Beautiful place perfect for students and adults to learn and unwind. I recommend for anyone to…read morecheck out with good photo opportunities and experience something new

Art in Island is a beautiful museum. Featuring an assortment of interactive art and an exhibition…read morearea, there is something for every age and every art lover. Some optical illusions of famous work, shadow walls, a state of the art 360 viewing room, and 3D pieces make this place a phenomenal way to spend a few hours. They have nursing rooms and a lovely cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. Oh yeah, wear sox or you will have to buy some; there are no shoes allowed.

Finally found the time to visit this museum during my most recent stay in Manila…read more The museum consisted of four floors. Ground floor had the ticket desk, bathrooms, the gift shop and a separate coffee stand was outside. The recommended starting point was the fourth floor and then make your way back down. I'll highlight my favorite sections of the museum: Reuniting the Surigao Treasure on the 4th floor was a joint exhibition with Banko Sentral Ng Pilipinas. It kicked off with a nice video introduction before entering to see the large collection of gold objects. It was well organized and documented. The women's waistbands had to be the highlight and were exquisite. The manton de Manila exhibit on the 3rd floor Main Gallery was quite beautiful with many finely handcrafted wraps. The Diorama Experience on the 2nd floor mapped out the Philippine history from prehistory until it established independence from the US as an international recognized country. There was an app to download if you wanted a VR experience as you followed the dioramas. It's centrally located in Makati and worth seeing. I spent almost 2 hours exploring.

I came here the day after I visited the Intramuros area of Manila. I wanted to further my lessons…read morein my own culture, but this time through art history and to get a view of the native people before the Spanish colonized and influenced the culture. I actually haphazardly ran into this museum a few days before just roaming through an upscale mall. It is very modern in location and in design. It is its own building on one of the corners of the mall complex, so it has its own entrance, don't have to go inside the mall itself. P750 admission for general and sure there is discount for seniors and students. That general price is like $14 US. The layout here is vertical versus just 1-2 floors. Here there are 4 floors and you start at the top and work your way down. We did this in 3 hours but one could easily be in here for 4-5 hours, if you read everything and put on headphones. Top floor was mostly a 'gold' exhibit depicting that these islands were a source for gold and thus became part of trade route for the seafaring people (Austronesians) that roamed the areas from mainland Asia to all the islands in Polynesia to Madagascar and the western coast of Africa. So within all this traveling you can see how so many influences can evolve culture from art to technology to language. These travel savvy people thrived from even 4000 years ago to about the 17th century when colonialism started to form modern countries. There was also a section on the clothing many tribes had during these times. Like these are the people who the Spanish fleet met upon arriving. 3rd floor was an art gallery but for Filipino artist mostly from the 1800s to the mid 1900s. Most of the exhibit showcase Fernando Amorsolo who was granted a national award for his depiction of rural life in the early 1900s. I was incredibly moved by this exhibit, as with just brush strokes he was able to capture a whole moment, that seems so everyday yet so symbolic of the culture. Some were more impressionist like where up close it just seems more abstract, but the further you get a clearer picture emerges. And he was also able to do some realistic portraits where it seemed like I could talk to the image. Lol. I think there is a lesser admission fee if you only wanted to view this floor only. 2nd floor is more like a history museum chronicling the timeline on when and how the Spanish came to colonize the islands, and how the country eventually claimed its independence in 1898. Very enriching experience for me and glad some of my family were willing to view it with me. 5 soul quenching stars!

I first found out about the School of Design and Arts' Museum of Contemporary Art and Design when I…read moregot lost while looking for the bathroom. I opened the wrong door and - voila! - there's a naked dude pretending to be a statue (not naked naked, he had a sort of a tea cozy on his equipment because this was still a Catholic school), among other exhibitions. I learned that day that the College of Saint Benilde had its own museum, and that the exhibits were mostly occupied by the students of the School of Design and Arts, as well as the occassional famous person. I thought it was really cool, and I ended up getting a selfie with the naked dude statue because why the hell not.

