Tuesday, August 14, 2007 First coin, paper money exhibit at NCCC Mall By Joy Romares-Sevilla
THE Heritage Museum of Philippine Coins and Paper Money launched an exhibit at the NCCC Mall, showcasing Philippine currencies used from the Spanish colonial period up to the present.
Rene Adapon, numismatist for more than 20 years now, told Sun.Star Davao Monday that the exhibit aims to raise awareness among Filipinos regarding the currencies of the country during the Spanish colonial period, the revolutionary period, American regime, Japanese, and Philippine Republic.
"We brought up the idea to the Department of Tourism (DOT), which linked up with NCCC Mall. This activity is in celebration of the Kadayawan Festival," Adapon said.
Adapon claimed the exhibit will educate not only the students who are required by their respective schools to visit the center but also their parents.
"Yesterday (On Sunday), a lot of (pupils) were here with their parents. We understand that the exhibit is part of their lessons. Their parents were also educated because they were the ones taking down notes for their children," Adapon said.
Adapon said he and his sister, who both prepared the exhibit, have plans to tap the Department of Education and the Department of Tourism to promote the activity since it can also bring in tourists who are enthusiastic in learning about Philippine history.
"For the past few days, a lot of visitors who came from as far as Cotabato City, General Santos City, and Tagum City were amazed at what they saw here, ngayon lang daw nila nalaman na may mga ganitong pera pala ang Pilipinas (it is only now that they know that the country has these kinds of coins)," Adapon said.
The exhibit, which opened August 7, will last until August 15, at the ground level of NCCC Mall.
On the other hand, Adapon said SM City Davao offered to display his collections from August 17-19.
"We also want to have a permanent area for the display, pero hindi pa tapos ang Davao Museum. I chose Davao to be the venue as I was advised by my sister that Davao is a safe place," Adapon, who stayed for about 24 years in the US, said.
The exhibit showcases about 56 frames of Philippine currencies. Adapon said his Philippine collection is part of his total collections of more than 200 currencies.
"Hindi pa ito ang lahat ng collection ko. We did not have much time to prepare for this activity, in fact, we only prepared this for two to three weeks only," he said.
He said he is willing to bring his collection outside the Davao Region so long as there will be sponsors for the event.
