New Cebu National Museum to boost tourism development in Visayas Region

Monday, July 31, 2023

The recently opened National Museum, the first of its kind in Cebu and the largest in the Visayas area, will promote tourism growth not only in Cebu but also throughout the entire region, according to Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., and First Lady Liza A. Marcos, along with Secretary Frasco, NMP Chairperson Andoni M. Aboitiz, NMP Director General Jeremy Barnes, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, opened the NMP-Cebu on Friday, July 28.

The NMP-Cebu will be open to the general public for free starting August 1, 2023, from Tuesdays to Sundays, (except on religious holidays) from 9 AM to 5PM.

Boasting a rich artistic, cultural, and historical relevance, the NMP Cebu features five key art galleries for its inaugural event:

“Kinaiyahan: Cebu’s Natural Wonders” is located in Gallery 1 which features unique geological features, including some unfamiliar plant and animal species endemic to the place which would potentially draw the attention of would-be visitors.

“Ang KaraangSugbo ug ang mgaKabilingBahandi” or Gallery 2 contains significant archaeological finds that would further educate visitors about the history of Cebu, and others related to the Philippines.
“Paglawig: Cultural Movement Across the Seas” of Gallery 3 features the exhibit of sustained ethnographic traditions inculcated in maritime history and industry.

The Gallery 4 of the museum, on the other hand, is a special exhibit especially curated for the inaugural event which displays “The Philippine Center New York Core Collection of 1974”, which brought the collection of the Philippine Center in New York to Cebu to share with new audiences the artworks of leading Filipino artists in the early 1970s.

Finally, Gallery 5, or the “Ang Kamamugnaon ug Kinaadmanni Maestro Tinong” highlights the work of famed Cebuano artist Martino “Tinong” Abellana, likewise dubbed as the “Dean of Cebuano Painters” who became a central figure in the development of most Cebuano artists.

In the four years it took to get to its current state, the NMP-Cebu’s rehabilitation and conversion works were funded by the DOT through its infrastructure division, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

“With the newly-inaugurated National Museum of the Philippines in Cebu, the cradle of Christianity in the Philippines, we open the doors to a temple of history and culture, inviting tourists – local and international alike to witness the archaeological and natural wonders and rich culture and artistry of this side of the country. The NMP-Cebu is not just a museum but a bridge to our past and a window into our future, highlighting the commonalities and strengths of our identity as Cebuanos and as Filipinos,” said Secretary Frasco.

“The opening of the largest National Museum of the Philippines in Visayas will not only provide tourism gains in the province of Cebu but in the entire region. Needless to say, the museum will be a substantial addition to the plethora of offerings of Cebu providing a new reason to love and visit Cebu, and Central Visayas,” added the tourism chief.

In contrast, President Marcos underlined in his speech that the conversion of the monument into an NMP-managed property is consistent with the goals of the national government to encourage tourism and preserve the Filipino identity.

“Museums are considered valuable cultural assets to a nation as they build a sense of community, document history, inspire creativity, promote tourism, and unite people through shared heritage. Indeed, through the art and the artifacts that they showcase, museums enable visitors to get a glimpse of the past, understand the present, and illuminate the way to the future. The inauguration is a true testament that when we pursue a united approach to any task, we can accomplish projects that will benefit generations of Filipinos,” he emphasized.

The building that is now NMP-Cebu was once the Cebu Customs House, constructed in 1910 as part of the grand plan for Cebu developed by American architect William Edward Parsons to promote trade between the island and other nearby communities. It is located in the center of Cebu City’s shipping district.

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