Continued relevance

MANILA, Philippines - Most people would safeguard their valuables, keep them under lock and key, and bring them out only for the most special occasions. Eugenio Lopez Sr., however, realized that his private collection of books and artifacts was too priceless and significant to keep to himself.

“He created his own story of Philippine history as a scholar of the classics, historian, adventurer, traveler, and staunch nationalist,” says Mercedes Lopez Vargas, the museum’s current director.

Thus, in 1960, the Lopez Memorial Museum and Library was born. Starting mainly as a library of rare books and antique maps, the museum was – and remains to be – a prime resource center for anything Filipino, amassing some 19,000 titles, numerous antique maps, and Rizaliana.

Even as it weathered various crises during martial law, the museum remained committed to furthering its legacy for future generations. Vargas credits the staff for their dedication through the years. “Many have been here for more than 30 years, even retirees stay on as consultants,” she says.

The children of Eugenio Lopez also felt very strongly about maintaining the museum and, in 1992, started to build up the art collection to rival the holdings of the library. When Vargas took over as director, her first seven years were a period of consolidation. “We took stock of the museum’s strengths and what it needed. We wanted to continue being relevant to scholars and students.”

She adds that the museum strives to engage young people with the works on exhibit. “They should not just look, but experience.”

To cater to the growing needs of the museum and its audience, Vargas led the massive on-going project of digitizing the whole collection to make information more accessible, not to mention safeguarding the data against the ravages of time and physical deterioration.

“The stewardship of this place is something I feel very strongly about,” she says. “We decided to go more purposefully into actively conserving our collection.”

In line with this, another major project of the museum is the Roberto M. Lopez Conservation Center.

Marga Villanueva of the conservation center says, “We pride ourselves in being the leading institution in the Philippines when it comes to conservation.” The center boasts of major equipment and facilities that are in line with international standards. The lab technicians receive extensive training abroad, making the conservation center very advanced in its field. “We are the biggest and best equipped,” adds Villanueva with justifiable pride.

Being able to preserve rare books and works of art is one of the factors for the museum’s success over 50 years. Villanueva points out that it is especially important to have these facilities in the Philippines because the climate, weather, and humidity here cause the cracking of paint and microbial infestations that have to be mended to prevent further damage.

“It is incredibly rewarding to see the drastic change and know that the piece is safer and in better condition,” says Villanueva on their meticulous work.

Because of the museum’s advocacy on the importance of world-class conservation, its collection will be available to generations of audiences for many more anniversaries to come.

While the Lopez Memorial Museum is known for its library as well as its Luna and Hidalgo pieces, Vargas says that they consider each piece in the collection valuable and it would be very difficult to pinpoint the best and most valued works. She adds, “I wanted the collection to speak to younger audiences.” Thus, contemporary artists are invited to enter into a dialogue with the collection, creating works that are inspired by or reference those of the masters, bringing them into the contemporary world.

“Rooted in the collection, they weave contemporary voices into the dialogue,” says Vargas, highlighting that the museum is “an institution that strives for continuous relevance.”

This is what ties together the museum’s 50th anniversary celebration. “It is an assessment for us as to how far the institution has come, how meaningful and significant our contributions have been to our audience – even to everyday life.”

A recent event held at the Rockwell Tent to launch the book Unfolding Half a Century saw a weaving together of interactive exhibits, film, sculpture, and performance art with masterpieces coming to life in the able re-imaginings of contemporary artists, including Jean Marie Syjuco (who breathed life into one of the museum’s most famous pieces, España y Filipinas of Juan Luna), Ann Wizer, Jef Carnay, Myra Beltran (performing an excerpt from Itim Asu, a modern ballet on Hidalgo’s El Assasinato del Gobernador Bustamante y su hijo), Ann Pamintuan, Leo Abaya, and Kiri Dalena.

“The 50th year event shows that we have outgrown the walls of the museum and we continue to grow,” says Vargas. “The exhibit shows, on a larger scale, the contemporary dialogue – current voices, current intellect. The event celebrates its roots in a contemporary manner. Not just reliving past glories, but continuing its relevance.”

Looking forward, Vargas describes a horizon bright as the one the women in Luna’s famous España y Filipinas are looking toward. The two women, backs turned to the viewer, gaze out at the soft sunlight in the distance – a horizon of endless possibilities. As for the museum’s future, Vargas says, “We will continue to explore the directions we have started and hope to be able to engage a wider community. We hope for a larger facility to contain a growing sense of ourselves and our boundless potential.”

After the Fact, the museum’s current exhibit which showcases highlights from its past offerings, runs until Sept. 18 at the Lopez Memorial Museum and Library, Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. For museum schedules and other information, call 631-2417.