Though not many Lagunenses may know it, the month of October has been reserved to encourage locals to visit museums and art galleries that aim to preserve our rich culture and heritage.
Instituted in 1991 by former President Corazon Aquino, "Museums and Galleries Month" aims to highlight the culture of the Philippines, embracing all forms of art and culture, historical and religious artifacts.
It doesn't always have to be the Rizal Shrine in Calamba City – here in Laguna province, there are scores of lesser-known museums and art galleries, each one showcasing aspects of Lagunense and Filipino culture, arts and even economy. Here's a list of some of these "hidden treasures" that Lagunenses can explore during weekends, or maybe even on a whim:
- - School of Rizal Site and Museum, Binan City, Laguna
Off the beaten track: Museums to visit in Laguna province_1
If you want to know more about Jose Rizal but have already visited the Rizal Shrine in Calamba City (or somehow find the destination "overrated,") you can head instead to the School of Rizal Site and Museum in Biñan City.
Biñan City is where Jose Rizal, according to his early accounts, went to study when he was nine, under the tutelage of Justiniano Aquino Cruz.
The restored nipa hut, opened to the public in 2016, is not only a charming relic of the Philippines’ history but also offers a glimpse into how the young Rizal was educated.
- Catsup Museum, Cabuyao City
Off the beaten track: Museums to visit in Laguna province_2
Located inside the NutriAsia Cabuyao Plant in Cabuyao City, the Catsup Museum aims to preserve and promote the legacy of a common condiment in Filipino cuisine: the banana catsup.
Among the exhibits on display is the Maria Orosa Hall, which pays tribute to the Filipina scientist who concocted banana catsup amid the shortage of imported tomatoes during World War II.
But beyond the simple history of banana catsup, the museum “teaches about the Philippines' culinary heritage and Filipino virtues of ingenuity, resourcefulness, and hard work,” as a Philippine Star article noted in 2023.
- UPLB Museum of Natural History, Los Banos
Off the beaten track: Museums to visit in Laguna province_3
If your interests are geared towards biology, ecology or science in general, you may want to explore the Museum of Natural History inside the University of the Philippines - Los Banos.
Given UPLB's reputation as one of the pioneers in agricultural and biological research in the Philippines, the Museum of Natural History offers visitors a glimpse of the "priceless and irreplaceable" natural history treasures of the country.
Aside from housing preserved biological and zoological specimens, wood samples; by-products of microorganisms, and also thousands of living plants and trees, the museum also serves as a reference for the science and a center for documentation, research, and information.
- Museo Ac-ac, Paete
Off the beaten track: Museums to visit in Laguna province
This one-of-a-kind museum/art gallery in Paete is privately run by master craftsman Luisito "Luis" Ac-ac, with the goal of showcasing the traditional sculptures and other craft that have made Paete a mecca for arts in Laguna province.
Best known as the foremost proponent of classical wood sculpture in Paete, "Mang Luis" has also been active in promoting the artworks of his fellow craftsmen in this town, both through Museo Ac-ac and partnerships with the private sector, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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