National Museum of the Philippines
The National Museum of the Philippines, established in 1918, is a comprehensive museum with a history of over a hundred years. It houses many precious artifacts and artworks, such as Juan Luna's famous painting 'Spoliarium', as well as relics and treasures from the large Spanish galleon San Diego, which is beloved by Filipinos. The museum also provides consultation services for artists, art dealers, collectors, domestic and international tourists, and art enthusiasts, offering information on artists' resumes and their works necessary for researching Philippine art.
Chinese-Filipino Historical Museum
This is the world's first Chinese historical museum established by a private group. It showcases the historical trajectory of Chinese people in the Philippines: from cultural traditions, language, and songs to any form of Filipino content, the presence of Chinese can be found. Here, you can find exquisite prehistoric artifacts and coins, galleries preserving precious prints and photographs, unearthed ceramics collected from various parts of the Philippines, and precious ancient artifacts brought to the Philippines by early Chinese immigrants. Through these, you can intuitively feel the influence of Chinese people on the local area and appreciate the hard struggles of our early Chinese immigrants.
Jose Rizal Memorial Museum
Located in Fort Santiago, the Rizal Museum is a memorial to the Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. The museum houses various exhibits including his books, manuscripts, sketches, paintings, and handicrafts he made himself, as well as souvenirs he collected during his travels to other countries and colonial-era furniture collected from his hometown of Laguna. Here, you can learn more about the national hero Rizal and the lives of the Filipino people during that era. This is also the place where he spent the last days of his life.
Casa Manila Museum
The Casa Manila Museum is a residential community for the upper class in the Philippines from the 1890s to the early 20th century, also known as the 'House of Manila'. It is a two-story yellow building. Upon entering the foyer, you will see a beautiful circular courtyard. Surrounding the courtyard, the two-story buildings display typical furniture of elite Filipino families from the last century, such as luxurious bedrooms, studies, kitchens, bathrooms, and stables, all as opulent as a palace. The stone buildings seem to capture the moments of the past, and the vines climbing the walls create a sense of long history, allowing people to find a sense of inner peace amidst the hustle and bustle of Manila.
Metropolitan Museum of Manila
The Metropolitan Museum in New York, USA is world-renowned, and there is a simpler version in Manila. Although it only has two floors, it still showcases many precious artifacts, including gold ornaments, ancient pottery, and many contemporary Filipino art collections, even featuring many national treasures. The exhibition on the first floor is themed around historical maps of the Philippines.
Ayala Museum
Ayala Museum was designed by the late Filipino artist Fernando Zobel de Ayala y Montojo in the 1950s and has four floors. The exterior looks connected to the famous commercial complex GREENBELT, which might make people mistake it for a mall, lacking the solemnity usually associated with museums. Each floor records different histories, and each layer of history is worth delving into.
San Agustin Museum
Located within the magnificent San Agustin Church, the San Agustin Museum was once part of the San Agustin Monastery. It chronicles over 450 years of the history of Catholicism in the Philippines. Blessed by divine favor, this building has remained intact through centuries of wars, typhoons, and earthquakes. In the museum, you can find religious artifacts, oil paintings, sculptures, maps, and manuscripts, making it a true Catholic cultural museum. Even more interesting, in one corner of the ground floor is the former chapel of the church, where many Filipino dignitaries and celebrities rest, such as the first governor-general Miguel López de Legazpi and the leader of the diocesan administration struggle, Father José Burgos. If you want to learn about Catholic culture or visit religious relics, don't miss the San Agustin Museum!
Currency Museum
This museum is small in area but is located within the building of the Central Bank of the Philippines, showcasing various types of money. It houses a wide range of ancient currencies and their histories, from the Spanish colonial period to the Japanese occupation and up to the present day. These diverse forms of currency hold rich historical memories. Those interested in the economic history of the Philippines can learn a lot here. Since the museum is relatively niche, it does not attract large crowds and is free to visit, making it a great place for a quiet stroll.
Marikina Shoe Museum
This unique museum was featured on CCTV1 news. The Marikina Shoe Museum is the first and only shoe museum in the Philippines. Upon entering the museum, you will be greeted by thousands of shoes, thousands of shoe molds, and a nearly 2-meter-high high-top leather shoe. The museum is divided into two floors: the first floor is the shoe display area, which includes 800 pairs of shoes donated by former First Lady Imelda Marcos, featuring both foreign luxury leather shoes and locally produced Filipino sandals. There are also various shoes donated by former presidents of the Philippines, some senators or politicians, the mayor of Manila, ambassadors, and some foreign heads of state.
Malacañang Palace
Malacañang Palace is the official residence of the President of the Philippines, comparable in status to the White House in the United States. Located on the banks of the Pasig River in the San Miguel district of Manila, it is a tourist attraction that combines a Spanish-style palace and a museum. It has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area. Malacañang Palace has witnessed the vicissitudes and changes of history, making it a wonderful place to experience exotic ancient charm. Highly recommended!