QUEZON CITY (PIA) — This February 1 and 2, Pasinaya 2025’s Paseo Museo invites everyone to embark on an extraordinary journey, granting access to 20 of Metro Manila’s most significant museums and galleries with a simple pay-what-you-can ticket.
The adventure begins the moment the visitors board the free CCP shuttle at the Paseo Museo terminal along Vicente Sotto Street. As they settle in, the city unfolds before them, revealing hidden pockets of art and history that have long stood as silent witnesses to the country’s evolution.
At Fort Santiago, feel the weight of history by walking on the same cobbled paths where national hero José Rizal once trod. Nearby, Casa Manila offers a glimpse into the lavish lifestyles of 19th-century elites, where gilded furniture, crystal chandeliers, and intricately carved woodwork transport you to a bygone era. Meanwhile, Baluarte de San Diego stands proudly as the first stone fort in Manila, now a serene archaeological park where history meets modern celebrations.
But the past is only part of the experience. Contemporary creativity pulses through the walls of Galleria Duemila, home to avant-garde Filipino and ASEAN artists, and the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD), where cutting-edge exhibitions redefine the boundaries of artistic expression.
For lovers of maritime history, the Asian Institute of Maritime History (Museo Maritimo) showcases the nation’s deep connection to the sea, while Bahay Tsinoy explores the enduring influence of the Chinese-Filipino community. If you’re drawn to anthropology, the National Museum – Anthropology presents artifacts that tell the story of the country’s pre-colonial roots, while the National Museum – Fine Arts celebrates the masterpieces of Filipino painters and sculptors.
Children and the young at heart can find wonder at Museo Pambata, where interactive exhibits make learning fun. Meanwhile, the newly transformed Manila Clock Tower Museum offers a multisensory experience within the city’s most iconic timepiece, standing 100 feet above the bustling streets.
Every stop on this cultural voyage reveals a different facet of Philippine heritage, whether through the timeless elegance of the Metropolitan Theater’s Art Deco design, the thought-provoking exhibitions at Bulwagang Roberto Chabet, or the nature-inspired installations at Liwasang Kalikasan.
With shuttles running from 9 AM to 4 PM, visitors can curate their own adventure, choosing which stories to uncover, which artistic expressions to immerse themselves in, and which corners of Manila to rediscover. And as the festival expands its reach to Batangas, Negros Occidental, Bicol, Iloilo, and Davao del Norte, the spirit of Pasinaya proves that art, culture, and history are bridges that connect us all. (AVS / PIA-NCR)
