Seair InFlight Feature: A Manileño's Manila Part 4 with Yael Fernandez

When the Department of Tourism embarked on a project to find and train a new generation of guides, more than a hundred people applied. Some 51 were interviewed and only 24 applicants qualified for the Mabuhay Guides Foundation Course, and Yael Fernandez, was one of the applicants who succeeded and passed the course, giving her one of the highest qualifications usually afforded a UK professional tour guide. She now works for Mabuhay Guides and reveals to us some of her favorite spots in Manila.  To contact Yael, call +63901/ 928 2512 or email yaeltf@yahoo.com

Yael recommends:

MALACANANG MUSEUM - Located at the heart of the Malacañang Palace Complex, at the Old Executive Building built in 1920. Moving from one exhibit to the next is like leafing through the pages of Philippine political history – from the Spanish era displays at the Old Reception Room Gallery to the EDSA People Power Revolution mementoes at the East Staircase Gallery. The Gallery of Presidents of the Philippines at the Main Hall on the second floor with its huge collection that includes official state gifts to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a must visit. Try out Dy’s “Power, Palace and a shot of Beer” tour covering Malacañang Palace Museum, San Miguel Mansion Row, Plaza Liga Anti-Imperialista, Legarda Mansion and Basilica de San Sebastian. Due to the Palace security procedures, you have to book at least five days in advance.   

Tour is on weekdays only. For public visitors, a regular fee of P50 is charged; visits are strictly by appointment only; fax the Director, Malacañang Museum at +632/ 784 4286 loc. 4722

BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS MUSEUM - A visit to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Money Museum is a walk through of a number of galleries dedicated to periods in the country’s history, with a narrative relating the development of the Philippine economy parallel to the evolution of its currency. The museum also showcase select paintings from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas art collection as well as artifacts. On permanent display are collections of coins, paper notes, artifacts and monetary items found in the Philippines during different historical periods. Yael recommends seeing the gold collection located in the basement.  

Bangko ng Sentral ng Pilipinas is located at A. Mabini cor. P. Ocampo St., Malate, Tel: +632/5247011.

AYALA MUSEUM - For over forty years, its handcrafted dioramas continue to impress visitors but the Ayala Museum really has so much more to offer. For the price of admission alone, the Maritime Vessels collection of finely crafted ship models paying tribute to ancient boats is worth every peso you pay. Add to that the museum’s fine arts collection, a veritable trove of priceless masterpieces which includes paintings by Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo, and Fernando Zobel, representing Philippine art from the late nineteenth to the twentieth century.  Not to miss is the People Power Revolution live exhibit, retelling the story of the country coming together in the 80s to overthrow the oppressive Marcos regime, a revolution that held the world spellbound and restored the Filipino people’s dignity.  

Museum hours from Tuesday to Friday: 9am-6pm; weekends: 10am-70m; closed on Mondays • Artist Space is open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm; weekends: 10am-7pm • 3rd Floor Shop is open during gallery hours, Tuesday to Friday: 9am-6pm; weekends: 10am-7pm

To read the other parts of this Manileño's Manila series, click here: Part 1, Part 2 with Carlos Celdran or Part 3 with Ivan Man Dy.

To read more about Lagalog's Malacañang Museum experience, go here.

Attribution: Article culled from Seair InFlight Magazine February-March 2010 issue • All text and photos by Oggie Ramos • Layout and art direction by Jocas A. See.  For subscriptions, call (+632) 840280