Beautiful place perfect for students and adults to learn and unwind. I recommend for anyone to…read morecheck out with good photo opportunities and experience something new

Art in Island is a beautiful museum. Featuring an assortment of interactive art and an exhibition…read morearea, there is something for every age and every art lover. Some optical illusions of famous work, shadow walls, a state of the art 360 viewing room, and 3D pieces make this place a phenomenal way to spend a few hours. They have nursing rooms and a lovely cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. Oh yeah, wear sox or you will have to buy some; there are no shoes allowed.

I first found out about the School of Design and Arts' Museum of Contemporary Art and Design when I…read moregot lost while looking for the bathroom. I opened the wrong door and - voila! - there's a naked dude pretending to be a statue (not naked naked, he had a sort of a tea cozy on his equipment because this was still a Catholic school), among other exhibitions. I learned that day that the College of Saint Benilde had its own museum, and that the exhibits were mostly occupied by the students of the School of Design and Arts, as well as the occassional famous person. I thought it was really cool, and I ended up getting a selfie with the naked dude statue because why the hell not.

MCAD is a really beautiful space for art. I'm not sure the students at Benilde, La Salle, and St…read more Scho know how lucky they are to be in such close proximity to a gallery that, though still pretty young, manages to hold beautiful, interesting exhibits of artists from all over. The last show I've seen was the one-man exhibit of Paul Pfeiffer, entitled Vitruvian Figure, and there has not been a better use of MCAD's hugeness in a while. Recreations of the Philippine arena, a moving image of a sunrise/sunset, and a dark theater screening of a spoken word choir performance echoing the video installations outside really drove the point home of how greatly the museum space elevates the art housed within it. What's great too is that they involve the CSB student body by giving some the opportunity to be mediators and engage visitors by speaking about the works and answering questions about them. It's a pretty cool thing, as it allows people to have a more personal exchange with the works there. I'm glad they've gotten their own entrance along one of the side roads now. Though I fear for the open shelving they have as their bag deposit, it does open the museum a little more to the public. MCAD brims with so much possibility and I look forward to my next visit.

Spending an afternoon at the National Museum of the Philippines turned out to be one of the most…read morefascinating ways I could have learned more about my husband's country of birth. And honestly, I was not fully prepared for just how vast and layered Philippine history actually is. The National Museum complex is enormous and covers multiple museums and collections ranging from natural history, anthropology, archaeology, fine arts, indigenous cultures, colonial history, biodiversity, and the many different regions and peoples that make up the Philippines. Walking through the exhibits, you quickly realize the Philippines is not just "one culture," but a massive tapestry of languages, traditions, histories, and influences shaped by centuries of trade, migration, colonization, resistance, and survival. One of the most famous highlights inside the museum system is Juan Luna's *Spoliarium*, an enormous and emotionally powerful painting considered one of the greatest treasures of Filipino art and nationalism. Even tourists unfamiliar with Philippine history usually stop in awe when they see the sheer scale of it in person. Outside the museum, I was especially fascinated by the massive "Tree of Life" structure inside the National Museum of Natural History. It stretches dramatically upward through the center of the building and symbolizes the incredible biodiversity and interconnected ecosystems found throughout the Philippine islands. It is honestly one of the most visually striking museum interiors I've seen anywhere. Now, fair warning: If you visit during school hours, prepare yourself for children. Children everywhere. Apparently Filipino schools absolutely love bringing students here for field trips, and during our visit there were enormous groups of excited students moving through nearly every section of the museum. Honestly though, it was actually kind of heartwarming seeing so many kids actively engaged and learning about their own country's history. The museum itself is very large, and once you start walking, you are going to be walking quite awhile. One small complaint I did have was the lack of seating areas throughout some sections. At a certain point my husband and I found ourselves quietly scanning corners for open benches like exhausted archaeological explorers searching for buried treasure. Still, the experience was absolutely worth it. I loved wandering through the exhibits with my husband, listening to him explain little pieces of Filipino culture and history to me while I absorbed it all through fresh eyes. It felt less like simply visiting a museum and more like gaining a deeper understanding of a country and people I have grown to love deeply myself. The Philippines truly is a beautiful country -- not just in scenery, but in history, resilience, culture, and spirit. And this museum does a wonderful job reminding visitors of that.

During our travels in the Philippines, we made the most of our time visiting the cultural gems…read moreManila has to offer with the National Museum being one of them. My non-Filipino husband was interested in learning about my heritage which inspired my cousin to put together a day trip to the museum. The National Museum is comprised of multiple buildings which are: *The National Museum of Fine Arts *The National Museum of Anthropology *The National Museum of Natural History All are within the same compound but if you plan to visit all 3 buildings be prepared to wear comfortable shoes fit for a day's worth of walking. I also recommend bringing a bottle of water if you can. The museums are free to the public and we managed to visit two out of the three buildings (Fine Arts and Anthropology). We briefly visited the Fine Arts building and were impressed by the massive murals steps within entering. The most moving and impressive works come from one of the country's renowned painters, Juan Luna. His masterpiece, Spoilarium, is one not to miss. It was also interesting to read up on his life which oddly had a dark and ill-fated twist. The Anthropology building has fascinating curated material with discovered relics spanning the country. Some of the oldest material on exhibit dates from 5 BC. Currently artifacts continue to be uncovered/donated and the collection perpetually grows. Overall, the Anthropology museum was our favorite. We left very impressed with the exhibits. Aside from the common touristy things to do, don't discount the National Museum. The information and history behind each piece will leave you culturally enriched.

"...because nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic about stuff... Nerds are…read moreallowed to love stuff, like jump-up-and-down-in-the-chair-can't-control-yourself love it. When people call people nerds, mostly what they're saying is 'you like stuff.' Which is just not a good insult at all. Like, 'you are too enthusiastic about the miracle of human consciousness'." -John Green I'm a nerd, plain and simple. And it sucks that there isn't a lot of support or a definite community for people like me in the Philippines. Finding a Doctor Who fan in this country is like trying to find a Dingdong Dantes fan in Africa. And my heart breaks every year that I don't get to go to the San Diego Comic Con. So when I found out that there's such a thing as a toy museum in Manila, I jumped at the chance to see what's inside. I basically dragged my girlfriend over to Manila Ocean Park and ogled the rather small but still awesome collection for hours. Stormtroopers! The Fellowship! The Iron Throne! Smeagol! They're all here! Remember that scene in This is the End when they're in heaven and they're told that they can wish for anything, and they wished for a Backstreet Boys reunion? I'd wish to be surrounded by these toys (ehem, action figures) and maybe that Backstreet Boys reunion too.

If you're a fan of comic book superheroes, the Star Wars franchise, and the epic fantasy adventure…read moreLord of the Rings, this museum is for you. The Amazing Stories of Yexel's Museum features life-sized interpretations of various superheroes and fantasy characters. My favorite part of the collection is the Iron Man Room that is a replica of Tony Stark's "walk-in closet". The Tony Stark groupie in me puked rainbows when I realized that I'm surrounded by different powered armors (general purpose and specialized!). There's also an autographed replica of the Arc Reactor. Too much awesomeness in one room, I tell you! The Star Wars collection is another favorite of mine. A room filled with Stormtroopers awaiting Darth Vader's orders-- one can almost hear the Imperial March, not to mention Darth Vader's raspy breathing! I hope they add some members of the Rebel Alliance to the collection though. A life-sized Chewbacca, or even Yoda, would be perfection.

₽100 per person for the entrance fee which hats must be taken off. The museum opens at 10am and I…read moregave myself about an 1.5 hours to view the exhibits. You can take photos of the art without flash except the rococo painting by the restrooms. On Tuesday's it's there is no cost to enter.

Nice little museum, thought provoking and a window to the socio economic and political climate of…read morethe Philippines over the past few decades. More importantly a very profound picture of the Filipino psyche in regards to government, church, religion and general everyday life. If you visit Manila, do not pass here without going in for a couple of hours.

