Check Out Old Presidential Cars at This Free-to-Enter Museum in the QC Circle
Even non-car enthusiasts would be interested.
(SPOT.ph) You probably pass by the elliptical road in Quezon City so often that you've forgotten about all the gems it houses. Apart from being a symbol of history, that massive tower-like structure rises above the late President Manuel Quezon's tomb—and that's not the only president whose vestiges remain in the area. Tucked into its own building in another spot in the massive park is the Museo ng Pampangulong Sasakyan, a.k.a. the Presidential Car Museum. Here, you can check out the actual cars our former presidents used during their term, sporting the "1" license plates, and learn more about our past.
Visit the Presidential Car Museum at the Quezon Memorial Circle
As in the name, this museum holds the very cars our presidents—from Aguinaldo to Arroyo, with the exception of Garcia whose car was no longer able to be retrieved—rode on. Spanning more than a hundred years, it's fascinating to see a different, and very human factor, of these people who once led our nation and perhaps have only read about in history books. Being able to see how vehicles have changed through time is also a plus, especially if you're a car enthusiast.
First opened in 2018 by the National Historic Commission of the Philippines and the Quezon City government, the cars here are kept in tiptop shape (though, of course, only Estrada and Arroyo's have any chance of running). You can visit anytime between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays to Sundays. And yes, you can enter for free. Word of advice: try going after lunch, once all the school field-trips have done their rounds in the morning.
On the cars themselves, you'll be greeted by the massive Packard Six used by Emilio Aguinaldo, then follow the arrows for a trip through time. There's the 1942 Packard Custom Eight gifted by the Japanese to Jose P. Laurel, which was reused by Sergio Osmeña after the war; a Cadillac for Manuel Roxas, a Lincoln limo for Ferdinand Marcos—his other half is the only First Lady with a car present, an equally opulent Rolls Royce Phantom, also the only Rolls in the room—a humble-by-comparison Mercedes Benz for Corazon Aquino; all the way to another Benz for Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (her father had a stylish Cadillac Sedan DeVille specifically to ferry state guests in, what else, style). A chat with one of the many museum guides around revealed that Aquino and Duterte's SUV's are still elsewhere.
Take a look at the Presidential Car Museum in Quezon City:
The Presidential Car Museum is at the Quezon Memorial Circle. They are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays to Sundays. For more information, check out the NHCP Presidential Car Museum Facebook page.