November 30, 2013
Spanish Trade Galleon
Museo Pambata is a museum that houses interactive exhibits for children to experiment with. It's designed to teach children of various knowledges in science, culture, values, arts, etc while they enjoy the experience. Unlike conventional museums were relics are enclosed in bulletproof glasses, many of the things in the museum can be touched and fondled upon. This perhaps is the best museum for children in the Philippines not only for its age appropriateness, but also for its Filipino inspired displays. I myself relived my childhood memories because of the visit.
Children's Museum Signage
Playground inside the museum
To clarify this rumor, the museum is not exclusive to toddlers. Adults can also visit and yes, bringing children along is not a requirement for anyone to enter. The museum is located along Roxas Blvd just beside Manila Ocean Park, I'll put in more detail on the directions on how to go to the museum at the end of this entry.
Here's a narrative of my visit to Museo Pambata:
It was Andres Bonifacio's 150th Anniversary when Mimi and I visited the museum. We were welcomed by a charity show to honor one of the greatest Filipino hero.
Entertainers for the celebration of Bonifacio's 150th Anniversary
Upon entering the museum we were greeted by the friendly personnel of Museo Pambata, we asked questions on do's and don'ts while inside the premises and paid the entrance fee, Manila residents get 50% dicount. The 1st room we explored was the Old Manila. The influence of the Spaniards is very evident in our daily lives, from our language to food preference. Once when I was a child I was curious of the "siesta - merienda" combo, right after an early afternoon nap Filipinos tend to have an afternoon snack. I discovered later that this is a practice we inherited from our invaders.
Katipunan flags and portraits of national heroes
A cable car during the American Occupation
Kalesa
Jeepney
There were 2 exhibits that caught my attention in the 1st room, the scale models of Binondo Church and a trade galleon. The church can be entered thru a door, and inside there's this miniature altar. I was also delighted by the pictures of Manila during World War II, and the present condition of the landmarks. The area also has other scale models of different modes of transportation from past to present, and the end of the room was dedicated for a replica of a typical middle class house during the Spanish Era.
Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz a.k.a. Binondo Church
Inside the Basilica
Present and past pictures of Manila landmarks
Mimi trying out an old typewriter
A traditional Filipina Dress
We were not able to explore the Global Village (the themed room for other nations' cultures), it was closed for a an event. The comfort room adjacent to it was nice though, sponsored by Maynilad.
A typical middle class house (circa 1930)
A matador costume
The hall going to Global Village (unfortunately the section is closed)
On the 2nd floor of the museum there were 4 themed rooms: I Love My Planet, Career Options, Pamilihang Bayan, and My Body Works.
A painting of Filipino children's games
I Love My Planet is about taking care of Earth, our only living planet since time immemorial. Exhibits here teaches the children on how to conserve energy, reduce - reuse - recycle, and effects of pollution to the earth. There was also this awesome moonrock from NASA that was lent to Museo Pambata.
My Planet Earth
Exhibits in My Planet Earth
A herd of healthy cows (don't know why they're there)
Moon Rock
Career Options is about growing up and choosing a job that we love, howerever as of the moment writers and storytellers were the only featured careers in the exhibit. The walls of the room showcases a story about how a boy wanted to become a writer of comics and how he achieved his dream, thru the help of her cute girlfriend.
Artworks portraying the life of writers
A story writer's outfit
Pamilihang Bayan is a miniature marketplace, I enjoyed playing with the market stalls. The stalls were complete with goods (the fresh produce were plastic but the cooking equipment were real). The stalls range from barber shops to wet market, and there is also a firetruck complete with background music.
Conventional market stalls
A firetruck
A pharmacist on a small drug store
My Body Works explains the anatomy of the human body. There were many interactive displays that will teach children how the human body works, I particularly like the tunnel for the blood vessels and the huge face that acts as the exit of the room.
Children from various races
Inside a blood vessel
Interactive displays at My Body Works
Large versions of human body parts
The colossal face that acts as the exit of My Body Works
There were other themed rooms at the ground floor that we were not able to explore named Kalikasan, but I think I'll further divide this area into four small rooms: Under The Sea, Insect World, Rainforest, and Botanical Garden.
Under The Sea is a room with mangrove trees, sea weeds, and a collection of sea shells. We tried the octopus mask and read some information about the sea shells.
Seashells
Mangrove trees
A barracuda swimming amongst the see weeds
Insect World was a small bypass connecting Under The Sea and Rainforest rooms. There were different species of butterflies and ants along the walls and a small playroom with a cuddly ladybug stufftoy.
A small playground in The Insect World
Preserved insects along the trail
Rainforest was the biggest part of Kalikasan. It consisted of a tree trunk, a rice field, a Philippine Eagle's nest, and a mini forest. The thing that caught my attention was the records of virgin rainforest in the Philippines from 1900 onwards, well it was disturbing to see that a major part of the forest was destroyed in the 80's due to industrialization and illegal logging.
An "anito"in the miniforest of Kalikasan
A farmer exhausted after the day's work
The Philippine Eagle a.k.a. Haribon
Botanical Garden is placed beside Rainforest, we were welcomed by 2 bahay kubos (nipa huts). One was an herbal medicine store and the other was a farmer's home with fluffy fruits and vegetables that are part of the lyrics in the children's song, "Bahay Kubo". Outside of the building is a collection of plants with its scientific name and medical use.
The Bahay Kubo complete with all the vegetables in the song
A hut for herbal medicines
The Botanical Garden
All in all, the visit to The Children's Museum was worth it. Children and young at heart will enjoy the exhibits. It's also a great place for family time, just watch the toddlers explore the museum at their own pace. Here are the important infos regarding the museum.
Admission Hours
8 AM to 5 PM (Tuesdays to Saturdays)
1 PM to 5 PM (Sundays)
Closed on Mondays and selected Holidays
Admission Fees
150.00 PHP (Adults and children)
*Manila residents - FREE on Tuesdays and 50% discount on other days
Location
Location of Museo Pambata
