To advance national consciousness of the country’s rich cultural heritage and national identity, October is declared Museums and Galleries Month, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 798 s. 1991.
There will be free admission to all national cultural and historical museums and galleries, which will hold related activities such as lectures, workshops, conferences, heritage tours and exhibits.
This year’s theme, dubbed “Showcasing Cultural Diversity for Development and Peace,” acknowledges the role of museums and galleries in “promoting respect for cultural diversity which is a vital component of development and peace and in building a high trust and resilient Philippine society.”
Bahay Tsinoy
Bahay Tsinoy
Kaisa Heritage Center,
32 Anda St. cor. Cabildo St., Intramuros, Manila
Tuesday-Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
Admission: P100-Adults, P60-Students
Contact: (02) 5276083, 09228901357 or e-mail bahaytsinoy@gmail.com
Formally called Museum of Chinese in Philippine Life, Bahay Tsinoy comprises three segments. The Gallery of Rare Prints and Photographs depicts old Chinese occupations and old scenes of Binondo, while the Ching Ban Lee Ceramics displays tangible artifacts that attest to centuries-old trading between the two nations. The Jimmy Ongking Hall features Tsinoys in Nation Building, among them the late President Corazon Aquino and the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin.
Metropolitan Museum of Manila
Metropolitan Museum of Manila
BSP Main Complex, Malate, Manila
Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except Sundays, holidays
Admission fees: P100-Adults and students; P90-group of 50 persons; P80-senior citizens, persons with disability
Contact: (02) 708-7829 or e-mail tours@metmusuem.ph
Originally built in 1976 for international art exhibitions, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila has positioned itself as the home of contemporary art by Filipino and international artists. It takes pride on cultivating Filipinos’ own cultural and artistic heritage through BSP’s valuable collections of pre-historic gold and pottery, and colonial Hispanic art, among others.
The museum offers free admission every Tuesday (excluding guided tours) and free guided tours of the major exhibitions every Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Money Museum
The Money Museum
BSP Main Complex, Malate, Manila
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except holidays
Contact: (02) 516-7499
Inaugurated on Jan. 3, 1999, during the Central Bank’s 50th anniversary celebration, the Museo ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) offers visitors a walk through to the development of the Philippine economy, alongside the evolution of its currency. The Museo also collects, studies and preserves coins, paper notes, medals, artifacts and monetary items found in the Philippines during its different historical periods.
The Mind Museum
JY Campos Park, 3rd Ave, Taguig City
Tuesday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed on Mondays
Contact: (02) 909-6463 or e-mail inquiry@themindmuseum.org
The Mind Museum opened in 2012 with the mission to provide an extraordinary educational experience that is expected to inspire the public to understand nature. It presents science through over 250 interactive exhibits in five interconnected stories namely the Atom Gallery, Life Gallery, Earth Gallery, Universe Gallery and the Technology Gallery. The museum likewise offers educational activities to complement the visit experience.
Ayala Museum
Ayala Museum
Makati Avenue cor. De La Rosa Street, Greenbelt Park, Makati City
Tuesday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed on Mondays
Contact: (02) 759-8288 or e-mail hello@ayalamuseum.org
Among its permanent displays is the Gold of Ancestors: Pre-Colonial Treasures in the Philippines, which features over a thousand gold archeological artifacts depicting sophisticated cultures that existed in the country before colonization in the 16th century. It houses the Filipinas Heritage Library, which provides access to primary sources—rare books, photos, and recordings—in both physical and digital formats, as well as access to over a thousand contemporary titles on Philippine arts, culture and history.
Compiled by: Inquirer Research
Sources: ncca.gov.ph, bsp.gov.ph, metmuseum.ph, bahaytsinoy.org, themindmuseum.org, ayalamuseum.org and Inquirer Archives