It was my dream when I was a child to visit a palace. This became a reality when we had our Malacanang fam tour with the other ITATOA members last December 5, 2022. Yes, I am referring to the prestigious Malacanang Palace, where the President of the Philippines resides. To my surprise, it is accessible to the public FREE of charge, but it must be requested and scheduled accordingly. Every visitor must also be approved by the PSG.
The Malacanang Palace
The Malacanang Palace has been the official home and workplace of the President of the Philippines 🇵🇭 since 1935. It was constructed by the government of the Philippines in the 1800s.
The Location
It is situated in the Old Manila district of San Miguel.
The Security in the Palace
The Malacanang Palace is one of the safest places in the country, since it is guarded 24/7 by the PSG (Presidential Security Group).
- The palace is armored on all external surfaces (bomb-proof and bullet-proof)
- No boat or ship can cross the river across from Malacanang without a clearance.
- For the museum tour, you need to fill out a form and submit a copy of your valid ID and vaccination certificate. Each guest will undergo a background check prior to being allowed to take part in the museum tour.
- When you enter the palace, you are only allowed to carry a bag not exceeding the A4 size of a bond paper.
- Cameras are allowed for photos inside the room, but snapshots that would capture any of the gates in the background and in the hallway are prohibited due to safety and security measures.
Though we wish to explore the palace, the Malacanang Museum and Library is the only part open to the public. Before entering the museum, a staff came to check our valid IDs. Because we couldn’t help but take pictures, we were continually reminded not to include the gates in the background.
The Malacanang Museum and Library
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The Malacanang Museum is located within the Kalayaan Hall, which is the former Maharlika building. As you enter the building, you will marvel at its grandeur and elegance. It features polished floors, high ceilings, sparkling chandeliers, ornate woodwork and capiz windows. It has six (6) state rooms and three (3) historical rooms where you will find the archives of former presidents.
The Museum Tour
The museum presents interesting historical facts and fascinating memorabilia about former presidents and leaders of the Philippines 🇵🇭 since 1899.
The Main Gallery
The first room we visited contains presidential mementos, paintings, and state gifts.
The Quezon Room
- This is the official office of the president from the time of President Manuel Quezon to President Ferdinand Marcos.
- The room features a crystal chandelier and the first air-conditioned room in the Philippines.
- This is the room where Ferdinand Marcos proclaimed the Martial Law.
The centerpiece of the room is the old presidential desk, where presidents from Quezon to Marcos used.
Hubby and I had the opportunity to pose beside the chair , where the most powerful leaders in the Philippines sat on.
The Roxas Room
Opposite Quezon room is Roxas room, which was named in honor of President Roxas in 2003. This was used primarily by Roxas for his cabinet meetings.
This also served as the Vice President’s Office until martial law in 1972.
The Main Hall
This is the highlight of the guided Malacanang museum tour.
- First Lady Imelda Marcos renovated and converted the eight guest rooms into a grand room in 1968, calling it the Maharlika Hall.
- Today, it is the main room of the Presidential Museum and the Library that displays the memorabilia of former presidents. Items like their clothes, shoes, letters were exhibited for public viewing.
The most remarkable of the state gifts on display are two works of art: a classical nude sculpture carved in solid marble and a large oil mural by a European artist.
My Recommendation
I highly recommend the Malacanang tour to schools, as it would be a great help for Araling Panlipunan teachers. Of course, students will enjoy this instead of listening to the regular lecture. This can be coordinated by the school directly with the Malacanang Museum and Library or you may also contact a travel agency to arrange this for you (with an additional cost).
How to schedule for a Malacanang Museum Tour
As I’ve mentioned earlier, it’s absolutely FREE to book a tour to Malacanang Museum, but is subject to approval.
For inquiries, you may contact the museum here:
☎️ (632) 784 4286 loc 4649/4945
📧 pml@malacanang.gov.ph / malacanangmuseum@gmail.com
“History is not the past, but a map of the past, drawn from a particular point of view, to be useful to the modern traveller.”
Henry Glassie, US historian (1941- )
I hope you liked this post. Tripsdiary doesn’t offer this travel package yet, but I will try to create a package if you will request. I will share more of my activities and travel adventures soon. Maligayang Pasko sa inyong lahat!!!
Love,
