Post by EXO on Jun 25, 2009 9:41:26 GMT 8
A little off the tour route for Corregidor is the AFP (Armed Forces Philippines) Museum and Historical Library, at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
The base was formerly a US Airfield, Camp Murphy, so its well worth the pilgrimage.
There Batteryboy introduced me to someone who was clearly an old friend of his, Jose Antonio Custodio, who though his business card said "Curator", explained himself more in the role of consultant, educator, lecturer and wise-head. Notice I said wise-head, not wiseass, for Jose was a charming and affable fellow, clearly knowledgeable and entirely comfortable with his collection.
Jose allowed us to wander at our own pace, and it was almost as if we had been invited into his lounge room to inspect and come to grips with 'his' collection. He is clearly a buff, at home with every item in a huge collection, and willing to discuss on any level the items.
Though I have not pictured them, I was particularly impressed by a series of original paintings there by local artist Dan Dizon, illustrating the uniforms of the various forces relevant to Philippine history - and what a colorful history it has been too. Dizon'e artworks are as impressive as any you would find anywhere, and clearly deserving of wider recognition.
Batteryboy caught me with some of the widest smiles on my dial in weeks. It was almost difficult for me to look severe and businesslike, amongst the collection.
Most remarkable amongst the displays was a mock-up of a Bren Gun Carrier there. I happen to be familiar with these carriers, and saw immediately that it was not built to 1:1 scale - it looked about 120% of the size of the original vehicle. Clearly a deliberate decision, though I can't understand quite why, it has been fashioned almost entirely out of wood. Yes, wood! The work which had gone into fashioning the entire track and suspension items in wood is beyond belief and, indeed, admirtion.
Something suggests to me that the AFP Museum hasn't seen the last of me yet.
The base was formerly a US Airfield, Camp Murphy, so its well worth the pilgrimage.
There Batteryboy introduced me to someone who was clearly an old friend of his, Jose Antonio Custodio, who though his business card said "Curator", explained himself more in the role of consultant, educator, lecturer and wise-head. Notice I said wise-head, not wiseass, for Jose was a charming and affable fellow, clearly knowledgeable and entirely comfortable with his collection.
Jose allowed us to wander at our own pace, and it was almost as if we had been invited into his lounge room to inspect and come to grips with 'his' collection. He is clearly a buff, at home with every item in a huge collection, and willing to discuss on any level the items.
Though I have not pictured them, I was particularly impressed by a series of original paintings there by local artist Dan Dizon, illustrating the uniforms of the various forces relevant to Philippine history - and what a colorful history it has been too. Dizon'e artworks are as impressive as any you would find anywhere, and clearly deserving of wider recognition.
Batteryboy caught me with some of the widest smiles on my dial in weeks. It was almost difficult for me to look severe and businesslike, amongst the collection.
Jose Custodio and exo.
Most remarkable amongst the displays was a mock-up of a Bren Gun Carrier there. I happen to be familiar with these carriers, and saw immediately that it was not built to 1:1 scale - it looked about 120% of the size of the original vehicle. Clearly a deliberate decision, though I can't understand quite why, it has been fashioned almost entirely out of wood. Yes, wood! The work which had gone into fashioning the entire track and suspension items in wood is beyond belief and, indeed, admirtion.
Something suggests to me that the AFP Museum hasn't seen the last of me yet.
