A VISIT TO JORGE B.

VARGAS MUSEUM
AND FILIPINA RESEARCH CENTER

It was a very exciting moment when the Social Science I Student of

Pamantasan Ng Lungsod ng Marikina under Professor Ms. Jasminda Ceron

visited the famous Jorge B. Vargas Museum and Filipina Research Center at

the U.P Diliman Quezon City last February 25 2009. we took a jeepney ride

from our point of assembly towards Katipunan Avenue and took there another

jeepney ride towards U.P Campus.

Entering the campus, we felt the balmy smell of the area because of the

various trees and plants surrounding the school ground. The climate was so

cool and invigorating ampled with the nice landscape that was so inviting and

pleasant to yhe eyes. Inside the campus, the jeepney took us to Roxas

Avenue. To where the museum is located. It is three storey, nicely maintained

building. At the lobby of the ground floor which is serve as reception area, we

registered our names at the information counter and immediately proceed to

the 2nd floor of the building. Our curious minds led to these questions; who is

Jorge B. Vargas and why the building was named after him.

Jorge B. Vargas (1890-1980) was a U.P alumnae. He became the

Philippines first Executive Secretary and serve this position during the

Commomnwealth Government under President Manuel L. Quezon.

Mr. Jorge B. Vargas was fond of collection art paintings stamps and coins

And it was on March 1 1978 when he be quested his collection including his

personal papers and memorabilia’s to this alma matter, the University of the

Philippines, the said collection were originally located at the premises of his

residence at the Kawilihan Compound in Mandaluyong.

 It was in 1083 when the University of the Philippines laud the cornerstone

for a building that would house his personel collections. The transferring of the

objects to Diliman began in 1986. the museum building was formally

inaugurated by the President Corazon Aquino on February 22 1987. the

museum was named aftet him and served as the center of the Philippine Art

and Culture. It may thrust are research exhibition and education. The multi

level architecture was designed to support the museum diverse function. It

has a bookshop an audio visual room and space for the museum community

are program and eventually a café shop for the museum and the university

writers.

At the second floor after getting brief the history of the museum we had the

opportunity of viewing several famous paintings of the late Fernando C.

Amorsolo (1892-1972) who was awarded the first national artist of our country

we were amazed to see various works of art which include the following

Bombing of the intendencia (1942) Moro Vinta (1949), Rice Planting

(1942),Reproduction of Fishery (1942) Bahay Pari (1931) a portrait of himself

exhibit entitled “Art Beyond Appearances” caving For Amorsolo Legacy can

be viewed from February 4 until May 3 2009 at the Kawilihan Gallery Located

at the 2nd Floor of the Museum. Fernando C. Amorsolo has been regarded as

a master in portraiture. He was painted all the Philippines president and noted

personalities during his time. He dominated the local art sense from 1930 up

to 1950 by depicting nature and sense of everyday life in an impressionist

manner. The art exhibitions objectives is to pay homepage to the first National

Artist the University has produced and to bring forth a unified action among

the University diverse mind to preserve the country’s artists heritage through
multi-disciplinary research.

Jorge B. Vargas was one of Fernando Amorsolo constant patrons. Out of the

fifty eight works of arts in this Museum collection which the donor acquired,

twenty nine are portraits most of which are those of him and his family. The

art collections are being taken cared properly for its conservation for the future

generation appreciation. The staff closely manitor the temperature and

relative humidity of the area in order to present the deterioration of the

paintings.

After viewing the various art and exhibitions of the Amorsolo, we proceed

to the 3rd floor landing gallery of the museum and had the chans to see an

exhibition of the Philippines Contemporary textiles entitled “Woven

Templates” the said exhibits started last January 15 and can be viewed until

March 29 2009. the exhibit features works gathered through years of research

from the textile weaving communities of Mindanao, Pany, the Corlillera and

Ilocos region. The exhibit depicts the traditional weaving and textile art in the

Philippines which was rooted was bask during Neolitic and Metalic Age in the

Philippines. The Various woven materials design techniques, pattern and

functions of the finished product reveal the accumulated knowledge and skills

which had been passed through generations with other culture of the country.

After viewing the entire façade of the Vargas Museum and the exhibits we

went home with a smile in our faces. We learned a lot from this educational

trip. We are still hoping that more outdoor activities like this will come our way.

We are sincerely thankful to our beloved professor for giving us this

assignment and the opportunity of learning the past history of our country and

the richness of our Philippines arts and culture.

 Social Science I

Submitted By:
Annaliza V. Lopez
BSHRM 2-1MA

Submitted
To:
Ms. Jasminda Ceron
P
rofessor