Reconnecting One of my professors said that learning history would make us interested in every place that we visit.

Every place has some historical importance something happens at a certain place at a period of time. It just matters whenever remnants to this past are being recovered, helping reshape our ideas of history. What makes my visit to Ayala different is that I'm not going for leisure or business reasons. I went there to visit the Ayala Museum, one of the country's repositories of Philippine art and heritage. At first glance, it looks small compare to, let's say, the National Museum. But I guess I was there for a surprise. At the entrance on Greenbelt mall one on the walls proudly shout, This is the exhibit you waited a thousand years to experience. together with pictures of gold bracelets and vintage clothing. That must be exciting. For just P75 (with an additional of P50 to tour the fourth floor gallery), I was able to immerse myself with all the things the museum has in store. To tour the exhibition, one must start with the top floor, going downwards somehow different than usual museum set-ups. Fourth Floor: Crossroads of Civilizations Crossroads of Civilizations is the centerpiece of the Ayala Museum's exhibitions. It contains precious artifacts recovered from different sites all across the country. The exhibitions, which are divided into three, are living testaments on how our trade with other nations has been influential in shaping the Filipino. Gold of Ancestors is a collection of more than a thousand gold artifacts, mostly dating before the 16th century. The detail and the art seen in the jewelry are striking evidence on how ingenious our ancestors were. A Millennium of Contact is a record of how trade between the country and our neighbors flourished. The wide variety of ceramics recovered (most from China and other South-East Asian countries), and how they are unique with each other, becomes a benchmark on the different stages the trade has gone through. Embroidered Multiples, on the other hand, are a collection of clothing Filipinos wore during the Spanish era. It reminds me of those historical films. The detail seen in the work shows the hard work Filipinos gave to make them a work of art.

Third Floor: Pioneers of Filipino Art Pioneers of Filipino Art tries to chronicle 100 years in Philippine history through the paintings of the so-called trio of

Philippine art Luna,Amorsolo and Zobel. Juan Luna (1857-1899), as written in history books,became famous in Europe for his paintings,especially the Spolarium which won a gold medal in a Madrid exposition. His paintings show Romanticism to a certain extent, but also have realist significance. Fernando Amorsolo (1892-1972) was known for the use of landscapes in his paintings. He's influenced by cubism and impressionism, due to his exposure to trips abroad. He usually depicts scenes of peace, quiet and optimism. Fernando Zobel (1924-1984) was a member of the Ayala family who was known for his dabbling in the arts. Though lacking formal painting experience, his works were impressive, usually depicting modernism and abstract expressionism. Second Floor The Diorama Experience on the other hand is a collection of 60 dioramas depicting important events in Philippine history, from its pre-history to the country's independence in 1946. Hand-crafted woodcarvings make us encounter the country's past in an interactive and interesting way, with much attention to detail, accompanied with explanations and important quotations. Also located in the second floor is a collection of boats, exhibits representing the evolution of sea travel as time progresses. From the sailboat to the galleon, each boat, made with indigenous elements, shows the ingenuity and talent of the Filipino boat maker in creating the boats. In time for the 25th anniversary of the People Power revolution, a multimedia exhibition is also in store, retelling the important events that led to the 1986 revolution, from the Martial Law years to the end of the rallies at EDSA. What Makes the Museum worth Visiting I could say that my visit to the museum has been an enjoyable one. Yes, museums will always be a bore, but when you're keen in history and art your visit to the Ayala Museum will be worth your money and the memories. The two-hour visit to the museum will make you amazed on how rich our culture is. Most people always thought that our ancestors before were just a group of savages in the forests, but with the wide collection of artifacts shows how ingenious and amazing they are. All the clothing, porcelain and jewelry are rare finds that everyone should see to appreciate how rich our culture is. Yet the museum also makes us reflect on our status as a nation. We may have a long history, but as the dioramas in the museum have shown, there are times that are turbulent and heavenly. History will always be a record of triumphs and mistakes, and learning all about it will makes us realize our part in shaping history, not just for our country but for our own lives as well. My visit to the Ayala Museum, in a way, has reconnected me from my Filipino heritage and my role in shaping its future. As I left the museum, I hoped that more Filipinos will have the same realizations as I am.