Photo courtesy: NXT ABS-CBN News Digital Media

MANILA — For 30 years, Museo Pambata has been a go-to spot for educational field trips and family visits—from interactive installations to engaging workshops that spark a child's curiosity.

Museo Pambata is the first children's interactive museum in the Philippines. It opened in 1994 for Filipino children to learn while having fun.

To continue Museo Pambata legacy of bringing vibrant and joyful atmosphere, the museum's board held fundraising efforts and renovation initiatives despite the pandemic-related lockdowns.

Museo Pambata set to reopen this September

"Kinakailangan muna namin ng fundraising so we would like, look for people, sponsors, you know, especially when it came on to the pandemic already, that became a little more challenging for us to do,” Museo Pambata’s president Bambi Mañosa-Tanjutco told ABS-CBN News.

Photo courtesy: NXT ABS-CBN News Digital Media

“But we were able to do it somehow. Kaya, it took so long, kaya matagal yung pagbubukas ulit ng Museo Pambata kasi siyempre we had to look for funds kasi this is a foundation,” she added.

Tanjutco also revealed that while they were redesigning the areas before the pandemic, they discovered that they needed to renovate the roof first because of its leaks.

“We decided before we start changing all the inter-spaces, we better take care of the roof. Bubong muna and then we’ll secure all the space and later on, it’s when we started fixing the spaces,” she explained.

Museo Pambata Founder Nina Lim-Yuson also shared her vision for the museum.

"We really need to bring in the children who cannot afford the entrance fees to give them options... We’re hoping with the reopening of Museo Pambata that we can have more children who deserve a future in our country,” Yuson said during the media launch on Wednesday, November 27.

Here’s the sneak peek of the renovated Museo Pambata:

Iconic themed halls

These spaces are designed to teach children various knowledge in culture, history, arts and crafts, music, and environment while they relive their childhood experiences.

Karagatan Area

This area displays the diversity and significance of marine life in the Philippines. Children can see coral reefs and different aquatic bodies made from recyclable materials by kids to avoid plastic waste.

Kalikasan Area

This room simulates kids to go "nature-tripping" with plants, huts, and other greeneries. This theme room aims to inspire kids to value nature and to take positive steps towards preservation.  

Himig Area

Himig room offers fascinating folk music and displays indigenous musical instruments to look at their origin, history, and the uses of each one.

Habi Area

This room highlights the rich weaving culture in the country and showcases the work of indigenous artisans.

Pamayanan

In Pamayanan, children can discover the community of Old Manila and learn about history, heroes, and heritage through a recreation of some design features of 19th century.

Bahay Pukyutan

Museo Pambata is not complete without this dynamic playground because it is a children's play paradise for some visitors. This beehive-structured playground was designed by the late National Artist for Architecture Francisco T. Mañosa.

LOOK: Museo Pambata unveils Bahay Pukyutan children's playground

Bahay Kubo 2.0

Photo courtesy: NXT ABS-CBN News Digital Media

Bahay Kubo 2.0 is designed by Architect Gelo Mañosa where he reimagined the bahay kubo within the urban setting. There is a colorful mosaic of the lyrics by National Artist Kidlat Tahimik. This will be available for rent as an events space.

Tutubing Bakal

It was a decommissioned war helicopter reimagined into an art space and was transformed into a Peace Playground by a group of artists led by Alwin Reamillo.

Balay Yatu

This is Asia's first youth-curated creative space and cultural hub. Balay Yatu’s ground floor will be a home for the museum's cafe and gift shop while the second floor displays artworks created by young artists from different regions and serves as a child-friendly event place for artistic pursuits.

INTERACTIVE PROGRAMS LINED UP

Dulaan Pambata:

This will feature various theatre groups through interactive living dioramas, to keep audiences of all ages entertained and to create lifelong memories to revisit Museo Pambata.

Sikat Sining

Larriezel Morada, ABS-CBN News Intern

Sikat Sining is a program that ignites children's creativity by developing their innate curiosity and allows them to produce art to be displayed in various halls that increase awareness and highlight events in their lives.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

In addition to the interactive activities and events that were part of their opening this December 2024, Museo Pambata has various upcoming events and programs with their respective partners and sponsors.

The Classroom of the Future pop-up display is one of the new exhibits scheduled for 2025, which was created by JJ Acuña in partnership with Samsung and Khan Academy.

The Hiraya room will also host an installation called Dwellings, which is being worked on by the artists Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan.

In the meantime, The Kwento room, which will have various narrative displays that explore Filipino childhood, resilience, and community, will have "Ang Kwento ng Jollibee," which focuses on the fast-food chain’s history.

Meanwhile, the Rights of a Child exhibit at Karapatan Hall will be renovated as part of the late artist Robert Alejandro's arts and crafts project.

On January 25, they will also host Parada Pambata, like they did five years ago to mark their 25th anniversary. It is where children come to Museo Pambata to design their own costumes and props for a procession from Intramuros going back to Museo Pambata.

Guests can also look forward to even more exciting events such as Designearth on January 18 to 19 and Pista ng Kapuluan on February 21 to 22.

Museo Pambata will be accessible to the public on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays beginning on December 6. 

The first session will run from 10 am to 12 pm, while the second will run from 2 pm to 4 pm. 

From Tuesday through Thursday, the museum is also available for special events and school tours.

It is located at the intersection of South Drive and Roxas Boulevard in Ermita, Manila.