capistrano-Baker, Consulting Curator of Ayala Museum.
In his opening remarks, Philippine Consul General Mario L. de Leon, Jr. underscored that the exhibit will mark for the first time in many years that Philippine culture, history and heritage, as well as the skill and artistry of its people, will be highlighted in New York. The exhibit will also be “celebrated in a way that is not only prestigious, but one that will promote a higher level of understanding and appreciation of the Philippines by the U.S. mainstream community,” he said.
“The Filipino-American community therefore has a direct stake in making this exhibit a resounding success” the Consul General added.
Atty. Loida Lewis briefed the community on the various activities during the opening of the exhibit and urged the participation of the various Filipino-American groups and individuals by visiting and reaching out to their mainstream communities, as well as organizing cultural events for selected days during the duration of the landmark exhibition.
Asia Society’s Tom Nagorski thanked the Filipino-American community for their energy in planning the exhibit and expressed the Society’s readiness and honor to host the Philippine Gold collection and make its venue a home for Philippine culture.
A very comprehensive presentation was thereafter shared by Dr. Nina Capistrano-Baker who stated that the exhibition’s goal is to shed light on the ancient “kingdom” of Butuan in northeastern Mindanao during the 10th to 13th century, and other early polities and chiefdoms in neighboring islands such as Samar, Cebu, Leyte, Mindoro, Marinduque, and other parts of southern Luzon.
A vibrant question and answer portion followed the presentation which reflected the community’s interest on the exhibit which highlight not only the Philippine Gold, but Philippine heritage as well. Dr Adriana Proser and Dr. Nina Baker handled most of the queries.
The exhibit is made possible through the partnership of three important institutions. First, the Ayala Museum in Makati, which lent the bulk of the items to be exhibited; second, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which also lent some of the gold objects that will be displayed; and third, the Asia Society, which will host the exhibit for the first time here in the US. END