The National MuseumP Burgos Drive, Rizal Park, ManilaTuesdays to Sundays 10AM-5PM
Entrances Fee:Adults Php 150Senior Citizens Php 120 Students Php 50Free admission on Sundays
The entrance fee gives access to the following:National Art GalleryMuseum of the Filipino PeoplePlanetarium
Taking photos is allowed but no flash photography, commercial photography, videography, and tripods.
The National Art Gallery is housed in a grand old building that was originally designed to be a public library, then transformed into the Legislative Building. It was only in 2003 that the building was renovated to become the National Art Gallery.
There are eleven galleries in the National Art Gallery exhibiting the works of Juan Luna, Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, Jose Rizal, and Fernando Amorsolo, among others. Regrettably, I only had time to see to see one gallery and I chose to spend my very limited time in the Hall of the Masters.
In awe of SpoliariumTwo works of art that have been declared as National Cultural Treasures can be found in the Hall of the Masters: Juan Luna's Spoliarium and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo's La Tragedia de Gubernador Bustamante. Juan Luna's Spoliarium received a gold medal in the 1884 Madrid Exposition.
I know the Spoliarium is big, but I did not expect it to be that big. 4 meters by 7 meters! I just stood back, opened my eyes as wide as I could, and tried to take it all in. How I wish I had the whole day to spend at the National Art Gallery, but for the few minutes I had, I am glad to have spent it being dwarfed by Juan Luna's Spoliarium.
The National Museum:
National Art Gallery (you're here!)
Museum of the Filipino People (soon)
