No Juan Is An Island

Are you in search of a culturally-inspiring experience? Or you just want to satiate the art junkie in you? Or maybe, you just want to feel at one with nature and breathe in unsullied, pine-scented air… All of these you can achieve, with a visit at the cloud-kissed Ben Cab Museum.

Located close to the Philippines’ summer capital and city of pines, (Baguio), in the nearby town of Tuba (Benguet), BenCab Museum shows off national artist Benedicto Cabrera’s widespread art collection.

This magnanimous art hub has been recognized by TripAdvisor as a 2014 Travelers’ Choice Awardee and it now ranks among the best art and cultural centers and is part of Asia’s top 25 museums list. (http://www.balitangtrending.com/bencab-museum-top-25-asias-best-museums/)

The museum, just like most buildings in Baguio and nearby areas, starts at street-level then goes down. Ben Cab is a 4-level building housing Cabrera’s anthology of indigenous objects from the Cordilleras, art pieces from the maestros of Philippine art, and his personal works.

The main features of the museum include the following:

A wide display of Ben Cab’s contemporary Philippine art pieces. Ben Cab is called as a master of contemporary Philippine art and was conferred the Order of National Artist for Visual Arts in Malacañang. Moreover, he is also regarded as the best-selling painter of his generation of Filipino artists.

Tribal Cordilleran art. The museum also houses an extensive show of  home-made objects from the Cordilleras like his bul-ul (rice gods) installations. (Bul’uls are believed to be powerful guardians of the crops responsible for a plentiful harvest).

There is a Maestro Gallery that serves as quarters for the works of other recognized Filipino artists like Araceli Lincaco Dans , Victorio Edades , Jose Joya, Ang Kiukok, Cesar Legaspi, Arturo Luz, and Juvenal Sanso.

Interestingly, there is an Erotica Gallery which houses art pieces (paintings, drawings, sculptures) by BenCab and other artists that undertake the erotic subject. Make sure to keep an eye on your child.

There is also a Print Gallery which showcases vintage prints, photographs and postcards of the Philippines. An  Gallery Indigo and Sepia Gallery that may serves as venues for changing exhibitions.

Going down the museum is “Sabel,” – a café where guests can take time to dine and marvel at the garden of the museum before exploring the garden and the eco-trail. The cafe serves good and healthy food and drinks.

My favourite part is the garden with a man-made duck pond that also features a wooden bridge connected to a gazebo where one can take pleasure in the cool weather and even be hugged by mists hovering the area.

Tips & Reminders:

The museum is open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Last entry is at 5:30 PM. It is closed on Mondays, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

General admission fee is ₱100. Students and senior citizens with valid ID is at ₱80. Special rates for student groups can also be arranged.

If it is your first time, it would be good to have a guide who can explain the art pieces as you go along with the tour.

Flash photography and tripods are not allowed. Video recording is limited only at the lobby area. No photographs or videos may be reproduced, distributed, or sold without permission from the museum.

Food and drinks are not allowed.

How to Get There:

Bencab Museum is located 6 kilometers away from the center of Baguio City. From Baguio City, go to Hilltop and take a jeepney bound for Asin Road. Jeepneys will stop right in front of the museum. The travel time is around 30 minutes by public jeepney. You may also take a taxi for less than ₱100 from Baguio City. Travel time is about 15-20 minutes.

Contact #: +63 74 442-7165 | +63 920 530-1954

Website: http://www.bencabmuseum.org/