Sidetrip to Ayala Museum

In celebration of International Museum Day, my friend and I are lucky to get a complimentary pass and see a wonderful exhibition of artifacts, ceramics, ancestral golds, diorama, and paintings.

Photo Credit:  Asian Traveler

After having brunch at a nearby fast food chain, we started the tour at the ground floor gallery.  I learned that the ground floor gallery serves as a venue for exhibitions of contemporary Philippine art.  Today's exhibition is Fernando Amorsolo's Postura.  The subjects given life are all endowed with a noble and proper mien, attired either in elegant gala or at their Sunday best.  This exhibition is until May 20, 2012 only.

Photo Credit:  Ayala Museum

We thought of checking the exhibition on the highest floor first since it's easier to get down.  At the fourth floor gallery, their theme is "Crossroads of Civilizations".  It's an exhibition of 10th to 13th century of Chinese export ceramics, Gold of Ancestors, and 18th to 19th century Philippine Costumes.

Blue and White Twin Bird Water Dropper
Photo Credit: Gogirl Cafe

The one that caught my attention most was the Gold of Ancestors, maybe because this is the first time that I saw too many golds in one room, 1,059 gold artifacts.  They also have a multimedia room showing how golds are made into accessories.

Death Mask
Photo Credit: Ayala Museum

Photo Credit:  Asian Traveler

The third floor gallery shows the museum's fine arts collection by three painters considered are pioneers of Philippine art, Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo and Fernando Zobel.

The second floor exhibition highlights 60 handcrafted dioramas that highlights major events and themes from prehistoric times to the recognition of Philippine independence by the United States in 1946.

Photo Credit: Asian Traveler

Unfortunately, at past 1PM, we had to leave the museum because of other errands.  We were lucky enough to visit Ayala Museum for free.  There's so much to learn yet our time is limited.

I was able to take a picture of this painting before we were told that cameras, food, and drinks are not allowed inside the museum.

Museum Hours

Monday                  -   Closed

Tuesday to Friday   -  9AM to 6PM

Saturday & Sunday - 10AM to 7PM

Admission Fees           Resident           Non-Resident

GF-3F Galleries

Adult                                              PHP 150              PHP 350

Child/Student/Senior Citizen            PHP 75                PHP 250

GF-4F Galleries

Adult                                              PHP 225              PHP 425

Child/Student/Senior Citizen            PHP 125                PHP 300

Ayala Museum

Makati Ave. corner De La Rosa Street

Greenbelt Park, Makati City, Philippines

Phone:  (+632) 757-7117 to 21

Fax: (+632) 757-2787

Email:  museum_inquiry@ayalamuseum.org

Website:  www.ayalamuseum.org

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My caving experience at Mystical Cave

We're on to the last leg of our Rizal tour with a limited time.  We started the day with the Street Murals of Doña Aurora, then St. Clement Parish.  After the art overload, we headed to Antipolo City's Mystical Cave.

At a small bath tub like rock formation.
The local TV series Encantadia was here.

Mystical Cave was discovered by Inday Nelly Deles.  Our guide, let's call him Jeremy (We asked for his name but I forgot.  I'll take note next time. Hehe! ) told us that it all started in a dream.  Inday Nelly Deles was dreaming about the cave even before she came to Antipolo.  The cave has seven (7) floors more but only locals can go down.  They named it Mystical Cave because of the mysterious rock formations that are similar to some of the important things that happened in the bible.

"PIETA"
(Mary was holding Jesus after his death)

The Visitation

Eagle of Pride & Sheep of Humility

Mystical Cave is located at Barangay San Luis, Antipolo Rizal.  Jeremy told us that on holy weeks, a lot people from different places come on a pilgrimage just to visit the place.

Here's what we did to get there:

From Antipolo town proper, we took the Cogeo bound jeepney's (P9/person) and took off at Cogeo market.  From there, we took another jeepney bound to Paenaan (P8.50/person).  Just ask the driver to drop you off at the street going to the quarry site, it's about 1 km. after Padilla.  (The street right after passing the old or abandoned apartments on your right).  You should be able to see the signs like in the picture below.

Road signs

At drop off, the place looks deserted.  There are a few residents near the hi-way, but when we asked for directions on where to rent for a public transportation that can bring us to the cave, we were told to hike instead since there was none.  Or go back to Padilla to rent a tricycle that will bring us to the cave.  We opted to hike.

A few steps from the residents, all we can see are rough roads, mountain view, rocks, and overwhelming dirt, specially if there are trucks passing by.  It was like a never ending rough road.  In fact, we were quite afraid that we were lost.

And yes, the sun was strikingly hot that time.  But none of those could stop us from our journey.  We managed to enjoy the moment, have fun, and even took pictures.

Camwhoring

Until we saw the Mystical Cave sign, we were glad to know that we're not lost.  And a few climb up to the mountain..  On our way up, I'm surprised that there are residents in the area.  We paid the entrance fee of P40 each.  They said that it's for the maintenance of the cave.

To Mystical Cave

At the top, there's this small resting place for visitors with tables and chairs outside the gate of the cave.  The gate and the stone path are already improved for the visitors easy access.

A small opening to a wide and huge cave.

On our way down

We were truly amazed of the hugeness of the cave and how the rock formations were formed.  While we we're resting and talking about trekking the rough road again.  We learned that there's an easy way to get to Antipolo town proper as instructed by our guide.  Hehe!  Goodbye rough road! ☺

How to get there (the easy way):

By Private vehicle
From EDSA, drive through Aurora Boulevard of Cubao, going to Marcos hi-way passing by the towns of Cogeo and Padilla.  Turn right on the quarry street after the old or abandoned apartment.  Drive on the rough roads until you see the Mystical Cave sign to your left on the part where the road is cemented again.

By Public Transportation
From Antipolo town proper, take a tricycle bound to La Salle at the market for P18/each.  La Salle is a subdivision wherein you will exit from the other gate.  The gate that's nearer to the cave.  From La Salle   tricycle terminal, it's just a few trek away from the other gate, turn right when you reach the rough road until you see the Mystical Cave sign to your left on the part where the road is cemented again.  Or you can simply rent a tricycle from La Salle terminal to bring you to the cave. ☺

Read our Rizal Tour from Day 1 to Day 2.

You might also like:

• Church in the Sky
• Angono Municipal Hall and Park
• Blanco Museum
• Angono Petroglyphs
• Balaw Balaw Specialty Restaurant
• Daranak and Batlag Falls
• Scrapyard Restaurant
• Doña Aurora Street Murals
• St. Clement Parish

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