The President of the Philippines' official summer residence, Baguio Mansion House, is now open to the public.
Similar to the Teus Museum at Malacañan Palace in Manila, it has a new museum which is housed within the Malacañang Heritage Mansions and features an extensive collection of memorabilia, including presidential clothing, footwear, flags, and busts sculpted in the likeness of prior leaders.
The museum is open from 9 a.m. on Tuesdays through Sundays. until 5 p.m. at no cost.
Filipino experience
According to Palace Social Secretary Bianca Zobel, the Baguio Mansion House was opened to the public so that visitors could see what happened behind the palace's closed doors.
"We have noticed that every day, [almost] 500 tourists are taking pictures outside the mansion house, and on weekends, it reaches up to 2000...So, we would like to open the doors where people can come inside and take pictures," Zobel said.
While reservations can be made through the official Malacañang Heritage Tours website or Facebook page, walk-ins are also accepted.
New economic boost
The new presidential museum, according to Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, will spur additional economic expansion and tourism development in Baguio.
“This will inevitably help our local economy here in Baguio with the tourists that will be coming in. The suppliers also will benefit from added touristic activities in the area and most importantly, it will instill a sense of national pride especially among our youth,” Frasco said.
The Mansion will be situated just across Wright Park on Romulo Drive. Before World War II, the Mansion—which was built in 1908—acted as the summer house for American governors general.
