PHL Embassy views Rizal artifacts in Germany

The officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Germany participated in a special viewing of historical artifacts related to national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, as part of activities marking his 150th birth anniversary. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Chargé d'Affaires Leah Ruiz led Embassy personnel and members of the Filipino community in Berlin in the special viewing at the Ethnological Museum of Berlin. "The artifacts were donated by Rizal to the Museum during his stay in Berlin in 1887," the DFA said in a news release on its website Friday. Mira Dallige-Smith, Diplomatic Conservator of the Museum's South and Southeast Asian Department, presented some of the artifacts being kept inside the Museum's archives. "The artifacts were taken out of their safe storages especially for the viewing session, and include various ethnic Philippine textiles, a Barong Tagalog, and a Maria Clara-style blouse and skirt, southern Philippine women's blouses and man's trousers, and some personal effects including a Salakot and a wooden lighter," the DFA said. Dallige-Smith said that while the artifacts are carefully preserved, she had to use special gloves in handling them during the viewing session due to their extremely delicate condition. A photograph of Rizal's handwritten list of the donated artifacts taken from a page of his notebook was also shown, indicating Rizal's own authentic signature in one of the pages. The original notebook is being kept inside the Museum's archives as well. Ruiz expressed her appreciation to the Ethnological Museum for hosting and preserving the collection artifacts which could serve as a way to nurture the memories of Rizal's stay in Berlin. She also expressed hopes that the Museum's Philippine artifacts collection can be shown in a special exhibit in the future. — JE/VVP, GMA News