Authors: Edrryann H. Ignacio, Ella Monina D. Fajarito, Hazel Nina Marie S. Nimez, Ira Hadiya C. Reston, and Ma. Angelica Jones V. Tongco, Rovena I. Dellova

Issue: 2021-2022

Abstract:

The Philippines has a rich cultural history that is preserved through historical sites and museums. COVID-19, a new infectious disease caused by a virus pushed governments all over the world to implement restrictions such as lockdowns and closure of public places, including museums and cultural heritage sectors of the Philippines. To open their doors to people who are quarantined at home, many museums and cultural organizations are embracing technology through virtual tour.

This study demonstrates the significance of immersing the students in culture and tradition through virtual tour in the National Museum of the Philippines. A Quantitative approach, namely a Descriptive research design, was applied in this study with 250 respondents from different universities that was identified as one of the top universities in Metro Manila City according to UniRank to determine students’ level of awareness in Virtual Tours at the National Museum of the Philippines, as well as their various perceptions of immersing themselves in culture and tradition through both virtual and physical tours using the survey questionnaire method. The findings revealed that majority of the respondents were well aware about the virtual tours in the National Museum of the Philippines and have already experienced it. The study also demonstrates that virtual tours are beneficial for promoting, conserving, and learning about the culture and tradition of the Philippines, as well as managing diversity. When used as an educational tool, respondents agreed that it would help them acquire more knowledge and due to its convenience, majority of the respondents preferred virtual tours rather than the physical tours.

It was concluded that virtual tours at the National Museum of the Philippines offer exceptional knowledge and experiences about the culture and tradition of the Philippines with convenience. Virtual tour doesn’t only benefit the students but the professors as well for it can give a unique site to teach variety of topics. The Philippine culture and tradition can be more preserved, promoted and accessed by the students through virtual tours provided by the National Museum of the Philippines.

Keywords: Virtual Tour, National Museum of the Philippines, Covid-19 Pandemic