President’s Message

Dear Museum Foundation Members and Friends,

There is a palpable air of excitement at the Museum Foundation.

Come view Progress of Medicine by National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco at the new gallery provided by MFPI. These four murals, commissioned by three eminent doctors from the University of the Philippines’ Philippine General Hospital traces the story of medicine in this country from the period prior to the coming of India, China, and the West to contemporary times. Since they were first displayed in 1953, these paintings have been restored thrice, the latest efforts with support from the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines, and the Office of the Director of the National Museum. The paintings are now in a secure, humidity- and moisture-free environment. Years of research and conservation had been undertaken by museum conservators to stabilize these murals. To house these, MFPI inaugurated a state-of-the-art display hall with designers from Leandro V. Locsin & Partners, engineers from LGRM Construction, and partners Hunter Douglas and Litekon.

However, it is you, our Museum Foundation members and friends, who make such undertakings possible. This monumental gallery comes at a pivotal moment, leading subsequent renovations of eight other halls in the National Gallery of Art. And only in the unique context of the National Museum’s encyclopaedic collection can these works of art connect with other objects and concerns in our culture. That is what makes a visit exceptional to the museum’s National Art Gallery and the Museum of the Filipino People (former Legislative and Finance buildings, respectively).

It is with this in mind that we ask you to continue to support the Museum Foundation of the Philippines by attending our programs and becoming a member or renewing your membership. Your commitment is critical to our success as our programs continue to promote cultural awareness in general and support the premier repository of the nation’s natural and cultural heritage.

Sincerely,

Purissima (Petty) Benitez-Johannot

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