When the first of August marks the calendar of any Filipino household, we usually start finding our old barong and baro’t saya at the back of our closets or at the bottom of our boxes. While some create their own recipes of traditional Filipino kakanin such as bibingka, puto bumbong, suman, or sapin-sapin, some play back their old records of Filipino music.

But August is more than just Buwan ng Wika, wearing our Filipiniana, and eating sweet Filipino delicacies afterward. It is also History Month, which prompts us to also celebrate our nationalism, both through how well we know our country and what we can do to make it better.

That’s why the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) unveils the list of activities each of us can participate in. For the whole month of August, a series of historical and art exhibits, seminars, and lectures will be conducted in Manila and in several parts of the country.

Some of these include an exhibit and lecture on the historical timeline of our national symbols, a seminar workshop on the preservation of our heritage structures, a lecture-workshop on Philippine textile tradition, and the celebration of the National Heroes’ Day at the end of the month.

And for those who have forgotten about the essence of this month’s festivities: We’re celebrating National Language Month by virtue of former President Fidel V. Ramos’ Proclamation 1041, which states that we should have a month-long celebration every August.

As an arm of historical and cultural development of the country, NHCP is directed to form activities on historical events, and the restoration and preservation of objects with historical value.

Here’s the list of activities this month:

Aug. 1

75th death anniversary of President Manuel L. Quezon
Museo ni Manuel Quezon, Diliman, Quezon City
10th death anniversary of President Corazon Aquino
President Corazon Aquino Monument, Manila
Dua-dua: Kaarang Kabuhi, Bag-ong Kabutigan
Museum of Philippine Economic History, Iloilo

Aug. 2

Inside-Out: Museum Unboxed Exhibit Launching 7.0
Museo ni Apolinario Mabini, PUP, Manila

Aug. 8

Exhibit and Lecture Historical Timeline of our National Symbols
Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine, Kawit, Cavite
Bata X Karapatan
Museum of Philippine Economic History, Iloilo
Lakbay Malvar
Museo ni Miguel Malvar, Sto. Tomas, Batangas

Aug. 9

From Datus to Delano: The First Filipinos in America
Museo ng Kasaysayang Panlipunan ng Pilipinas, Angeles City, Pampanga

Aug. 10

Using Franciscan Missionary Sources in Writing Local History
Museo ng Libingan sa Ilalim ng Lupa ng Nagcarlan, Nagcarlan, Laguna

Aug. 13

Basic Conservation Training for Museum Personnel
NHCP Building, T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila

Aug. 14

Dokumentaryo: Mga Kwento ng Bayan Ko
Museo ng Kasaysayang Pampulitika ng Pilipinas, Malolos City, Bulacan

184th birth anniversary of Fr. Jacinto Zamora
Liwasang Fr. Jacinto Zamora, Pandacan, Manila

Aug. 15

French Impressionism Appreciation
Museo ni Jose Rizal, Calamba City, Laguna

Aug. 16

Turn-over of UP Visayas restored project
UP Campus, Iloilo City

Aug. 17

Miong at Berong: Pamana sa Bayan
Museo ni Baldomero Aguinaldo, Kawit, Cavite
Philippine-American War in Pampanga
Museo ng Kasaysayang Panlipunan ng Pilipinas, Angeles City, Pampanga

Aug. 18

Heroes Day for the Volunteer Fire Chiefs and Firefighters of the Philippines
Manila Chinese Cemetery, Manila
7th death anniversary of Jesse Robredo
Museo ni Jesse Robredo, Naga City, Camarines Sur

Aug. 19

141st birth anniversary of President Manuel L. Quezon
Museo ni Manuel Quezon, Diliman, Quezon City
CARmageddon: The Automobile, Tansportation, and Public Sphere
Museo ng Pampangulong Sasakyan, Diliman, Quezon City
Launching of #KnowMeBetter Marketing Campaign
Museo ng Pampangulong Sasakyan, Diliman, Quezon City

