A House Tour of the Mansion
The gallery of First Ladies of the Philippines.
Text and photos by: Rimaliza A. Opina
Have you ever wondered what the inside of The Mansion looks like?
Century old chair.
Tourists and even residents of Baguio who were only able to have their souvenir pictures taken a few feet in front of the massive gates of the Mansion may now be allowed in the rooms of official summer residence of the President, after Malacañang converted some of its rooms into a museum.
The bust of President Carlos P. Garcia sculpted by a blind artist.
This writer was one of those who were given a free tour after the recent visit of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos for the ceremonial lighting of the Mansion’s Christmas tree and gift-giving for elementary students at the nearby Rizal Elementary School.
Stone windows and doors of The Mansion.
The rooms have been curated to include a brief history of Baguio including important landmarks that played a significant role in the city’s history – Burnham Park, Baguio Cathedral hill, Baguio City Hall, Camp John Hay, and the Mansion.
The Mansion at night is well lit.
Each room was designed to show significant events during the tenure of the Philippine presidents. Some artifacts, or their replica were transferred from either the Malacañang museum or the personal collection of the families of the former presidents and put on display in Baguio.
The Mansion has been opened for tours since September 2024 but only a few people are aware of it.
The Office of the President invites tourists and residents to visit the Mansion especially during the holidays. Admission is free but prior booking is required.
The Mansion used to be the summer headquarters of former governor-generals, until it became the official residence of the President during the Commonwealth period.
The Mansion was completed in 1908.
To book, visit museums.gov.ph. Click Baguio Mansion House, then click “book now”.
The Mansion is open from Tuesdays to Sundays 9:00 to 11:00 am and 1:00 to 3:00 pm.
