The best museums Philippines

Founded in 1911, by the Belgian missionary mother Basil Gekière, the museum houses a collection of objects that give a glimpse of the way of life of the 7 tribes of the Cordillera. Photographs, relating the indigenous customs are exposed. The traditions of the Igorots, the Bontocs, the Kalingas, the Kakaneys of Benguet, the Ilongots, the Aetas and the Ibalois are examined in detail. Replicas of traditional houses in the museum's garden showcase ancient tools, jars, porcelain, antique jewelry and traditional costumes.

Located at the eastern end of Rizal Park, the National Museum includes museums of fine arts, natural history, Filipino people, etc. It is one of the most interesting museums in Manila. There are many collections and temporary exhibits that trace the rich and varied history of the Philippines. It is easy to spend the day there and it is a very good gateway to the culture of the country. Especially since the cultural offer is quite reduced outside the city, so we take advantage of it!

An interesting museum about the national hero Jose Rizal whose death inspired the struggles for Philippine independence. Restored in 2014, it shows objects that belonged to him when he was imprisoned for two months before being executed on December 30, 1896. Among the objects on display are books and manuscripts, letters, sculptures, paintings, but also souvenirs brought back from his many boat expeditions and objects from his home in Calamba. The video projections allow us to recall the atmosphere of the time.

This house in Spanish colonial architecture was transformed into a museum. It was built in 1849 and is the birthplace of this national hero. It is from the window of this house that the Philippine flag was raised for the first time: it was on 12 June 1898, the day on which the independence of the Philippines was proclaimed. An underground passage was recently discovered at the back of the garden. It was intended as a rallying point for the revolutionary movement.

Completed in 1908, the mansion is the summer residence of Philippine heads of state. The mansion also houses a mini-museum with a wealth of memorabilia and artwork that U.S. Governors General and Presidents have collected over the years. Its elaborate wrought iron gate is inspired by Buckingham Palace in London. The residence is adjacent to Wright Park, where horses can be rented for a ride on the pine-sheltered paths. The place is appreciated for its romantic and peaceful atmosphere and its beautiful gardens.

The National Museum of Northern and Eastern Mindanao is in fact a branch of the National Museum of the Philippines that was created in Butuan in the 1970s when archaeologists realized the historical importance of this town. It comprises two main galleries. The prehistory, archaeology and ethnology sections give an interesting insight into the region's cultural communities, the Manobos, Mamanwas, Higaonons and Butuanons of the plains. There is also a collection of ceramics, gold ornaments and ancient art.

Through photographs, sketches and handicrafts, the museum recounts the life of the first tribes that inhabited the islands of the archipelago and that of the remaining tribes. The life of the Atas, in the forest of Negros, or Des, in the mountain of Palawan, is amply detailed as well as their daily organisation, tools and musical instruments. A room is reserved for archaeology; another is devoted to the use of medicinal herbs and plants, revealing the beliefs of Filipinos. See absolutely.

This museum belongs to one of the most famous families of artists in the country: the Blanco family, whose mother, father and seven children all became great artists. In different styles, they mainly paint everyday life, rural life and landscapes. This private museum houses a large collection of 400 works. Very friendly, the staff will be happy to guide you and give you some explanations.

This museum is located in the former home of the martyr Padre José Burgos, who was executed by the Spaniards in 1872. The visit allows to get acquainted with the history of the province and the way of life of the inhabitants of the time (pottery, tools, clothes, jewelry). Also on display are 14 paintings by Esteban Villanueva (a businessman and self-taught artist), done in 1821, which evoke the Basi revolt of 1807. Basi is a sugarcane wine, and this revolt followed the prohibition by the Spaniards of all basi production in the provinces of Ilocos.

The museum is located on the campus of MSU, Mindanao State University, also known as the University of Marawi. On display are Muslim art objects indigenous to Mindanao, the Sulu archipelago and Palawan. A fine ethnological collection, for enthusiasts to discover the way of life of the Mindanao tribes (weapons, wood carvings, architecture and folk dances). As is often the case in the Philippines, this public museum is a little dated, but nonetheless an interesting place to learn more about the region's history.

