The Philippines has a rich and colorful cultural and historical background. Ever since we gained our independence, the country was left with pieces and fragments of our history. As a result, these can be observed through preserved artifacts, literary pieces, and a wide array of art forms. Although we can’t go back in time, we can still have a glimpse of our cultural inheritance by visiting different museum in the country.
As we celebrate the Museums and Galleries Month this coming October, let us time travel and also explore the past through the Philippines’ museums spread across the three regions.
LUZON
National Museum of Fine Arts
Formerly known as the National Art Gallery, this museum is perfect for those who would love to fill their eyes and minds with classic and world renowned visual arts. Built on 1921, the building was also a neoclassical architecture that originally housed the legislative bodies of the Philippines. Furthermore, the museum originally housed the bicameral congress from 1926 to 1972. Also, it was the home of the Philippine Senate from 1987 to 1997.
Part of the National Museum of the Philippines, this establishment also contain numerous important art works that promotes educational, historical, and cultural studies. Moreover, well-known works of artists by Juan Luna, Felix Hidalgo, and Guillermo Tolentino can be found here. So, let’s take a look at the pieces of art you should definitely visit at the museum:
What To See?
“Spoliarium” (1884)
Artist: Juan Luna
Location: Main Gallery, Level 1
“Portrait of a Lady (Mi Novia / Portrait of Paz Pardo de Tavera)” (1885)
Artist: Juan Luna Y Novicio
Location: Gallery III, South Wing Galleries, Level 2 (House Floor)
“La Barca de Aqueronte” (1887)
Artist: Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo
Location: Gallery III, South Wing Galleries, Level 2 (House Floor)
“Recuerdo de Patay (Memento Mori) of a Child” (1896)
Artist: Simon Flores Y De La Rosa
Location: Fundacion Santiago Gallery (Gallery IV), South Wing Galleries, Level 2 (House Floor)
“The Burning of Manila” (1942)
Artist: Fernando Amorsolo Y Cueto
Location: Silvina & Juan C. Laya Hall (Gallery VIII), North Wing Galleries, Level 2 (House Floor)
“Rape and Massacre in Ermita” (1947)
Artist: Diosdado M. Lorenzo
Location: Silvina & Juan C. Laya Hall (Gallery VIII), North Wing Galleries, Level 2 (House Floor)
“The Progress of Medicine in the Philippines” (1953)
Artist: Carlos “Botong” Francisco
Location: Museum Foundation of the Philippines Hall (Gallery X), North Wing Galleries, Level 2 (House Floor)
“Noli Me Tangere” (1984)
Artist: Leonardo Cruz
Location: Gallery V, South Wing Galleries, Level 2 (House Floor)
Spend you afternoon with your loved ones and get to know more about what the country was like before by visiting the National Museum of Fine Arts. Not only will you be able to visit one of the most famous museums in the country but you will also gain insightful trivia that can only be found in the museum.
Address: Padre Burgos Ave., Ermita, Manila
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10.00am to 5.00pm
Entrance Fees: Free
National Museum of Anthropology
Unlike its sister museum, this neoclassical architecture establishment houses the anthropology and archaeology divisions of the National Museum of the Philippines. In addition, various artifacts can be found in this museum. These ranges from jars, weapons, fabrics, native costumes, etc. You can also have a look at the musical instruments, indigenous people’s crafts, and other historical pieces that are preserved in this museum.
A trip to the National Museum of Anthropology will show you how the society is before and how people evolved over the years. Notable artifacts such as natural and artificial ivories, the San Diego battleship, Manunggol Jar, and lantaka exhibit can be found here. Furthermore, one can also take a look at the diorama of Tabon Cave exploration, hibla ng lahi exhibits, collection of traditional Filipino garb, and more. So, here’s a guide on what the museum offers to its visitors:
What To See?
