MET Museum mixes art and development

"The arts can contribute to development," says Metropolitan Museum director Ino Manalo.

His brainchild, the Tubod exhibit which began in 2002, led not only to widespread appreciation of Bohol heritage arts and culture, but also to the creation of Bohol-inspired furniture, accessories and fashion that booked US$15,000 worth of orders at the 2003 CITEM (Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions) fair.

Tubod means spring in Boholano and the exhibit brought together some 300 pieces of sculpture, painting, pottery, embroidery and assorted artifacts that originated in Bohol. It became the centerpiece of the said CITEM fair and enhanced the tourism and crafts sector of Loboc town, which served as the creative industries showcase.

The heightened interest in Bohol brought about heritage tours booked through the museum.

"The MET has handled about 10 high-end tours for packages which include Bohol, Laguna de Bay, Batangas and Tayabas. Costs for Bohol range from P8,000 excluding airfare and lodging for four days to about P15,000 depending on the activities selected. Included in the package are arts-based lectures on the sites, special menus of local delicacies, performances and hand-outs. Participants in each tour number from 20 to 50," said Manalo.

High-end heritage tours stress the role of the arts in cultural tourism. Such tours are essential creative activities that "can help fuel development in rural areas."

The MET chose Bohol as its first integrated exhibit-and-tour project because of the province’s extensive heritage structures and ecological resources, vibrant crafts sector and rich festival traditions.

"It has many 18th and 19th century churches and forts, as well as a number of turn of the century house. Its local domestic architecture is also quite fascinating. At least one church, Baclayon, still has its original 18th century interiors. Bohol also has stunning beaches, forests, karst landscapes, rivers and reefs," said Manalo.

He cites the Loboc Children’s Choir as an example of Bohol’s excellent performing arts resources. The MET facilitated the choir’s entry to the Barcelona International Choral Competition in 2003 in which it bagged 1st place.

By 2007, the MET will begin focusing on other provinces in cooperation with its network of partners, including museums and cultural groups. It is considering Batangas, Quiapo, Paete, Pampanga, Negros and Cagayan de Oro as the next focus of its exhibits and tours.

As with Bohol, Manalo hopes to obtain the cooperation of business, local government, church and cultural sectors in the communities the MET will tap.

"Private business can help the Museum by sponsoring exhibits where they can use the exhibit opening as a special event or treat for their clients. They can hold corporate events at the Museum and they can sponsor specific programs including those in the communities," Manalo said.

For example, the MET needs P300,000 to train local tour guides for its heritage tours and another P300,000 for production workshops to be participated in by women weavers in Inabanga, Bohol. Such programs may be funded in part or in full by private donors.

Founded in 1977, the MET is run by a private foundation and although it counts the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas which houses it as principal partner, it does not receive any budget from the National Government.

Working with Manalo to raise funds for the MET’s operations is philanthropist and civic leader Bea Zobel, Jr., member of the MET’s 13-person board of trustees since 2002. "The Zobel family has always been supportive of the arts as evidenced by its work with Ballet Philippines, the CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines), the Museo Pambata, the Filipinas Heritage Library, and the National Museum," he said.

The MET is certainly counting on arts patrons like the Zobel family to continue its work in making art an instrument for development in rural Philippines.

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Metropolitan Museum of Manila
Central Bank Complex, Roxas Boulveard, Manila
Tel. 536-1566, 521-1517, 523-0613