Cover (Photo: The Metropolitan Museum of Manila)
(Photo: The Metropolitan Museum of Manila)
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It’s Museum and Galleries Month! Appreciate the local arts and culture scene inside these museums for free
Manila is the place to be if you want to appreciate the Philippines’ art and culture scene. The National Museum’s three buildings continue to accept visitors for free. Meanwhile, the museums and galleries within the metro also offer various works from respected National Artists and contemporary artisans whose works culminate in the country’s pressing issues, colourful history, and more.
This October, five museums will open their door to the general public just in time for the celebration of Museum and Galleries Month. Below are the locations and schedules of Yuchengco Museum, UST Museum, Manila Clock Tower, Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, and The M.
In case you missed it: These unique museums and galleries are among Asia’s most underrated cultural destinations.
1. Yuchengco Museum
The interior of the Robert Steel Mill by Juan Luna, oil on canvas, 1893 can be seen at the Y Space in Yuchengco Museum (Photo: Yuchengco Museum/Facebook)
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The Yuchengco Museum, which has been around since September 2005, is home to renowned pieces such as Ang Kiukok’s 1988 masterwork Seated Male Nude, Carlos “Botong” Francisco’s Courtship Ritual, Juan Luna’s 1893 Robert Steel Mill, and more.
The museum’s primary goal is to encourage public appreciation of art through its local, cultural, historical, and design exhibits and programs. Located in Makati, the Yuchengco Museum welcomes every guest for free from October 28 to 31 from 10am to 6pm.
2. UST Museum
Inside the UST Museum (Photo: UST Museum/Facebook)
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Considered the oldest existing museum in the Philippines, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Museum was formally established in 1869 to comply with the 1865 Reglamento de Segunda Enseñanza that required all first-class colleges to have a Museo de Historia Natural.
Located in the UST Main Building, the general public can view the artworks and exhibitions for free for the whole month of October from Mondays at 10am to 4.30pm and Tuesdays to Saturdays at 8am to 4.30pm.
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3. Manila Clock Tower Museum
An artwork inside Manila Clock Tower Museum (Photo: Manila Clock Tower Museum /Facebook)
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The Manila Clock Tower was once the tallest in the country in the 1930s, designed by Antonio Toledo. Located on the fourth floor of the Manila City Hall, the museum officially opened its doors on October 25 last year. People who wish to see historical items from the Second World War can enter for free from Tuesdays to Fridays, 10 am to 3pm.
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4. Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD)
Inside the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (CSB-MCAD) (Photo: Museum of Contemporary Art and Design/Facebook)
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The Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD), which is located on the ground floor of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s Design and Arts campus, features contemporary art exhibitions, learning programs, and cultural and art-inspired undertakings that showcase the possibilities of technology and new media.
Interested guests can come in free from Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 6pm and Sundays from 10am to 2 pm only.
5. The M (formerly Metropolitan Museum of Manila)
“Elusive Edge: Philippine Abstract Forms” exhibition at the M
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The Metropolitan Museum of Manila (M) is now in its new home in Mariano K Tan Centre, 30th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Embracing its “art for all” philosophy, the museum is open to the public for free. Catch from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 3.30pm, the latest exhibitions like Parallel Histories: Moving Image from the Philippines and the United Kingdom, made possible by the British Council in the Philippines, which is opening on October 26; Randalf Dilla’s Time Tunnel, which will be on view until October 28; and Elusive Edge: Philippine Abstract Forms, which was extended until December 31.
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Jove holds a degree in Journalism and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Philosophy at the University of the Philippines–Diliman. She has flair for in-depth, interview-driven stories that explore politics and culture, shaped by her background in national broadsheets.
When she’s not on assignment, Jove spends her days painting, sipping lemonade, and walking her dog, Jupiter. She can often be seen in Escolta with a film camera in hand, browsing novelty shops in search of rare memorabilia. For leads, reach her at Jove@tatlerphilippines.com.