MCAD is a really beautiful space for art. I'm not sure the students at Benilde, La Salle, and St…read more Scho know how lucky they are to be in such close proximity to a gallery that, though still pretty young, manages to hold beautiful, interesting exhibits of artists from all over. The last show I've seen was the one-man exhibit of Paul Pfeiffer, entitled Vitruvian Figure, and there has not been a better use of MCAD's hugeness in a while. Recreations of the Philippine arena, a moving image of a sunrise/sunset, and a dark theater screening of a spoken word choir performance echoing the video installations outside really drove the point home of how greatly the museum space elevates the art housed within it. What's great too is that they involve the CSB student body by giving some the opportunity to be mediators and engage visitors by speaking about the works and answering questions about them. It's a pretty cool thing, as it allows people to have a more personal exchange with the works there. I'm glad they've gotten their own entrance along one of the side roads now. Though I fear for the open shelving they have as their bag deposit, it does open the museum a little more to the public. MCAD brims with so much possibility and I look forward to my next visit.

Visited The Mind Museum and had a great time exploring. The museum is modern, well-organized, and…read morepacked with interactive exhibits that make science fun and easy to understand for all ages. One of the highlights was the human evolution section, with detailed life-size figures and displays that walk you through how humans developed over time. There are also engaging exhibits on biology, space, physics, and technology that keep you curious as you move from gallery to gallery. We especially enjoyed a mirror-style exhibit that visually displays two individuals into one reflection -- a creative and fun way to explore perception and how the mind interprets images. The space is clean, air-conditioned, and easy to navigate, and the staff were friendly and helpful. It's a great stop if you're in the BGC area and looking for something educational, interactive, and family-friendly. Highly recommended for kids, teens, and adults alike.

The Mind Museum was a fun kid-centered oasis in the midst of the hustle and bustle of BGC. There…read morewas so much to do and learn. This would be a wonderful place to conduct a field trip. We went on a weekday and the place was pretty empty. We spent about 2.5 hours there and probably could have spent a couple more. We definitely recommend people to the Mind Museum.

The Bonifacio Arts Foundation, Inc (BAFI) is the core program that promotes the arts across…read moreBonifacio Global City. Throughout the years, we've seen art evolve along the streets of BGC. Some sculptures are already iconic in itself. It wouldn't be BGC without these sculptures or installations. About a few years ago, they started teaming up with artists both local and international to paint the town red. Okay, well not red. But make it colourful and make the city beam with life! It first started with colourful paintings on garbage bins. Then on empty lots, there were a couple of art installations by Japanese artists. In the past year, there were murals abound the walls already! It was so widespread that you'll realise that there's so much this city has to showcase. One of their remarkable projects is the establishment of The Mind Musem - the first word-class science museum in the country! It's not just visual art that we see in the city. It is also felt and heard especially in common areas such as High Street Central. If you ever happen to chance upon guys and girls in guitars or pianos singing their hearts out, it's one of their programs as well. Another great thing they did is they made the city photo-friendly. Nowadays, you'll see photography hobbyists and aspiring models come to the city and shoot to their heart's delight no matter what time of the day. It's really nice that people are starting to become open to different types of art.

Literally was in a grab car when I saw a sign of this event so I checked it out. ₽250 for…read moreseniors/students and ₽350 general admissions. Love the fact that someone decided to reused the extras wrist bands from last year for this year but turn it inside out. The transformed parking garage into many galleries was neat, thank god for a/c because maynila heat Issa killer. I enjoyed tea with the parents along with dessert to rest our tired feet from all the walking and art overload. My favorite was the archipelago exhibit featuring the vodka and gin lol.

Many art events happen in February. It's the month of art, after all. Now, I go to a lot of…read moreexhibits and conventions but this is one of my favorites. I mean, IMAGINE ALL THE PIECES AND INSTALLATIONS I'M GOING TO SEE. The Link is actually perfect for such events. Just think about the wide, open space that can be filled with booths and art installations. This year's event occupied two floors, so imagine how long it took me to view all of them. Admission isn't free, though. I believe I paid around Php 150 for the entrance, and there was an option to buy an accompanying booklet for the same amount. Looking back, I should've gotten it. I regret being stingy at the time. Oh well, there's always next year. And oh, students of Makati do not need to pay, so if you study there then it should be fine.

