Few weeks ago, we had a playdate with friends in Children’s Museum in Manila. Visiting the museum is a fun way to spend the afternoon while learning new things.
Unlike in a traditional museum, the artifacts in Museo are not displayed behind glass shelves. Kids can explore and discover various concepts on the hands-on exhibits. Our toddlers had fun roaming around and playing with the exhibits.
With the 8 themed rooms, kids can learn many things while they are at play.
Here’s our top 20 things we learned on our visit to Museo Pambata:
1. Old and New Manila
This is a journey back to century-old Manila! In the room you can see exhibits of of the old Manila and what it looks like now.
You can also step into a miniature cathedral and bahay na bato or stonehouse where you can see and touch artifacts such as tucadors, Underwood typewriters, sewing machine, and period costumes – both on display and for the kids to wear.
2. Philippine Heroes
There are also interactive historical pieces on Philippine heroes. This is good opportunity for kids to learn more about Philippine history and our rich Filipino culture.
3. Jeep, Tranvia and the Galleon
Also included in Old Manila are replicas of a Spanish galleon and a Tranvia. They also have a model of the jeep.
Gab loves all sort of vehicles. He was happy to see and check the different parts of the jeep, ride a tranvia and was so amazed with how big the ship is. The exhibit shows some of the spices that were once shipped to other countries during the Galleon Trade.
4. La Puerta del Sol
La Puerta del Sol is the country’s first and only department store during the 2nd half of the 19th century. It is located at Escolta St, the center of the country’s retail trade during that time. It catered to the elite and it sold imported goods from Europe, America and the Middle East.
5. Under the sea and the Sea Creatures
This is part of the Environment theme room. It is as if you are on the seabed, where you can see a dolphin, a shark and colorful jellyfishes on top of you.
There are exhibits of different shells and clams. Kids can learn how touching a fish scale, shark’s fin, and a sea sponge feels like. They can also listen to the calming sound from a big empty sea shell!
6. Insects and Minibeasts
In this room, kids will learn about insects (bugs, butterflies, ants, moths) and other minibeasts like worms and spiders.
On the floor and walls are info tidbits that are easy and interesting to read like “Where can we find insects?”, “Why do butterfly like flowers?”, and more.
There’s also a padded play room, like a burrow, called Creepy Crawlers. Kids 5 years and below can crawl, roll and jump to their hearts delight.
7. The Rice Field
This is an exhibit of a simulated rice paddy. This section teaches how farming in the Philippines is done. It also has trivia on the different of kinds of rice such as brown, red and black.
8. Bahay Kubo – The Vegetables and The Song
You will learn the famous song of Bahay Kubo on this part of the museum. You can see all the vegetables included in the song in front of the mini Bahay Kubo (nipa hut). The different vegetables have knitted and stuffed representations.
9. Herb Garden and Apothecary
The museum has an outdoor herbal garden that displays the different herbs that exist in the Philippines. You will also learn about apothecary and the herbs, plants, and other natural materials with healing properties used as medicines.
10. Rainforest
This is part of the Kalikasan exhibit room to know about trees, animals and other facts about the country’s lush and valuable rainforests. There is also a detailed cutout of the majestic Philippine eagle, our national bird, which is now a critically endangered specie due to the massive loss of its home, our rainforests.
The kids enjoyed roaming around this room and playing on the slide was a total hit.
11. My Body Works
This area is designed to look like the insides of a human body. Kids may opt to go inside the room using the mouth entrance. Many of the interactive exhibits are designed to show how the body functions and their importance.
12. Famous Regional Flavors
Included in the My Body Works is the famous food of the different parts of the country. They can press a button and a light will blink on the Philippine map to show the place where that particular food is from.
I was expecting to see Chicken Inasal in Bacolod but Chicken Binakol was listed instead.
13. Pamilihang Bayan
This is a mockup marketplace wher you can see a barber shop, fish/meat shop, fruit/vegetable stand, bakery, karinderia, sar-sari and a pharmacy that kids can play with and pretend to trade.
This section has a well-made replica of the bahay kubo. Unlike the one mentioned in #6, the kids can go climb up the bamboo steps and go inside and explore the insides of the hut.
It also has a Fire Station, with fire hydrants and a big wooden replica of a fire engine which the boys instantly love riding and driving.
14. Career Options
The Career Options exhibit gives children a look of the world of art and literature. The exhibit features a nice activity area where children can read, write, draw, try out costumes and play.
15. 25 Filipino Children’s Books and Characters
Part of the Career Options section is an area dedicated to the 25 best-loved Philippine Children’s Book Characters. The collection includes the famous Si Pagong at Si Matsing, Juan Tamad and Ang Barumbadong Bus.
16. Moon Rock
There is an actual, genuine moon rock on display. This is one of the main attraction at the I Love My Planet Earth exhibit. This was loaned to Museo Pambata by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and was brought to the Philippines by then US President Bill Clinton when he visited in 1995.
17. Climate Change, Global Warming and Carbon Footprint
Part of the I Love My Planet Earth are exhibits on climate change, dynamics of global warming, greenhouse effect and other environmental issues, and how we can do your part in saving our planet through energy conservation and knowing how nature works. These seems a heavy topic for children but the interactive displays and child-friendly artworks make them easy to understand.
18. Automobile and Pollution
One of the most prominent displays is this model of an off-road vehicle and how vehicle emissions pollute the environment. Exhibits around the off-road vehicle also teaches children ways on how to reduce automobile emissions.
19. Water
One of the big exhibit in the I Love My Planet Earth is about water. Kids can learn where water came from and how they can save water as they use it all through our the day.
20. Earthquake
Kids will learn what an earthquake is and what happens when there’s one. There’s also an Earthquake Table where kids can build several buildings of various heights and turn on to simulate an earthquake.
We also love the Aklatang Pambata. Kids can stay here and check books that interest them. They have a great collection of educational toys, audio CDs, and videos and kids can borrow books to cap their day of fun and learning.
Museo Pambata is located at the historical Elks Club building on Roxas Boulevard corner South Drive, Manila.
Museo Pambata admission hours is at 9am-5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays and 1pm-5pm on Sundays. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Admission fee is at Php 250.
Museum workers and teachers are free. Manila residents with valid IDs are free on Tuesdays and 50% discount on other days of the week.
You can contact Museo Pambata at 523 1797/98, 536 0595 or visit them at www.museopambata.com or their fb page.