Ground floor
Hallway leading to the offices
Ifugao House / Courtyard
Office of the Exhibition, Editorial, and Media Production Services Division
Office of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines
Archaeology Division Office
Ethnology Division Office
Office of the Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage Division
National Museum Library
Second floor
Marble Hall
The San Diego: 500 Years of Maritime Trade
Garing: The Philippines at the Crossroads of Ivory Trade
Third floor
Lantaka: Of War and Peace
Manlilikha ng Bayan Hall (National Living Treasure)
Lumad: Mindanao
Faith, Tradition and Place: Bangsamoro Art from the National Ethnographic Collection
Kaban ng Lahi (Archaeological Treasures)
Biyay: Traditional Ecological Knowledge among Philippine Negrito Communities
Fourth floor
Reception Hall (Changing Gallery)
Rice, Biodiversity and Climate Change
Hibla ng Lahing Filipino: The Artistry of Philippine Textiles
Baybayin: Ancient and Traditional Scripts of the Philippines
Entwined Spheres: Mats and Baskets as Containers, Costumes and Conveyors
Office of the Museum Services Division
Fifth floor
National Ethnographic Collection Repositories
Besides the photos, make sure to visit the National Museum of Anthropology if you also want to enhance your knowledge about the Filipino people.
Address: Padre Burgos Ave., Ermita, Manila
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10.00am to 5.00pm
Entrance Fees: Free
BenCab Museum
Located in the Summer Capital of the Philippines, the BenCab Museum houses the collection and works of National Artist for Visual Arts and master of Philippine contemporary art, Benedicto Cabrera. Also commonly known as BenCab, the artist founded and built the museum showcasing his life’s works and collections of painting and sculptures from different Filipino art masters and contemporary artists.
The museum does not only showcase galleries but is also a place for art shows and exhibition. One of the most popular and sought after art work in the museum is the BenCab gallery that features the artist’s work mostly centered on “Sabel”, his iconic muse. In addition, the establishment also showcases the different artifacts of the Cordillera culture through its Cordillera gallery. Besides the paintings, the museum also has a café where you can enjoy a simple snack or meal. So, let’s see what more does the museum offers:
What To See?
BenCab Gallery
Erotica Gallery
Larawan Hall
Cordillera Gallery
Gallery Indigo
Edison T. Coseteng Patio
Philippine Contemporary Art Gallery 1 & 2
Sepia Gallery
Bulol Installation
Maestro Gallery
Patio Salvador
Graffiti Wall
So, the next time you tour around Baguio, give yourself some time to visit BenCab Museum. Your trip will surely be more interesting.
Address: Km. 6 Asin Road, Tadiangan, Tuba, Benguet, Baguio City
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9.00am to 6.00pm
Entrance Fees:
General admission – ₱150.00
Students with valid Philippine school issued ID – ₱120.00
Seniors/ PWD with valid Philippine government issued ID – ₱100.00
The Mind Museum
For more interesting and out of this world museum experience, take a trip to the place where “science comes alive” – The Mind Museum. Established last 2012, this 1.2 hectares building was inspired from the cellular structure and growth. According to their website, the inspiration for the museum is to initiate science engagement for the community that can also contribute solutions to real-life problems.
Because of the fun and interactive setup of the museum, no wonder why kids and kids at heart love to visit this place. So, if you are the type whose interests lie on aliens, space, dinosaurs, and other scientific creations, The Mind Museum will totally capture your heart. Also, you can have a closer look at the first ever T rex exhibit in the country, hair-raising static ball, the magical cosmos, and more!
What To See?
Galleries
Atom Gallery: The Strange World of the Very Small
Life Gallery: The Exuberant Varieties of Life
Earth Gallery: Nature Across the Breadth of Time
Universe Gallery: The Beginning and Majesty of the Cosmos
Technology Gallery: The Showcase of Human Ingenuity
Travelling Exhibitions
Dino Play
Space Adventure
Science Circus
The Teenage Brain
Forever Lab
A Glass of the Sea
Love science even more when you tour around The Mind Museum. Also, remember to take photos! Because you would want to keep a souvenir of your adventure for sure!