This small, unpretentious museum is located in Governor Park. It offers a lively approach to the life of the different tribes of the central Cordillera, the provinces of the mountains. It is full of interesting information (in English, though). Handicrafts (wood carvings, baskets, jewelry, pottery and weaving tools, newspaper articles) are exhibited there. Its architecture is for example inspired by the traditional ifugaos houses with the pyramidal roof and the wooden columns to raise the hut.

It is located in the Rizal Park. And it is the favorite museum of children. It is composed of eight themed rooms that show the works of Filipino artists, replica boats, churches and miniature houses, jungle replica. The museum regularly organizes activities for children during weekends such as puppet shows, storytelling, and other creative workshops. In short, many recreational activities to learn more about Filipino traditions and customs while having fun.

In the district of San Miguel, on the right bank of the Pasig River, stands Malacañang Palace, a grand colonial-style mansion completed in 1802. Spanish nobles, Manila governors, American governors and finally some of the Philippine presidents have successively resided here after the Governor's Palace in Intramuros was destroyed by the 1863 earthquake. Today it is still officially the main residence and workplace of the President of the Philippines, although in reality, not all of them have lived there.

Inaugurated on July 6, 1986 by President Cory Aquino, this museum features a collection of numerous objects from Mindanao's tribes, mainly Bukidnons and Manobos, but also Maranaos, T'Bolis and Mandayas. Other objects from archaeological discoveries are also on display, including a Neolithic skeleton from the Huluga caves. A must-see for visitors interested in the history of the city and Mindanao.

It provides an insight into the history, culture, music, arts and crafts of Palawan and its people. Indeed, more than eighty different ethnic groups live in Palawan, each with their own unique customs and ways of life. There are also exhibits of archaeological, geological and ethnological collections. You can see jars and porcelain, prehistoric tools, artifacts found in the Tabon Caves and Spanish era antiquities found near Cuyo.

Located in one of the wings of Fort Pilar, the National Museum of Western and Southern Mindanao is a regional branch of the National Museum of the Philippines, whose main collections are of course in Manila. It's a must for those curious about local history, lifestyles, indigenous tribes and, of course, art on the Zamboanga Peninsula. An interesting cultural visit.

The memorial is located in the center of the island and is the highest point of the island. It was built in 1968 by the Americans as a tribute to the Filipino and American soldiers of the Second World War. Up there, there is also a small museum, a kind of reconstructed barracks that houses war memorabilia. It is a place full of history that will interest those who wish to learn more about the World War II period in the Philippines.

This mansion, built in 1850 and once owned by the Gorordo family, bears witness to the way of life of wealthy families in the ^19th century during the Spanish era. There are few reminders of Cebu's past, as there has been a lot of destruction, so it's great to be able to wander through the period furniture, paintings and porcelain. You can enjoy a cool cup of coffee in the courtyard and stock up on souvenirs in the museum store. A very interesting and interactive visit to better grasp the evolutions through the ages.

The Ayala Museum, which has existed since 1974, was renovated in 2019. It is one of the most beautiful museums in the city. Among its collections, acquired over the years, are mainly archaeology, history, fine arts and iconography. Through its various galleries and exhibitions, one travels through the history and culture of the Philippines from the pre-colonial era to the Second World War and the great voyages. Exhibitions dedicated to particular artists or themes are regularly organized. What to see.

Museum founded in 1979 with ancient ships. The Balangay Shrine is the superb maritime vessel that forms part of the excavation area 5 km east of Butuan. Here are preserved the remains of the first watercraft called balangay and now better known as the "Butuan boat". This South Asian boat, made entirely of wood, resembles a large outrigger canoe. It is thought to date from 320 AD. Its component parts are tied together with a sturdy rope. The huge wooden planks measure 15 m in length and 3 m in width.