Museums in Metro Manila You Can Visit

Are you sick and tired of being confined within the walls of your house? The good news is, there are museums in Metro Manila that have recently reopened! Even though we are at a delicate moment right now because of the pandemic, these museums, art exhibits, and galleries make sure COVID-19 guidelines implemented by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) are strictly reinforced to ensure the safety of its patrons. 

It’s time to feast your eyes for the very first time in a long, long while. Let this list guide you to a couple of museums in Metro Manila and a few art exhibits and galleries you can visit for creative inspiration, a fun hang-out spot, or just a breath of fresh air to cure that lockdown fatigue, as defined by Independent.

1. National Museum of Fine Arts

The National Museum of Fine Arts is one of the many divisions of the national museum complex in Manila. This museum houses the country’s most prized-possessed paintings and sculptures made by famous Filipino artists. Photo courtesy: Wikipedia.org.

First on the list of museums in Metro Manila is the National Museum of Fine Arts. Catch a glimpse of Filipino talent through the works of renowned Filipino painters and sculptors such as Felix Resurrection Hidalgo, Fernando Amorsolo, and Isabelo Tampinco. Located in Padre Burgos Ave, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila, the museum opened its doors again to the public last June 19, 2021, to commemorate the birthday of our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. 

The National Museum of Fine Arts is open Tuesdays to Sundays, 9:00 am  – 12:00 pm for the morning session. They resume operations in the afternoon from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. They only accept 100 people per session and do not accept walk-ins as of now so interested patrons can visit their website to pre-book. 

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This museum in Metro Manila strictly reinforces COVID-19 safety protocols and patrons must wear face masks and face shields once inside the premises. Only patrons aged 15-years-old and above will be allowed to enter. They also allow senior citizens who are fully vaccinated but will need to show their vaccination cards upon entry. 

You will be asked to fill out a health declaration form through the StaySafe app. Visitors who have flu-like symptoms and those who have a body temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius and above will not be permitted to enter. All visitors need to present a valid ID with date of birth and picture upon entering.

2. National Museum of Anthropology

The National Museum of Anthropology is a museum in Metro Manila that houses fossils and artifacts collected in the country. Photo courtesy: Wikipedia.org

Venturing onto another division of the national museum of the Philippines, we take up the National Museum of Anthropology. This division houses fossils and ethnographic artifacts collected through excavations in the archipelago.  This museum in Metro Manila truly shows the richness of culture and the evolution of Filipinos. 

The National Museum of Anthropology strictly reinforces COVID-19 safety protocols, and patrons must wear face masks and face shields once inside the premises. Similar to the other parts of the national museum complex, they only admit patrons aged 15 years old and up. Fully vaccinated senior citizens are allowed to enter provided they present their vaccination cards.

Before entering, you will be asked to present a valid ID and fill out a health declaration form through the StaySafe app. They also do not accept walk-ins so if you intend on visiting, you can visit their website to pre-book.  

Visitors who have flu-like symptoms and those who have a body temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius and above will not be permitted to enter.

3. National Museum of Natural History

The National Museum of Natural History is the newest addition to the national museum complex. It capsulizes the abundance of the Philippines’ biodiversity. Photo courtesy: Wikipedia.org

Continuing on the national museum divisions, we move on to the National Museum of Natural History. One of the newly opened museums in Metro Manila was unveiled just last 2018, this museum houses 6 floors of botanical, geological, and zoological collections, proving the rich biodiversity existing and thriving in the country since time immemorial. 

Famous collections you can find include the Tree of Life, the Marine realm, and the skeletal remains of Lolong, the Guinness World Record “the world’s largest crocodile in captivity.” 

The museum strictly reinforces COVID-19 safety protocols, and patrons must wear face masks and face shields once inside the premises. Visitors who have flu-like symptoms and those who have a body temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius and above will not be permitted to enter. 

Only visitors aged 15 and up will be admitted. You will be asked to present a valid ID with date of birth and picture upon entering. The museum’s operating hours are the same as the fine arts complex of the national museum.

4. Metropolitan Museum of Manila

The Metropolitan Museum of Manila is located at the BSP Complex in Roxas Boulevard. Photo courtesy: Wikipedia.org

Moving onto our next in the list of museums in Metro Manila, we take on the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (MET) located in the BSP Complex, Roxas Blvd, Malate, Manila, Metro Manila The MET displays permanent and temporary exhibits focusing on Filipino artists’ pre-colonial, contemporary, and modern works of art. 

