Are you a museum-goer? As for me, I make it a point to visit a museum or two whenever I come upon a place for the first time. Although access to information nowadays is at the tip of our fingers, museums are still the best tools to provide pieces of information about a place’s cultural heritage and historical details through artistic visual presentation.
I got the chance to visit the famous BenCab Museum in Tuba Benguet when we went touring around Baguio City. After seeing some of the well-known tourist attractions in the city, we decided to go to a nearby museum for another enriching experience for my daughter and nieces.
Ben Cab Museum
Mr. Benedicto Cabrera (BenCab) is a National Artist for Visual Arts in the Philippines. He is the founder and curator of this famous museum which houses his artwork collections. It also houses artworks of some well-known and rising contemporary artists in the country, highlighting the indigenous architecture of the Cordillera region. The scenery from the viewing deck is picturesquely beautiful. It also has an in-house restaurant that serves farm-to-table goodness.
Galleries and Exhibits at Ben Cab Museum:
Museum Souvenir Shop –
If you want to bring home something that reminds you of the museum, you can buy it at the museum shop. There are art books, paper products such as postcards, notepads, and highland art & crafts such as wood carvings and textiles. T-shirts, caps, and tote bags with artistic designs are also available.
Cafe Sabel Bencab Museum
On the first level is Cafe Sabel, a restaurant for museum guests that serves gastronomic delight with a relaxing view of the mountain. It offers good-tasting food using fresh ingredients, especially vegetables and herbs sourced daily from Ben Cab organic farm. This cafe has a cozy and refreshing ambiance, also with some of the artist’s artworks. Since the restaurant is inside the museum, an admission fee is required even if you are not visiting the galleries. The cafe’s operating hours are the same as the museum.
We had our lunch at Cafe Sabel after touring the museum. We ordered Pancit Sabel, Homemade Longganisa, Camote Fries, Pan Fried Liempo, and Ham Omelet. I would say, It was a satisfying meal.
What I like about the museum:
- The museum is spacious, clean, organized, and well-maintained
- There are resting chairs and wooden sofas inside the exhibition halls/galleries
- Extensive art collections and pieces
- Clean restrooms
- Picturesque view
- The open space allows cool air to circulate
- Sophisticated ambiance
What I did not like about the museum:
- The receptionist is not friendly. (She demanded school ID for the students when the school just recently reopened because of the pandemic)
- Not for Senior Citizens and PWDs (no elevator or wheelchair lift)
Things to remember before going to BenCab Museum:
- General Admission: P150
- Discounted rate: P120 for students and P100 for seniors and Persons with disabilities. (No ID, No discount)
- Operating hours: Tuesdays to Sundays 9:00am to 6:00pm (last entry at 5:30pm) Closed on Mondays, Christmas, and New Year’s.
- Estimated time: Exploring the museum requires about two hours.
- Do’s and Don’ts: Read the museum’s visitor’s guidelines before entering the galleries to ensure a great museum experience
- Parking space: Visitors can park in front of the building but if there are no more spaces available, cars can be parked on the street fronting the museum.