Friday, February 10, 2012

Visiting Metro Manila Museums (List of Museums in Metro Manila)

Museums in Metro Manila
Painting of Rizal's execution at the national hero's shrine and museum in Fort Santiago

Between hitting the malls or visiting a city museum, chances are visiting the museum will always be set aside for another day. The reasons for not choosing to take a peak in a museum ranges from getting turned off in paying entrance fees to the idea that they’re too “old school”. However, old is what makes museums relevant. As for the fees, think of them as your contribution to preserve the past for future visitors. 

Manila is surrounded by museums – government and private owned. Each has unique treasures from different eras that we can only read in history books. The museums are also homes to our heroes. Thanks to museums they have secured their immortality. Here's a good list of Metro-Manila museums waiting for your visit. 

The National Museum of the Filipino People
Former Finance Building, Padre Burgos Street, Rizal Park, Manila
+632-5270278
Open: Monday-Saturday, 8:30am-5pm
Entrance Fee: P100
By Jeepney: Located on Rizal Park (Luneta), it's just walking distance from LRT U.N. Avenue station or via jeepneys passing by Taft Avenue or Mabini.
Going to National Museum: from Makati, it's best to drive towards Roxas Boulevard then turn right on P. Burgos (after passing Rizal Park/Luneta). The museum in on the right, near the corner of Taft Avenue and across the National Art Gallery. Parking is available at the museum compound.

National Art Gallery
Former Senate Building near The National Museum and Manila City Hall, Burgos St. Manila
Travel Note: Centerpiece of Juan Luna's Spoliarium and various other artworks
By Jeepney: From Quezon City or Quiapo, better take jeepneys with signboards of Mabini and Get off in front of the neo-classical building.

L-R: The warmly lit interior of the Rizal Shrine in Fort Santiago showcasing the famous lamp where Jose Rizal hid his famous last poem; The original parchment of "Mi Ultimo Adios" written by the National Hero

Rizal Shrine and Museum
Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila
Travel Note: Features memorabilia of Jose Rizal, Philippine National Hero, which includes his Mi Ultimo Adios poem written on a piece of paper (now laminated) and the famous lamp where the poem was neatly hidden before the hero’s execution.
By Jeepney:  Board a jeepney in Quiapo with signboard Pier and Get off in front of Palacio del Gobernador near Manila Cathedral. A short walk towards the gate of Fort Santiago.
Entrance Fee: P50 student, P75 adults.

Archdiocesan Museum of Manila
121 Arzobispo St., Intramuros, Manila
+527-7631 loc. 209 and 230 and 527-3962
www.rcam.org/index.htm
Free Entrance

Metropolitan Museum
Roxas Blvd near Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Travel Note: Visit also Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gold Room, a walk-in vault underneath the Metropolitan Museum with impressive collection of old paintings and ancient gold ornaments of pre-hispanic Filipinos.
By Jeepney: Board the orange shuttle at LRT Vito Cruz station going to CCP Complex. Get off at the corner of Roxas Blvd and Pablo Ocampo then walk towards BSP gate
+632-7087829, 708-7827 / 521-1517

BSP Money Museum
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Roxas Boulevard corner Pablo Ocampo St., Manila
By Jeepney:  Board the orange shuttle at LRT Vito Cruz station going to CCP Complex. Get off at the corner of Roxas Blvd and Pablo Ocampo then walk towards BSP gate
+632-7087701

Facade of the Philippine Post Office Building

Postal Museum and Philatelic Library
Manila Central Post Office compound, Lawton, Manila
Travel Note: It is the oldest museum in Southeast Asia. The museum showcases priceless stamps from the Philippines and from different countries around the world, letters written by national heroes and other famous personalities and an archive preserving precious stamps and artifacts kept under a secure and controlled environment
+632-5279601 or 9607

Ayala Museum
Makati Avenue corner Dela Rosa St., Makati City
Travel Note: Admirers of the late Benigno and Corazon Aquino will always have a good reason to visit the museum as it regularly hosts the exhibit of these inspiring political icons’ life and times complete with photographs, video footage and even the clothes that they’ve worn when they changed the course of Philippine history.
+632 7577117 to 21 loc 28
www.ayalamuseum.org 

