MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed the opening of the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) in Cebu City on Friday, calling on the public to unite in promoting the historic city and the province for tourism.

“I encourage my fellow servants in government to support the initiatives of the NMP,” President Marcos said during the inauguration of the museum.

“Let us persuade local and foreign visitors alike to include the NMP Cebu in their itinerary whenever they visit our beautiful country and this vibrant, ancient province. Let us also ensure that our cultural institutions and establishments are accessible to Filipinos from all walks of life,” he said.

The museum’s inauguration is a milestone not only for the Queen City of the South and the whole province of Cebu, but also for the entire country, as its opening brings to the fore the country’s rich natural, cultural, and artistic treasures.

*Among those who attended the inauguration were Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Tourism Secretary Cristina Frasco and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.*

Museums, the President said, 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.

Through the art and artifacts they showcase, museums enable visitors to get a glimpse of the past, understand the present, and illuminate the future, he said.

Although the construction of NMP Cebu encountered setbacks and challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Typhoon Odette in 2021, it finally opened through the shared commitment and dedication to establish a national museum in one of the country’s top tourist destinations.

“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,” Marcos said, as he congratulates the officials and employees of the NMP for spearheading the foundation of the museum.

“Remain steadfast in further strengthening your institution’s resolve to pursue its mandate of managing and developing national collections in the fields of arts, cultural heritage, and natural history.”

Marcos also congratulated the local governments of Cebu City and the province for working hand-in-hand with the NMP to establish the biggest regional museum of the NMP in the Visayas.

According to the President, the newly inaugurated museum is another source of pride, not only for Cebuanos but for all Filipinos. 

Offering a stunning view of the Cebu City seaside, Architect Willian Parsons designed and built the Customs (Aduana) Building in 1910 at the city’s Plaza Independencia.

In 2004, the Aduana Building was converted into the Malacañang sa Sugbo aimed at bringing the national government closer to the Visayas but was damaged by a 7.1 magnitude quake in 2013 resulting in its temporary closure.

In 2019, the MNP was given the right to convert the Aduana into the National Museum-Central Visayas Regional Museum (NM Cebu).

The museum features an exhibition that captures the Cebuano spirit and heritage, including the island’s rich and diverse biodiversity, geology, archeological treasures, art, and ethnographic and maritime traditions. It will also soon feature the artworks of Cebu master Martino Abellana.

The NM Cebu will be partially open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. free of charge starting August 1.  (PND)