It all began when I saw on social media that there's a newly opened museum in Cebu City. This museum used to be an old Malacañang sa Sugbo but got renovated into a museum. It piqued my interest, and as I scrolled through the comments, I found out that it's just a short walk from my school, so it's very close.
Therefore, without any hesitation, I invited my classmates for a museum date, and we decided that we should go there since it also offers free entrance. We just have to present our school ID, and voilà, we can now explore what's inside!
So, are you one of those people, like me, who love museum dates? Who loves to have first-hand experiences of our own culture? Who want to go back in the past? Who want to discover something relevant and new? Hang in there, everyone, and come with me on a date to the new National Museum of the Philippines!
National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu is located at 7WR3+PQ6, A. Pigafetta Street, Cebu City. As I've mentioned, it's an old Malacañang in Cebu that used to be the Philippines president's residence in Visayas. Now, it's turned into a museum for cultural preservation and tourism purposes. As of now, the admission fee is free to all. Hence, you can discover different artworks, culture, and treasures without paying even one cent. Now, here, I'll give you a sneak peek of what's inside the museum.
Nature/Creatures
Rafflesia Manillana
This is Rafflesia manillana, one of the smallest known Rafflesia with a flower that spans 15-20 cm in diameter. I haven't seen this kind of flower this present time, and honestly, I only got to know that such a beautiful flower exists after the museum visit.
This is the Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Philippines, the neighboring island of Cebu. It's a very popular tourist spot that is usually on the bucket list of Filipinos, and especially foreigners. Bohol is also one of the greatest places in the Philippines that has so much more to offer when it comes to adventures, attractions, and beautiful spots.
Cebu Tamaraw
This sculpture is definitely well-detailed and realistic. To provide you with more background regarding the Cebu tamaraw, here is a description that was noted below the statuette.
The Cebu tamaraw, scientifically known as Bubalus cebuensis, is an extinct species of dwarf water buffalo. This herbivore lived on the island of Cebu probably between 10,000 and 100,000 years ago-during the Pleistocene (Last Ice Age)-or perhaps as recently as a few thousand years ago. Standing only 75 cm (2.5 ft) at the shoulder and weighing about 150-165 kg. it was even smaller than another Philippine dwarf species, the living tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis), which is endemic to the island of Mindoro. Despite being miniature, B. cebuensis was robust in stature and had large teeth and feet relative to the size of its body.
Coastal Treasures/Artifacts
This is Pawikan, or in English, the Hawksbill Sea Turtle. We all know what this is, but to provide you with some trivia, the description here states that:
The Eretmochelys imbricato or commonly known as Hawksbill Sea Turtles is a critically endangered species found near the coastlines of most tropical countries. It has a distinct brownishyellow, heart-shaped carapace and sharp thinned end of the head resembling a beak of a bird thus its name "hawksbill". In comparison with other sea turtles, the hawksbill is not that large but can grow up to 45 inches in length and can weigh up to 150 pounds. It primarily feeds on sponges, anemones, fishes, and sea urchins. Their population is rapidly declining due to illegal poaching especially their eggs which are still eaten as a delicacy in some parts of the world and are threatened by being accidentally caught in fishing gear.
These boats represent the different municipalities in Cebu, where many beautiful beaches can be found, and also where many people make a living through fishing.
Arts/Crafts
If ever you do not know, Filipinos are known for weaving, which we call 'paghahabi.' Handloom weaving is a cherished tradition among the Filipino people and is an integral part of our cultural heritage.
Antiques/Treasures
My museum dates♡
These are my classmates, at the same time friends, who I've been with in visiting the National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu. We all had a great time being there, and we're looking forward to more get-togethers like this with my girlfriends.
Moreover, this is such a wonderful adventure. It has not just given me inner child healing but has also improved my overall well-being. It's commendable for everyone who wants to be stress-free while learning at the same time.
Thank you, dear Hivers, for going on a date with me. I hope you all enjoyed it. I always appreciate you for once again, reaching this far, lending some of your precious time reading my blog. Thank you once again, and catch you on my next blog! (◍•ᴗ•◍)❤