Casa Manila Museum, Intramuros

One Sunday afternoon in March, after hearing mass and having lunch with the family, my sister and I decided to head to Intramuros for more museum visits. It was already past 4 P.M when we reach the Manila Cathedral. We parked in a vacant lot near it and decided to walk on the cobblestones to explore the area. 

Just across the renowned San Agustin Church is the Casa Manila Museum. It is the replica of an old mansion with colonial Spanish architecture. Its affluent owners filled their adobe with elegant pieces of furniture, intricate wood carvings and various refineries reminiscent of the era. 

Visitors are only allowed to walk on the red carpet and should avoid touching anything. It was mid afternoon, the sun was bright and the interiors were a bit dim. So pardon the low quality of my pictures which were taken using my iPhone (no, it is merely an iPhone 6 and not the really expensive, newly released iPhone 11!)

Entrance to Casa Manila

Facade

Bedroom for the unmarried female member of the family

Sala/Receiving area where the family can play the piano or the harp

Altar

I noticed the elaborate wood carvings design near the ceiling

Large dining table with the 'fan' hanging over it. The servants would pull
a string so it would sway to keep the flies away from the food.

There was a whole cabinet of porcelain dining ware sets

Kalan or cement stove for baking bread

Pots, pans and cooking materials

Banera or bathtub for bathing.

Dual toilets so two people can use it together.
I don't know about you but I prefer to be alone
when I do my business LOL

A fountain in the courtyard

Souvenir shop and the stairs leading to the back of the house

After we were done with the museum, because it was a really humid day, we had halo halo and fresh fruit shake at Barbara's small cafe. It also has a restaurant which is mostly catered by tourists as it also features some cultural dances and local cuisine. Returning to the car, we passed by this monument. It was my first time to see it up close because we usually just drive by it. I was awed with its significance.

Casa Manila Museum

Entrance Fee: 75 pesos

Opening Hours: 9 AM - 6 PM

Closed on Mondays

Nearby Attractions: San Agustin Church & Museum, Bahay Tsinoy

March 22, 2019: Museum of Fine Arts (Part 3)

In the short two hours, we had to explore as much as we could. Now looking back on our visit, there are two art works which are my favorite, among all the masterpieces, we saw.

(1)  Carlos "Botong" Francisco's "Filipino Struggles Through History"

In the old Senate Session hall, there are a series of large panels which showcases several important events in our history. The historical snippets are vivid, colorful and very detailed. No wonder, his last masterpiece (completed a few months before his death) was declared a National Cultural Treasure. Housed inside the august old Session Hall whose design is an architectural feat, the murals are well lighted, and very pleasing to the eyes. Since it was commissioned, the paintings went through a lot and this article narrates its saga.

(2) Leonardo Cruz: 28 paintings depicting Jose Rizal's "Noli Me Tangere"

Okay, I read Noli Me Tangere when I was in high school, years ago. I believe it was required so my interest was perfunctory. 

My high school days were tough. We had just returned back home. I couldn't and didn't speak Tagalog so I was an oddity. I was supposed to be enrolled in first year high school, but for some reason I was put in Grade 7. I failed my Filipino subject so my parents had to hire a tutor for my shortcomings. Ooops, sorry I got sidetracked. I have no idea why posting about Rizal's novel brought me back to a dark chapter in my life. 

Years later, I end up marrying a History professor who also teaches Rizal courses so I can always ask him anything about our National Hero. Lucky me! This is why I was so mesmerized with Cruz's paintings. His vision of the characters added so much clarity to my murky memory of the "Noli Me Tangere".

We only had 2 hours to explore the National Museum of Fine Arts, but we covered a lot of galleries. Manong guard was right. There were some halls colder than others but it was more or less tolerable. Cool enough to enjoy touring without sweating. 

Entrance is free.

Closed on Mondays.

Opening hours: 10:00 A.M - 5:00 P.M. 

Nearby museums: National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of Anthropology. 

March 22, 2019: National Museum of Fine Arts (Part 2)

After basking in the glory of Juan Luna's Spoliarium, it was time to explore the various galleries. The hallways leading to the different exhibits were lined with intricate sculptures. 

There are many paintings from renowned artists like Vicente Manansala, Carlos "Botong" Francisco, Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo and several others. All sorts, from portraits, landscapes, religious themed to pages from our colorful history.

"The Boat of Charon" by Felix R. Hidalgo is inspired by
Dante Alighieri's "Inferno"

Mass after planting of the first Cross by Vicente Manansala.
This Cross, symbolizes the start of Christianity in our country
and can still be found in Cebu. 

Manansala paints Magellan giving a statue of the Santo Nino
to Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon. This relic can still be found in the
altar of the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino in Cebu.

There is an entire hall featuring many paintings of Jose Rizal as well as his own sculptures. 

"St. Paul the First Hermit" - terra cotta sculpture by Rizal,
in Dapitan, Zamboanga /1893

"A Mother's Revenge" - terra cotta sculpture by Rizal,
Dapitan in Zamboanga /1894

This piece by Leonardo Cruz is his vision of
Rizal's "Noli Me Tangere".

A section is also dedicated to our indigenous sector. Wares, statuettes, weaved tapestry comprised this small hall.