Have You Been to The National Museum?

Posted on September 30th, 2008 | by dzoi |

The Husband and I have been planning for the longest time to visit museums around Manila but just couldn’t find the time. Thanks to a blog post online (c/o our friend Zer), we found out about the guided tour of the National Museum.

If you have forgotten how great it is to be a Filipino, wanted to be reminded of our history, or experience Filipino culture at its best, then forget the mall this weekend and join the National Museum tour. Each tour is three hours long, starting at 10AM sharp in front of the Museum of the Filipino People. Wear comfortable shoes as you will be going up and down the stairs and even cross the street to access the other building.

The tour guide, John Silva is a senior consultant of the National Museum and an advocate for the arts and heritage preservation. I enjoyed his anecdotes and his passion in encouraging people to embrace our history and culture. There were a few moments when I just couldn’t help but get teary eyed thinking about our brave heroes and the sufferings of our kababayans. I always knew Filipinos are creative but after seeing preserved artworks with my own eyes, I was just blown away. The 82 year old woman who weaves these amazing patterns from her dreams was just one of those people. Makes you wonder what happened to our generation.

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And the paintings. I was speechless and my heart felt like it was going to burst seeing the old and the new. I’ve seen the Spolarium once when I was a kid and but it doesn’t compare to what I felt last Saturday when I saw the huge painting again. It’s the real deal. And the story behind it? I’ll leave it to you to find out on your own.


Entrance to the room containing the Spolarium painting. The Husband didn’t take a photo for a reason. I don’t know what that is yet but he said he will blog about it soon.

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So please, visit the National Museum. You will not regret it. Even if art bores you, there are plenty of areas that you can explore. The entrance is Php100 but if you take the guided tour, which I hope you will, it will cost Php700 for three hours. The funds will go to John Silva’s I LOVE MUSEUM PROGRAM. He brings public school teachers to the National Museum and gives them a 7-hour tour to encourage them to bring their students to the museum instead of the malls.

Tour Dates: Oct 1, 4, 5, 8, 29, Nov 2, 5, 9, 12, 19, 22, 23, 26
For reservations, please email: jsilva79@mac.com

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE
Padre Burgos Street (In the former Finance Building on Rizal Park, Manila)
Telephone: +63 2 527 0278
Fax: +63 2 527 0306
Monday - Saturday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Admission: P100

  1. 11 Responses to “Have You Been to The National Museum?”

  2. By Aggie on Sep 30, 2008 | Reply

    Ive always wanted those types of tours, dati niyaya ko si Edil ke Celdran ung Walking Tours ayaw. :(
    Aggie’s last blog post..Wall.

  3. By dzoi on Sep 30, 2008 | Reply

    gusto ko rin yan try Aggie. tara samahan kita :D dapat suhulan ang asawa pag ayaw sumama hehe.

  4. By Mich on Sep 30, 2008 | Reply

    uy ok to ah. thanks for sharing Joy.

    Ung sister ko enjoy kay Carlos Celdran sa Intramuros naman. Ako gusto ko i-try ung sa Binondo. :)
    Mich’s last blog post..Food Trip - Tokyo Cafe

  5. By dzoi on Sep 30, 2008 | Reply

    hi mich, feel free to share this on your traveltomanila blog. kasi they are promoting the I Love Museum program talaga :)

  6. By architect on Sep 30, 2008 | Reply

    nice pictures.. makapunta nga ulet..
    please visit my wordless wednesday.. its up already.. i will not be able to log in tomorrow (Oct 1, 2008)thats why i’m visitng all you guys today..
    My entries are here. and here

    sweet..pretty..naughty
    Memory Filled
    Sweety tots

    architect’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday #19

  7. By Litzie on Sep 30, 2008 | Reply

    I love Museums, kawawa ang Museums natin, di masyado napupuntahan unlike sa ibang bansa…

    I will try to tell this to Dee para makadalaw din kami, Elementary pa ata akong huling nakadalaw sa National Museum!

    You look really tall btw.

    Litzie’s last blog post..Etsy Purchases

  8. By alpha on Sep 30, 2008 | Reply

    gusto ko din to.. siguro iba din feeling ko pag nakita ko yan, kasi bata pa ko nung last na nakapunta ako, di ko pa naiintidihan talaga. kaso naman lagi kaming field trip ng pamilya pag umaalis, kaya di pa pwede kasi makulit pa si estong. gusto ko nga to dalhin sa ayala museum (meron pa ba nun?), ayaw pa ni jojo.

    alpha’s last blog post..Frustrated Chef.

  9. By peachy on Sep 30, 2008 | Reply

    Highschool pa ko nung last ko mapuntahan to. looks like mejo renovated na sila.. sana magka time kami to visit.

  10. By Yen on Sep 30, 2008 | Reply

    Oy,gusto ko mga ganito talaga:) Buti nalang si asawa mahilig din..Nice pics,Katie! LOL

    Yen’s last blog post..Last Day of September?

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