Address: JY Campos Park, 3rd Ave, Taguig, 1634 Metro Manila
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9.00am to 6.00pm
Entrance Fees:
Three-hour Visit Time Slots
Access to over 250 interactive exhibits and science demonstrations. However, no access to special or travelling exhibitions.
Adults – ₱625.00
Child or private school student (up to college) – ₱475.00
*Philippine public school student (up to college) – ₱190.00
**Teacher – ₱190.00
All Day Pass Visit: No Time Slot Restrictions
Access to over 250 interactive exhibits and science demonstrations. However, no access to special or travelling exhibitions.
Adult or Child – ₱750.00
Playtales
Playtales only (90 mins)
₱300.00: Toddler: 1-6 years old (includes 1 free adult)
₱100.00: Additional companion (7 years old & up)
All-day Pass Playtales only
₱550.00: Toddler: 1-6 years old (includes 1 free adult)
₱200.00: Additional companion (7 years old & up)
You can also Upgrade to Museum All-day Pass
Just add ₱475.00/pax
Pinto Art Museum
This art haven located in Antipolo opened its doors last 2010 to showcase to the public the art collection of Filipino neurologist and patron of the art, Dr. Joven Cuanang. Furthermore, based on the museum’s website, the establishment (pinto means door in Filipino) was founded on the principle that art plays a diplomatic role in bridging distinctive nationalities, worldviews, and communities.
Furthermore, the aesthetic collections inside the museum made it one of the 25 most Instagrammed museums in the world. Also, the museum houses different artworks of modernist movements surrealism, expressionism, minimalism, social realism, and conceptual art. Although inspired by these movements, all artworks are situated in the Filipino context. Aside from the art pieces, the museum is also located in a two hectare botanical garden known as the Silangan Gardens. So, if you are in for a tour of appreciation of local floral and fauna, you can go straight to the garden after the museum visit. Have a taste of some art masterpiece that the museum offers:
What To See?
Contemporary Collection
San Miguel Fluvial Parade (2010)
Artist: Elmer Borlongan
Attraction (Bighani) (1995)
Artist: Mark Justiniani
Naked Woman and a Clothed Bull (1994)
Artist: José John Santos III
Even Monkeys Fall From the Trees (2009)
Artist: Riel Hilario
Carcass (Pietà) (2014)
Artist: Joven Mansit
Primitive Art Collection
Collection of Bululs (rice dieties) from different areas of Ifugao.
Location: Banaue, Ifugao, Philippines
Creation: Late XIX – Early XX Century
Location: Kiangan, Ifugao, Philippines
Creation: Late XIX – Early XX Century
Location: Sagada, Ifugao, Philippines
Creation: Late XIX – Early XX Century
Location: Kiangan, Ifugao, Philippines
Creation: Late XIX – Early XX Century
Location: Hapao, Ifugao, Philippines
Creation: Late XIX – Early XX Century
Treat yourself to a museum where aesthetic and history is married. Moreover, photos in this museum will definitely make your IG feed aesthetically pleasing. Not only that, you will also gain new information about different paintings and sculptures exclusive to this museum.
Address: 1 Sierra Madre St. Grand Heights Rd,
Antipolo, Rizal
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9.00am to 6.00pm
Entrance Fees:
General admission – ₱200.00
Students with valid Philippine school issued ID – ₱100.00
Seniors/ PWD with valid Philippine government issued ID – ₱180.00
VISAYAS
Balay Negrense Museum
Balay Negrense was originally an ancestral house of Victor F. Gaston, known as one of the pioneers of sugarcane cultivation in Negros Occidental. In addition, this is the first ever museum in the province of Negros Occidental. Furthermore, this establishment showcases the lifestyle of the late 19th-century Negrense baron.
Silay City is already considered a beautiful town because of its photogenic tourist spots. However, this museum adds up to the picturesque quality because of its well-preserved artifacts such as furniture, giant clay jars, clothes in the 1900s, the bahay na bato architecture style, and more.
Make sure to take a side trip to Balay Negrense Museum whenever you visit Silay City.
