National Museum of the Philippines - Iloilo

20/05/2026

FLOWERS FOR YOU! It’s May, and the flowers are in bloom! Are you fond of sakura? Here’s a bunch of flowers for you, one that is often compared to Japan’s sakura. This one is from a thriving flowering Philippine native tree planted on the grounds of National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo. Trees are crucial for preserving biodiversity, providing habitat for species, improving air and water quality (it's cooler under the trees), and stabilizing soil. Thus, protecting them implies protecting life.

BALAI-LAMOK (Crateva religiosa G.Forst) is one of our ornamental plants, often compared to Japan’s Sakura. It blooms profusely, producing greenish-yellow to purplish flowers after shedding its leaves, leaving the tree crowned entirely in blossoms. This tree is valued for its many uses—from its roots to its fruits. Its wood is commonly used for crafting drums and various artifacts, while its leaves are known for their medicinal properties. Tannins can be extracted from its bark, and its fruit, which has a distinct garlic-like flavor, is often used as a spice.



References:

Malabrigo, P.S. & Umali, A. G. A. (2022) Alay: Philippine Native Trees at the Victor O. Ramos Arboretum. Quezon City. 322 pages

Malabrigo, P.S. Tungol, A.M. & Umali, A. G. A. (2025) Alay: Philippine Native Trees Along Forest Trails. Quezon City. 187 pages

Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines. Philippine plants https://www.philippineplants.org/

Forest Management Bureau – Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (2016). Philippine guidebook on plant species suitable for urban greening. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Biodiversity Management Bureau. (2026). Updated national list of threatened Philippine plants and their categories.

Fernando, E. S., Co, L. L., Lagunzad, D. A., & Gruezo, W. S. (2008). Threatened plants of the Philippines: A preliminary assessment. University of the Philippines – Institute of Biology.

18/05/2026

NMP PASSPORT UNLOCKED. The National Museum of the Philippines - Iloilo participated in the launching of the NMP Passport, which is designed to foster a more profound understanding of Philippine art, history, culture, and natural history. This initiative has transformed the traditional museum visit into an engaging and memorable experience.

Qualified participants who were requested to get their NMP Passport shared their own and emphasized their acquired ability to provide an accurate answer to any museum-related inquiry without the need to revisit the exhibits. They said they knew the collection and programs well because they often visited the museum for fun or to learn.

Thank you to all who have taken part in this activity. May you also visit other national museums, bringing with you a sense of excitement and knowledge about their history and culture. Happy International Museum Day!

18/05/2026

PLAYGROUND SA NMP ILOILO! In celebration of International Museum Day, the National Museum of the Philippines - Iloilo provided visitors with a unique by reviving and upgrading their childhood activities, including Snakes and Ladders, Piko, and Jackstones. The human-sized snake and ladder game was one of the most popular among visitors, as some of the numbers are designed as special spaces inspired by the natural and cultural heritage of Western Visayas and collections from . For example, when a visitor steps onto a specific number, they will be greeted by a photo of a boat, which explains a digital reproduction of Ang Bulawan nga Sadok by J. Elizalde Navarro welcoming the visitors in the hallway. The artwork described ten Bornean datus believed to have sailed to Aninipay, which is now Panay Island. This means that the player will earn 10 steps forward. Prizes will be awarded to players who achieve a score of 100 in the game.

Isn't that exciting? Please visit us here, as we will be extending the Museum Mania: Leveling Up Your Childhood Games activity until May 31, 2026. We are open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a cut-off time of 4:30 PM. FREE ENTRANCE.

18/05/2026

BULAK SANG LABOG. Did you know that one of the panubók patterns of the Panay Bukidnon is inspired by a native wildflower? The Bulak sang Labog, or Linabog, takes after the Labog (Hibiscus surattensis Linn.), a flowering plant with yellow petals and a dark red center. It grows all over the forest and is often used as a souring agent, like in chicken tinola. It blooms in January, and when it does, its flowers cover the forest floor.

Panubók is the traditional embroidery art of the Panay Bukidnon, rich with symbolic motifs drawn from nature, oral traditions, and ancestral beliefs. In Panay Bukidnon culture, floral motifs symbolize more than just beauty—they echo the stories, rituals, and identity of the community. The Labog flower serves as a reminder to the younger generation that it was once the only flower found in the mountains. Through needle and thread, it is reimagined as embroidered blooms on garments worn during sacred dances, chants (sugidanon), and community gatherings.