Makati Museum (Museo Ng Makati) 
Address: P Rizal St. cor. A. Mabini St., Makati 
+632-8185223 
Open:  8AM-5PM, Mondays-Fridays
Entrance is Free 

Museo ng Kalinangang Pilipino (CCP Museum) 
A humanities museum that has displays on the works of Filipino traditional artists and preserves Filipino artistic traditions. Permanent exhibits include significant Filipino artistic traditions and the CCP Collection of Traditional Asian Musical Instruments from the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, Thailand, China and South Korea. Exhibit hours are extended to 10pm if there are performances at the Main Theater.
Entrance Fee: P40 for adults, P30 for students and children
832-5094, 832-1125 
museo@culturalcenter.gov.ph
www.culturalcenter.gov.ph/page.php?page_id=93


MalacaƱang Museum
Kalayaan Hall – the old Executive Building built in 1920– at the heart of the MalacaƱang Palace complex
Open:  From Monday to Friday, 9AM-4PM
+632-7364662
Travel Note: by appointment only. See details on the official website
By Jeepney:  From Quiapo, ride a jeepney going to San Miguel (terminal near Ilalim/ Quinta Market)

Yuchengco Museum
G/F RCBC Bldg, Ayala Avenue corner Gil Puyat Ave (Buendia)
Makati City
By Jeepney: From LRT Buendia Station, board a jeep going to Guadalupe and Get off in front of RCBC Tower (after crossing Ayala Avenue). Alternatively, from MRT Buendia (Gil Puyat) station, board a jeep going to Washington or bus with LRT/Leveriza to take you there (Get off in front of The Columns condominium before crossing Ayala Avenue then walk to the other side)
+632-8891234

San Agustin Museum
San Agustin Church, Intramuros, Manila
By Jeepney: Board a jeep bound for Pier in Quiapo and get off in front of Manila Cathedral.

Lopez Museum
Exhange Rd, Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Travel Note: Huge collection of rare books and art pieces on display and research purposes. This also has the largest collection of both Juan Luna and Felix Hidalgo paintings as well as Rizal artifacts
By Jeepney:  from MRT Ortigas Avenue station, it's just a short taxi ride away.

Bahay Nakpil Bautista,
432 Ariston Bautista St., Quiapo, Manila
Travel Note: With artifacts of Gregoria "Oryang" de Jesus, the widow of Andres Bonifacio, who re-married Nakpil. The original home of Juan Luna's "the Parisian Life" now on display the at GISI Museum
By Jeepney: board a jeepney bound for Quiapo then Get off at the corner of Hidalgo and Quezon Blvd. Walk towards Hidalgo (East side going to San Sebastian) then turn left on Barbosa St.
+632-3455755

AFP Museum
Camp Aguinaldo, EDSA, Quezon City
Travel Note: Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo’s uniform and hand-written letters of Apolinario Mabini.


Interior of a Huey helicopter at the Villamor Airbase Museum


Aerospace Museum of the Philippine Air Force (PAF)
Sales Street corner Andrews Avenue, Villamor Air Base in Pasay City near NAIA Terminal 3
Entrance Fee: P20. Jet simulator fee between P75 and P150.

Museo ng Katipunan
Formerly Museum of the Philippine Revolution
Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine, San Juan

The UST Main building in Espana, Manila


The UST Museum of Arts & Sciences
Mezzanine, Main Building, University of Santo Tomas
+632-7811815
Open: Tuesdays-Fridays, 9AM-4:30PM
Entrance fee: Students - PhP20.00 / Adults - PhP30.00

Bantayog ng mga Bayani Museum
Quezon Avenue near corner EDSA
Travel Note: Museum dedicated to the victims, heroes and martyrs of Martial Law under President Ferdinand Marcos
By Jeepney: It's walking distance from MRT Quezon Avenue Station, near the jeepney terminal plying the EDSA -UP route. From Quiapo, you may ride jeepneys with Fairview / Lagro signboard.

