Don’t forget your ID!
The National Museum of the Philippines-Cebu is one of the newest educational attractions in the Queen City of the South. It’s housed in the century-old Aduana building, which was originally Malacañang sa Sugbo. Plus, it’s conveniently located right across from Plaza Independencia and Fort San Pedro, both of which are historic landmarks in their own right!
Unlike its counterpart in Manila, this museum focuses specifically on artifacts from Cebu island and its surrounding seas. You’ll discover treasures from sunken ships, ceramics from Sugbo burial grounds, and so much more.
The best part? Admission is free for everyone! Just keep in mind that there are some rules and regulations to help preserve these incredible items for future generations; and here are some of them along with tips for your visit to our Sugbuanon museum:
Avoid bringing big or bulky bags
The museum is not equipped with a personal locker for your belongings, so it’s best for you to just opt to bring a small pouch that you can dangle infront of you. This rule is to make sure that accidents will be avoided at all costs since the items in the museum are valuable. Also, you will be required to leave your tumblers and umbrellas at the table near the entrance.
Pets are not allowed
Even if your dear furbaby is potty-trained or is wearing a diaper, or can be placed inside a tiny carrier bag, they are still not permitted to enter the museum premises.
No video recording
In the age of TikTok, it’s no wonder that even a 3-second clip using your own mobile phone is prohibited to be done inside the museum—to avoid accidentally toppling over the displays. In addition, professional cameras and recording devices are also not allowed to be brought inside, and, PLEASE KEEP YOUR PHONE FLASH OFF when taking photos as there are items in the museum which are considered light-sensitive.
No painting or crafting inside the museum
For artists like me, it can be tempting to bring your art materials to paint something that gets your interest, but, NO, you are not permitted to do so. This is in line with the intent to keep the premises clean and disruptions from foot traffic; you gotta keep the people walking or moving all throughout the museum for a good experience.
If you’re in a group of 20 or more, BOOK AHEAD
For individuals or small friend groups, booking in advance isn’t necessary, but keep in mind that the museum has a policy in place. You will need to line up, and the staff will count the number of guests before allowing entry. This is done to manage the crowd inside the museum. So, if your group has 20 or more people, be sure to book a specific time and date to ensure everyone can enter together.
Wear flat and comfortable shoes
On an average stroll around the museum, it can take you up to 1 hour if you’ll be examining each item and read each description. So, better choose to wear a comfortable set of footwear; leave the heels at home. In addition, the wooden floors are a tad bit too shiny, so, maybe choose a pair of shoes with rubber soles under it—I learned the hard way.
Do NOT touch the items
Keep your hands away from the items, better yet keep them behind you to lessen the urge of touching stuff. Also, most displays have designated “DO NOT CROSS” lines, so watch out for them to keep yourself out of trouble,
Detailed List of Prohibited Items
Gallery Information
There are FIVE galleries inside the museum that you can peruse and enjoy:
GALLERY 1: Kinaiyahan, Cebu’s Natural Wonders
The first gallery is centered around plants and animals, whether it’s from those that dwell on land, sea, or thrive on air. You can find unique and endemic species.
GALLERY 2: Ang Karaang Sugbo ug Ang Mga Kabiling Bahandi
Think burial items and everything that has been within the lands of the past Cebu. There are even maps and items that’ll bring you back in time before and during the colonization.
GALLERY 3: Paglawig: Cultural Movement Across the Seas
Ethnographic traditions in maritime history and industry are the focus on this gallery.
Gallery 4: Pagkaon
Gallery 4 is often allocated for feature exhibits, and this time, we were greeted by various photos of food that graced the Filipino and Sugboanon culture. From the tasty lechon to the crowd-favorite siomai and dimsum, up to the latest food photography trends, they’ve got it all.
Gallery 5: Ang Kamamugnaon ug Kinaadman ni Maestro Tinong
For fine arts enthusiasts and artists, gallery 5 is like heaven as it showcases the works of Martino “Tinong” Abellana, also known as the “Dean of Cebuano Painters.” It even has the last portrait that he made, which unfortunately was unfinished, along with his set of brushes and painting materials.
RATES & OTHER INFORMATION
RATES
- Entrance Fee – FREE
- Merchandise – Prices range from Php 60.00 and above depending on the item (keychains, tumblers, mugs, shirts, tote bags, and many more)
OTHER INFORMATION
- Opening Days: Tuesday to Sunday
- Operating Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (NO LUNCH BREAK)
- Last Call for Guest Entry: 4:30 PM
- Contact Number: 0919 077 9877
- Email Address: [email protected]
- Website: nationalmuseum.gov.ph
- Facebook Page: https://web.facebook.com/nmpcebu
HOW TO GET THERE?
Exact Location: Former Malacañan sa Sugbo (Old Customs House), A. Pigafetta St., Cebu City, Cebu City, Philippines
- By Commute: Take a jeepney going to Plaza Independencia Cebu. Once you arrive there, walk heading to the right side of the Plaza, facing the entrance of Fort San Pedro. In just about 2 minutes, you’ll find yourself facing the National Museum a.k.a the Malacanan sa Sugbo.
- By Car: Navigate via Waze or Google Maps and pin “National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu”
