Nikki's Nurturance: Museo Pambata

Showing posts with label Museo Pambata. Show all posts

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Narra's Star on Museo Pambata's Christmas Tree

Christmas is around the corner and we already set up our own Christmas tree at home. When we took Narra to Museo Pambata (Manila's Museum for Children) a couple of weekends ago, they also had their own special tree already put up. It was decorated with stars and candy canes bought by museum goers for the benefit of the museum's projects. Right before the shadow puppet show started, a museum representative invited the crowd to support their Christmas tree drive, a simple star could be bought for 20 pesos, while bigger and more elaborately decorated ones go for a bit higher, with all the proceeds serving as donations.

Narra picked a star from a basket full of decorations. The one she chose was purply-pink and gold and covered completely in glitters. It cost P100 pesos, and it looked to me, to be the prettiest star in the bunch. Oliver put Narra's name on the star.

Narra was excited when we left her star on the museum's tree. I am particularly happy to give her a sense of group identity as part of a larger Filipino family. It was a good idea to get her to buy something that she doesn't get to keep so that she learns that there is great joy to be had in participating, and not just in accumulating or collecting stuff. That star was a pretty thing and it looked really good on that tree. Putting it there is such a fitting way to conclude a fun-filled visit to the museum.

Museo Pambata also has a Christmas toy drive for less fortunate children. They accept both brand new and pre-loved toys in good condition. I am already talking to Narra about giving away some of her toys, and I am planning to go back to the museum with her to participate in their drive. They are accepting donations until December 15.

For info on museum hours, fees, location and exhibits visit the museum's official website:

http://www.museopambata.org/

Museo Pambata Part 1: Introducing Kids to Philippine Architecture
http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/museo-pambata-part-1-introducing-kids.html

Museo Pambata Part 2: Encouraging Kids to be Writers and Artists
http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/museo-pambata-encouraging-kids-to-be.html

Museo Pambata Part 3: Introducing Kids to Theater, Dance, and Music
http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/museo-pambata-part-3-introducing-kids.html

Museo Pambata Part 4: Exposing Kids to Entrepreneurship
http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/museo-pambata-part-4-exposing-kids-to.html

Museo Pambata Part 5: Instilling Environmental Awareness Early On

http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/museo-pambata-part-5-instilling.html

Museo Pambata Part 5: Instilling Environmental Awareness Early On

Museo Pambata has an awesome exhibit to encourage kids to think of the environment and be aware of climate change. Entitled "I love my Planet Earth" the exhibit is in a visually appealing space. Narra was running around excitedly. The emphasis is on what kids can do at home to help reduce their carbon footprint. I plan to keep coming back to this exhibit so that I can take the time to explain each section of the exhibit in greater detail.

On one of the walls is a dynamic display that shows the picture of a wet and green rice field that transforms into arid land as you walk from left to right. The visual illusion delivers a high-impact message. I already tell Narra to conserve water at home whenever she turns on the faucet by herself, or takes a bath. I tell her, Mama Earth cries when we waste water, and the running tap is like her tears. Exhibits like these help me drive home the point more effectively and lend authority to my spiels with my young daughter.

In a previous exhibit located in a nearby hall, where there was a typical rural home (bahay kubo), there was also a poso or water pump on display. Narra had fun playing with the poso. I explained to Narra that in some parts of the country, people have to pump their own water and walk long distances to bring measured quantities to their homes. Thus, they know how to value and conserve water and do not use the precious resource wastefully. This is in stark contrast to some urbanites who have the convenience of running water in their homes which often leads to wasteful habits.

According to the Museo Pambata website, the theme room called "Kalikasan" (Environment), will reopen to the public soon. This room simulates a rainforest and seabed, to allow kids to go "nature-tripping". This theme room aims to inspire kids to value Mother Nature and to take positive steps towards preservation. This exhibit was closed when we were there, so I have even more to look forward to when I take Narra there again. It's never to early to start getting kids environmentally aware, and I am so glad a have a place to take Narra where I can teach her important lessons on conservation while doing it in a fun and playful way.

