Palacio de Memoria: Flying into a Reimagined Past

- Nov. 5, 2021, Friday.

- Even after living my whole life in Metro Manila, it never fails to surprise and amaze me (....in both good and bad ways). Let's talk about the surprise that was "Palacio de Memoria." I accidentally knew about Palacio de Memoria when a friend posted about it in their social media months ago, and because of my busy life, I was only able to take time off to visit this place a week ago. It was a place unlike any other in Metro Manila.

You'll see this outside.

- Palacio de Memoria is located in Parañaque City, not too far south from SM Mall of Asia and Ayala Malls Manila Bay. It was a mansion built in the 1920s by unknown owners, and eventually was owned by a doctor named Francisco Villaroman who turned the the then-two-story house into a seven-story mansion. The mansion was later abandoned until the property was acquired by the Lhuillier family in the 2000s. They restored the house and eventually was opened to the public in 2019. It now serves as a museum, auction house, events/function place. It also has a restaurant called the Loggia, by celebrity Filipino chef, Margarita Forés.

- I took a Grab from my house to Palacio de Memoria since it was the most convenient way to reach the place. (It is also the safest I think, given the pandemic situation.) Walk-in visitors are allowed if only going for a self-guided tour. Reservations are needed if you prefer a guide to walk you through the property, or if you wish to dine in the Loggia as it can get packed at times. Details regarding entrance fees and reservations can be found in their website (click here). However, since the Palacio de Memoria is also an events place, it wouldn't hurt to ring them up beforehand to check if there are events happening. Some parts might be closed off if there are events and I'm sure anyone would like to maximize their stay in Palacio the Memoria. 

- Once I arrived, I was led to the chapel-museum where visitors needed to pay the entrance fee. A separate fee is necessary if you wish to visit the Mosphil Lounge (will discuss the Mosphil Lounge towards the end of this blog.) The chapel-museum is a two-story structure a few steps away from the main mansion. It houses religious artworks and artifacts from early-modern Europe. 

Inside the museum.

Surrounded by Spanish and Portuguese art. (Note: I went on a weekday and so there was almost no one in the premises. Usually, I find myself alone in whichever room I'm in. Also, I only take off my mask briefly for photos when I'm totally alone for safety reasons.)

At the supposed "altar" place.

I found this adorable.

A miniature replica of Michelangelo's Pietà in the Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican City (click here).

From Italy I think.

A depiction of child Jesus, made in India and Portugal.

View from the second level.

I need so much divine intervention in my life right now haha. (Kidding aside, I found it interesting that all of these portray the crucifixion of Jesus, yet they all look distinct.) 

- I visited the mansion later on, which is called "Casa de Memoria." Only the first two stories of the mansion were open when I visited, not sure if it was because of renovations or if there was an even going on. From what I saw in other blogs and vlogs, some of the other stories were supposedly accessible too. I still think I saw a lot so I didn't feel bad about not seeing the other floors (but still wish I was able to.) By the way, the mansion today functions as the main auction house.

Welcome to my crib. HAHAHAHA. (Just kidding.)

Inside the Los Tamaraos Ballroom (the main hall of the mansion.)

Home decors like these really remind me of the 1920s. 

- The various rooms in the house are all new, but made to look like the time period it was built in. It had influences from Spanish Revival styles, and Art Deco. The rooms can be rented, and the furniture can be used, though I still refrained from sitting in the chairs just because I wanted to be extra cautious. Each of the rooms have a certain look or theme.

The Red Room.

I like how my shirt matches the furniture though with contrasting colors.

The Grey Room.

The Ambassador's Dining Hall.

Not sure if I'm the host or the butler.

Basic selfie. HAHA.

- The stairs leading to the second floor was a prime example of Art Deco, and the great architect Juan Nakpil was involved in the design of the stairs. I feel like they're also doing some changes to the second floor since one of the halls there was empty (or maybe because it was a function room after all.)

Reminds me of either Beauty and the Beast, or the Von Trapp staircase in the Sound of Music (especially when they sang "So Long, Farewell.")

Going down like I mean business. Yes, notice the random taxidermied tiger.

Rawrrrr.

More artworks by the ceiling.

The second floor.