Veterans Federation of the Philippines’ Museum, Library, Archives and Theatre
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City
Travel Note: Displays of tableaus and pictures of war veterans particularly guerillas and Peftok (Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea) veterans (Korean War)
Open: Mondays-Fridays 7AM-4PM, Closed during lunch time
Entrance fee: P75 for adults and P50 for students.
+632-8389148

Museo Pambata ng Maynila
Roxas Boulevard corner South Drive, Manila
Travel Note: Children will have a fun time discovering the environment, science, crafts, the global village, etc. via hands-on exhibits and interactive displays
Open: Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8AM-5PM, Sundays, 1-5PM
By Jeepney:  Jeepneys in Quiapo with signboard Pier will take you there after passing by Intramuros and South Harbor gates. Alternatively, from LRT UN Avenue Station, walk towards Padre Faura St. and board jeepneys going to Pier, Get off at the corner of South Drive, cross Roxas Boulevard towards the children's museum.
+632-5231797 to 98; +632-5360595
exhibits@museopambata.org

National Commission for Culture and the Arts
633 General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila
+632-5272192
By Jeepney: Jeepneys in Quiapo with signboard Pier will take you there. Get off in front of Manila Cathedral.

Jorge B. Vargas Museum and Filipiniana Research Center
Roxas Avenue, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines
+632-9281927, +632-9818500 loc 4021-24
Open: Tuesdays-Sundays, 9AM-4PM, Mondays closed
Entrance fee
PhP 20.00 - UP students, alumni, faculty and employees
PhP 30.00 - Non-UP
Free - Every Wednesdays for UP students, alumni, faculty and employees for a group less than 10.
vargasmuseum@up.edu.ph, vargasmuseum@yahoo.com, vargasmuseum@gmail.com

Marikina Shoe Museum
J.P. Rizal St,Barangay San Roque, Marikina City
Open: 8-12 to 1-5PM Monday-Sunday (Closed on Holidays)
Entrance Fee: P20 per person
+632-4309735

Marikina Doll Museum
Marikina Sports Complex, McDonald’s corner Sumulong Highway,
Barangay Sto. NiƱo, Marikina City
Entrance Fee: P25.00
Open: Everyday, 8AM-12NN and 1-5PM
+632-4309733, +632-4309735

Iglesia Ni Cristo Museum and Gallery (INC Museum)
INC Central Office, Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Travel Note: Exhibits posters and dioramas depicting the Iglesia's beginnings, culture, rituals and practices.
By Jeepney:  From Quiapo or MRT Quezon Avenue station, hail a jeepney bound for Fairview and get off in front of the church.

Gamaba Museum
4/F Tesoro's Handicraft Shop, 325A. Mabini St., Ermita, Manila
Travel Note: Honors the life and achievements of the National Living Artists Awardees of the Philippines (Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or Gamaba).
Open: Monday-Saturday, 9AM-7:30PM/Sundays 10AM-7PM
+632-5243936 to 40.

Museo Valenzuela
Subdivision 1, Brgy Marulas, Valenzuela City
Travel Note: Features life and memorabilia of the Katipunan particularly Dr. Pio Valenzuela from whom the city was named. The museum is beside Our Lady of Fatima Shrine

Museo De Sta. Ana
Poblacion, Taguig City
Travel Note: The repository of artifacts detailing the rich religious culture and history of Taguig since 1857


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Ayala Museum (Museum Hopping and Makati Strolling)

The famous paper clip of National Artist Arturo Luz in front of the Ayala Museum

Founded in the swinging 60’s (1967) by the Ayala Foundation, the Ayala Museum was a product of Fernando Zobel’s vision to be a premier museum of Philippine history and iconography. The focal point of the museum is a collection of 60 handcrafted dioramas (3D miniatures) showcasing the country’s pivotal events in history, as well as a unique gallery of miniature water vessels that present the evolution and progress of Philippine maritime trade and economy.

Making up the museum’s flagship collection are pre-colonial gold, Asian ceramics and a collection of 19th century costumes. Masterpieces of local art greats like Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo and Fernando Zobel are also showcased.

Admirers of the late Benigno and Corazon Aquino will always have a good reason to visit the museum as it regularly hosts the exhibit of these inspiring political icons’ life and times complete with photographs, video footage and even the clothes that they’ve worn when they changed the course of Philippine history.

Enjoy the outside fountain of the museum as well as admire the giant paperclip art of national artist for the visual arts Arturo Luz that somehow silently greets museum visitors and passersby alike.

