1st RP Light & Sound Museum opens tomorrow

The Department of Tourism (DoT) is all set for the grand opening of the Light and Sound Museum, the newest historical tourist attraction in Intramuros, Manila. The ambitious pet project of Secretary Richard Gordon will be inaugurated tomorrow, Nov. 30 (Sunday) coinciding with the commemoration of Bonifacio Day.

The 1,800-square meter structure located at Sta. Lucia St. near Baluartillo de San Diego will be open to the public for free, for the month of December.

“I was inspired and determined to complete this project because I saw a Chinese museum in Intramuros. It is but proper that we have our own museum here,” Gordon said.

The Light and Sound Museum chronicles the Filipino’s pursuit for freedom under the leadership of Dr. Jose Rizal, and other revolutionary leaders like Lapu-Lapu, Rajah Soliman and Andres Bonifacio.

“The Light and Sound Museum is a tribute to the present and future Filipino generations particularly the youth who were lauded by Dr. Jose Rizal as the hope and future of our nations.”

“Rizal’s death ushered in major changes in the country. Rizal broke down the walls in his life and even in his death. Bagumbayan is not a place but an attitude. And we will snap out of that attitude,” he said.

“In the case of our country, there are many walls built around us. Intramuros is such a wall. The Spanish built the walls to segregate the Filipinos from their own settlement. Inside the Light and Sound Museum the present generation will see the breaking of walls in Intramuros,” he added.

Statues of national hero Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Spanish colonizer Ferdinand Magellan and his conqueror, Cebuano warrior Lapu Lapu, are among the attractions of the museum.

Gordon has already brought a number of foreign dignitaries to the museum. Among them were Kazakhstan Prime Minister Nursultan Nazarbayev, and Bangladesh and Ukraine’s foreign ministers Marshed Khan and Anatoly Zlenko, respectively, for sneak previews. Gordon himself, guided the visitors and recounts the bits of history in dramatic narration of the Filipino phases of life.

The over-all presentation of the Light and Sound Museum depicts the Filipinos’ resiliency, intelligence and self-worth throughout its history.

Pre-Spanish colonization, Spanish and Rizal’s “psychological” triumph over Spanish conquerors make up the three parts of the museum, which Gordon said will give Filipinos a sense of national pride and esteem especially in these trying times.

The museum’s ground floor focuses on the Spanish annexation of the Philippines as a province, while the second floor recounted Dr. Jose Rizal’s saga and describes his prolific days as a student at the Ateneo University as well as his trip to Europe where his burning desire for Filipinos to be treated fairly by the colonizers, was ignited. It also features his two books (Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo) which exposed the ills of the Spanish society.

A huge room is also allotted tracing Rizal’s martyrdom. The room replicates the scenario at Bagumbayan where Rizal tried to face the executioners to prove his innocence.

In another area, details of Filipino uprisings steered by Andres Bonifacio are shown. Bonifacio and followers tear up their cedulas as a symbol of Spanish dominance during that time. In addition, there is the Bagumbayan exhibit with its symbolically collapsed walls depicting a prelude to something new for Filipinos.

Towards the end of the tour, visitors will walk along a dim corridor leading through the exit made of heavy wooden doors facing the set up of the new Intramuros overlooking the well-lighted city golf course in the perimeter of the walls.

Visitors will definitely draw inspiration from the sights and sounds and the message at the end of the tour, part of which says: “It is time to become horizon chasers once again, to have faith in ourselves, and in our fellow Filipinos.”

Meanwhile, a series of special events will be held at the Quirino Grandstand and Intramuros following the opening of the Light and Sound Museum.

The 1st National Rodeo Competition will be held on Dec. 2-4 at the Quirino Grandstand which aims to enhance DoT’s efforts to promote sports tourism and rodeo itself. Teams from eight different regions will participate in the competition including the provinces of Bukidnon, Bohol, Cagayan de Oro, Nueva Ecija, and North Cotabato. At stake are R140,000 for the champion, R105,000 for second place and R70,000 for third. Over-all team champion will receive R100,000, while the 2nd and 3rd runners-up will get R75,000 and R50,000, respectively.

“WOW na WOW Pilipinas” in Intramuros will showcase the best of all the country’s regions. This one-of-a-kind spectacle, which will be held from Dec. 16-21, will feature each region’s songs, dances, culture, culinary and fashion. The said event will culminate the “Visit Philippines Year 2003” Best of the Regions series.