Jeannmazing's back again.

Sometimes it is possible to make the most mundane day turn into a wonderful one. Hello again, my dearest Hivers! I've missed writing. It's been half a month already since my previous write-up, and it's good to be back. It was such a fun day this past weekend, and I had the privilege of having my cousin, who is my closest friend from childhood, join me to revisit the museum, which I always look forward to coming back to. This one was a spur-of-the-moment choice and ended up being a great way to enjoy a day out of the routine. This was my nth time at this museum with my classmates and friends, so I offered to take her here since it was her first time. It also happened to be a great chance to have quality time together, away from all the hustle and bustle, and simply bond and have fun.

A new day of discovery and nostalgia at the museum.

That is why I have always found myself in museums after the bustles of tussles, always enjoying the silence. It sometimes comes with the sound of the air, or how you can disappear into an exhibit, or in the stories that each artwork or artifact has to tell. Even though I am local here, I found myself suddenly and rather acutely aware of how much I had not taken in about the place before. Having a companion who had never visited here made everything very interesting and enjoyable. I've always wanted to tour her in the National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu!


My cousin and I have been very fond of each other since childhood. We were neighbors and almost always got together to play and constructed many memories throughout our innocence, not until they moved to another place. Still, I can tell many things we have not done even though the two of us spent a lot of time together. She had a day off from work too, so it felt special to do something as idle as this. That is why when I learned that she had free time, I knew that I had to take her to the museum. It was a great way to let her know and see what's inside the museum, while also creating another core memory with her. Honestly, we don’t get a chance to do this very often, so it was pleasant being able to just stroll and seize the day. Having much to say, let's begin!

We walked and crossed over to the museum since it was not very far from our meeting place. This museum is located at 7WR3+PQ6, A. Pigafetta Street, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines. I’ve always been intrigued by the museum itself, even after visiting it many times. It is so modern and, at the same time, it resembles a classic building. To me, it's also a living piece of art, and yes, I have been here presumably numerous times, but today, this seemed so fresh to me, and I'm excited about what new things are inside the museum.

What to do prior to entering the museum:

You don't have to spend a single penny because there's no entrance fee. But before going inside the museum, you'll need to sit and listen to the rules on what you should not do inside. After that, you'll have a quick orientation with the personnel, and then you're good to go.

Some of the main house rules:

  • Do not take videos.
  • Do not use flash and selfie sticks when taking pictures.
  • Do not touch anything.
  • Do not bring your belongings, specifically big bags, inside.
  • Do not bring food with you while strolling inside the museum.



On setting foot inside the building, I was again impressed by the cold and silence, but of course, this time was happier because I’m with my dear cousin. It's also the fact that each corner of the museum has its own feeling. It's like stepping back into the past.

The museum is filled with different sections: contemporary art, art from various centuries, artifacts, and many more. We toured all of them. In everything, there is always something that remains unseen, and even though I have viewed most of the pieces many times, there is always a different feel every time. Well, there are also new displays that I’ve been looking forward to seeing.
Indeed, Bani, my cousin, was absolutely amazed by all the things she saw in the place. She is actually not the type of person who would prefer museums as her first choice, but you could tell that she was enjoying herself. She asked me so many questions and pointed to so many things. It was fulfilling and entertaining to introduce her to the art and history that I always enjoy so much. We spent at least 8-10 minutes on each piece. We would just stand staring in continued silence, letting all the information sink in. I believe both of us were enamored with everything inside.
What I really like about this museum is how much one can learn and explore the place. But walking around and looking at objects through glass is not all of it. Out here, you can interact with the art to some extent and do much more (not literally, though). I know this is where Bani got to enjoy it most. Standing attractions or paintings are not for everyone, and for a person who does not have a preference for art galleries, such attractions allowed her to stay as long as she wanted.

Sculptor: Fidel T. Araneta (1911-1975), Bogo, Cebu

We also appreciate the history-inspired area of the museum very much. These were all very interesting, and knowing we both live near the artist's place somehow awakened the pride within us. It was great to see it every time.

Lapu-Lapu
“Ike” (US President Dwight David Eisenhower)
The Sleeping Santo Niño
President Sergio Osmeña
RM “The Guy” President Ramon Magsaysay

Upon viewing these as well, understanding the growth of the city, and reading the stories about people who used to live here several hundred years ago, all beliefs were shed. They made me aware of how numerous the links have been between the past and present, and it created a buzz among all of us as to how much the world has evolved. Now, centuries have passed, and I'm glad that there are still documentations like this that we younger generations can see.

The Aduana Building or Former Customs House
Aerial Photograph of Cebu City in 1936
Map of Cebu City in 1699
After several years of aimless strolling through the museum, we paused for a few minutes. This museum is really interesting because we would really have so many different topics of discussion from the past up to the present.

As with almost every museum, we were happy to visit the souvenir shop before we left the place. I was able to appreciate some cute stuff in there, but I stopped myself from buying it since I'm saving up my money. After that, we exited the museum and, of course, took a picture of my dear cousin, somehow a remembrance of our visit here together. Since it's her first time, she's the subject of my camera. In any case, it was the most perfect day that I have ever had last week. It was very heartwarming just to stay and have some time in the museum. Also, I always love trips to museums as a way of getting some quiet time, but to do it with my cousin really just made this visit memorable, as simple as it gets.

This may sound cliche, but it would take me forever to show you everything that's inside piece by piece. The museum's huge and there's much to explore. Thus, I hope you'll visit here firsthand for a more rewarding experience. Hope you had fun reading this blog. If you consider this place as part of your travel itinerary, here's additional info for you.

Closed on Mondays.

Open hours: Tue - Sun || 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM