Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum (Tacloban City), Part I

Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum, also known as Romualdez Museum, in Tacloban City is one of the many displays of the exorbitant lifestyle of the Marcoses during their decades-long reign of former President Ferdinand Marcos. It is an ostentatious exhibit of the taste and aesthetics of Imelda Marcos, a native of Tacloban City, from the tiles flown in from Italy to the never-been-used Jacuzzi in her private room. Given the lavish furnishing inside, the Marcos family did not use this as residence.

The two-story edifice houses a chapel dedicated to Sto. Niño from which the place is named after, 21 guest rooms and private rooms of the former first family, a grand dining room and a ballroom with huge yet intricate chandeliers.

The first floor of Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum has the chapel in the center, guest rooms named after regions in the Philippines and certain Filipino flora and fauna on either side, and dining room at the back. This post is dedicated to that part of Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum.

For the second part of this post, please read Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum (Tacloban City), Part II.

For related entries, please read Shoe Museum – Marikina City, Part I and Shoe Museum – Marikina City, Part II.

The façade of Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum in Tacloban City

The marker of Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum in Tacloban City

This is one of the two jars that flank the stairs leading to the main door of Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum

The Sto. Niño chapel inside the museum

The altar. Photo by Juan

An image of Jesus Christ made from tiny rectangular cuts of tiles. Photo by Juan

The image of Mary mirrors the image of Jesus Christ on the opposite side of the chapel. Photo by Juan

The ceiling shows a banig design. Photo by Juan

The first guest room from the left part of the main door is called Palawan

Each room has a diorama that depicts the life of Imelda Marcos, from childhood to becoming first lady of the Philippines.

Ifugao guest room complete with wooden bululs (Ifugao rice god or guardian spirit) and woven Ifugao cloth.

The Fern guest room

The Muslim guest room has a gong and sarimanok in it.

The diorama inside the Muslim guest room

The Bicolnon guest room

Some of the hardbound books found in Bicolnon guest room

The diorama inside the Bicolnon guest room

The Shell guest room

Some of the shell ornaments

The Sampaguita (national flower of the Philippines) guest room

The Mariposa guest room has images of butterflies

The Coconut guest room

The Capiz guest room has Capiz shells

A closer look at the bed in the Capiz guest room

The Banig guest room

The sitting areas at the back of the chapel. Photo by Juan

The center piece is this fountain adorned with shells

The dining area at the back of the chapel can comfortably seat 18 guests at the same time. Photo by Juan

The room of Imelda Marcos’ brother located to the right of the dining area

The bed inside the room

 

Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum Entrance Fee:

Filipinos: P30.00 (US $0.60)

Non-Filipinos: P200.00 (US $4.00)

 

Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum Operating Hours:

8am to 4pm daily

 

Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum Address:

Real Street, Downtown, Tacloban City

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