MANILA, Philippines–“Open Secret: Glimpses of Folklore in Resistance and Revolution,” an exhibit showcasing the impact of folklore on revolutionary movements, will be on display at Museo ni Emilio Aguinaldo, also known as the Cavite El Viejo Shrine, in Kawit, Cavite.
The exhibit opens on Saturday, November 11, 2023, and runs through February 2024, with the opening program on November 11 being free to the public.
This event is a collaboration between the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation’s Casa Gorordo Museum, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and the Local Historical Committees Network.
Additional support is provided by the Municipality of Kawit, Kawit Tourism, and the Department of Public Works and Highways – National Capital Region.
“Open Secret” emphasizes the role of folklore in the late 20th-century revolution against Spanish rule and offers a unique perspective on the formation of the 1898 Philippine Republic, following the victory of Aguinaldo’s forces in the Kawit Revolt, which led to his presidency.
The exhibition features a black light show with neon acrylic paintings in darkened spaces, illuminating the artworks.
Displayed are works from Cebuano artists Ezra Carillo, Lexi Velasquez, Anne Beatrice Aparicio, Valerie Demecillo, Godfrey Sigamata, Clea Louel Laurel, Stephanie Jan Bacallo, Michael John Gedy, Raili Ann Kapuno, Reshney Marie Arcillas of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University CAMVAS, and Aljun Alvarez, Mea Surigao, Gabriel Rupert Panim, Jean Mansueto from the University of the Philippines – Cebu FASO.
The Aguinaldo Shrine, the ancestral home of Aguinaldo, is a significant historical site in the Philippines. It was here that the Declaration of Philippine Independence from Spain was proclaimed by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista on June 12, 1898.
Aguinaldo later expanded the house and added the “independence balcony” for Independence Day celebrations. The property was donated to the government by Aguinaldo on June 12, 1963.