Address: Barangay III, Cinco de Noviembre Street, Silay City, Negros Occidental
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9.00am to 5.00pm
Entrance Fees: ₱50.00
Museo Sugbo (Cebu Provincial Museum)
Before it became a museum for tourist hot spot, Museo Sugbo was once called Carsel de Cebu or Cebu Jail. The coral-stone building was a prison for Katipuneros during the revolution. After the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) was moved to a more spacious location, the establishment was renovated and turned into a museum last 2008.
The museum houses four galleries which tells the history during the American-era and the World War II. The American-era gallery features different letter collections and memorabilia from Thomas Sharpe, one of the teachers who were asked by then President McKinley to educate the Filipinos. On the other hand, the WWII museum located in the second floor showcases artifacts such as an American bomb dropped on Cebu, Japanese propaganda newspapers, and more.
Although Cebu is already full of interesting and historical places, do not forget to have a look at their museum. You may also find pieces of history there that you never know exists.
Address: 731 M.J. Cuenco Ave, Cebu City, 6000
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday 9.00am to 5.30pm
Entrance Fees: Adults: ₱30.00 (local tourists), ₱75.00 (foreigners) Filipino Students: ₱10.00, ₱50 (foreign students), Senior Citizen: ₱10.00
Casa Gorordo
Another museum in the province of Cebu, is Casa Gorordo. The house museum was originally the residence of Cebu’s first Filipino bishop, Juan Gorordo. Since its shift into a museum, Casa Gorordo creates a transformative experience for Filipino families from the colonial to modern society.
To walk down the lane of memory during the mid-19th to mid-20th century, the museum exhibits wooden carvings, wooden furnitures, and traditional household items. Not only these, Casa Gorodo also offers interactive activities to its guests. You can also engage in crafts learning sessions, cultural events, forums and curriculum-focused tours.
Re-visit the lives of Ilustrados by visiting Casa Gorodo.
Address: 35 Eduardo Aboitiz St, Cebu City, 6000
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10.00am to 6.00pm
Entrance Fees:
₱120.00 (local and international visitors); ₱96.00 (senior citizens, high school and college students), ₱80.00 (children 12 years old and below)
MINDANAO
Davao Museum of History and Ethnography
One of the two public museums in Davao City, Davao Museum of History and Ethnography features the rich culture and history of Davao. Here you can find the heritage of diverse tribes that inhabit the city then and now. The museum also houses artifacts such as a giant clam found in Samal Island’s Pearl Farm Beach, a replica of the Bagobo house, a diorama of a Bagobo thanksgiving festival, and more.
Also, you can follow the historical events of of the city through its chronological timeline. Furthermore, the Davao Museum holds photo exhibits, hosts lectures, and conduct seminars. Get to know more about Davao and its people when you pay a visit to this museum.
Address: Zonta Building, 113 Agusan Circle, Insular Village 1, Lanang, Davao City, Davao Del Sur
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday 9.00am to 5.00pm
Entrance Fees: ₱100.00 (adult), ₱20.00 (student)
Museum of Three Cultures
This Cagayan de Oro based museum was built to preserve the three groups of people living in Mindanao, the Muslims, Christians, Lumads. In addition, the museum which opened last 2008 features different cultural archives from three galleries. Moreover, these galleries include a unique soil painting from the Talaandig tribe in Bukidnon, archeological digs from Butuan, M’ranao swords and a full-scale pangao, and more.
Museum of Three Cultures also exhibits the Manobo and Higaonon cultural traditions which includes photographs, ceramics, and furnishing of old sultans’ house.
So, why don’t you get ready to enhance your knowledge about the Mindanao people and tribes through the museum’s galleries?
Address: Corrales Extension, Cagayan de Oro City, 9000 Misamis Oriental
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9.00am to 12.00nn and at 1.30pm to 5.30pm
Entrance Fees: ₱50.00
We cannot visit these museums as of the moment because of the pandemic. But when everything falls into place again make sure to get to know your country and people’s history more. Not only will you learn about the Philippines’ culture but you will also make lasting memories with your family and friends.