Plan a quiet afternoon to Ayala Museum and spend an al fresco late afternoon coffee   at the equally popular M CafĆ© where they serve a great blend of brewed coffee with a little local surprise on the side – a bar of Chocnut.  




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The Ayala Museum
Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9AM – 6PM
Makati Ave. corner De La Rosa St., Makati
+632 7577117 to 21 loc 28
For museum rates visit www.ayalamuseum.org and go to the Membership tab.

 
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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Top 10 Dive Sites in the Philippines (Best Dive Sites in the Philippines)


Diving will always be a fun and thrilling ride for newbies and masters alike. For international divers out there, the Philippines is a prime venue for diving because of its rich and diverse marine life and far reaching coral reefs not to mention various interesting wreck sites. The tropical climate provides a relatively warmer diving experience.  

Before booking for a dive tour in the country, make sure that the destination will be any of these 10 important, not-to-miss dive sites. 

Best Dive Sites in the Philippines 

1. Anilao in Batangas has oustanding corals and reef life with one of the highest diversity of small marine creatures and it is a good place to carry out underwater photography and this place is a diving haven.

2. Subic Bay in Olongapo is one of the best wreck diving sites in Asia and is a popular tourist diving destination.

3. Puerto Galera in Mindoro is situated on a beautiful nature harbor with many fine beaches, sheltered coves and lush green hills and offers scuba divers a wonderful diving destination.

4. Busuanga in Palawan is one of Philippine diving's best kept secrets that boasts of a dozen wreck sites and offers visitors a great diving adventure.

5. Cabilao Island in Bohol offers some of the best diving in the country and is particularly noted for sightings of Hammerhead sharks in its deep waters.

6. Balicasag Island in Bohol is a microcosm of all that is great in Philippine diving.

7. Moalboal in Cebu is beautiful and picturesque. Pescador Island is a favorite of underwater photographers and snorkelers.

8. Apo Island in Negros Oriental, the most populous and diverse aquatic ecosystem in the world, was recreated at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago on a 27,000 sq ft area costing USD47 million. This interactive state-of -the-art project called The Philippine Wild Reef Exhibit was opened on 2003.

9. Malapascua in Cebu which means 'Unfortunate Christmas' is a paradise where time stands still.

10. Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park in the Sulu Sea boasts of coral cover of seventy to eighty percent and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994.

Highly Recommended Dive Sites in the Philippines
  • Tonga Point - in Moalboal, Cebu has lots of good soft corals, some gorgonian sea fans, barrel sponges and mixed fish life.
  • Sumilon Island - the first Marine Sanctuary in the Philippines, developed and preserved by Similan University in Negros.
  • Danjugan Island - it is situated in Sulu Sea surrounded by coral reefs retaining most of its original forest cover on hills.
  • Apo Reef National Marine Park - 20 miles west of Mindoro an island covered by mangrove trees while waters surrounding it abound with marine fauna and luxuriant coral growth.
  • El Nido - Palawan
  • Port Barton - Palawan

Must See Wreck Sites
  • Ex-USS New York - the best preserved dread naught in Subic Bay.
  • Oryoko Maru - also known as the hell ship because of the death of thousands of prisoners of war and their families when it sunk in 1945 in Subic.
  • Seian Maru - a cargo ship with approximately 30,000 tons on board in Subic Bay.
  • Black Island Wreck - Coron, Palawan
  • Taei Maru - this auxiliary oil tanker offer the perfect site for wreck penetration courses.
  • Akitsushima - offer an adventure filled dive because of the depth where it lies.
  • Olympia Maru - a small freighter located on the north end of Lusong Island and Target Island.
  • Irako - a Japanese refrigerated ship that is home to groupers and other fish families.

INTERESTING DIVING RELATED FACTS IN THE PHILIPPINES 
  • Close to 60 registered dive sites.
  • Coral reefs have grown since the Ice Age.
  • Close to 25 shipwreck dive sites.
  • Over a thousand species of marine life.
  • Over 100 reef slopes.
  • Over 800 classes of corals.
  • Over 400 fish species and over 500 fish families.
  • 34,000 sq km (13,124 sq m) of coral reefs.
  • Most populous and diverse aquatic ecosystem.
  • Cheapest way to learn diving.


