August 30, 2019 — Guests with vision loss can now ‘see’ some of the exhibit pieces at the UP Manila Museum of a History of Ideas (UPM-MHI). This experience was made possible through the donation of the Jesse Robredo Foundation (JRF) on 15 August 2019 of several podia which contain both tactile illustrations and Braille captions of some of the exhibits as well as audio guides.

The JRF also turned over slates, styluses, and canes to representative teachers and students of the Philippine School for the Blind (PSB) who were there as guests.

The Museum donation is part of the “Beyond Vision” project of UPM-MHI and Touch the Artist’s Vision (TAV) which was launched in October 2018 during the World Blindness Month. Under this project, the blind and visually-impaired are given equal opportunity and accessibility that will lead to their increasing participation and inclusivity in society. 

This development is very welcome as can be observed in the way the PSB students eagerly traced the raised lines of the illustrations and dots of the captions for cholera bacteria, façade of the PGH building, etc. As the date was also three days away from  the death anniversary of former DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, a PSB student named Matthew read a Braille version of “Inay, Ano Ang Bayani?” to the audience. Another student named Hannah ‘read’ the image and text for Dr. Maria Paz Mendoza (the first woman to be accorded a medical degree in the country). 

Both UPM-MHI and TAV are committed to making the Project grow. TAV is a pioneering program of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila which was launched in 2007 to help museum guests with vision loss appreciate and experience Philippine modern and contemporary art. It also provides professional development workshops for museum staff and educators of other institutions. 

For UPM-MHI, this form of community service expands its mission to advance the appreciation and understanding of the University’s history in relation to the emergence of the Filipino nation and citizenry. It is also in keeping with the spirit of RA 7277 or “The Magna Carta for Disabled Persons”, which envisions the improved well-being of the disabled in the country. 

Fedelynn Jemena | Published in UP Manila Healthscape July – August 2019