Malacañan Palace – Presidential Museum and Library, Part I

This is the first part of the series that features the Presidential Museum and Library. This particular entry contains the introduction, the Old Waiting Room Gallery, the Old Governor-General’s Office, and the Osmeña Cabinet Room.

For related entries, please read Presidential Museum and Library, Part II, Presidential Museum and Library, Part III, Presidential Museum and Library, Part IV, and Presidential Museum and Library, Part V.

 

The Presidential Museum and Library is housed in the historic Kalayaan Hall of the Malacañan Palace. It has enabled its visitors a glimpse of the history and heritage of the Philippine presidency, as well as the president’s oficial residence – Malacañan Palace.

The Kalayaan Hall was called Maharlika Hall during President Ferdinand Marcos’ time. It was changed later on by President Corazon Aquino. The rooms on the ground floor, most of which had hardwood panel, were carved by Isabelo Tampinco during the American period.

The galleries of the Presidential Museum and Library also traces the evolution of Malacañan Palace – from its origins as a private summer house, to its development as the nerve center of the executive power. They stand as tribute to the lives and achievements of the individuals whose official acts within the walls of the Palace have shaped and determined the destiny of the Philippines.

The Presidential Museum and Library is the primary office within the Office of the President responsible for preserving, managing, and promoting history of the Philippine presidency, and particularly of Malacañan Palace as its oficial seat. It is the principal historical and artistic repository in support of the institution of the Presidency and for the benefit of the Republic and the Filipino people.

It was created in 2004 with the implementation of Executive Order (EO) No. 366, issued bt President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which merged the Presidential Museum and the Malacañang Library into one office as the Malacañang Museum. The collections of both offices were integrated and showcased in Kalayaan Hall, while others were placed in off-site storage facilities.

In 2010, EO No. 880 was issued, placing the Malacañang Museum under the supervision of the National Museum for museological and related policy purposes. Later on, EO No. 4, promulgated by President Benigno S. Aquino III, placed the Malacañang Museum under the supervision and control of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office. The issuance likewise renamed the Malacañang Museum as the Presidential Museum and Library.

Malacañan Palace as Prize

From the Spanish colonial times until the present time, the assumption to the highest executive position in the Philippines was seen as a prize, the pinnacle of many a public servants’ political career. Part and parcel of this aspiration to the presidency is Malacañan Palace and the edifices in the complex. From 1863 until the present day, the Spanish and the American governor-generals and, starting in 1935, the Philippine presidents have all resided in the Malacañan Palace compound. The capture of Malacañan Palace for any chief executive is inevitably seen also as the act of custodianship of very great power.

According to the official history of the Palace, the earliest etymology of Malacañan, in Spanish, meant “place of the fisherman”. The Tagalog word from which this was likely derived: mamalakáya, or fisherman, with the addition of the Tagalog suffix, “-han”. Mamalakáya-han, thus, was an echo of an occupational life; bucolic living lending its name to what it would be the hub of Philippine governance.

The Old Waiting Room

The Old Waiting Room Gallery used by American governor-generals. Now, it holds different campaign materials, results of elections, photographs of Philippine presidents and first families, and other memorabilia. During my visit, the centerpieces of the exhibit were the campaign materials used by President Rodrigo Duterte in the 2016 presidential elections.

In the year proceeding the November 12, 1957 elections, many political parties conceded that President Ramon Magsaysay’s victory in the coming polls was inevitable. Even the opposition proposed to promote the candidacy of the President in the absence of a viable candidate. His death on March 17, 1957, however, changed the political landscape, opening it to other possible contenders like Carlos Garcia, Claro Recto, and Jose Yulo. Even in death, the Magsaysay charisma lived on, and many of the candidates capitalized on their affinity to the late president, using the same campaign techniques and strategies employed in 1953 that contributed to Magsaysay’s success.

Unabated graft and corruption in the government, economic nationalism, accountability, and the prevailing communist threat decided the fate of the November 14, 1961 elections. Internal squabbles within the ruling party, the Nacionalista Party, and the rising price of rice contributed to the ruling party’s defeat in the polls. Those who ran were reelectionist Carlos Garcia and running mate Gil Puyat from Nacionalista Party and Diosdado Macapagal and running mate Emmanuel Pelaez. Macapagal won.

Malacañan Palace as Pulpit

One could lose track of the countless times the course of Philippine history had taken dramatic turns through the actions from Malacañang. In it, the fate of Dr. Jose Rizal was decided, which contributed to the cause of the downfall of the Spanish empire in the Philippines. The First Philippine Republic breathed its last in Malacañan Palace, when General Emilio Aguinaldo surrendered to the Americans in 1901. The liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese was proclaimed from within the Palace in 1945. The death of democracy and the rise of dictatorship was heralded from Malacañan Palace, when Proclamation No. 1081 was signed on 23 September 1972. Liberty was restored almost 14 years later with the triumph of the 1986 People Power Revolution, which culminated with the recapture of the Palace by the people.

The Old Governor-General’s Office

The Old Governor-General’s Office was not physically huge by any means but it was the seat of power during the American period, specifically from the time of military governor Wesley Merritt to the time of Frank Harrison. For those who visited the museum with me saw that the spotlight were on the chair and desk from which Pres. Ferdinand Marcos declared the Martial Law and the 20-page document that is more famously known as Proclamation No. 1081.

The Osmeña Cabinet Room

Before assuming the presidency in 1944, Sergio Osmeña had already served the country for four decades: as Governor of Cebu, Speaker of the Philippine Assembly, and later, of the House of Representatives, senator, and vice president. The Osmeña Cabinet Room, which was used during the American colonial era as the meeting place of the cabinet and of the Council of State, commemorates the period of our history when Osmeña, as the Speaker of the lower chamber of the legislature and as Senate President Pro-Tempore, served in the Council of State.

The Presidential Museum and Library is open to the public.

Nine thing to remember before visiting the Presidential Museum and Library:

Museum Schedule

Monday to Friday, except on public holidays. Tours are at

9am, 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm.

Reservation Form

Accomplish the form at least three (3) working days before the preferred date of tour, but this is subject to the availability of the selected time slot.

For Foreign Nationals

Photocopies of your passports’ signature page and date page must be sent via email to the museum.

Reference Number

If the form is filled out properly, you will receive an email with a reference number.

For Confirmation

Please call the office TWICE: the first time is to set the date of the tour, and the second is to confirm if you will be allowed in the premises.

Guest List

Those not included in the guest list will not be allowed on the Palace grounds. Please bring a valid ID card for verification.

Do not be late!

Groups that are late by more than 30 minutes beyond their schedule tour will not be entertained.

Dress Code

Visitors at the Museum are advised to adhere to a smart casual dress code. Shorts, sleeveless tops, and slippers are not allowed.

Bring a camera!

Photography is allowed inside the museum, but a group may bring only one camera. Do not use flash photography!

For inquiries and reservations, you may reach Presidential Museum and Library at the following

(Malacañang Museum) Presidential Museum and Library Address:

Presidential Museum and Library, Kalayaan Hall, Malacañan Palace, JP Laurel St., San Miguel Manila, 1000

(Malacañang Museum) Presidential Museum and Library Contact Numbers:

(632) 784 – 4286 local 4649 or 4945

(Malacañang Museum) Presidential Museum and Library Email Addresses:

pml@malacanang.gov.ph and malacanangmuseum@gmail.com

(Malacañang Museum) Presidential Museum and Library Website:

www.malacanang.gov.ph

 

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