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2011 • 7 • 18

The biggest buzzkill in our Tacloban-Marabut trip was the rain. On our third day — when we were scheduled to tour Tacloban City — it rained the hardest. So hard that we had to spend a couple of hours more at Caluwayan Beach Resort until it became a bit tolerable. When it did, we rode a van to Tacloban City.

But the weather in Tacloban was no better. If anything, it was worse. We had to drop our plan of getting off at the foot of the San Juanico Bridge for a camwhoring session. We went straight to a restaurant for brunch and waited for the skies to get better. It never did.

Braving the rain, we decided to start our City Tour at a place indoor and the first thing that entered our confused heads was the Santo Niño Shrine.

About the Santo Niño Shrine (Romualdez Museum)

The Santo Niño is probably one of the first to come to mind when Tacloban is mentioned. It is the patron saint of the city and many of its people’s religious events revolve around the Santo Niño.

Although the real miraculous image can be found inside the Sto. Nino Church, there is another image that can be found inside the Romualdez museum. This one is made of Italian ivory and is the centerpiece of the altar that welcomes the guests visiting the Shrine. Beside the Sto. Niño were icons of St. Remedios and St. Vincent. Next to the latter is a monstrance, decorated with diamonds. That section of the museum is lit by beautiful chandeliers hanging above rows of pews made of narra.

When we arrived at the museum, we were greeted by the staff member who got so concerned about us dripping from the rain. After a short conversation (where we were from, why we braved the rain, etc), we decided to enter the place and pay. Rate is P200 for a tour (at most 6 people). Since we were a group of 3, we paid around P67 per person. If you wish to bring a camera, you will also have to pay an additional amount.

Guests are required to take off shoes and put on provided slippers. After explaining each items at the altar, we started checking out the 12 guest rooms surrounding the “chapel.” That is where the Santo Niño connection stops and everything is somehow about another thing that comes to mind when Tacloban is brought up — Imelda Marcos.

The Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum is one of the many rest houses that the Marcoses had built. It houses 7 bedrooms built for the members of the Marcos family, 13 guest rooms, a ballroom and what looked like conference rooms. Each room is magnificently designed and decorated. Each with a theme. Each with a diorama of the life story of Imelda. The site is also littered with numerous expensive, even priceless, pieces of art that will introduce your jaws to the floor each time. From imported furniture to local artworks, the place just screams magnificence, loud and clear.

After the tour, we did not know how to feel about it. It was amazing to see such beautiful artifacts, such delicate intricacies, such works of art. But the whole place was like a symbol of grandeur, of power, of excess. We left with hearts heavier than the rain outside.


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Tripper10:Tripsiders

The Museum is nice…
Great Pics.. :)

Joel Kretzmann

Soemthing most people do not know about.

Lolith Bonifacio Nusbaumer

I am from there… Proud Leyteno i am

Sally Takashima

Is it best to fly to Tacloban from Manila to visit the Sto Nino Museum. Any safe suggestions where to stay?

Ella Wagemakers

It should be turned into a kind of hostel, where the guests are allowed to stay and pay only what they can afford. And if the costs of maintenance rise, then you all know to whom the bill should be sent! … Right?

Imee Marie

Oh my hometown!

Tess Buenaventura

And it is call STO.NINO SHRINE but it has diorama of what Imelda has done and priceless art? God does not need material things. Does it even have a place to pray to Sto. Nino?

Alice Atienza Mistica

Just got back from tacloban and saw the Sto. Nino Shrine. it’s not as magnificent anymore. many of the furnitures are crumbling, the wood chips are falling out. it has not been maintained because of the case still pending with PCGG. i have recent pictures and they look so sad and tired already. dust has accumulated all throughout, the chandeliers are missing some bulbs. the linens on the beds are starting to crumble/ disintegrate/ decay…

Alice Atienza Mistica

it’s so sad, but we have to “CHOOSE PHILIPPINES” because we have so many wonderful places that need our attention… and i must say, I’m proud to be Filipino!

Liebe Che

Had been there when i was in high school.it was so nice,well-maintained..n0w,i d0nt kn0w!!

Edward Familar

pangit na ngaun ang Sto.Nono shrine!!

Ding Albina

kay waray namn ka maintain an pagtimangno hito tikang la mawaray an marcos’ regimen,, questionable daw sa mga assets.. poor shrine! hope this will not the end of the one of leyte’s best tourist spots ;)

Al

YES!! One would be amazed how grandeous this place is and yet you look out beyond this place and see how POOR the rest of the people are ….

Maria Luz Operario Aung-Thwin

From what I could see, it’s definitely extravagant, excessive and gaudy for my taste. I didn’t see any books in the pictures. Didn’t the Marcoses read?

ian | going places

How to reach the museum coming from the airport or downtown in Tacloban?