Project Must See: Museums in Metro Manila, Philippines

I have been living in the city for as long as I could remember, and in Manila alone there are so many places I haven't been to or explored. Travel and discovery, I believe, are innate qualities of my being. I may be an introvert, perhaps even bordering to becoming a social hermit, but the opportunity to explore hole-in-the-wall establishments, cultural hubs and art exhibitions always excites me. Through exposure you learn and get insights. And most importantly, you gain inspiration, even from those that most would consider as mundane. Creativity and inspiration are ideas that always seem to be beyond one's grasp but at times, especially when our minds are clouded. Through selective conditioning and unrealistic expectations, we fail to see any sort of redeeming beauty in the "ugliest" of places. 

To travel and explore the community you live in is a path one navigates to discover your own history, and discovering your place and the part you play in your community. Metro Manila is the center of commerce; the most populous city in the Philippines. One can be disheartened and discouraged to explore the city because of the impending traffic, noise and air pollution combined. However, as Carlos Celdran, an artist and cultural activist, puts it in is TED Talks, " If you can't find beauty and poetry in Manila, you'll never find it anywhere."

Watch Carlos Celdran TEDx here: 

With this in mind, I am planning my  "walk this way" of Manila. Here are my pitstops for the month of August: 

1.  Revisiting Vargas Museum

Where: Roxas Avenue, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City  

Operating hours: Tuesday to Saturday, closed on most holidays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Museum fee: Php 20.00 for UP students, alumni, faculty and employees, PhP 30.00 for everyone else; entrance is free every Wednesday for UP students, alumni, faculty and employees.

2. Ayala Museum 

Where: Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Greenbelt Park, Makati City 
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Museum fee: P225 for adults, P125 for students, senior citizens, and Makati residents

3. Yuchengco Museum 

Where: RCBC Plaza corner Ayala and Senator Gil Puyat Avenues, Makati

Operating hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Museum fee: P100 for adults; P50 for students; P25 for children and senior citizens

4. Revisiting National Museum 

Where: Padre Burgos Drive, Manila, Philippines 

Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Museum fee: P150 for adults; P120 for senior citizens; P50 for students; free admissions on Sundays

5. Metropolitan Museum 

Where: BSP Complex, Roxas Blvd, Malate, Manila

Operating hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Gold and Pottery Galleries, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Museum fee: P100 for adults and children above three years old; P80 for senior citizens

Let us explore the what Manila has to offer! 

Keeping it real.- PJV 

Why See Art? Commercial Art Gallery vs. Museum

JONAS ESLAO - Apex Predator (June 6 - 27, 2015), BLANC GALLERY 

Experiencing artwork in person gives us a sense of the true magnitude of a creation made with skill and dedication. Generally there are two places that people can visit to view actual art, a museum or a commercial art gallery. But what are the main differences between an art gallery and a museum? Generally an art gallery is a privately owned business and their business is funded by the sale of art objects.

JONAS ESLAO - Apex Predator (June 6 - 27, 2015), BLANC GALLERY

Jonas Eslao
O.C.S. (Operation Clean Slate)
24 x 48 inches
Acrylic on Canvas
2015
BLANC GALLERY

Thus its primary purpose is to sell the pieces on display. Art galleries do not maintain a permanent collection, they rotate their pieces to display works by one or several artists at a time. Commercial galleries generally do not charge admission to encourage more visitors to view their works in hopes of making a sale.

JULIUS REDILLAS - Fable (June 6 - 27, 2015), BLANC GALLERY

JULIUS REDILLAS - Fable (June 6 - 27, 2015), BLANC GALLERY

Museums on the other hand are geared towards displaying artwork for public viewing and consumption. Their mandate covers an array of services focused on providing society a means to access works of art and to educate people. Art museums are tasked with collecting, preserving, and protecting art for future generations. The government often funds them, though its not uncommon for the museum to receive donations from private donors, foundations and companies. In short, they are tasked with acquisition of historical and cultural treasures.

Don Dalmacio
PERSPECTIVES BELOW SEA LEVEL
60 x 48 inches
Acrylic on Canvas
2015 
BLANC GALLERY

So why go to an art gallery or to a museum? Firstly, the gallery is a place where an artist is usually present when their creations are on display. This allows for an exchange ideas and a chance to build a community with art dealers, patrons, and even other aspiring artists. There is a vast different between actually experiencing art and getting to discuss with an artist in person, as opposed to just looking at photographs on social media or a website. If you are looking to view art with the intent of purchasing, then the art gallery is the best place for you to look.

Don Dalmacio
STILL-LIFE PAINTING IN THE AGE OF SYNTHETIC PLANTS
60 x 96 inches
Acrylic on Canvas
2015
BLANC GALLERY

We can easily view art on books, magazines, or websites, so why go to a museum? As opposed to an art gallery, people can’t purchase the collections on display. A museum is a place of reverence and reflection, and people most often go there for personal reasons. Going to the museum is an activity of leisure, a place where one can choose to calm or stir the soul. A museum is a place for explorers and experience seekers. It is a place where educators can facilitate learning, for the tourist to view iconic pieces of a culture or nation, or for the photographer to learn more about his craft while using art as his or her subjects. Most importantly, a museum is a place where one can “recharge” themselves, being a place to ‘get away from it all”. A visit to a museum is spiritual; where one isn’t bombarded by commercialism or artificial sensations. It’s the equivalent of visiting a place of natural wonder, only that a supreme being isn’t the author of creation, but other human beings, much like us.

Photography by Carlo Cayabyab

Keeping it real.- PJV