Philippines Guest Book

The Philippines, a Southeast Asian archipelago made up of more than 7,000 islands located in the Western Pacific Ocean, is known for its vibrant and welcoming culture. A melting pot of diverse tastes, particularly due to the many influences spurned by its past colonizers, the Philippines’ unique identity can be best viewed through its many museums.

To give you that distinct perspective on the multi-faceted culture of the Filipino people, here’s a short list of some of the best museums that the Philippines has to offer:

National Museum of the Philippines (Rizal Park, Manila)
Located near the port area of Manila, the National Museum of the Philippines is popularly known for exhibiting one of the best – and largest – paintings in the Philippines. Housing the Spoliarium, a massive oil painting done by Filipino activist and painter Juan Luna; this one historical masterpiece can make anyone’s visit a truly memorable experience. The National Museum of the Philippines does contain other important works of art, particularly works by the different national artists of the Philippines.

The Ayala Museum (Makati)
Nestled within a city known for its modern image and fun nightlife, the Ayala Museum comes not only as a breath of fresh art air, but is also a venue for the country’s most exciting contemporary artists. Just the building’s architecture is sure to astound any visitor. For a modern museum, The Ayala Museum’s archaeological collection of gold accessories found in pre-hispanic times, can easily match up with any other traditional museums’ exhibits. The museum is also known to host well-attended lectures by the witty Dr. Ambeth Ocampo, an expert on the Philippines’ national hero, Jose Rizal.

Museo Pambata (Roxas Boulevard, Manila)
Just right beside the US Embassy in Roxas Boulevard, one can find a very colorful – and sometimes noisy – building. This is the Museo Pambata (Children’s Museum), a museum where fun and learning happens. The Museo Pambata is known for its interactive exhibits, where children and the young-at-heart get the opportunity to crawl into a gigantic woman’s mouth, create bizarre yet educational science experiments and dance to various Filipino ethnic music. Child rights and advocacy are also strongly discussed in this small yet wondeful museum.

You may not be able to visit each of the thousands of islands in the Philippines, but you can very well get a good grasp of the warm and diverse culture in its museums. So for that spectacular and learning experience on the Filipino culture, take the time to visit any – or all – of the museums listed above!