Manila City, Philippines – As most of you may know, Manila City is the country’s capital and one of the central business districts throughout the years. But, there’s a lot of beautiful shadows the city can offer. Manila is the place to be if you want to know more about the Philippines’ historical background and culture. Let us revisit the stories and shadows of the past in the country’s capital.
Tree of Life, National Museum of Natural History
In this article, we will give you a walkthrough on the major museums you can visit and add to your itineraries when you’re here in Manila. The major advantage of these museums is that they are strategically located to one another. This means that you need not go far as these museums are walking distance, making it convenient and easy for you to hop from one museum to another. Also, it’s very near to other ageless historical destinations which you can check out here.
Manila Cathedral
National Planetarium Manila
- Address: Padre Burgos Ave., Ermita, Manila City
- Operating Hours: 10:00 am – 05:00 pm, Tuesdays to Sundays
- Contact Number: (632) 8527 7889
- Email Address: cmvod.nationalmuseum@gmail.com
- Entrance fee: Free | Planetarium shows: Php 50.00 for regular viewers, Php 40.00 for senior citizens and PWD, Php 30.00 for students with IDs
National Planetarium Manila
The local government of Manila has been very vocal in their efforts of restoring and preserving the historical treasures in Manila, and their efforts have bloomed as they have restored the national museums like the National Planetarium Manila. It is one of the four national museums comprising the National Museum Complex.
Solar System Diorama
You can definitely visit this museum for free and it is very recommended if you want to relive and reminisce your childhood memories about astronomical myths, solar system, and the universe.
Constellations Gallery
If you’re planning to go museum hopping for the day, it is advisable to visit this museum first thing in the morning in order to avoid the influx of people planning to visit the museum too. Also, it’s best if you’ll visit these museums on a weekday so that you can maximize every museum without too much crowd.
We really enjoyed viewing the constellations gallery featured in this museum. Aside from being informational, it’s also interactive as there are recorded “tour guides” to give you bits of information about the area.
What can you see in the National Planetarium Manila? The museum is divided into four galleries and scheduled shows. The galleries include astronomy, major constellations, painting of astronomical myths, and a diorama of the solar system.
National Museum of Natural History
- Address: Teodoro F. Valencia Circle, Ermita, Manila City
- Operating Hours: 10:00 am – 05:00 pm, Tuesdays to Sundays
- Contact Number: (632) 8527 7889
- Email Address: cmvod.nationalmuseum@gmail.com
- Entrance fee: Free
The facade of the National Museum of Natural History
The building of the National Museum of Natural History is indeed rich in history. This ageless building was built in the 1940s and it houses the then Agriculture and Commerce Building. In addition, it was the office of the country’s Department of Tourism before it became a museum in 2018. Just located in the vicinity of Rizal Park, let us traverse the Philippines’ history, culture, and the environment through time.
Lolong’s Skeleton at the entrance
Upon entering the museum, you will be greeted by Lolong, the world’s largest saltwater crocodile which was 6.17 meters long and weighed 1,075 kilograms. Can you imagine how big Lolong was when he was still alive? You can see and get to know him more inside the museum.
Tree of Life & Museum’s Atrium
The museum comprises six floors with this majestic Tree of Life found at the center of the museum. I was personally astonished by how it was built and the architecture of the Tree of Life is very elegant and classic. The trunk has a DNA-like structure that connects the atrium and the dome. In addition, the dome serves as the atrium’s ceiling allowing natural light to come through. And last, but definitely not the least, the Tree of Life is also an elevator which you can use to have a perfect view of the atrium. Amazing!
Here’s what you can see in the National Museum of Natural History:
First Floor: Tree of Life Foyer & Atrium
The ground floor holds the visitors’ area where you leave your belongings at the counter and sign up at the registration area. Surrounding the Tree of Life, are the areas for educational services and introduction to the museum.
Philippine National Eagle
Second Floor: National Inheritance and Temporary Exhibitions Galleries
The skeleton of the world’s largest sea water crocodile, Lolong, is hung on the second floor’s reception hall. The upper courtyard, national inheritance gallery as well as temporary exhibition gallery for special events are also found here.
Third Floor: Mangroves and Marine Realm Galleries
Walk through this floor as if you’re in a real mangrove diorama. Aside from that, you can learn a thing or two from the intertidal zones and beaches here in the Philippines. The other side of the floor showcases what the abyss looks like as if you’re boarding on a real submarine and have a glimpse of the sea creatures like whale sharks and manta rays.
Natural Wonders of the Philippines
Fourth Floor: Various Forests and Freshwater Wetlands Galleries
There are four galleries found on this floor which allow us to experience and know more about the different kinds of forests. Gallery V features mossy, montane and pine forests, Gallery VI features lowland evergreen rainforests, Gallery VII focuses on limestone karst forests, and Gallery VII focuses on freshwater wetlands. Similar to the third floor, there’s a rainforest diorama in which you can know more about the animals inhabiting these rainforests.
Fifth Floor: Philippine Biodiversity, Geology, Minerals, and Energy Resources Galleries
This floor wasn’t available for public viewing when we visited the museum because they were renovating some of the galleries located on this floor. It has four galleries namely: (a) Philippine Biodiversity; (b) The Geology of the Philippines; (c) Minerals and Energy Resources; and (d) Life Through Time.
Sixth Floor: Roof Garden, National Museum Conference Center and Function Halls
When we went there, the sixth floor was also under construction, which is why we didn’t have the chance to take a look at what the roof garden and the whole sixth floor offer. Let us know if you’re lucky enough to visit this floor!
Lolong’s Replica
National Museum of Fine Arts
- Address: Padre Burgos Ave., Ermita, Manila City
- Operating Hours: 10:00 am – 05:00 pm, Tuesdays to Sundays
- Contact Number: (632) 8527 7889
- Email Address: cmvod.nationalmuseum@gmail.com
- Entrance fee: Free
Then Congress Building transformed into an art museum
The National Museum of Fine Arts is the place to be when you’re looking for a place to take you to different eras full of substantial history, arts, and culture. This neoclassical building was built in the 1920s as the National Library during the American colonization; however, it was converted as the Legislative Building in 1926.
Unfinished portrait painting by Filipino artist, Fernando Amorsolo
The intricate design of the building can leave you speechless on how grand and elegant the building itself speaks – a rare sight located in the heart of the country’s capital. It was revamped and reconstructed in the 1940s when it was destroyed during the Second World War and served as the Congress Building until 1998.
The Famous Spoliarium by Filipino Artist Juan Luna
The museum is also the home of the remarkable and timeless Spoliarium painting by Juan Luna. It speaks of Luna’s sentiments during the Spanish colonization which became very relevant both to art and politics.
Some of the busts and sculptures displayed in the museum
Fancy Filipiniana Dress back in the days
Art Edifice during the Spanish Era
The museum is divided into different galleries featuring various pieces of arts of different eras. There’s a space of art edifices and various religious art way back in the Spanish colonization, art collection during the American colonization, contemporary paintings, and modern portraits and paintings.
Grand spiraling stairs
Each piece of art and painting tells you a story that no one else can explain better. So kudos to the efforts of the National Museum organization for preserving such beauties and allowing the future generations to witness or at least have a glimpse of the past.
Just enjoy and appreciate art transcending different times in the past
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