BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – The Mansion House in Baguio City, which features a Presidential Museum, is now open to the public.
First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos on Sunday, September 8, 2024, led the opening of the gates of the Mansion House following the blessing and inauguration of the Presidential Museum, signaling the opening of the official residence of the President in Baguio City to the public.
Palace Social Secretary Bianca Zobel explained that Malacanang wanted to open the Mansion House to the public including tourists and local residents to see and experience what goes on behind the closed doors of the presidential residence in the country’s “Summer Capital.”
“We have noticed that everyday mga 500 tourists are taking pictures outside the Mansion House, and on weekends, it reaches up to 2,000. So, we would like to open the doors so that people can come inside, and take pictures inside,” Zobel said in a press briefing.
Zobel said they are also opening the Presidential Museum at the Baguio Mansion House so that people can learn about our history, about the Presidents, and our culture.
The Presidential Museum is a combination of the Bahay Ugnayan Museum and the Teus Mansion inside the Malacañang complex in Manila, according to Zobel.
Bahay Ugnayan features the life of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. while the Teus Mansion showcases memorabilia of past Philippine presidents. It features seven galleries showcasing each of the country’s past presidents and their accomplishments to let the people learn more about the these distinguished leaders of the Philippines and their historical timelines, artifacts, and memorabilia from their terms.
The museum also features the President’s Office, the Presidential Hall, and a museum gift shop.
The Presidential Museum is open to the public including walk in, and is free of charge but those interested in visiting are advised to book through its website or social media pages since the number of visitors for every tour is limited to avoid overcrowding.
The Mansion House near Wright Park in barangay Lualhati, is a popular tourist spot known for its rich historical heritage and architecture. It expected to draw more visitors with the Presidential Museum as an added feature.
The opening ceremony was also graced by Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas, Baguio City Benjamin Magalong and Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan, National Commission for Culture and the Arts Executive Director Oscar Casaysay, and National Artist Kidlat Tahimik.
Also present were government officials, Cordillera artists, teachers, cultural workers and other tourists visiting Baguio City and were among the first to experience the Presidential Museum.(RMC with SLU Interns, PIA-CAR)