Makati Museum located at the corner of J. P. Rizal and A. Mabini Streets and across Poblacion…read moreSports Complex. Just head towards Guadalupe on a jeep. The old building was constructed in 1918 as the first municipal hall of the back then Municipality of Makati. I think the high school was also near here. In 1992 they turned this into a museum. Exhibits of different relics, paintings and murals. It also has film showings, stage presentations for the local folks...very rooted in the community.

"...because nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic about stuff... Nerds are…read moreallowed to love stuff, like jump-up-and-down-in-the-chair-can't-control-yourself love it. When people call people nerds, mostly what they're saying is 'you like stuff.' Which is just not a good insult at all. Like, 'you are too enthusiastic about the miracle of human consciousness'." -John Green I'm a nerd, plain and simple. And it sucks that there isn't a lot of support or a definite community for people like me in the Philippines. Finding a Doctor Who fan in this country is like trying to find a Dingdong Dantes fan in Africa. And my heart breaks every year that I don't get to go to the San Diego Comic Con. So when I found out that there's such a thing as a toy museum in Manila, I jumped at the chance to see what's inside. I basically dragged my girlfriend over to Manila Ocean Park and ogled the rather small but still awesome collection for hours. Stormtroopers! The Fellowship! The Iron Throne! Smeagol! They're all here! Remember that scene in This is the End when they're in heaven and they're told that they can wish for anything, and they wished for a Backstreet Boys reunion? I'd wish to be surrounded by these toys (ehem, action figures) and maybe that Backstreet Boys reunion too.

If you're a fan of comic book superheroes, the Star Wars franchise, and the epic fantasy adventure…read moreLord of the Rings, this museum is for you. The Amazing Stories of Yexel's Museum features life-sized interpretations of various superheroes and fantasy characters. My favorite part of the collection is the Iron Man Room that is a replica of Tony Stark's "walk-in closet". The Tony Stark groupie in me puked rainbows when I realized that I'm surrounded by different powered armors (general purpose and specialized!). There's also an autographed replica of the Arc Reactor. Too much awesomeness in one room, I tell you! The Star Wars collection is another favorite of mine. A room filled with Stormtroopers awaiting Darth Vader's orders-- one can almost hear the Imperial March, not to mention Darth Vader's raspy breathing! I hope they add some members of the Rebel Alliance to the collection though. A life-sized Chewbacca, or even Yoda, would be perfection.

This is probably one of the biggest events for all the art lovers in the Philippines. Art in the…read morePark happens only once a year for only one weekend which is why once it opens or even before it does, people are already in the area scouting for possible paintings and artwork that they can get their hands on. I'll tell you honestly, it can get crazy! What I love most about this event is that it allows people like me (who don't have much money, who don't know much about the art world) to be more exposed to all the young and old artists, the famous ones or the rising stars and have a greater appreciation of art. It also gives artists who are not always featured in the big and fancy museums to showcase their work in the public. You never know, you might find the next Manansala or Luna amidst it all.

Deep sigh. This is just going to be a rant on Philippine Art, move on while you still can!…read more Art in the Park is another exercise in showing who-you-know and is more of a"seen and be seen" kind of thing, more than anything else. Sure, there are cool artworks displayed that's under 20,000 pesos, and that brings down art to a level where the "Average" Filipino can afford it (Cause seriously, some paintings? scary. That's my annual income already.) And some works are really simple, letting people understand and experience art in an open, and less stuffy setting than, say, in a museum or one of those international galleries that are intimidating to set foot in. Apart from that? It's a lot of hipster kids dressing up in their weekend best, go around the park with a bottle of beer and a cigarette in the other hand. It's kind of... well. I don't think it brings the community together at all. Oh, well. Maybe next time would be better? (I am one of those kids trying to fit in with the "cool crowd". Haha, please notice me so I can sell artworks too.)