TUMANG, Ma. Reycee S.

ENG10 Reaction Paper

TTh 10:00-11:30am 29th of March, 2016

CLARK MUSEUM: RECOGNIZING CULTURE

How well do Kapampangans knew their culture? Do they have sufficient knowledge of what

made their province, Pampanga, a tourist invader? Do they manage to search for answers pertaining to

Pampanga's history? Knowing just a little part of it was probably enough, but encountering even the

hidden and buried facts of ancient times would be even better.

Clark Museum, one of the few museums in Pampanga, was constructed to feature every bit of

Pampanga's culture, practices, and aestheticism. It was located at Clarkfield, Pampanga and was visited

not only by our fellow countrymen, but also by tourist foreigners. Clark Museum was simply a domain

which sums up the originality and peculiarity of Pampanga amongst other provinces.

Upon entering the said museum, you could picture a vivid and congenial atmosphere. The

gallery was centralized with air-condition and the lighting was appealing to the eye. The hallways were

clean and flawless. The overall place was refreshing and open. What delighted me more was the sweet

and warm smiles welcomed by the receptionists. Honestly, I've never been to classic museum tours

before and it was my first time to witness what’s inside a museum. I recalled certain movies filmed

inside a museum which was my only depiction of what a museum is like. I'm really not a museum lover,

but the experience the Clark Museum unfolded me changed my perspective about it.

I was mesmerized at how the museum was well-organized through its models, artifacts, relics

and ceramics. As I walked through the museum, several portraits of birds were displayed at the walls. It

was truly great to be informed that all these colorful and mystical creatures exist here in our province.

Never have I imagined that Pampanga was the homeland of those beautiful birds whose looks are close
to those from foreign land. Sequentially, adjacent to them was a wall clipped with the geographical

illustration of the whole Central Luzon. Lots of trivia about the tragedies that Pampanga has experienced

and fall in with were all stated from wall to wall. These tragedies include the volcanic eruptions and the

Philippine-American war. Imagining how our province has risen and progressed from catastrophes made

me become more proud of being a Kapampangan. These given information were explicitly helpful in

matters of formally appreciating and recognizing our own culture.

In addition, the Clark Museum has given every fine point about the festivals, traditions,

practices, and special products which were made originally from Pampanga. Sample pictures and videos

were also illustrated to easily familiarize them. The usage of modernized technology has imparted a

huge role for delivering information more easily and less boring allowing the museum tour to be more

exciting and awesome.

Traditional virtues represented by mini doll-like models enclosed in a glass have also caught my

attention. Located at every corner of the museum, it displays how patriotic and traditionalized Filipinos

were. I was very much inspired for it emboldens me to be more dignified of my identity as a Filipino.

Other attributions of Clark Museum are the preserved weapons found during the Philippine-

American War. To be honest, I had second thoughts of the genuineness of some artifacts. Some did

amaze me for its characteristics satisfied the description given about it, but some failed my expectations

for it was obvious that it’s only an imitated artifact to please the people’s eye. In spite of this, the

museum was still able to impart and present the factual story behind the said war.

What made my Clark Museum Tour more impressive and exhilarating was my experience in the

‘4D Theatre’. A documentary film which sums up the Clark’s history was projected in the said theatre. I

found it fascinatingly thrilling and entertaining for it doesn’t just made you see what the film was trying
to depict, but it also made you feel the actual scene. The lighting and sound effects were concrete and

precise which made the film more intense.

Having bundles of knowledge about our culture symbolizes our appreciation of it. With the help

of my experience at the Clark Museum, I became aware of the things and events which I’m apathetic to

before. Are you also indifferent and curious of the Kapampangan’s Culture? Well, it’s not late to

appreciate and recognize the Kapampangan civilization. Fill your heads with wanders and have a visit at

the Clark Museum.