Our cultural heritage taking centerstage in another country known for its art was presented in a great article by Igan D'Bayan of website philstar.com.  The Quai Branly Museum, one of the most respected museums in Europe and the world, presents “Philippines: Archipel des échanges (An Archipelago of Exchange), in one of its galleries in Paris.  

The choice of putting up the Philippines as the focus of the exhibition was explained during a press conference at The Ayala Museum, attended by French Ambassador Gilles Garachon, Senator Loren Legarda, and Quai Branly Museum president Stéphane Martin.

The Quai Branly Museum is among Europe’s premier museums, and has begun promoting Philippine culture not only to the French public, but to its visitors from all over the world, some 1,400,000 people annually.

Cora Alvina, anthropologist and curator, describes what to expect when entering the Quai Branly Museum during the exhibition period.

At the middle is the Poetics of Everyday Life section. It features the tools, different utensils and apparatus that early Filipinos used in everyday life. There are also ornaments, gongs, special jars, objects of warriors such as axes and shields.

Senator Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and Committee on Cultural Communities, is quoted as saying “Culture is at the core of our identity as a nation.”

She says, “Through this, we reaffirm our commitment to promote Filipino artisanship, uphold traditions that give meaning to our identity, and express pride in our unique history.”

The “Alliances en resonance” under the sponsorship of Fondation Alliance Française in Paris will feature music, photo, and cinema. There are 22 Filipino artists that will participate in an exhibit in Southern France co-curated by Hervé di Rosa and Manuel Ocampo, leading figures in the international art scene. “A Filipino Fiesta” will also be organized by the Philippine Embassy in Paris. The Quai Branly Museum will also host a Philippine week from April 27 to May 5, offering cultural performances and workshops on Filipino language, music, dances, cuisine and traditional martial arts.