French photographer Ferrante Feraranti highlights a unique Filipino heritage at the National Museum.

 

Until April 26, the National Museum of the Philiipines' Old Senate Session Hall serves as an exhibit ground for French photographer Ferrante Ferranti's snapshots of the rich heritage and church culture of the Philippines as well as a select number of other countries. The exhibit entitled "Encounters: World Heritage Baroque Churches of the Philippines & New World Baroque" opened last February 27 with Ferranti and French President François Hollande in attendance.

 
Ferranti showing French President Hollande around the exhibit © Présidence de la République – Christelle ALIX.

“Encounters” features 98 large scale photographs of Baroque churches within and outside the country. Among the churches on display are four UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Philippines, and equally-enchanting sights in India and Latin America.

 

With 2015 as "Visit the Philippines" year, the exhibit invites viewers to experience the historical and heritage sites of the country. The visual exposition also highlights the importance of preserving heritage in light of climate change and global warming, as photographs of churches in disaster-ridden Bohol and typhoon-stricken Samar are also shown to the public.

 
The Santissima Trinidad Church in Loay, Bohol

“Encounters” is the first achievement of the administrative agreement for the cultural cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Communication of France and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, which was signed during the visit of President Benigno Aquino III in Paris in September 2014. It is a step towards greater collaboration between the Philippines and France in the said fields.

 

“Encounters” at the National Museum, Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila 632.527.1215 | Cover photo of San Vicente Ferrer Church, San Vicente, Ilocos Sur by Ferrante Ferranti 

 

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