Aug. 21

36th death anniversary of Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.
P. Burgos, Ermita, Manila and Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
Florencio Moreno: Talambuhay
Museo ng Pampangulong Sasakyan, Diliman, Quezon City
Seminar Workshop on the Conservation of Heritage Structures
Paoay Church, Paoay, Ilocos Norte

Aug. 22

Research Writing and Review Seminar-Workshop/NHCP Book Sale
NHCP Building, T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila
Haring Alfonso XII: Ang Polisiya ng Unang Daang-bakal sa Pilipinas
Museo ng Pampangulong Sasakyan, Diliman, Quezon City

Aug. 23

123rd anniversary of the Cry of Pugad Lawin
Brgy. Bahay Toro, Project 8, Quezon City
Layaw: Experential Learning Using Museum Artifact
Museo ni Emilio Aguinaldo, Kawit, Cavite
Ponce at Sun Yat-sen Book re-launching: Mariano Ponce y Collantes
Museo ni Mariano Ponce, Baliwag, Bulacan
Magsaysay, Lodi ng Bayan
Museo ni Ramon Magsaysay, Castillejos, Zambales
Buwan ng Wika Festival
Museo ni Jose Rizal, Calamba City, Laguna
Timpalakasaysayan
Museo ng Pampangulong Sasakyan, Diliman, Quezon City
Flag History Exhibit
Museo ni Emilio Aguinaldo, Kawit, Cavite

Aug. 24

Quezon and the Jewish Refugee Program
Museo ni Manuel Quezon, Diliman, Quezon City
Inside-Out: Museum Unboxed Exhibit Launching 8.0
Museo ni Marcelo H. del Pilar, Bulakan, Bulacan
Go Local: Lecture-Workshop on Philippine Textile Tradition
Museo ni Jesse Robredo, Naga City, Camarines Sur
Pag-agos: Wawa Dam Years after its closure
Museo El Deposito, San Juan City

Aug. 26

National Heroes Day 2019
Libingan ng mga Bayani, Taguig City

Aug. 27

102nd anniversary of Apolonio Samson Historical Landmark
Brgy. Apolonia Samson, Quezon City
Wikang Filipino: Korespondesiya Opisyal
Museo ng Kasaysayang Pampulitika ng Pilipinas, Malolos City, Bulacan
Turn-over of Lazi Church restored project
Lazi, Siquijor

Aug. 28

Lecture on Mainstreaming Philippine Muslim History and Culture as Venues for Strengthening Peoples Nationalism and Nation Building
PUP, Sta. Mesa, Manila

Aug. 29

Mabini: Paghasa ng Talas sa Bayang Sinilangan
Museo ni Apolinario Mabini, Tanauan City, Batangas
Uicain Mo, Naquiquinig Aco
Museo ni Jose Rizal, Calamba, Laguna
Unveiling of Historical Marker and Turn-over of Dauin Church restored project
Dauin, Negros Oriental
Unveiling of Historical Marker and Turn-over of Zamboanguita Church restored project
Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental

Aug. 30

169th birth anniversary of Marcelo H. del Pilar
Museo ni Marcelo H. del Pilar, Bulakan, Bulacan
Talakasaysayan
Museo ng Pampangulong Sasakyan, Diliman, Quezon City
Ako sa Pagbuo ng Nasyon
Museo ni Jose Rizal, Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila
123 anniversary of the Battle of San Juan
Museo ng Katipunan, San Juan
Ang Namatay Nang Dahil Sa’yo
Museo ng Katipunan, San Juan
Early Augustinian Missions in Batangas
Museo nina Leon at Galicano Apacible, Taal, Batangas
Pananggalang: Ang mga Agimat ng Cavite
Museo ng Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio, Maragondon, Cavite

Aug. 31

112nd birth anniversary of President Ramon Magsaysay
Museo ng Ramon Magsaysay, Castillejos, Zambales
Dugong Rebolusyonaryo Cinco
Museo ni Emilio Aguinaldo, Kawit, Cavite
Colonial Cemeteries as Filipino Heritage
Museo ng Libingan sa Ilalim ng Lupa ng Nagcarlan, Laguna
Conservation Goes to the Province 2019
Bataan

Header photo courtesy of Museum of Philippine Economic History

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