Looking for something remarkable and worthwhile to do this November? Do you want to have a glimpse of our rich national history and heritage? Then, catch this rare opportunity and visit the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) for free!

As part of the 32nd Library and Information Services Month celebration, NLP is encouraging the public to visit the free Exhibit of Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Here, visitors can view the original works of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, the ‘Noli Me Tangere’ and ‘El Filibusterismo’ and the facsimile of ‘Mi Ultimo Adios’.

Featured also in the exhibit is the Acta de la Proclamacion de Independencia del pueblo Filipino, a significant piece of Philippine history and a testament to the country’s sovereignty and independence from the colonial rule of Spain.

Aside from the rare books and manuscripts, various historic photographs, maps, and memorabilia are also on display.

There is also a collection of historical data which is a “collection of all historical documents and information about the local and oral history, geographical descriptions, and cultural traditions of different barrios, municipalities, and towns in the different provinces of the Philippines.”

Another interesting display in the exhibit is the Luther Parker Collection. During the early years of American colonization of the archipelago, Parker was one of the first Thomasites who came to the Philippines. He donated to NLP 1,206 of his photographs of different events, scenic places, churches, infrastructures and daily lives of the Filipino people. The collection was divided into 3 scrapbooks.

To make the exhibit inclusive for all visitors, NLP also provided audio transcription for each display, especially for the visually impaired audiences. To access this, simply scan the provided QR code.

The said exhibition will run up to November 29, 2022, Monday to Friday (except holiday), 9:00AM to 4:00PM. It is located at the 2nd Floor Lobby of the NLP Building, T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila. So, what are you waiting for? Head to NLP now! Happy Library and Information Services Month! (EEDC/ARB- PIA-CPSD)