Since February is widely known for being the month of love, we might forget that it’s also the month-long celebration of local art! For lovers of the craft, in the midst of these trying times, strolling along museum or gallery hallways to look at awe-inspiring pieces is probably one of the things you miss the most.
Fortunately, art museums today have given justice to the saying “the show must go on,” as they continue their services during the lockdown. From the most popular museums in Manila to historical exhibits that show stories of years way back, some of them are now accessible from the comfort of our homes, perhaps just waiting to be opened for your next [virtual] indoor date.
If you miss your favorite art exhibits, here are 5 famous local museums you can still visit online:
1. Casa de Memoria Showroom
Where to visit: Palacio de Memoria
What to expect: According to the Palacio de Memoria’s website, the Palacio is a “cultural purveyor housed in a pre-war mansion,” known for its everlasting beauty after surviving the tragic Battle of Manila.
The online museum and arts and events space can be found on the “Tours” tab, which showcases the Casa de Memoria Showroom. Here, you can find what curators describe as the best of Filipino and European cultural heritage that shows the era of when the Philippines “was the true Pearl of the Orient.”
Physical location: 95 Roxas Boulevard, Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City
2. The Museum of the Filipino People
Where to visit: Sulyap Museo
What to expect: Enjoy a serenade from the University of the Philippines Manila Chorale to accompany your point-of-view virtual walk-through inside the Museum of the Filipino People, also known as the National Museum of Anthropology. The museum includes the San Diego Exhibit, Five Centuries of Maritime Trade Before the Arrival of the West, The Origin (Pinagmulan), Archaeological Treasures (Kaban ng Lahi), and The Filipinos and Their Rich Cultural Heritage (Kinahinatnan).
Physical location: Padre Burgos Ave., Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila
3. National Museum of Fine Arts
Where to visit: Sulyap Museo
What to expect: Check out another online museum built to the tune of the University of the Philippines Manila Chorale in the background. Here, visitors can listen to Usahay, a Visayan love song, while basking in virtual wonder inside one of the most famous art museums in the Philippines. Art enthusiasts might be glad to find famous paintings like the Spoliarium, The Burning of Manila, Portrait of a Lady, and a lot more well-loved classics during their scroll!
Fun fact: If you’ve watched Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil’s Alone/Together, this is where Liza’s character, Christine, worked part-time!
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Physical location: Padre Burgos Ave., Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila
4. National Museum of Natural History
Where to visit: Sulyap Museo
What to expect: Similar to the two Sulyap Museo tours, the virtual rendition of the National Museum of Natural History can be enjoyed while listening to a Visayan song in your earphones. This museum houses many natural Philippine artifacts, including the skeleton of the country’s largest crocodile that was ever held in captivity, Lolong. Other popular attractions that can be found here are the Tree of Life, Marine Realm, the Mangrove Diorama, and the Rainforest Diorama.
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Physical location: Teodoro F. Valencia Circle, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila
5. Ateneo Art Gallery
Where: Ateneo Art Gallery
What to expect: One of the first museums to house Philippine modern art, the Ateneo Art Gallery, established in 1960, found ground through “Fernando Zóbel’s bequest to the Ateneo of his collection of works by key Filipino post war artists.” Other philanthropists and fellow artists followed suit years later by donating their own collection to the gallery.
Physical location: Ateneo de Manila University Arts WIng, Katipunan Ave, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila.
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