The National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu is located at the heart of Cebu City’s port and heritage district. American architect William Edward Parsons, in a bid to replicate Burnham’s plan for Manila and Baguio, developed a plan for Cebu, the City Beautiful Movement which included the establishment of the Cebu Customs House or the Aduana Building built in 1910 to facilitate trade between the island and other neighboring communities.
After serving its purpose for 94 years, remaining relatively intact after the bombing of the Second World War, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo converted the Customs House into the Malacañan sa Sugbo in 2004, bringing the presidency closer to the Visayas at the same time, recognizing Cebu as a frontier of national progress.
However, in October 2013, the area was hit by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake affecting the Customs House building, prompting its closure for safety.
On December 13, 2019, after negotiations, the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) and the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) signed a usufruct agreement, giving the NMP the right to use the structure to house the National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu for 25 years. With the intention to build a museum for Cebuanos run by Cebuanos, with the funding support primarily from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the NMP commenced the conversion of the Malacañan sa Sugbo into NMP Cebu in 2020 to 2023.
Currently, the NMP Cebu has 3 permanent galleries at the first floor and 2 changing galleries at the second floor.
CONTACT US
National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu
A. Pigafetta St., Brgy. San Roque (Ciudad), Cebu City 6000
Contact Nos. 0919 077 9877
Email: cebu@nationalmuseum.gov.ph
Reservations: cebu.reservations@nationalmuseum.gov.ph
Facebook Page: National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu
Instagram: National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu
