MUSEO NG REPUBLIKA NG 1899
Whenever I saw the Barasoain Church in the old 10-Peso Bill, I always had this urge to visit it someday. To discover more about the history of the church and the First Philippine Republic of 1899. Last December, I had the opportunity to visit Malolos, and one of my requests to visit there is the Barasoain Church.
Before arriving at the church, all my life, I imagined the church on top of a hill and it has an overlooking view of Malolos but I was mistaken. Haha. The Barasoain Church is located at ground level inside a compound that also houses the Kumbento Ng Simbahan Ng Barasoain and the Museo ng Republika ng 1899. I never heard of the Museo ng Republika ng 1899 before so we took the chance to visit it. Fortunately, it was open and the entrance was free.
REMEMBRANCE OF THE FIRST PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC
The museum is located inside the old convent where the floors and ceilings are made of hardwood. It is filled with didactic panels, dioramas, and artifacts. The museum covers the history behind the Filipinos’ reviving the spirit of liberation, the start and end of the Philippine Revolution, the Declaration of Philippine Independence from the Spaniards, The First Philippine Republic, and the Philippine-American War.
The didactic panels tell the chronological story of the events that happened during the time with old photos and English translations. There were also dioramas of The Inauguration of the First Philippine Republic in Malolos and a life-size Emilio Aguinaldo with his cabinets. Artifacts like old stamps during Aguinaldo’s time used for different purposes can also be seen in the museum.
I learned a lot from this museum tour and got me a lot curious about the people that were part of the First Philippine Republic. What was their background, their motive, and their love for the country? There is always a thought in my mind about what could have been if we had the Philippine Independence from Spain and the Americans had not colonized us. Will we become a better nation and will there be a strong sense of identity? No matter the outcome, we emerged as a nation full of mistakes and lessons earned from our rich past and despite that, we are still continuing to develop as a nation. The next time your curiosity pokes your mind, make sure to visit Museo ng Republika ng 1899 in Malolos, discover our history and maybe we can find solutions to free ourselves from our colonial past.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT PHILIPPINE HISTORY, YOU SHOULD VISIT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES IN METRO MANILA AND THE MT. SAMAT NATIONAL SHRINE IN BATAAN.
MUSEUM GUIDE & TIPS
LOCATION:
- Barasoain Church Compound, Paseo del Congreso Street, Barangay San Gabriel, Malolos, Bulacan, Philippines
RATES:
- Entrance Fee: FREE
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CONNECT:
- Facebook: nhcp.barasoainmuseum
- Contact Number (Landline): (044) 794 1674
- Email Address: mr1899@nhcp.gov.ph
NOTES:
- OPERATING HOURS: 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. (Tuesdays to Sundays)
- Walk-ins are accepted, no need to make a reservation.
- If you want to help the museum, they accept voluntary donations.
- Photoshoots, interviews, and booked tours are allowed as long as you send your letter of request to their email ahead of time.
©CHASEJASE