Their collections are diverse, ranging from paintings, sculptures, and prints. It is also the home of some of the retrieved pre-Hispanic national treasures such as gold, pottery artifacts, ritual paraphernalia, jewelry, and vases to name a few. 

However, the museum is currently closed until further notice. But do not fret because they have virtual art exhibits! The current feature is “Celebrating the Artistic Journeys of Betsy Westendorp” Passages – A Retrospective Exhibition. This exhibit showcases her artworks accumulated throughout the years which explains why she is considered an active contributor to the Philippine fine art scene. To view and learn more, visit the Metropolitan Museum of Manila’s website and catch the 3D virtual tour! 

If you plan on visiting once the MET opens its doors again, their regular schedule of operations is Mondays to Saturdays, 10 AM to 5:30 PM. The adult admission fee is at P100, students are charged at P90 while senior citizens and PWD fees are at P80. COVID-19 safety protocols are strictly implemented and patrons must fill out a health declaration form before entering.

5. Museum of Contemporary Art and Design

This museum in Metro Manila is located on the campus of De La Salle College of St. Benilde School of Design and Arts building. Photo courtesy: Yelp.com

The next number on our list is the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD). MCAD is located on the ground floor of De La Salle College of St. Benilde School of Design and Arts campus. MCAD’s exhibitions and collections mainly focus on the power of technological advancements in art production and content that aims to disrupt the conventional interpretations of art and culture. 

In collaboration with the Independent Curators International (ICI) New York, the newest exhibition launch of MCAD is entitled do it,  which launched last May 13, 2021. The exhibit is about the reconstruction of understanding and was deeply inspired by curator Hans Ulrich Obrist and artists Christian Boltanski and Bertrand Lavier. This will run from June 23, 2021, to August 15, 2021. 

MCAD is currently operating on limited capacity. Therefore, if you plan on paying a visit, you need to send an email to [email protected] to pre-book your online tours. MCAD also implements strict COVID-19 safety protocols. Face masks and face shields are required to be worn at all times and health declaration forms are to be filled out before entering the museum. 

Their regular operating schedule is Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

6. Vinyl on vinyl

This avant-garde museum in Metro Manila is located in Makati City in the compound of La Fuerza. Photo courtesy: Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery

Veering away from museums in Metro Manila, we delve into Vinyl on Vinyl, which is an independent art gallery located in La Fuerza, Makati City. Its initial mission was to assist Avante Garde artists who wanted to join international competitions and have a platform in the local art scene, which was highly saturated with the mainstream. 

From the name itself, the gallery prides itself on being a space where art, toys, and music intersect. Works of art displayed in Vinyl on Vinyl are inspired by art movements such as pop surrealism, after-modernism,  post-internet, kinetic art, and avant-garde.

Vinyl on Vinyl is open on Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You need to book an appointment for your visit by contacting this number +63 945 833 3824. They strictly implement COVID-19 guidelines so patrons are required to wear their face masks and face shields at all times, as well as maintain social distancing measures while inside the premises. 

What do museums in Metro Manila and art exhibits teach and remind us?

These art exhibits, and galleries, and museums in Metro Manila house different kinds of art forms that remind us of many things. It makes us recall that we are talented and capable people with a strong and rich culture. It is important that we expose and familiarize ourselves with various works of art and we should learn to appreciate the talent and creativity of our fellow Filipinos. 

On the other hand, we also recognize the museum and art gallery to protect and preserve these works of art. Without them, we wouldn’t have learned the invaluable contributions of our artists. 

Speaking of structures that house precious works of art, all our luxury homes are also made to perfection by expert designers and engineers here at Brittany Corporation. Here, we make sure that there is beauty in every detail and we aim to deliver a luxurious experience to our clients. 

Brittany itself respects the beauty of art with its developments. As the pioneering brand for thematic developments, Brittany is inspired by worldly art and architecture, and that living in it makes you feel like you don’t have to visit the world museums but one can already be surrounded by it at their luxury homes. If you’re an avid art collector and have invested in some collections, they can be displayed and flaunted in the spacious luxury homes of Brittany! 

To learn more about the most beautiful houses in the Philippines, Brittany is the place to start.  Explore our properties and learn more about Brittany Corporation here.

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