- How virtual technology changes the game for PH museums
- The Future of History was recently awarded a Silver Boomerang for Visual and Audio Excellence under the Digital Craft category during the 2018 Boomerang Awards
Virtual reality (VR) is one of the most exciting advancements of our time. It can transport people with no barriers in time or space, and make learning more fun and engaging. Thanks to VR, Filipinos can now experience and explore history through immersive storytelling tools that are optimized to what the younger generation is looking for.
In collaboration with VR content provider I AM Cardboard Philippines (IAC PH), Ayala Museum was able to launch two virtual reality dioramas that depicted significant events in Philippine history. By merging technology and history, these organizations have successfully harnessed the true power of VR – moving people by telling compelling stories.
“Virtual reality presents great opportunities to the world of museums, galleries, and archives. Using it as a tool to tell stories can really entice the younger generation to visit museums more and learn our history in an immersive way. We’ve partnered with Ayala Museum again on another virtual reality diorama, and we’re hoping for more industries, not just museums, to embrace this kind of technology,” Ibba Rasul, CEO of IAC PH shared.
Since the launch of the two dioramas, Ayala Museum has recorded a notable increase in foot traffic in their museum. More Filipinos have been attracted to go out of their homes and take on a virtual reality tour. VR, according to IAC PH, does not aim to lessen or replace real-life experiences. Its goal is to enhance and add context to the stories. VR fosters curiosity among audiences, which then inspires them to seek more information after seeing and experiencing this technology in museums.
“We are giving our Filipino museum-goers a whole new perspective as to how these important events in our history have transpired by putting them in the shoes of these remarkable figures. We want to enable them to have deeper connections with our exhibits and we have achieved that by using technology and innovation, specifically virtual reality, as a tool,” said Ms. Mariles Gustilo, Senior Director, Arts & Culture of Ayala Museum.
Being always at the forefront of innovation, Ayala Museum recognizes the importance of technology in enhancing the traditional museum experience, and how it can give a different flavor to heighten the curiosity of Filipinos in learning history and art. Ayala Museum is continuously pushing the boundaries of the role of Philippine museums by embracing and utilizing Virtual Reality in their dioramas.
“Museums are a very important part of our community. More than just being repositories of our nation’s history, arts, and sciences, we are finding innovative ways on how these stories of the past can be used to move Filipinos to actively participate in our society. We are in a constant search to balance the excitement that technology brings and the meaningful experience that museums create,” added Ms. Gustilo.
The Emergence of the Filipino Nation is the second VR content made by IAC for Ayala Museum, that comes after the successful launch of “The Future of History” in 2017 which dramatized Jose Rizal’s execution in Bagumbayan. The Future of History was recently awarded a Silver Boomerang for Visual and Audio Excellence under the Digital Craft category during the 2018 Boomerang Awards.
