Joanna Marie O. Santos
August 12, 2022

The best tourist attractions in the Philippines include museums. Because of the country’s vibrant history, there are many museums that exist to retell the history of the Philippines through artifacts, tableaus, and other exhibitions.   While Metro Manila alone is home to many museums, there are others you can visit across the country that also offer the same experiences. They retell the history of the place where they are located and allow visitors to experience the history of that location as well.   With that, here are 10 of the best museums to visit in the Philippines for those looking to dive deep into history.  

Top 10 Museums to Visit in the Philippines

National Museum of Anthropology

  [caption id="attachment_3395" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Image from BusinessMirror[/caption]   The National Museum of Anthropology showcases scientific analysis of the anthropological, linguistic, ethnological, economic, and paleoanthropological aspects of Filipinos. This is to help reinforce development and conserve the country's physical and natural sciences. Further, the museum houses and displays over 10,000 cultural artifacts including the Butuan Ivory Seal, the Golden Death Mask, and the Ifugao Kinuttiyan.  

Museo Sugbo

  [caption id="attachment_3396" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Image from Lonely Planet[/caption]   Also known as the Cebu Provincial Museum, Museo Sugbo was originally the Carcel de Cebu or Cebu Jail. During the Spanish revolution, it served as a prison for Katipuneros. Now, it features four permanent galleries that are home to historical artifacts, three special exhibits, and one changing exhibit. Museo Sugbo is also home to a gallery that features the country's political history starting from the time of political nepotism to its current set-up.  

Davao Museum of History and Ethnography

  [caption id="attachment_3397" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Image from the Out of Town Blog[/caption]   Davao Museum of History and Ethnography showcases the province's rich history and ethnography. It's best known for featuring the heritage of the region's diverse tribes that inhabit it then and now. The two-story museum is home to historical photos, handicrafts, and instruments of prominent tribes including the Mandaya, B'laan, T'boli, Manobo, Mansaka, and the Bagobo. The museum also houses the written histories of Davao's founding families which definitely make for an exciting field trip.  

Balay Negrense Museum

  [caption id="attachment_3398" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Image from Nomadic Experiences[/caption]   Regarded as the first museum in the land of sugar, the Balay Negrense Museum is a heritage house-turned-museum that reflects the life of a 19th-century sugar baron in Negros Occidental. You'll find architectural artifacts including rare books, kitchen utensils, Filipiana dresses, sculptures, and antique furniture. A visit to Balay Negrense will surely take you back in time to experience the grandeur of life a century ago.  

Ayala Museum

  [caption id="attachment_3399" align="aligncenter" width="992"] Image from TripAdvisor[/caption]   The Ayala Museum houses contemporary art that highlights the Philippines' historical milestones, a collection of rare books, photographs, and even recordings from the Filipinas Heritage Library. This museum within the bustling streets of Makati is a one-stop center for those who are looking to learn more about Philippine culture, history, art, language, and social sciences. Notably, the museum upgrades its exhibits every once in a while and they also feature time-exclusive exhibits depending on the season.  

Museo ng Katipunan

  [caption id="attachment_3401" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Image from BusinessMirror[/caption]   The Museo ng Katipunan tells the story of the valiant Katipuneros through an exhibition of archival documents, cryptic messages, amulets, and the bladed weapons that they used in the war. Various artworks including busts, portraits, and paintings are also in the museum that depicts scenes from the revolution. The museum also houses a stereoscopy room, a library, and an e-learning center. The Museo ng Katipunan allows visitors to help further understand the Katipunan, its actions, and its primary movers. It also commemorates and honors the Katipuneros who fought alongside figures like Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto on a Memorial Wall.  

Bahay Tsinoy

  [caption id="attachment_3402" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Image from Justgola[/caption]   Bahay Tsinoy highlights the contributions of the early Chinese to Philippine society. They built it as a platform to inform people about cultural identity and to further allow audiences to understand the dynamics of the Filipino - Chinese community. Bahay Tsinoy helps to promote the intercultural community and give new others a new cultural perspective.  

Bantayog ng mga Bayani

  [caption id="attachment_3403" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Image from Rappler[/caption]   Built as a monument to those who were victims of Martial Law, the Bantayog ng mga Bayani stands as a reminder of the hardships that thousands had to go through during the regime. Here, you'll find the Bantayog Library & Archives, Hall of Remembrance, and Museo ng Bantayog. The structure's first level is dedicated to the Bantayog Library & Archives, where you'll find documents, references, magazines, books, and other materials related to the period. They also dedicate the Hall of Remembrance to the lives of the martyrs and heroes during the period. Last, the Bantayog Museum houses artifacts, photographs, documents, and other materials that will allow visitors to further understand the hardships of that era.  

Casa Manila

  [caption id="attachment_3404" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Image from The Urban Roamer[/caption]   Casa Manila gives visitors a glimpse of the Philippines as it was being colonized by the Spanish. It's a heritage house that was turned into a museum to emulate a Filipino home during Spanish rule. You'll find antique furniture and artworks that would've been owned by a family during the 1800s. Walking through Casa Manila will surely allow you to feel what it was like during the colonization era and how much the country has improved since then. The museum is an immersion experience that will allow you to really appreciate the then and now of our country’s history.  

National Museum of Fine Arts

    The National Museum of Fine Arts is a part of what makes up the National Museum of the Philippines. More than your usual museum, this is a place of science, education, and culture. It showcases the country's cultural legacy and its natural history. Part of their exhibits includes Juan Luna's Spoliarium and the Burning of Manila by Fernando Amorsolo. Most of the artworks and documents exhibited in the National Museum of Fine Arts offer a glimpse of significant events in the country's history which is a definite must-see.  

Why do visiting museums matter?

  Museums play a very crucial role in preserving local culture. The Philippines has a very rich history embedded in our shores and careful documentation and artifact preservation help to record historical events for future generations. Museums also play an important part in introducing the country's rich history to visitors and tourists.   Socially, museums also help to re-establish and fortify common ground in a society that breeds disharmony and division. Further, it also helps to give perspective regarding what has happened in the past so that we do not repeat it in the present.   Knowledge and understanding are a great power in today's society. Museums can supply such power if people just learn how to use it properly. Museums play such an important role in today's society - they become an avenue for knowledge that the audiences can use as their own strength against today’s societal turmoils.   The Philippines is home to many museums and each of them has its own special story to tell - especially with their contributions to building what the country is today. As citizens, we must never forget what the country has gone through in the past to achieve the freedom and independence that we have today. We must also be able to uphold and understand the values that past events have taught us to live as a better nation for future generations.Â