National Museum of the Philippines Opens in Cebu City
Admission is free.
(SPOT.ph) The National Museum of the Philippines is a treasure trove from the past. Although the National Collection houses relics from all over the country, most of the collections are found within the confines of the National Museum in the City of Manila. But museum-goers and history buffs in the Visayas region are closer than ever to cultural archives with the opening of the newest National Museum regional museum in Cebu. Add this to your list of must-do Cebu activities: tour around the new National Museum of the Philippines - Central Visayas (Cebu) starting August 1 for free.
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Check out the new National Museum of the Philippines - Central Visayas (Cebu):
Located at the heart of Cebu City, the NMP - Central Visayas (Cebu) is set to partially open to the public on August 1 with operation days from Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Much like other National Museum regional and site museums, entrance to the NMP- Central Visayas is free.
NMP - Central Visayas features exhibitions highlighting the Cebuano spirit and heritage, including the island’s rich and diverse biodiversity, geology, archaeological treasures, art, and ethnographic and maritime traditions. The new museum also hosts a special exhibit featuring artworks from the Philippine Center in New York and, soon, artworks by Cebu master Martino Abellana.
Aside from the five galleries, NMP-Central Visayas also boasts a lobby and reception hall displaying works of art by Cebuanos featuring their culture and history, a terrace, a courtyard, and the NMP’s first-ever museum shop.
What to know about the building of the National Museum of the Philippines - Central Visayas (Cebu):
NMP - Central Visayas is located at the Plaza Independencia, a Spanish colonial-era plaza near Fort San Pedro. It is housed at the Aduana Building (1910), which was designed by William Parsons, an American architect tasked with overseeing Daniel Burnham's development design for Manila and Baguio. Parsons is in charge of designing all public buildings in Manila and the provinces.
Later in his career as an urban planner, he developed a plan for the City of Cebu, including developing the Customs House for the Port of Cebu. The Aduana Building would serve as the customs house in Cebu for 94 years—even surviving World War II bombings relatively intact.
In 2004, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo converted the structure into the Malacañang sa Sugbo, a.k.a. the official residence of the Philippine President when in Cebu. However, in 2013, the building was badly damaged by a 7.1-magnitude quake, prompting its closure.
Check out this behind-the-scenes video of the National Museum staff preparing the galleries for the public:
The National Museum- Cebu is at Plaza Independencia, CSCR Tunnel, Cebu City, Cebu. It will open to the public starting August 1 on Tuesdays to Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance is free. For more information, visit National Museum Central Visayas' Facebook page.