Ayala Museum, Makati

Established in the 1960's the Ayala Museum is one of the best museums in the country and set in the heart of Makati. Among the exhibits you will find are 60 hand made dioramas which portray events in Philippine history. Another exhibition is the Boat Gallery where replicas of many boats which have visited the country are displayed. There are Chinese junks, Spanish Galleons, and Arabian Baghalas on display. There is also a few exhibitions of works from Filipino artists. There is also a shop where you can buy some souvenirs, coffee table books to remind you of your visit.

This Museum is very easy to find. It is located right at the corner of Makati Avenue and Dela Rosa Street in Makati.

It has four levels, each with a special display and set up. My favorite is the GOLD OF ANCESTORS display on the 4th floor. Right now they also have a display of the clothes of the 19th century Filipinos. The clothes are very intricately imbroidered. A lot of pieces come on loan from the Leiden Museum of Ethnology. The Museum also hosts lectures by imminent historians, architects, designers, artists, etc. in the premises. It is worth checking out their website to see what activities they have during your visit. For local visitors, a visit to this museum is a good way to spend a Saturday morning. :)

Other than looking around the main body of the Museum, their shops are very nice to visit too. They have interesting merchandize which are good pasalubongs and you can also buy hard to find books there. The Museum Cafe is located right accross the Museum entrance. The serve good coffee. :) I guess the food is also good but I wasn't able to try it because it was too early for me.

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The Ayala Museum is a brainchild of Filipino abstract painter Fernando Zobel. It was established under the auspices of the Ayala Foundation, Inc. in 1967. Starting as a small museum of Philippine history (featuring intricate dioramas) and iconography, Ayala Museum became a bigger museum of history and fine arts at the close of the 20th century.

The works of Fernando Zobel, alongside with the paintings of Philippine famous artists Juan Luna and Fernando Amorsolo make up the fine arts collection. Art pieces in various media (textiles, trade ceramics and archeological gold arifacts) covers a millenium of cultural contacts of the Philippines and other countries in Asia and Europe.

Exhibitions of contemporary art are also regularly scheduled.

Ayala Museum is a favorite destination of students for their field trips and cultural immersion.

As in other museums, picture taking is not allowed inside.

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Okay, I won't give a lengthy description...just go to their official website by clicking this line.

I love going to this place because I always learn a lot about our history and I could buy several memorabilia here. This is a place where I can really appreciate art and just across it is a wonderful, wonderful cafe (just wait for my review about the Art shop & cafe later...)

The building is also fantastic...at least through my eyes and at night (I haven't captured it well), I love the way the colors change.

Please visit this place when you're in Makati... =)

Get a glimpse of the history of the Philippines by viewing the 60 sets of dioramas which featured wood carvings of Filipino artisans. The dioramas showcased prehistory, Spanish colonization of the Islands, Japanese Occupation and Philippine Independence in 1946. There's a short film clip about the People Power Revolution in 1986 which led to the overthrow of Marcos.

As a testament to being the only Catholic country in Southeast Asia and it's close affinity to Spain, see religious images in ivory and the miniature galleon ships used for trading.

P350 Museum entrance fee for Non-residents and P 150 for Locals
Opens everyday except Monday