Art Appreciation 101

Manila, the center of art and culture of the Philippines boasts of a lot of good places to visit among of which are Intramuros, Luneta Park, Philippine Post Office and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. You will know if you are in Manila once you see this landmark, the Manila City Hall.

Today I will share to all of you another nice place to visit in the city - National Museum of the Philippines.

National Museum of the Philippines is located at P. Burgos Street just across the Manila City Hall. It is the official repository established in 1901 as a natural history and ethnography museum of the Philippines. 

The National Art Gallery is housed in the old Congress Building. Most of the things that you will see here are paintings, sculptures, stone works of famous Filipino artists and some artifacts like bones of land and marine life like the sperm whale and other fossils. 

Once you enter the building, you will be greeted by the biggest and probably the coldest gallery in the second floor. The Hall of Masters holds the famous Spolarium painted by none other than Juan Luna. And here is the huge painting I am talking about. 

the Hall of Masters

the Spolarium

As I roamed around the three-storey building, I found some nice pieces of art. Among of which are these:

stoneworks

Here is the gallery of Juan Luna and Fernando Amorsolo. Here you can see the curator explaining to the young students about the famous "The Parisian" painting of Juan Luna. 

Here is the Php 250 Mn painting of Juan Luna entitled "The Parisian"

  Other sculptures

 

other paintings:

and here is the renovated Old Session Hall

 other galleries:

Just across the National Museum is the Museum of the Filipino People, formerly housing the Department of Finance. It houses the Anthropology and Archaelogy Division of the Museum. 

Among the things that you will see here are the artifacts gathered from various places here in the Philippines. 

different kinds of jars being traded during the old times

remnants of the early Filipino excavated from the caves of Palawan (this is a male specie btw..)

huge anchor of the Dutch (reminds me so much of Pirates of the Caribbean..)

one-third part of the Balangay

coffins of the early tribes

the early Alphabet of the Filipinos.. the Alibata (Mangyans still use this as they write their poems in barks of trees)

burial jar/coffin of the Manunggol.

My one day visit to the National Museum enriched my knowledge about our history and culture. I felt I was thrown back in the early years where life was so primitive and so simple. It was indeed a fulfilling and fun experience. 

For visiting information:

The National Museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Free admission on Sundays.

Entrance Fees: Museum of the Filipino People and National Art Gallery
(also includes visit to exhibits of the National Planetarium.)

Individual	Fee (PHP)
Student	50.00
Senior Citizen	120.00
Adult	150.00
Groups of 51 or more
Students	40.00
Adult/Senior Citizen	120.00

WAIVED ENTRANCE FEES FOR THE FOLLOWING (with valid ID):

A. One faculty member for every group of 30 students
B. One tour coordinator per scheduled museum tour
C. Museum workers with I.D.s
D. National Museum staff and their immediate family

For inquiries call:
Museum Education Division
Telefax #: 527 0278
Email: education@nationalmuseum.gov.ph
Look for Lina/Tess