Let us celebrate the rich embroidery heritage of Panay Bukidnon, where bulak is more than a flower, it is a tribute to cultural memory and the creative hands that keep tradition alive. Visit Habol Panay, the textile gallery of , to view these intricately embroidered traditional attire of the Panay Bukidnon.







Reference:
Gerominano, M., Caisipe-Caballero, R., De los Santos, M., Caballero, R., Padernal-Cabellero, E. (2019). Panubok: The Living Textile Art of Panay Bukidnon [Unpublished manuscript]. National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo.

18/05/2026

18/05/2026

Playtime! 💜

18/05/2026

TODAY is International Museum Day! Visit National Museum of the Philippines - Iloilo, enjoy the fun activites we prepared for you. Entrance is FREE.

18/05/2026

Thank you, Ms Leah Navarro, of 1233 Radyo DYVS for featuring National Museum of the Philippines - Iloilo and International Museum Day!

16/05/2026

MUSIKAPULUAN-AMBAHAN. In celebration of National Heritage Month, the National Museum of the Philippines - San Jose de Buenavista (Antique) hosted today (May 16, 2026) 'Musikapuluan: Lecture-Workshop on Ambahan' to raise awareness of the oral tradition of Iraynon Bukidnon.

The participants learned about the Iraynon Bukidnon and ambahan from culture bearers - master chanters Alberto 'Tay Lober' Apolinario and Elpedio Canja, who is also the IP representative to the Sangguniang Bayan of Valderrama.

The Iraynon Bukidnon is one of the three indigenous peoples groups in Antique. They reside in the mountain areas of Valderrama, Laua-an, San Remegio, and Libertad.

Ambahan is an oral tradition that is chanted during important occasions in the community like wedding or fiestas. The ambahan could be praises intended for the guests, or exchange of opinions between two chanters.

Tay Lober and Mr Canja patiently explained to the students the meaning of ambahan verses they chanted, as some of the words are unfamiliar to the participants. The program concluded with three groups performing an ambahan.

This activity is the first of two activities slated in NMP San Jose de Buenavista (Antique). See you on May 30 for Musikapuluan: Lecture-Workshop on OKM with Board Member OKM artist Dante Beriong. Follow the page for details.

15/05/2026

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM PASSPORT IS COMING TO TOWN!

Participate in the National Museum of the Philippines - Iloilo's celebration of International Museum Day with the launching of the NMP Passport. Starting Monday, May 18, 2026, be among the first individuals to collect the passport, explore various museum collections, and engage in exclusive activities designed just for you!

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR? We need constant travelers, museum enthusiasts, devoted cultural explorers, and motivated individuals willing to undertake this challenge.

HOW TO SECURE YOUR SPOT?

Step 1: Follow the National Museum of the Philippines and all Regional Component Museums pages on Facebook.

National Museum of the Philippines
National Museum of the Philippines-Batanes
National Museum of the Philippines - Cagayan
National Museum of the Philippines - Ilocos
National Museum of the Philippines-Cordillera
National Museum of the Philippines - Kabayan
National Museum of the Philippines - Baler
National Museum of the Philippines - Rizal
National Museum of the Philippines - Marinduque
National Museum of the Philippines- Tabon Cave Complex
National Museum of the Philippines - Bicol
National Museum of the Philippines - Iloilo
National Museum of the Philippines - Cebu
National Museum of the Philippines - Bohol
National Museum of the Philippines - Dumaguete
National Museum of the Philippines - Zamboanga
National Museum of the Philippines - Butuan
National Museum of the Philippines - Davao
National Museum of the Philippines - Sulu

Step 2: Kindly complete the official registration form now:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwkbLs64i3v0brGX-03ZI71_omqpa2AiXY0gYx-xMi67UdTQ/viewform?usp=header

Complete these steps to secure your spot here at . Travel through time, one museum at a time! See you at the museum!

14/05/2026

SING YOUR HEART OUT, join the National Museum of the Philippines - San Jose de Buenavista (Antique) in Musikapuluan: Lecture-Workshop on OKM (Original Kinaray-a Music) on May 30, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Legislative Hall of Old Antique Provincial Capitol.

OKM artist Dante Beriong will lead the engaging activity. Board Member Beriong is a multi-awarded singer-songwriter and public servant. A recipient of "Bugal Kang Antique" Award, he has helped shape the Original Kinaray-A Music (OKM) landscape.

Through this activity, it is hoped that the participants, especially the youth, will feel a sense of pride in Antique’s musical tradition and be inspired to patronize OKM despite the persistence of foreign music on the airwaves. This museum education activity guarantees a shared and fun learning experience for the target participants by making NMP and its educational initiatives accessible, particularly to the youth. See you!