 
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Suggested Dive Partner in the Philippines


Subaquaticsuba
Proprietor/Dive Master: Rob Formoso
Phone: 0917-8117629, 624-6166
Email: rob@subaquaticscuba.net
Website: http://www.subaquaticscuba.net/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/SUBAQUATIC-SCUBA/181370913357

Diving in the Philippines (10 Important Dive Sites in the Philippines)
Diving Diving in the Philippines (10 Important Dive Sites in the Philippines)
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Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Let’s Dive! (Diving in Anilao Batangas with Subaqauticscuba)


Has there ever been a time in your life where you just want to take life by the horns and live it.  I had that opportunity and I took it.  It was one of the few decisions in my life that I know I got right. Throw in some more jargon for death “defyingly” awesome and it would best describe scuba diving. 

I have to admit, I was a bit hesitant when a couple of friends asked me to go with them to learn how to scuba. I love the water and into water sports myself but Scuba was at the bottom of my list. 


I knew nothing of it except that I may end up being fish bait for jaws itself and a slight possibility of having a Steve Erwin scare.  Yeah go ahead make fun of this remark, but for someone who doesn’t scuba it was a valid fear. Anxious because of the unknown it was the same thing that lured me to join and boy oh boy, was I glad to have bumped it up. I’m glad I did because now I know better and have seen with my own eyes what other surface dwellers have only seen in still photos and others just dream of.

The fishes don't seem to mind humans visiting their turf
Instructed by Subaqauticscuba under the careful tutelage of respected Dive Master “Guru” Robbie Formoso, I was in good hands.  Now Rob is such a modest guy that he doesn’t want me write about him, but it’s the authors prerogative and I’m sure our good friend my dive buddy and Dive Master on his own right “Scottie” Sark aka Jayvee Abanes would agree…Rob you’re the man!

Exploring the deep in Anilao, Batangas
You know how an evangelist when they heal a paraplegic on TV and the disabled is asked to stand up in front of thousands of viewers and make believers out of them… well…Rob is really is a miracle worker.  He can help someone who’s afraid of the water let alone breathe underwater become a water lover and all things in it.

The flora and fauna under the sea are bursting with colors
It was a cloudy and choppy weekend for a dive. My jaw gave me the most uncomfortable experience choosing the best time to lock because it was freakin’ ice cold in and out of the water.  The horror! With this, it was hard and to a point close to impossible for me to equalize.  I was on the brink of putting my hands up but thanks to Rob, Scottie and my encouraging dive buddies, they never gave up on me and yes now I am a certified scuba diver.

Dive Master Rob giving the final set of instructions before exploring the deep sea.
Graduation was sweet! Mine was an isolated case, please don’t be scared to try scuba because of my encounter.  In fact, it should serve as a gauge that even with my condition I was able to finish the course and enjoy whatever it had in store. You can too! 

Swimming with a school of fishes
I have witnessed the grandeur below the waves.  Instantly my life was enriched by the rare glimpse of life in the great big blue. I heard a dolphin talk…uhuh…while we were doing our skills underwater we heard a dolphin. Too bad we didn’t see it.  I remember patting a trained dolphin in Sea World in San Diego when I was young and it got me so excited because I was this close to have seen one in the wild. 


We saw a narcissistic trumpet fish with its yellow splendor, enjoying all the attention and posing for headshots.  Manta rays nervously fleeing here and there. Majestic Emperors. Jacks and Clowns, the full house.  Parrots and Butterflies swimming about.  Nemos challenging us for territorial rights…cute! Anemones, corals and the schools of fish gave out exuberant colors not in our color palette.


Arrgghh…I could only wish to have a memory card for a brain.  It’s good though we had a witness underwater (Scottie’s camera) and photos to help us remember.  Next time I wish to see and swim with a whale shark in all its glory. Better yet, admire the giant sharks hovering around in Yap Island. Rob! It’ll be a dream come true. Do my MTV. Haha I hope to dive with anyone of you out there soon with Subaquaticscuba. Let’s Dive!



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Subaquaticsuba
Proprietor/Dive Master: Rob Formoso 
Phone: 0917-8117629, 624-6166