In this quarantine season, one of the places reeling from the effects of the pandemic is the Museo Pambata, the much loved children’s museum on Roxas Boulevard.
As a museum and a place of recreation, it has not been allowed to operate. Because 80 percent of its income is generated from school field trips and workshops, it had to think of creative ways to keep afloat. Thus was the shelter-in-place fundraiser, “Safe at Home, Save our Home” was born.
It is a simple fundraiser that highlights how our homes have become our havens of safety and our special refuge for much of this year.
Museo president Bambi Mañosa describes the project as a keepsake, “a very precious reminder that once upon a time, in the year 2020, we were all asked to stay at home.” A reminder that there were many heartwarming accounts of family bonding and togetherness in this unusual year to remember.
Mañosa had many plans for 2020 from upgrading the playground based on a design of her late father, National Artist for Architecture Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa, to stylizing the standard exhibits.
Museo Pambata had just had a successful fundraiser “Baro at Sayá” late last year—in preparation for a new Museo. It was more than a fashion show of Philippine wear, as it also harped on the “Awit at Laro” theme, featuring fashion designers, Gary Valenciano and children’s book illustrators from Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan.
Lucky for Museo, it has a resident artist, its chair and founder Nina Lim Yuson, who is known for her charming travel sketches printed as notecards and had published journals featuring her sketches—the sixth this month. It was a project she heartily welcomed. Yuson quickly went to work and produced the first sketches and is only too happy to do more.
For a donation of P5,000, one could send a photo of one’s workplace during the pandemic or a favorite spot in one’s home for a commissioned 7” X 7” pen and watercolor sketch. Other than your home, it could be wherever you have been “staying at home.” (Email info@museopambata.org.)
How the 25-year-old Museo Pambata looks forward to opening its doors again to continue bringing learning and laughter. —CONTRIBUTED