This time, I want to take you along on one of my most unforgettable dates with my boyfriend in the "Queen City of the South," Cebu City. You might think that visiting Cebu sounds ordinary, but for me, it turned out to be such a memorable experience. Why? Because we went to a special place that my boyfriend had never been to before, and it was actually me who encouraged him to go. After reading this blog, I’m sure you’ll understand why this day was one for the books. Let’s get started!
There are so many questions about the Philippines' history waiting to be answered and Cebu is definitely one of the best places to visit. The Philippines is such a diverse, that's evident, and it’s always worth discovering more about it.
Me, as his girlfriend, who’s an Education student majoring in Social Studies, is a big fan of history. I love learning about the culture and history of every place we visit. Can you guess where we went? That’s right, we visited the famous National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu. Since it was my bf's first time there, I became his personal tour guide, and what made it extra special was him experiencing museum for the first time with with me.
On June 23, we went to the National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu. Did you know it was once called the Malacañang sa Sugbo or Malacañang Palace of Cebu? You’ll find it just across from Plaza Independencia and Fort San Pedro, two more famous historical landmarks in the city.
To get there, we rode a jeepney headed to Plaza Independencia. When we got off, we walked to the right side of the plaza, facing the Fort San Pedro entrance. From there, we found ourselves standing in front of the museum. You can also search "National Museum Cebu" on Google Maps or Waze if you're not familiar with the way and you have your own car.
Since we arrived around lunchtime, the security guard politely asked us and other visitors to wait outside and sit on the benches. At 1 PM, we were finally allowed to go in. We were welcomed by a museum staff who gave us a quick orientation about the rules which includes no flash photography, no video recording, no touching of displays, and of course, no food or drinks inside. Afterwards, we registered our names at the front desk.
And here’s the best part, there’s NO entrance fee! It’s free for everyone, which makes this museum even more amazing. It’s a perfect place to visit for family, friends, most especially students to learn about the beauty of Cebu’s past and appreciate the works of our ancestors.
The first gallery we entered was called "Kinaiyahan - Cebu's Natural Wonders." Here, we were greeted by the Cebu Tamaraw (that's the first thing you can see when entering inside the gallery), a replica of a now extinct dwarf water buffalo that once lived in Cebu during the Ice Age. My boyfriend and I immediately took photos with it. This is something I had no idea before and it makes me happy that I saw it even it's just a replica.
The museum also featured Cebu’s unique flora and fauna, some of which are rare. There were sedimentary rocks on display too.
One of my favorite parts here was the 3D stone display area. The stones had different colors and textures which looked like a piece of art. I even took pictures of my boyfriend there, it was so beautiful that matched his beauty perfectly.
The next gallery we visited displayed archaeological artifacts found in Cebu. It was amazing to see how we were already connected with other cultures even in the
past. It made me realize just how rich Cebu’s history is, and how other countries like China and Spain had a strong influence on us that we still see today. We also walked through a gallery about Cebuano culture and identity. Here, we saw artifacts that used to be sources of income for many locals. Cebuano creativity is truly evident in this part of the museum.
Afterwards, we passed a gallery about Cebu’s maritime history, with objects used in sea trade long ago.
Before heading to the second floor, we stopped by the souvenir shop. There were keychains, shirts, and accessories, and we even bought matching keychains.
When we reached the second floor, I was honestly blown away. This was my favorite part of the museum. Above, there's a big painting showing the historic Battle of Mactan. Then on the back part, the walls were filled with beautiful paintings full of meaning. There were portraits of Jose Rizal, daily life scenes, women, children, and more , all created with such skill and heart.
I could tell that each painting told a story, and each one made me stop and think. Curious about who created these beautiful paintings? It was Martino Abellana, a proud Cebuano painter. I loved every moment I spent in this gallery that I could’ve stayed there all day. Seeing all of these made me feel proud to be Cebuano.
This whole experience made me more curious about the past. Ever since stepping inside the museum, I’ve become more interested in visiting more museums. To explore and learn more, beyond what we see in books.
I hope that by joining me in this virtual tour, you’ve also become curious about the National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu. If you’re planning a visit soon, I highly recommend visiting this museum with your loved ones. You’ll learn so much and I promise it’s worth it.
Thanks for reading my blog! If you enjoyed it, I’d really appreciate an upvote, a comment, or a share. ‘Til next time, stay curious and keep learning!
