National Museum of Natural History Manila Overview

After an hour of staying at the National Museum of Fine Arts, we went to the National Museum of Natural History (inside Luneta, near the Children’s Playground and the map of the Philippines).

Upon entering, we saw a long queue of people. You need to register before you can go inside and leave your things at the baggage counter. The line to the baggage area is longer and slower so I advice to bring just a sling bag with your wallet and phone inside to avoid this area.

The first thing you’ll see when you step inside is this so-called Tree of Life. The Tree of Life has the central elevator. It runs directly from the ground floor to the fifth floor. But we decided to start at the lower ground first then rode an elevator to the fourth floor (the fifth floor was still under renovation at that time).

Here are some photos that I took inside

Fourth Level:
Gallery V Mossy, Montane and Pine Forests
Gallery VI Lowland Evergreen Rainforests
Gallery VIII Freshwater Wetlands

Marbled Monitor Lizard – is a large species of monitor lizard in the Philippines reaching up to one meter in body length and could weigh as much as 10 kilograms. This species inhabits mangroves, swamps, freshwater, lakes and rivers but they are equally at home in human-modified habitats such as fishponds, rice fields and agricultural farms.  They are also found in old growth forest and in a disturbed forest with an elevation range of from sea level up to around 1,000 meters.  They are endemic in the Philippines and is found only in the northern and central regions of Luzon Island.

Jewel Beetles – The family Buprestidae is a group of “jewel” beetles with metallic and glossy iridescent colorations. this group is the largest of all beetle fauna compromising some 15,000 species in 450 genera. Their cylindrical or ovoid shape coupled with their very bright colors and complicated patterns, make them a very highly prized and sought after item for insect collectors.

The building’s hallway is well lit because of the ceiling design at the middle (tree of life)

Third Level:
Galley IX Mangroves, Beaches and Intertidal Zones
Gallery X The Marine Realm

This was taken inside a submarine-like area inside the gallery.

This is the Green Turtle, the largest of all hard-shelled species of marine turtles.

Look how huge it is, it is longer than my son’s arms (which is also longer than mine now).

and of course, the one we are looking for Lolong. It is unfortunate that we did not see the replica of Lolong, only his bones are available for viewing during our visit.

We really enjoyed our visit here. The place is nice and everything is clean. I hope that they will be able to maintain it. To all museum goers, please follow the rules! Do not TOUCH things if there’s a sign not to touch it. May 3 akong sinaway na matatanda, ang titigas ng ulo nyo po. 

Entrance is absolutely FREE, they are open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM.
Go visit guys!