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When you hear the word 'Museum' what are you thinking? I'm not an artist or anything but let me share you my experience in National Museum.

A few weeks back after our Burger Project experience we were wondering where to go. So we decided to go to National Museum. Never been there so I'm Pretty excited. The National Museum is located near Luneta or Rizal Park and near Intramuros in fact it's actually the former home of the Congress of the Philippines. 

National Museum have two buildings. The first building holds Art Galleries, this is where they display Juan Luna's Spoliarium. The Second Building, located adjacent to the first building holds some artifacts from old jars to cannons and other things.

The moment I stepped inside it feels so different its quiet, well aside from us there are just few numbers of visitors that could be the reason why the place is quiet.

There's an entrance fee, 150 for adults 120 for senior citizens and 50 for students. Here is a tip according to their website admission is free on Sundays.

Okay so let's start our tour, Here is the Hall of the Masters this is where they display the very famous Juan Luna piece the SPOLIARIUM. This is the biggest painting in the Philippines. Spoliarium is a Latin word referring to the basement where the dying gladiators were dumped. As you can see on the painting it shows a Roman Soldier dragging a fallen gladiator.

Opposite to Spoliarium is the "Assassination of Governor Bustamante and his Son"

There is a gallery for Dr. Jose Rizal it includes portraits and his other creations.

This is Dr. Jose Rizal's 'Mother's Revenge' as you can see The Mother Dog is trying to rescue her puppy from the crocodile. The Mother Dog represents the Philippines and the countrymen tying to fight Spaniards which is the Crocodile.

As I mentioned earlier the building is the former home of the Philippine Congress so this is the Philippine Senate Hall

There are Religious artifacts and paintings too.

 Here are the abstract paintings.

Here are the other things you can see inside.

This is my favorite part. We were inside this gallery just me Dhey, Gene and Thora. We were staring at a picture of a beautiful woman. Gene and I were talking about how awkward her sitting position is that's when Manong Guard approached us. We're talking about another Juan Luna creation the 'Parisian Life'.

Controversy surrounds this painting, let's go back to 2002. The Government Service Insurance System or GSIS during that time bought this painting for 45.4 million pesos when it was auctioned in Christie's, a fine arts auction house in Hong Kong. It became controversial because of the big amount that the agency spent for the said painting considering that its not as outstanding as other Luna creations.

Going back to my story about the 'Parisian Life' Manong Guard told us that the 'Parisian Life' have three interpretations. He informed us that he got it from the professors who visits the National Museum

First, the beautiful woman in the painting could be Juan Luna's wife Paz Pardo de Tavera who alleged to have an affair. Juan Luna killed his wife and mother-in-law because of jealousy.

Second interpretation is the woman could be a courtesan or prostitute who caught the eye of our heroes. It shows that the woman is with someone as you notice two glasses on the table. If you check the painting you can see Dr. Jose Rizal Juan Luna and Dr. Ariston Bautista Lin.

Last interpretation is my favorite and Manong guard explained it so well, If you check the woman's awkward sitting position it is a mirror image of the Philippines Luzon Visayas and Mindanao. Now the two glasses on the table, one is still full and the other is half full it shows the inequality during the Spanish Era. Now if you're looking at her neck there is tight scarf around it and there is a line there above her hat. That actually shows that the woman was hanged to death, shows how Philippines was hanged to death by the Spaniards and what our heroes talking about at the cafe? The Philippine Revolution.

Now let's go to the second building this building holds different artifacts. First gallery shows the Wreck of the San Diego, it was discovered in 1992 near the Nasugbu. In this gallery you can see the cannons and other jars that they recovered from the wreck. You can see other artifacts on the second gallery on the second floor. More Jars, Chinese porcelains old coins and many more.

This is my favorite part of the second building. It have its probinsya vibe lol.

Here are the other pictures inside the second building.

It was an exhausting day but I really enjoyed it! It was nice to have a break from all the crowded malls kids should try things like this. I Encourage kids or teenagers to visit places like this, who knows it might bring the artistic you :). I'm not an artist or anything so I'm sorry if I was not able to explain each pictures.

Thank you Dhey, Gene and Thora for making this tour possible! Good Thing I have classy friends like you LOL!

If you want to know more you why not visit them. The National Museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 5pm.

Have a Good day everyone!