REIINN now hosts Virtual National Museum Galleries

Atok, Benguet - Students and subscribers of REIINN pilot communities are now able to visit the National Museum virtually, as REIINN hosts eight (8) virtual tour galleries-- made possible through a Memorandum of Agreement between the DOST Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) and the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP). The partnership aims to bring the National Museum to the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged communitieswho are unable to go to the museums physically, opening opportunities for them to better appreciate the Filipino Heritage through the displayed artwork and artifacts of the NMP.

The hosted galleries include the virtual tours of the four (4) component national museums: the National Planetarium, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of Anthropology, and the National Museum of Fine Arts. Four (4) curated exhibits are also featured in the integration: Hibla ng Lahing Pilipino, Larawan at Litrato, Noli Me Tangere: Oil Paintings by Leonardo Cruz, and The Philippine Center New York Core Collection of 1974.

The REIINN-hosted component national museums

The REIINN-hosted exhibits

After testing the integration of the virtual galleries to the REIINN technologies: LokalFi and RuralCasting Box, the virtual tour feature was then introduced in Naguey Elementary School, Atok, Benguet. Students that were 296 kilometers (about 183.93 mi) away from Manila were able visit the National Museum virtually.

Students of Naguey Elementary School accessing the National Museum Galleries

It is also now deployed in Bokod National High School, Arcadio F. Deato Elementary School, and at Quezon City, Sitio Bakal’s new Day Care Center.

Students of Arcadio F. Deato Elementary School accessing the National Museum Galleries

The implementation of this collaboration between DOST-ASTI and the NMP is just in time for the celebration of the National Arts Month, celebrated every February with this year’s theme, “Ani ng Sining, Bayang Malikhain.” Such collaborations strengthen the institute’s commitment to innovation and making science work for the people and of utilizing technologies to empower Filipinos. The ASTI-NMP partnership is expected to expand the reach of the National Museum to other unserved and underserved areas of the country. The addition of virtual galleries from the Regional Museums are also currently being planned.

ABOUT PROJECT REIINN

Project REIINN proposes a collective approach to ensure the continuity of learning and to address the challenges brought about by the digital divide. The project aims to develop and implement innovative solutions to support distance learning and to address the digital divide in the country during and beyond the pandemic. Access to the internet and information is crucial even before the pandemic, as it prepares and equips individuals toward a burgeoning digital economy. The team believes that through technology-based interventions coupled with appropriate policies, access to the internet and information in unserved and underserved areas will be the new normal.