History Comes Alive! Mukhang Pera

Have you ever noticed the edifices and faces that adorn our bank notes? Or you are too busy to even wonder why the Manungul Jar landed on the 1,000 peso bill? It's money used for spending and buying things so why bother, you might say. These bills tell stories and are very much a part of our cultural and historical consciousness. (Dear me...do we have either?)

Prof. Ambeth Ocampo will unravel these stories in a lecture at the Ayala Museum on 25 June 2011. Details on the poster below an a press release of the lecture.

HISTORY COMES ALIVE! REOPENS WITH ‘MUKHANG PERA!’ 

Following up on last year’s highly successful run, the History Comes Alive! with Dr. Ambeth Ocampo lecture series opens with “Mukhang Pera! Banknotes and Nation” on 25 June, 3 PM at the Ayala Museum lobby. 

“Banknotes are so common, we see and use them daily, but we rarely notice the pictures and text that are on them,” Prof. Ocampo explains. His upcoming lecture will answer why particular individuals are chosen (and, just as interestingly, not chosen) to have their busts printed on money. “Mukhang Pera” also explores how banknotes refer to Philippine history, re-present the nation and express identity.  

“After this lecture,” Dr. Ocampo adds, “you will never look at money the same way again.” Ambeth R. Ocampo is Chairman of the Department of History, Ateneo de Manila University and is a widely read columnist. He served as Chairman at the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (2002-2011) and concurrently Chairman at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (2005-2007). 

Tickets are inclusive of lecture and museum admission fee, as well as a free book by Dr. Ocampo. For inquiries and reservations, call 757-7117 to 21 local 35 or email education@ayalamuseum.org.  

Ayala Museum, the country’s premiere museum of fine art and history and cultural destination, is located at Makati Avenue corner De la Rosa Street, Greenbelt Park, Makati City. For more information on this year’s History Comes Alive! line up of lectures, visit www.ayalamuseum.org.