Museo Pambata Part 4: Exposing Kids to Entrepreneurship
http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/museo-pambata-part-4-exposing-kids-to.html

Narra's Star on Museo Pambata's Christmas Tree

http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/narras-star-on-museo-pambatas-christmas.html

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Museo Pambata Part 4: Exposing Kids To Entrepreneurship

I am embarrassed to say this but I haven't brought Narra to a market yet. She's only been to groceries and her idea of food acquisition involves riding a shopping cart. The Museo Pambata's exhibit entitled Pamilihang Bayan or the Marketplace recreates usual neighborhood shops where children can pretend to buy and sell all sorts of produce. At first I pretended to sell to Narra, haha - I gave in to the dramatic impulse to act a little: "Bili-bili na kayo diyan!"..."Ano ho ang sa inyo?" Narra was happy to pretend to be interested in buying a carrot. Later, Narra had her turn selling stuff and she was just enthralled with the trusty old timbangan (weighing scale).

Sigh, so much has changed even in the tiny landscape of our home kitchens. I grew up in a home where a timbangan (weighing scale), and kudkuran (coconut grater), are common everyday fixtures. Now, my daughter's first experience of a weighing scale had to be at a museum! After our visit to Museo Pambata, I vowed to expose Narra more to street life. I made Narra buy turon from a manang, and she was thrilled to perform the dialogue sequence I taught her:

"pabili po ng turon" (may I buy turon),

"ilan" said manang (how many?),

"anim po" (six please) said Narra, following my instructions;

"apat na lang ang meron" (there's just four left) said manang.

"sige, bayad po" (It's ok. Here's my payment) said Narra.

Oh gosh, I was such a proud Mama. Narra is 2 and a half years old, and she was transacting with a complete stranger unfazed and she understood what was going on. Narra returned to me feeling very bothered, "Mama apat lang!" (Mama there's only four!) Oh she was so fretful for not getting her mission accomplished of buying six pieces of turon. I was very thrilled though, to see Narra beginning to understand the concepts of counting and the more complex notion of money as a mode of exchange for goods and services!

One service kids could pretend to perform is that of a barber's. There was a colorful pretend barber shop with a real barbero's chair. Our tour companions, our driver Michael and his son Basti, looked cute pretending to be in the middle of a haircut session. The thing is, both Mike and Basti do go to a barber shop regularly to get a trim, and yet they still found the re-creation of a barbershop fun and entertaining. That's the cool thing about Museo Pambata's exhibit, it makes us more aware of what we see everyday, in order to appreciate in a different light - as vibrant manifestations of our country's entrepreneural vigor.

When I saw the sapatero (shoe repair shop), I felt a bit nostalgic. It seems to me that for our kids these days, shoes have become so accessible as there are now many options that are affordable, that shoes are just replaced rather than repaired when there are problems. There are exhibits that make me feel as though I am introducing my child to the continuing past - to things in her present that she does not know much about because those aspects of Philippine life that were once so common, are becoming less so. This is why this afternoon at the children's museum is such a worthwhile activity.

Related Posts:

Museo Pambata Part 1: Introducing Kids to Philippine Architecture
http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/museo-pambata-part-1-introducing-kids.html

Museo Pambata Part 2: Encouraging Kids to be Writers and Artists
http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/museo-pambata-encouraging-kids-to-be.html

Museo Pambata Part 3: Introducing Kids to Theater, Dance, and Music
http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/museo-pambata-part-3-introducing-kids.html

Museo Pambata Part 5: Instilling Environmental Awareness Early On

http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/museo-pambata-part-5-instilling.html

Narra's Star on Museo Pambata's Christmas Tree

http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/narras-star-on-museo-pambatas-christmas.html

Museo Pambata Part 3: Introducing Kids to Theater, Dance, and Music

We visited Museo Pambata on a Saturday and there was a short shadow puppet theater show on the theme of a working man's efforts to survive in Manila. While the theme may be a bit heavy for kids, it was done to the lively tune of a witty Yoyoy Villame song and was over in no time (perfect for short attention spans). Kids were given a chance to try their hand at casting shadows on the screen. Excited little ones queued up for their turn to wave around their sticks/puppets of various plants and insects.

I liked seeing the museum's effort to introduce children to puppet theater as this is one way to instill in our youth an interest in a form of art that serves as a reminder of our rootedness in Southeast Asian performing arts traditions. That the museum recognizes the need to instill a sense of regional identity in the youth is seen in the collection of puppets from other parts of Asia displayed in another exhibit hall nearby.

