National Museum of the Philippines – Iloilo is housed inside the Iloilo Provincial Jail (old prison of Iloilo). It was built in 1911 and was used as a rehabilitation center until 2006. Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. led the initiative of its adaptive reuse to make it the regional museum of Western Visayas.
The Province of Iloilo sponsored its retrofitting and the National Museum of the Philippines funded its restoration in 2015.
[Read also] Iloilo City Cultural Heritage: Old Iloilo Prison Building
Museum Hours and Entrance Fee
| Museum Hours | Monday-Sunday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Entrance | Free |
Inside the National Museum of the Philippines – Iloilo
The museum has five galleries on the ground floor. It also has an art exhibition in the hallway. The second floor is a bonus for museum visitors.
First Floor
| Gallery 1 | Geology and Paleontology Exhibition |
| Gallery 2 (ongoing installation) | Natural History of Exhibition |
| Gallery 3 (ongoing installation) | Archaeology and Maritime Underwater |
| Gallery 4 | Habol Panay: The Woven Artistry of Western Visayas |
| Gallery 5 (ongoing installation) | Fine Arts Gallery |
| Hallway | Iglesia: Heritage Churches of Panay |
[Read also] Iglesia: Heritage Churches of Panay
Second Floor
| Book Nook and Reading Area |
| Garden Deck |
| Pinoy Board Games |
Gallery 1 – Geology and Paleontology Exhibition
Geology and Paleontology Exhibition Hall is a permanent gallery and was opened on January 25, 2020.
In this gallery, you will have a glimpse of life in the past 250 million years. You can see how geology crafted the landscape of Western Visayas and how the land shapes the lives of its inhabitants. You can expect to read and learn about the geographical, topographical, and climatic changes in the region, as well as the diversified as new lands emerged from the sea which created new lives.
Unfold the history of how elephants and stegodonts roamed around in the region, how volcanic eruptions created fertile soil, and how the weaves of the geology and history unveil the life of the region.
Gallery 2 (ongoing installation) Natural History of Exhibition
Gallery 3 (ongoing installation) Archaeology and Maritime Underwater
Gallery 4 – Habol Panay: The Woven Artistry of Western Visayas
Habol Panay: The Woven Artistry of Western Visayas is first permanent gallery at the National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo. It was opened on December 15, 2019.
Gallery 5 (ongoing installation) Fine Arts Gallery
[Read also] A Guide to Iloilo’s Art Galleries and Museums
How to Get There
The National Museum of the Philippines – Iloilo can be found inside the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Complex. This is located along Bonifacio Drive, City Proper, Iloilo City.
You can reach the place via jeepneys. You can use the landmarks “Old Prison”, “Museo”, or “Capitol” to guide the drivers or the passenger assistance officers to the right unloading area.
Here are the most convenient jeepneys you can board:
ROUTE 3 UNGKA TO CITY PROPER VIA CPU LOOP
ROUTE 5 FESTIVE WALK TO CITY PROPER VIA B. AQUINO AVE. AND SM CITY LOOP
ROUTE 9 MOHON TO CITY PROPER LOOP
ROUTE 10 BUNTATALA / TAGBAK TERMINAL TO CITY PROPER LOOP
ROUTE 11 TICUD, LA PAZ TO CITY PROPER LOOP
ROUTE 19 BITO-ON TO CITY PROPER VIA LA PAZ LOOP
