Harvard museum launches exhibit honoring Filipino heritage

CAMBRIDGE – Harvard’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology will launch “Balikbayan | Homecoming,” an exhibit celebrating Filipino heritage, on Thursday, May 30.

The exhibit will feature content created by Filipino Americans who “responded to 13 of the 8,000 items from the country in the Peabody Museum’s care,” according to the museum.

The exhibit opening is part of ArtsThursdays, a university-wide initiative supported by Harvard University Committee on the Arts.

Every Thursday evening, a Harvard arts institution or organization will open its doors to the Harvard community and the wider public for free performances, exhibitions, lectures and other events as part of an initiative that promotes access to the arts at Harvard.

“Join us for a free, fun night at the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture. Come with a date, come with friends or make new friends while exploring the exhibits,” says the invitation on the museum website.

Attendees will be treated to rondalla music by strolling musicians and folk dances, and can learn a few folk dance steps and enjoy Filipino food for sale.

Iskwelahang Pilipino cultural school representatives will be among the performers.

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According to the museum, participants will be able to:

• Visit with three “Curator’s Choice” artifacts outside of their cases in small, 20-minute group sessions hosted by the Peabody curator of Oceanic collections
• View award-winning video artwork created by Filipino students for the Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest
• Explore the online exhibit or the Peabody collection database at computer stations
• Chat with volunteers to learn about natural history highlights such as the Philippine flying lemur and rare marine shells
• Share your own experience and questions at visitor conversation stations
• Savor Filipino foods available for purchase from Kuya’s Cooking and The Islander’s Creamery
• Purchase drinks at the cash bar (valid government ID required to consume alcoholic beverages)
• Enter a free raffle to win museum gifts and membership

The event on May 30, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., is free and open to the public.

The Peabody Museum is located at 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

There will be free parking at the 52 Oxford Street Garage.

RSVP here.

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