Smitten: Santo Nino Shrine (Romualdez Museum)

My trip to the Romualdez Museum in Tacloban was the highlight of my vacation. It literally took my breath away! I was smitten. It was the best museum in the country I’ve been to, so far.

The facade of the Shrine/Museum.

It is a two-storey structure, nestled in the heart of the city, with a total of one hectare in land area, and with an Olympic-sized swimming pool at the back.

What used to be the garden.

The pool is no longer being used, the water not changed, hence the color, and the growth of water plants.

An entrance fee of 200p/3 persons, with at least 6 persons in a group, for a 30-minute tour. Guests are required to take off their shoes and wear the slippers provided at the door.

It was dark inside. I couldn’t make out the pews leading to the altar. Only the lights surrounding the Santo Nino were lit. The other corners were lifeless.

The walls in this area were made of wood tiles that were plastered in such a way to make it look like a banig.

12 guest rooms can be found on the ground floor, each with a theme and a diorama of the life story of Imelda Marcos.

Butterfly Room:

There were several framed butterfly collections inside the room.

Shell Room:

Every item in the room was made of shells or shaped like one.

Fern Room:

Some of the dioramas:

Imelda playing with her siblings.

When Imelda was crowned as Ms. Tacloban

During the oathtaking of Marcos as President of the Republic.

Yellow lights were used in the museum, very faint yellow light. Most of my pictures then were not bright and clear. As you walk along, the lights will be turned on, and then switched off after leaving the area. The caretakers are trying to conserve energy due to the museum’s high maintenance cost.

In almost all rooms, you can find the portraits of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos:

The bedroom of President Marcos:


The walls are leather.

A globe wine holder in one corner.

His canopy bed...

.... and the wooden bookshelf with its intricate carvings.

The bedroom of Mrs. Marcos:

Her huge bed.

Two mirrors facing each other, creating an illusion of endless row of chandeliers.


Her work table at the far end of the room.

The bathroom. Gasp. So big!

The room of Bong-Bong Marcos:

The canopy bed and the leather walls.

The young boy's study table

His collection of Philippine peso bills:

The divider that housed his collection.

Old 50 peso bills

The bedrooms of the daughters:

Most curtains were ripped already due to old age.

The receiving area inside the bedroom. Notice that the upholstery are also ripped.

Tall windows!

This adorable cabinet is one of a kind. The carvings are distinct and very intricate. And when we opened it, the lovely smell of wood engulfed us. I forgot what kind of wood was this. This was imported from China.

Sweet-smelling. Totally different from those mothball-smelling cabinets =)

Most decorative items in the house were imported or gifts from foreign dignitaries. I got dizzy remembering the countries of origin of these treasures!

Carvings made from ivory were gifts from Mao Tse Tung. These were highly protected, evidenced by its glass and wired casings.

More items from China:


Hard pillows used by Chinese.

Huge jars. They were everywhere!

This was standing regally in the hallway leading to the receiving area.

Several artists were commissioned to paint the beautiful Imelda. Paintings were all over the house, it was really grand.

The Romualdez family tree.

The beautiful Imelda and her children. A floor to ceiling painting.


Up close.....

The great chandelier in the receiving area.

Made of narra.

It was sooo big, you can almost touch it.

The golden chair from Austria:

The 30-seater dining table:

How monumental! I kept saying "WOW" all through out the tour. I was mesmerized. The place was reeking with power and grandeur. I was brought back to time when Marcos ruled the Republic.

Everything inside the museum was striking, regal and magnificent.

When in Tacloban, never fail to visit the Romualdez Museum. Worth your time and money.