One of the perks of working with kids is that you have an excuse to never really grow up into a…read moreboring adult. (Yes mom, I am playing with this totally awesome Legos, but I'm just doing it to internalize my role as a facilitator of a highly sophisticated inter-locking brick system in my place of work. *rolls eyes*) So yay for college friends! And yay for understanding that sometimes, all we need is a field trip WITHOUT STUDENTS! Extra yay for Philippine Science Centrum! PROS: Cheap entrance fees; Close to other establishments like restaurants and shoe stores; Interesting displays and experiments! My favorites were the optical illusions, kinetic machines, and the seesaws and swings. I also liked knowing that on the grand scheme of things, I weigh like 20 pounds if I'm on the moon. Better start getting that NASA training. CONS: Not all displays are available, and some parts are closed for renovation. TL;DR: It is a museum and educational playground all in one. A recommended experience for kids and kids in adult bodies.

I live near the Philippine Science Centrum pero nakakaloka kasi after 2_ years (ayaw umamin sa…read moreedad) ko lang nalaman na may ganito pala sa amin! Huli na naman ako sa balita! Kaya ko lang siya napuntahan kasi I volunteered sa isang foundation tapos dito yung venue ng field trip with the kids! For P130.00/adult, sulit na siyang libutin around 1 1/2 hours! Maraming areas para makadiscover ng mga bagay-bagay tapos feeling mo ikaw si Dexter sa Dexter's Laboratory dito! Nakakatalino! Nakakabata! (Mas gusto ko yung nakakabata kesa sa nakakatalino talaga eh hahaha) Hindi lang air-con yung centrum girl pero choosy ka pa ba sa halagang isang daan sulit pa rin yan! (BAKIT AKO GALIT HAHAHA) Aamin na ako na ito yung isa sa mga trip kong dates eh. Yung enjoy lang, nagpapaka-isip bata tapos may ka-holding hands at kaakbay ka lang. PUNTA AKONG CENTRUM PARA LUMANDI. Choz! Hahaha! Pero date or not, pang-pamilya, pang-field trip o kaya pwede rin dito ka magmuni-muni kung bakit loveless ka pa rin ate. You can't buy happiness sabi nila pero dito sa halagang P130, parang nabili mo na rin yung happiness mo kaya love ko ang Philippine Science Centrum! MAY DRAMA SA ENDING TALAGA

The Ateneo Art Gallery is often visited by students from different universities in Manila. It is…read morethe first museum of Philippine modern art in the Philippines. It features famous art works from great contemporary artists, who are generous enough to lend their creations. The collections change every month and exhibitions and events are held there every year. My favorite time to visit the Ateneo Art Gallery is when I'm waiting for my friends to finish their classes. It's a great time for me to appreciate the works being displayed there and to finally be free from all the noise in campus. I'm not a huge fan of artworks, but in the Art Gallery I get to think and be alone for a while. When I'm with my friends, we often visit the Art Gallery to see if there's a new collection on display. When we're in the mood to do something shameless, we just pose with some really cool art and have a mini photo shoot (hehe).

My favorite part of studying in Ateneo is the Ateneo Art Gallery. Thankfully, I was given the…read moreopportunity to become an intern there, and the way the staff chooses and handles the art is wonderful to witness. The collections and exhibits that come in are truly beautiful, and even those who are completely clueless about art like I am can go in and marvel at all the beauty of it. The security guard at the table is also the nicest one I've ever met. You leave your bags with him while you view the exhibit, and he makes sure that no one gets your bag while it's left unattended. The gallery is very quiet, since the library and thesis archives are on the floor above, so it makes it the perfect place to walk and contemplate your day, or sit down and talk with a friend. I've had a lot of 3-hour conversations on the floor with my best friends in that gallery, contemplating failing grades or stressing out over life in general. It's also a great place to study, as there's a small reading area behind the guard's desk where you can sit and read the various books on art and art history the gallery office holds, or revel in the quiet and do some homework or studying. The gallery offers tours every so often, and entrance is free for Ateneo students, although I'm not sure if it's free as well to outsiders. Needless to say, the experience is worth it, especially if there's a particularly riveting exhibit on display! One particular exhibit that comes to mind was an ocean-themed one. It was held in a dark room where you could see projections of the ocean, and hear the sound of waves and stormy thunder. In fact, the Ateneo Art Gallery does its job so well that every exhibit is a joy to behold, so come in any time if you're in the mood to marvel at all the wonderful art.