Museum Evaluation:

Bagumbayan Lights and Sound Museum, Intramuros

Location Map:
Victoria cor. Sta. Lucia
street, Intramuros,
Manila
Lights and sound museum in Intramuros uses full visual and sound effects, and exhibits of life-
size wax dolls, showing the major historical events in the Philippines – from the pre-colonial
times to the life and death of Dr. Jose Rizal. The aim of this museum is to retell the history of the
Philippines to local and foreign visitors in an interactive and fun setting. This 2-storey, 1,800-sq.
m. museum used to be the Beateria de San Ignacio, the first nunnery established in the
Philippines. It was inaugurated last 30 November 2002. This museum is a tourism project of Sen.
Richard Gordon, chronicles the Filipino’s pursuit for freedom under the leadership of National
Hero Dr. Jose Rizal, and other revolutionary leaders such as Cebuano warrior Lapu-Lapu, Rajah
Soliman and Andres Bonifacio. It features, in dramatic, historical tableaux, up to 140 moving
mannequins dressed in life-like costumes, its overall presentation showing the Filipinos’
resiliency, intelligence and self-worth throughout its history. The sets and other effects is about
45-minutes of tour, with voice-over script, of Philippine history. Started from prehistoric times,
the arrival of the Spaniards and Christianity, the shaping of Filipino culture under the friars and
the brewing revolutionary movement, up to Rizal’s execution in 1896. The entire ground floor
focuses to the Spanish annexation of the Philippines as a province. The second-floor recounts Dr
Jose Rizal’s saga and describes his prolific days as a student at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila
as well as his trip to Europe where his burning desire for Filipinos to be treated fairly by the
colonizers was ignited. It also features his two books Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
which exposed the ills of the Spanish society. There was also a huge room tracing Rizal’s
martyrdom. The room replicates the scenario at Bagumbayan where Rizal tried to face the
executioners to prove his innocence. Another area shows details of Filipino uprisings steered by
Andres Bonifacio. Bonifacio and his followers tear up their cedulas or residence certificates, a
symbol of Spanish dominance during that time. In addition, there is the Bagumbayan exhibit
with its symbolically collapsed walls depicting a prelude to something new for Filipinos.
Towards the end of our tour, there is a walk along a dim corridor leading through the exit made
of heavy wooden doors facing the set-up of the new Intramuros overlooking the well-lighted city
golf course in the perimeter of the walls.
Evaluation:

The museum’s strength is the intricate and detailed mannequins and sculptures with the special
lights and sounds that makes the sculptures more realistic. It is a one of a kind museum with
those lights, sound effects and incredible timing of every mechanics running the exhibits inside.
For me it wasn’t just a usual museum it is like an experience center. One of the highlights is the
instant trip to Europe where I saw Rizal’s depiction of his life in Spain and Germany.
One downside of the museum though is the old building and other old facilities like restrooms
and the payment fee which costs expensive when you are going with a small group.