Then there's the Pangalay exhibit which shows a choreographic diagram of the flow of movement of the arms and the various postures of the body. That children (and enthusiastic adults like me) are encouraged to give the dance a try is suggested by the presence of a full-length mirror positioned conveniently next to the diagram. This is an interactive museum after all, and we're encouraged to move! (so yes, I danced shamelessly, and happily - imagining the rhythmic beat to accompany my movement)

And then there were musical instruments. My daughter Narra had fun with the kulintang and the piano (two instruments we also have at home).

I love how much freedom one feels in this museum. When outside the home, kids are often told "don't touch" for fear that they may destroy something. Here at Museo Pambata, they're encouraged to do the opposite - Touch to discover! Move, make noise, and dance your way to learning!

Museo Pambata Part 4: Exposing Kids to Entrepreneurship
http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/museo-pambata-part-4-exposing-kids-to.html

Museo Pambata Part 5: Instilling Environmental Awareness Early On

http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/museo-pambata-part-5-instilling.html

Narra's Star on Museo Pambata's Christmas Tree

http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/11/narras-star-on-museo-pambatas-christmas.html

Monday, November 14, 2011

Museo Pambata Part 1: Introducing Kids to Philippine Architecture

We want Narra to grow up rooted in her country's culture. Manila's Museo Pambata (Museum for Children) will help us achieve that goal. We visited it last Saturday and I have plans to keep coming back. I was so impressed that writing a single blog post won't do the trick, so I'm going to write a series of posts.

Oliver and I are fortunate to have in our employ our driver Michael, who is married to our housekeeper Chie. Together with their 5-year old son Basti, they've stayed with us for the last few years, first in our very secluded house in Lipa, Batangas, and our second house in congested Metro Manila. While in Lipa, our two families used to go to outings together - to have dinner out, to watch movies, or to do a little sightseeing in Tagaytay. Since moving to Manila, we haven't had the chance to go out and tour like we used to. So last weekend, we decided to head to nearby Museo Pambata. It was originally meant as an exposure trip for the kids, but it ended up being entertaining and enlightening even for us adults!

On the ground floor of Museo Pambata is an exhibit on the Spanish period. Kids are introduced to colonial architecture through a recreation of some design features of a typical 19th century, 2-storey illustrado home. Narra and Basti enjoyed looking through the window grills done in the buntis (pregnant) style, and peeking through the windows on the second floor. There were also small-scale antique furniture inside the house, which the kids absolutely loved to sit on.

There's a small-scale version of a typical Spanish colonial-era church which museum-goers can actually enter (adults and kids alike). It's pretty fascinating to stand inside the structure feeling like a giant! At the altar, Narra inspected the figures of Jesus and some of the other saints, while Basti had fun pretending to be a priest.

There was also a sample from the American colonial period, a scale model of a 1930's home inside a glass case. The former Elks Club Building which houses the children's museum is, in itself, a historic architectural treasure. I loved climbing its wide staircases, and walking on its old tiled floors.

On the second floor, there were more interactive exhibits to explore. In particular, Narra enjoyed the kid-size bahay kubo. It was a bit of a challenge for her to climb the bamboo ladder to enter the hut, but we didn't assist her, since it was low anyway and posed no threat to her safety. She clambered up rather clumsily but I enjoyed watching her figure out how to make her way up on her own. Once inside the hut, Oliver and I could only supervise her from the windows, but she was pretty much on her own. She enjoyed playing with the clay stove with the kawali on top, and spent a good many minutes pretending to cook.

"Ay ganyan ho sa amin" (oh that's how it is in our home) said Chie who hails from Bicol, and whose parents make a living as farmers in a remote part of the province. She was excited to see the carabao-drawn cart on display and demonstrated to her son, and to my daughter Narra, how her father would use it. I realized how the Museo Pambata plays an important role in bridging generations. It is a means for Chie to introduce her Manila-born and Manila-raised son Basti, to the rural livelihood of his own grandfather. Oliver's own family hails from Malolos where they have an old ancestral house with beautiful touches of colonial architecture. I hope Narra can learn to appreciate that when we next visit Malolos.

While we were at the second floor of the museum we happened to look out the window to see a traditional Ifugao house being re-furbished on the grounds below. I'm waiting for that exhibit to be completed so I can take Narra back there again to explore traditional architecture from the North.