When I found out that the National Museum is offering free admission throughout the entire month of May. I immediately check my calendar and plotted the best time to visit this place. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to this part of Metro Manila. This is a great opportunity to revisit, appreciate and reconnect with the capital city of The Philippines; Manila.
the door of National Museum is open on Tuesdays-Sundays. 10AM to 5PM
It’s 7 o’clock in the morning right after a tiring work from night shift. I immediately get my bag and went solo to Manila. I arrived too early so I decided to have a brisk walk around Luneta. I can’t exactly remember the last time I’ve been to this park. It’s so fascinating that I didn’t mind walking under the extreme heat of the sun.
Rizal Park
Name after the Philippine National Hero; Dr. Jose Rizal, the park is truly an oasis in the busy concrete jungle of Manila. It is one of the favorite parks for locals to date, picnic with family and friends, exercise, and relax among gardens and greenery part of Luneta.
Rizal Monument
Aside from seeing the statue of JPR, what made me also excited is to see the two Marines guarding the Rizal Shrine. It is a very challenging job to stand there for hours under the heat of the sun without talking, holding the call of nature, and sometimes avoiding distractions from hecklers. I’m sending my respect to all honor guards guarding our National Hero.
Tallest Flagpole in The Philippines
In addition to that, I would like to share my frustrations to DMCI Homes Inc. The real estate developer behind the 49-storey Torre de Manila project. You deserve the “National Photobomb” title for destructing the sanctity of the Rizal sightline and I encourage everyone to please do not support Torre de Manila project. Please click this link to sign a petition.
Terror De Manila Building; The National PhotoBomber of the Philippines
The National Museum Complex is composed of four different establishments concentrating on four different fields of arts and science, namely, Philippine Arts, Anthropology & Archaeology, Natural History, and Planetary & Space Science. I visited two out of four establishments. The Natural History building is still under development and currently occupied by the Department of tourism.
The Façade of the Museum of the Filipino People.
I first visited the old Department of finance building, It is a 4-storey building that houses anthropology and archaeology divisions of the NM it is now called “The Museum of the Filipino People.” It also showcases the Bangsamoro Art Collection.
Level 1
- Ifugao Houses
- Offices
- Museum Education
- Museum Foundation of the Philippines
- Filipino Heritage Festival, Inc
Ifugao House
Level 2
- The San Diego: History
- 500 Years of Maritime Before the Advent of Western Colonizers
- The San Diego: Treasures
- Linnaeus and the Linnean
- Marble Hall
- Ayala Corp. Theater
Manunggul Jar – Late Neolithic Burial Jar from Manungul Cave, Lipuun Point, Palawan dated 890-710 B.C
Level 3
- Lantakas and Bells
- Pinagmulan
- Kaban ng Lahi
- Faith, Tradition, and Place; Bangsamoro Art
Korsi – Kulintang – Kudiapi | Maranao, Lanao Del Sur
Level 4
- Baybayin
- Hibla ng Lahing Filipino
- Rice and Climate Change
- Biodiversity and Climate Change
Baybayin
The main building of the NM is the old congress building, which is now called the National Art Gallery. It houses the famous painting of Juan Luna, Spoliarium; the VIP of all the paintings inside the building. It is located and currently displayed at the main gallery at the second floor. This is the first work of art that greets visitors upon entry into the museum.
The Façade of the National Gallery
Here are some photos inside the National Museum.
Spoliarium
Venus
Inang Bayan
Manuel Quezon by Guillermo Tolentino
For more details about the National Museum of the Philippines. Please click here
I love this Stair
Update: National Museum of the Philippines is now free for all starting July , 2016! If you are visiting Manila soon, don’t miss the chance to visit National Museum to have a deeper understanding of our culttures and history.
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