The Diorama Experience at Ayala Museum: A New Way of Learning Philippine History

Last May, as communities all across the world celebrated the International Museum Day, we seized the opportunity to visit the Ayala Museum. Although the day gets the better-known museums pretty much crowded including this one in Makati, we didn't let the chance to save hundreds of pesos go to waste. We have never been to the museum and it was a great occasion to finally see its permanent exhibits, all for free.

Envisioned around 60 years ago, the Ayala Museum is considered as one of the country's finest museums. It showcases finely curated exhibits on Philippine culture, history, and art. 

The Ayala Museum facade

Arguably the highlight of it's entire exhibition is The Philippine Diorama Experience. Here, sixty dioramas are on display, visually narrating the milestones of Philippine history. The dioramas are handmade from baticulin wood by local master woodcarvers from Paete in Laguna. The dioramas were completed and installed in 1974 but has only been seen by more than a million visitors, or around 1% of the entire Philippine population. A surprise, really, that the museum is not drawing the numbers of people it should.

The Diorama Experience, located at the second level of the museum building

Ayala Museum has highly restrictive photo policies except for this gallery. So here are photos we have captured from The Philippine Diorama Experience. Hopefully, these could attract more Juans to take the time off to visit the museum and see how pivotal moments of our history would have looked like as they happened.

Diorama 3: Palawan Burial Caves, circa 5000-500 B.C.

Diorama 4: Pottery Making in Bicol, circa 6000 B.C.

Diorama 5: Rice Terraces Ifugao, circa 1150 A.D.

Diorama 7: Trade with the Chinese, circa 1000 A.D.

Diorama 8: Introduction of Islam, Mindanao circa 1200 A.D.

Diorama 10: Battle of Mactan, 1521

Diorama 11: Legazpi-Sikatuna Blood Compact, 1565

Diorama 12: Cannon Making, 1571

Diorama 15: The First Books, 1593

Diorama 19: Parian Scene, 1710

Diorama 20: Assassination of Governor Bustamante, 1719

Diorama 21: Dagohoy Revolt, 1744-1827

Diorama 22: Manila Galleon Scene, circa 1750

Diorama 23: The British Occupation, 1762

Diorama 27: Sunday Mass at Santa Ana, circa 1850s

Diorama 28: Escolta Scene, circa 1860s

Diorama 30: Introduction of the Tranvia, 1881

Diorama 33: Katipunan Initiation Rites, Manila, 1892

Diorama 34: The Revolution Against Spain Begins, Manila, 1896

Diorama 35: The Execution of Jose Rizal, Manila, 1896

Diorama 36: Court Marshall of Andres Bonifacio, Cavite, 1897

Diorama 39: Proclamation of Independence from Spain, Cavite, 1898

Diorama 41: The Malolos Congress, Bulacan, 1898

Diorama 43: American Occupation of Iloilo City, Panay, 1899

Diorama 45: Assassination of General Antonio Luna, Nueva Ecija, 1899

Diorama 46: Death of General Gregorio del Pilar, Ilocos Sur, 1899

Diorama 47: The Bates Agreement, Sulu, 1899

Diorama 50: American Reprisals in Samar, 1901-1902

Diorama 54: Inauguration of Manuel Quezon, 1935

Diorama 55: Japanese Forces Occupy Manila, 1942

Diorama 56: Fall of Bataan, 1942

Diorama 57: The Death March, Bataan to Tarlac, 1942

Diorama 58: Guerilla Activities Against the Japanese, 1942-1944

Diorama 60: Recognition of Philippine Independence by the United States, 1946

The craftmanship put into each piece in the gallery is truly remarkable. Even with the expected crowd, we were glad we finally made the time to explore the museum.

Other than the dioramas, the museum also features a collection of archaeological artifacts such as the Gold of Ancestors: Pre-Colonial Treasures in the Philippines which proves the rich and sophisticated culture the country had before colonization. There's also the gallery called A Millenium of Contact, an impressive selection of trade ceramics from mainland Asia, which signifies the flourishing economic relationship of the Philippines with its neighbors. Indeed, the Ayala Museum is one of the best places to be inspired about the country's story.

Blue and white jar with painted phoenix design

The Ayala Museum is open daily except Mondays from 9:00AM-6:00PM. For more information about the museum, visit its website here.

So what do you think about The Philippine Diorama Experience? Leave your comments in the box below.