The former 1908 Mansion House designed by architect Daniel Burnham as the home
for the American governor generals of the Philippines has been formally
opened as the Mansion Museum last September 8 by First Lady Irene Araneta Marcos.
Snapshots and keepsakes from past and present presidents allow the public a view of each leader’s contributions to history.
The guided tour is scheduled by the hour for groups of 20 beginning at 9 a.m. free of charge.
On Mondays and holidays, the presidential palace is closed. Tours can be arranged online for
out-of-town visitors to make sure they are accommodated.
In the main hall, gifts of ambassadors and different heads of state to President
Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. are exhibited in glass-covered tables.
According to the guides, these are only a few of the pieces from the many gifts already received at Malacañang Palace.
The portraits of the various Philippine presidents are displayed on the walls of the museum in chronological order. In the past, this was the only part of The Mansion that invited guests were allowed to access.
The rooms have been converted into exhibit areas of the different presidents and some
important memorabilia. The room of the president with the longest term, Ferdinand Marcos,
Sr., is by far the most impressive, with books and photos highlighting the late former president’s accomplishments filling the shelves and cabinets.
Incumbent President BBM’s room is understandably filled with the most contemporary memorabilia of his campaign and term. A standee is the unique feature in this part of the museum.
The sword given to former President Benigno Aquino Jr. is an interesting feature in his
showcase. The Philippine coin minted during the term of then-President Sergio Osmeña and the
stamps released at the time are important parts of our economy and mail system. Former
President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against drugs is presented as his historical milestone, while President Emilio Aguinaldo and President Manuel Quezon share a room with highlights of their terms commemorated as notes on the wall.
In one hallway, the portraits of the first ladies, past and present, are lined up. These make the wooden walls seem brighter as one moves to the other rooms. There is also a “merch” room for souvenirs from the tour which serve as mementos of the experience.
The guides at The Mansion are dressed in Filipiniana and barong Tagalogs to give the tour the
appropriate cultural ambience.
While on a tour of the museum, one can’t help but feel how knowing about the 17 presidents and their terms brings a sense of pride for how they shaped the nation into what it is today. The Mansion Museum magnifies this feeling with a 30-minute “glimpse” into the past.
