- May 7, 2026, Thursday.
- I'm ready for my trip to Acapulco!! -- At least, not in a straightforward sense. The Museo del Galeon, or the Galleon Museum, has finally opened in SM Mall of Asia after almost a decade of delays! The museum emphasizes the maritime history of the Philippines especially during the Spanish era. The museum is currently open from Wednesdays to Sundays, 10AM-7PM. Entrance tickets need to be purchased at the entrance (with big discounts for students and teachers).
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| There's a giant compass in front of the museum name. |
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| I look like a news anchor. |
- The galleons were used during the 1500s to 1800s and went between Manila and Acapulco, Mexico. This transnational trade was crucial in bringing all kinds of goods across the Pacific. It was only until the invention of steam ships and the opening of the Suez Canal in Egypt that brought an end to the Galleon Trade.
- The museum exhibit space is separated into four floors. The ground floor is mainly the entrance and reception area. Going up the second level, visitors can first see native Philippine boats such as the Butuan canoe and the balangay. Afterwards, everyone can behold the giant galleon, which is a life-sized replica of the galleon named Espiritu Santo. There are some items that were traded through the Manila-Acapulco route.
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| Butuan canoe. |
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| Balangay. |
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| Espiritu Santo. It gives you an idea of how big it is compared to my human size. (And my height is above average for Filipinos.) |
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| And just so you can see me better, I walked closer to the camera haha. |
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| Religious items. |
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| Manton de Manila. (Bonus because the left manton is orange!) |
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| Silverware. |
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| Significant documents written by the Spanish during their stay in the Philippines. |
- The third level focuses more on encounters with the Philippines, with maps that the Spanish drew of the country, as well as statues of Rajah Humabon and Lapulapu. This is also the level where guests can enter the Espiritu Santo for a more immersive experience of life on a galleon. I appreciated the touch of giving the galleon floors a sensation of being on water, making the experience more realistic.
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| Old chest. |
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| Raja Humabon. |
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| Tabletop altar with Santo Nino. |
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| Lapulapu. |
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| Ready to out-explore Dora. |
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| Mother Mary carving. |
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| Inside the galleon. |
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| On the deck. |
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| See the captain's wheel! |
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| I don't think I can survive with a space this small!! |
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| Captain's room. |
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| Divine guidance while out in the sea. |
- The fourth level currently doesn't have much, although it does provide a nice view of the galleon from a higher angle. I also know that there are galleries that are waiting to be finalized and created in time for the museum's grand opening in October 2026. Because it's on soft-opening capacity for a couple of months, the museum staff told me that I can hold on to my ticket and go back in October with my ticket for a discount should I be interested to visit the museum again during its grand opening.
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| Love the LED screens with the artificial waves. (They sometimes show stars too, or at times there is an informative video about the galleon's history.) |
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| Thank you kind person for taking my photo because I wasn't allowed to use my tripod in the museum. (In my earlier photos, I could get away with leaning my phone on my bag, but I couldn't do that with this angle.) |
- The museum space has gone through so much before coming to this point. At one point it was even a vaccination center during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the many setbacks, it is now ready to serve its main purpose from the day the museum was conceptualized: to take everyone on a journey through time and the oceans!
