The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) has opened “The Baylan of Mount Kalatungan” exhibition, in collaboration with The Forests Listen, Their Spirits Cry team, at the National Museum of Anthropology.
The exhibition’s launch on August 30 began with a performance by the Kulahi Pangantucan Performing Arts group, followed by a screening of Gab Mejia’s short film, Baradiya. The coming-of-age queer ecological film tells the story of Krystahl, a spiritual descendant of Baradiya Baradir Insawad Diman-diman, as she searches for the meaning of her ancestry.
The event also marked the official opening of the photographic and illustrative exhibition that tells the story of the sacred sites and deities of Mount Kalatungan. This transmedia documentary-art film and visual exhibit aims to highlight the Talaandig Manobo indigenous people, who protect the mountain’s rich forests.
NMP Deputy Director-General for Museums, Jorell Legaspi, expressed pride in the museum’s role in fostering dialogue about preserving the practices of indigenous groups like the Talaandig Manobo. The exhibition also showcases the complex cultural landscapes of the country and highlights the narratives of the people in these communities.
“The Baylan of Mount Kalatungan” exhibition is open for viewing until October 11 at Gallery 1 of the National Museum of Anthropology.
