A look at the AFP's 'Bulwagang Heneral Arturo T. Enrile'

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 16): A look at the AFP's 'Bulwagang Heneral Arturo T. Enrile'

While known to the world as the home of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), not many people are aware that Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, which is located in Quezon City, has its museum dedicated to Filipino military culture, tradition, and history.

While not as grand, imposing or well filled with artistic relics and historical and beautiful portraits, the AFP's "Bulwagang Heneral Arturo T. Enrile" makes more for its lack by having numerous displays of campaign medals, antiques and present day weaponry which showcase the Filipinos' willingness to fight, defend, and die, if necessary, for the Motherland.

And to show how colorful Philippine history is, curators of the "Bulwagang Heneral Arturo T. Enrile" have divided the facility into different periods of our country's historical past and these are:

-The pre-colonial period;

-Spanish colonial period;

-American colonial period;

-And the Japanese occupation.

Besides these, portions dedicated to weaponry and warfare development in the 20th and 21st century are also presented.

Our tour of the "Bulwagang Heneral Arturo T. Enrile" started on the discussion of the relics from the pre-colonial period.

Our tour guide (whom I had mistaken for his military bearing and demeanor) named Rhei, showed us the museum collection of our ancestors’ early weapons.

He first showed us two versions of the Filipino sword called "Kris".

The short version , which is curved and looks like frozen lightning is used for battles or combat, while the long one is used for religious and political ceremonies.

We then moved to the "Sibat" and "Kalasag" (spear and shield) display.

Rhei told us to look closer at the design and shape of the "Kalasag" which was somewhat three feet in dimension, oval in shape and curved on its center.

He said that the shield was designed like this to deflect the objects thrown against it.

The shield would distribute the force it received from the object hence protecting its holder much better.

During that part of the tour I noticed those little details that make the weapons so unique.

The handle of the "Kris" was very much detailed and seems like that the Filipino designer invested sweat, blood, and tears to perfect the sword.

While the design of the "Kalasag" also demonstrated that ancient Filipino warrior have some basic idea on how to deflect projectile weapons like arrows and sling shots (tirador) with their curved designs and patterns on the shield.

Aside from antique weapons from the pre-colonial period, "Bulwagang Heneral Arturo T. Enrile" also boast of an archive where letters of Apolinario Mabini to then Malolos Republic President Emilio Aguinaldo were stored.

Besides these items of historical interest, the museum also displays weapons, maps, relics, World War II peso bills and even a diorama of the combat highlights of the war against the Japanese invader.

Among the highlights of the modern warfare displays were the portraits of people who received the Medal of Valor, a medal awarded to the bravest of the bravest soldiers who sacrificed a lot just to protect and defend the country.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=673537