Major Players: Museums of Manila

Manila has an astonishing number of museums and galleries, with collections ranging from history and the natural world to outer-space.

Don't leave the metro without visiting The National Museum of the Philippines. The National Museum of Anthropology is home to one of the country’s largest collections of archaeological, maritime, and ethnological artifacts. Discover the country’s various pre-colonial writing systems, learn about various Philippine textiles and weaving traditions, experience the Islamic culture of Mindanao, the Aytas of the Luzon highlands, and much more without leaving the metro. 

The National Museum of Fine Arts showcases artworks from many of the country’s outstanding National Artists and is a must-see for art enthusiasts and first-time visitors to Manila. Gaze in wonder at Juan Luna’s iconic Spoliarium and walk through the neo-classical architecture of the historic Old Legislative Building. Visit the “Filipino Struggles Through History” series by Botong Francisco at the Old Senate Session Hall, as well as the 29 other galleries filled with both traditional and modern artworks. 

The National Museum of Natural History has 12 permanent galleries proudly showcasing the rich and diverse biomes of the Philippines. Visit the record-breakers; Lolong, the longest captive crocodile, and the Rafflesia, one of the largest flowers on Earth. Encounter hundreds of endemic animal and plant specimens and see the various meteorites and minerals in the geology collections. Don’t miss the breath-taking Tree of Life enclosing the Museum courtyard. 

A museum on the hill - Pintô Art Museum, a project of the El Refugio Arts and Sciences Foundation, led by neurologist Dr. Joven R. Cuanang, whose mission is to champion conservation of nature, education of the Filipino people, and opening doors for talented artists, is composed of seven museum galleries of Philippine modern and contemporary art and six changing exhibition galleries, spread out amidst gardens and water elements. The Pintô Academy for the Arts and Sciences and the Pintô Arboretum, a collection of more than 800 native and endemic Philippine plant species, completes the compound in our effort to promote education and appreciation for Philippine art, culture, and ecology.

The Ayala Museum is a newly renovated art and history museum at the heart of Makati City. Established in 1967, it is now a phygital institution with enhanced refreshed physical exhibitions, and event and retail spaces with digital technology to provide an entirely new museum experience. It houses permanent exhibitions of Philippine pre-colonial gold, indigenous textiles, and Southeast Asian trade ceramics that jointly tell the story of the ‘Crossroads of Civilizations’ – how the Philippines’ identity, imagery, and ingenuity were shaped by a millennium of interactions within the flourishing networks of exchange within Asia and beyond. It also houses changing exhibitions, serving as a wellspring of stories that will provoke curiosity and move people about what is uniquely Filipino. The Ayala Museum is also home to the diorama experience of Philippine history, which has been totally refreshed for new generations to enjoy. 

After a two-year hiatus, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila has reopened its new art spaces in Bonifacio Global City in new light-filled premises designed by New York-based Filipino-Colombian architect Carlos Arnaiz of CAZA. Bonifacio Global City is a vibrant cultural hub, making art accessible and interactive through its larger-than-life murals, installations, creative collaborations, and public art programs. It is the ideal place for the M to reach a wider range of audiences and advocate its manifesto: Art For All. 

The Yuchengco Museum opened its doors in September 2005 with the support founder, Filipino-Chinese businessman, diplomat, philanthropist, art patron, and education advocate Amb. Alfonso Yuchengco as a haven for his art collection as well as a venue for artistic and cultural exhibitions and excellence. Yuchengco Museum strives to maintain the goal to foster a greater public appreciation of art through international and local, cultural, historical, and design exhibits and programs. Located in the heart of Metro Manila’s financial district, Makati, the museum is not only a “temple” that showcases art, but also serves as a “forum” of exchange, debate, and education. Aside from temporary exhibits, a wonderful inclusion to the museum is the “Suspended Garden”, an art installation of rocks made out of papier maché. The museum also highlights Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal and those close to him in the Rizal Gallery and Philippine masters such as Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo, and Carlos “Botong” Francisco. Works by National Artists for Painting, Cesar Legaspi, Ang Kiukok,  and Vicente can also be found throughout the museum’s permanent collections.  

The National Museum of the Philippines / Padre Burgos Ave, Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila / 9:00 am to 5:00 pm / Tuesdays to Sundays
Pintô Art Museum / 1 Sierra Madre St, Grand Heights Subdivision, Antipolo, 1870 Rizal / 10:00 am to 6:00 pm / Tuesdays to Sundays
The Ayala Museum / Greenbelt Park 1200, Makati / 10:00 am to 5:30 pm / Wednesdays to Sundays
Metropolitan Museum of Manila / MK Tan Centre, 30th Street corner 9th Avenue / BGC, Taguig / Tuesdays to Saturdays
The Yuchengco Museum / RCBC Plaza, Corner Ayala Avenue and Senator Gil J. Puyat Avenue, Makati / 10:00 am to 5:00pm / Mondays to Saturdays