The Bible museum?

This is a different tour, a spiritually uplifting one. A tour that takes you through the history of the printed Bible over the last 4,000 years. This museum is on the second floor of the nine-story Philippine Bible Society on United Nations avenue.

The PBS is a non-profit, non-stock Christian organization whose mission is to encourage the reading of the Holy Bible in the country. It translates, prints, and distributes the Holy Scriptures. It is an affiliate of the United Bible Societies which operate in 200 countries and territories worldwide.

A tour is arranged by calling up Hazel Salariosa Alviz, and Helen Saldana, communication manager and resource officer, respectively, of the PBS. (You may call tel. 5245337.)

An entire room in the Museum has a collection of translations of the Bible, not only in Philippine languages and dialects, but different languages in the world, including copies of the original Greek and Hebrew texts.

As one enters the museum, one is greeted by a replica of the Qumran caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered sometime in 1947. Some of the scrolls are 1,000 years older than any previously known Hebrew manuscript of the Bible. Foreign scholars of the Bible were consulted on the design of the Qumran caves.

Showcased are pages of the Bible produced in the 10th century, in papyrus, a very expensive and slow process, but less costly than parchment made from animal skins but more preferable because texts written on parchment was erasable.

There’s a life-size waxed figure of Paul, writing his epistles. And figures of scribes producing books or scriptoriums of the Bible.

The first letters of the Bible were written in scrolls, but these became too bulky, so they were put in codex, or book form. “Today we have ebooks, including some Bible stories which can be downloaded on iPhones. Kindles can store up to 2,500 books, transforming the concept of a Bible, and even a family library,” Hazel said.

The collection winds up with a copy of the first Bible in Latin printed by Johannes Guttenberg and beginning mass production of the book.

There’s the biggest Bible printed by the PBS, measuring 1 x 1 feet and 4 inches thick, for lectern use. The tiniest bible is also on display.

Shown are copies of Bibles printed in other countries but not in the English version but in our native dialects — like the Pangasinanes (1888), Bicol (1898), Tagalog (1898), Cebuano (1902), Panayen (1928), Samareno (New Testament), and even Ibanag and Ifugao translations.

There’s the New Testament portion of a Bible in Arabic Script (printed 1934). Also, of Bibles of various countries like Bangladesh, Korea, Cambodia, Turkey, Hong Kong, Ceylon, Pakistan, Thailand, and Ethiopia, and the OT Hebrew and NT Greek are also displayed. And the biggest Bible printed by the PBS, measuring 1 x 1 feet and 4 inches thick.

A section of the museum displays colorful costumes of some Biblical characters like Moses, Queen Ester, Mary, and Joseph. One can have photos taken wearing any of the colorful costumes.

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The public is invited to the 113th anniversary celebration of PBS to be held at the Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City, 2 p.m. onwards. Program highlights are a worship service, launch of the “May They Be One New Testament,” and performances by Kaloob Dancers, Astroboy and other Christian artists and bands. A main feature is the Warriors of the World basketball unity game featuring PBA icons playing against pastors and priests. Call 5245337, or www.bible.org.phor look for Phil. Bible Society on Facebook.

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Yabang Pinoy, the pioneering Filipino Pride movement known for fun, creative, and contemporary projects and events, will hold its 8th Global Pinoy Bazaar Saturday and Sunday (November 10-11) at the Rockwell Tent, Makati City.

In keeping with the movement’s mission to promote the Pinoy lifestyle, the biggest ever Global Pinoy Bazaar will showcase Philippine-made women’s, men’s, and children’s fashion, footwear, and accessories; travel, tropical, art and design; wellness, home, and food and beverage brands.

“One of Vesti’s imperatives is to show off our heritage of weaving through our hand-woven indigenous fabrics from Mindanao,” says Martha Rodriguez, designer and founder of Vesti. “Promoting local goods, inspiring creative minds to create more products, the Global Pinoy Bazaar will help us showcase these fabrics. Yabang Mindanao, Yabang Pinoy!”

Other inspired exhibitors will be shoe brand Renegade Folk’s Regina Sambalido and Sara Mendoza of The One One Shop for bags. In food and beverages, Zonito Torrevillas will sell malunggay (moringa)-encrusted breads and drinks, chichirias and guyabano tea.

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