National Museum of the Philippines, Manila (must see)

The National Museum of the Philippines is the country's foremost cultural institution, bringing together art, archaeology, anthropology, and natural history in a group of grand neoclassical buildings near Rizal Park. Together, these museums tell the story of the Philippine archipelago, from its earliest inhabitants to the modern nation.

The heart of the complex is the National Museum of Fine Arts, housed in the former Legislative Building. Originally completed in 1926, the structure was heavily damaged during the Second World War and reconstructed in 1950 while preserving its elegant neoclassical appearance. Inside are works by some of the Philippines' greatest artists, including Juan Luna's monumental Spoliarium, located in Spoliarium Hall on the first floor, alongside sculptures by Guillermo Tolentino in the second-floor galleries and exhibits tracing the development of Filipino art from the colonial era to the present day.

Across the street, to the south, the National Museum of Anthropology occupies the former Department of Finance building, completed in 1918. Its collections explore the history and cultural diversity of the Filipino people through archaeological discoveries, ethnographic exhibits, maps, and traditional artifacts. Among its most treasured objects, found in the Kaban ng Lahi Gallery on the 2rd floor, is the Manunggul Jar, an intricately decorated burial vessel dating back more than two thousand years that offers remarkable insight into the beliefs of the archipelago's early inhabitants.

The experience concludes at the National Museum of Natural History, housed in the former Agriculture and Commerce Building on Agrifina Circle, directly south of the National Museum of Fine Arts and a short walk from the Anthropology Museum. As visitors enter through the main entrance, they immediately arrive in the central atrium, where the spectacular "Tree of Life" rises through all six floors of the building. The galleries radiate outward from this landmark, making it an easy orientation point for exploring the museum's botanical, zoological, and geological collections.