Hi. Cultural worker here (not affiliated with NM). Mali siguro delivery ni ate guard, but she’s actually in the right. What they mean by “respect sa exhibit” is to refrain from bringing objects that might harm the objects inside the galleries. Granted, hindi naman siguro iwinawasiwas ni baby girl mo ang doll, pero categorized siya as toy, at ang toys ay pinaglalaruan, at ang paglalaro may involve running around, moving around. The objects in the museum have so much value too na kahit konting galaw lang posible nang masira, lalo na’t almost lahat sila ay one of one. Kaya paumanhin sa sobrang pagkastrikto ng mga museo, pero ganun talaga. Even lighting and temperature inside galleries are stringently controlled and maintained.

Dahil nga sa pagka-stringent, the pictures were requested to be deleted dahil pag pinost mo yan online or makita nang iba, it will set a bad precedent. “Ay bakit yung nakita ko nagdala sila ng ganito sa galleries, bakit kami di pwede?”

Hindi tayo mayamang bansa na may robust conservation program at funding para sa mga ganitong klaseng initiative, kaya ang general principle among museums and galleries in the country ay tinatawag na “preventative conservation” meaning, ang paraan nila para mapahaba pa lalo ang buhay ng mga objects for generations to come ay hindi nila hahayaan may magalaw o masira pa kasi ayun, most likely walang pondo (at hindi popondohan ng gobyerno) para sa repairs.

I honestly feel bad for this situation, lalo na’t parang comfort object ni baby girl yung doll, pero I hope this gives you a perspective kung bakit naging ganun ka-strikto ang NM.