Awakening the Sacred Voice Within
In November of last year, I had the opportunity to attend a numismatic lecture at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Since it was happening on the same day, I also decided to attend a concert at the Manila Cathedral. I arrived at the BSP several hours early so I could visit their museum as well. The BSP entrance closest to the museum is along Roxas Boulevard and is within walking distance from the Quirino LRT Station. The building that houses the museum is just a few meters away from Gate 6, which is also where they hold public events such as the numismatic lecture I attended. While modern and sleek, the BSP Museum was somewhat underwhelming. It does give visitors a general overview of the evolution of money in the Philippines, but I’ve seen more expansive and interesting collections from private individuals. What did impress me, however, was the staff. Everyone I encountered was very polite, courteous, and helpful. As far as precolonial gold is concerned, the Ayala Museum has, in...