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