- My final agenda in Palacio de Memoria was the Mosphil Lounge, which as I mentioned earlier, needed a separate fee to be paid at the ticket counter inside the chapel-museum. The Mosphil Lounge is one of three decommissioned planes hanging out and being cool at the front yard.  Currently it is the only accessible plane. The Mosphil Lounge takes it name from the short-lived local airlines, Mosphil Aero. I couldn't find much information about this airline apart from the fact that it ran from 2006-2009 and wanted to focus on the Southeast-Asian region. 

- The decommissioned Mosphil airplane was converted into a 60s-inspired lounge that can also be rented for a whopping PhP25,000 for 6 hours. (The entrance fee to visit the airplane, however, doesn't cost much, don't worry.) What I like most about the Mosphil Lounge is that they have some costumes available if you wish to dress up like a pilot or old-school flight crew. If you know me too well, you know I didn't let this opportunity pass. 

Groovy.

To the cockpit.

Ready to fly!!

Oh no! I just remembered that I didn't know how to fly a plane!!

I'm not much of a mechanics person but I liked seeing the endless controls in the cockpit. Made me appreciate properly-trained pilots even more.

I actually never thought of being a pilot but I sure would love to fly off somewhere now, if it wasn't for this stupid pandemic.

Thank you for flying.

I feel like I'm in some sort of action film. (But my face is too happy for an action film.)

Behind the other decommissioned plane and the mansion.

Mansion behind the trees.

- I was so happy to finally be able to immerse myself in something cultural after so so long. I learned a lot without overwhelming myself. It was a different kind of "relaxation" compared to my marine adventure at the Manila Ocean Park weeks prior (click here). I still feel guilty whenever I take time off work to air myself, and perhaps this is brought about by the worries of the on-going pandemic. Despite this, I think that all of us should be able to find (safe!) ways to destress and be inspired!

Manila Ocean Park's Reopening 2021: Finding Peace, Finding Fish

- Oct. 22, 2021, Friday.

- It's been a few months since my Chinese New Year post (click here) and the world has slightly been better with the vaccine rollouts worldwide. Some countries have opened up more and tourism has slowly gone back. The Philippines has seen some improvements - so they say - which led to some non-essential establishments reopening. One such establishment is the Manila Ocean Park, which reopened last October 21. Currently, it is open from Thursday to Sundays only (10am-6pm), and only to vaccinated people, and only from ages 18-65.

- In need of some air from all the work-related stress in the past months, I decided to go on a weekday, just to avoid crowds. I purchased my ticket online, and the moment I arrived in the Ocean Park, it was as if I owned the whole place! True enough, there were only a handful people since most people had work and children - who I guess would enjoy the Ocean Park the most - were still not allowed. 

Hello once again!!

- I am not a beach person, but I do enjoy looking at fish in big aquariums. I think watching them swim around helps me relax. Since there were times when I was with absolutely no one, I was able to take some nice photos with the fishes. I sometimes forget how big some of them are, and I looked at them in amazement as if I was seeing them in person for the first time.

With giant arapaimas, one of the world's biggest freshwater fishes. (Note: No one was there, only took off my mask for a couple of seconds for the photo.)

Like a huge arowana.

Tiny eel. Looking at it was hypnotc.

I find these sea anemones magical. Can you see the fish?

Little zebra-like eels.

The nautilus. One of the oldest-surviving cephalopod species. They have not changed much in the last 500 million or so years.

These are giant trevally, but they remind me of tuna. They're edible fish and have been eaten by mankind since prehistoric times. They're also treated as gods by the ancient Hawaí'ians!!

The most unusual fish.

I made sure I dressed with the theme - it was Japanese and ocean-inspired. (Note: No one was there, only took off the mask for the photo for a couple of seconds.)

- The highlight of the Ocean Park will always be the main "tunnel" where all the bigger fishes, sharks, and rays swim around you. I like it because I feel like I'm underwater - without being underwater. I don't usually like being in water (except when I need to take a bath.) 

Tranquility.

Rays flying over me will always be something I find fascinating. (Note: No one was there, only took off the mask for the photo for a couple of seconds.)

This giant grouper was probably a meter long.

A stingray and a wedgefish.

I wasn't in the water. Just took a photo from a different side. Also, another unusual...."fish."

- After going through the tunnel there was another giant tank with different kinds of sharks. It slightly made me feel nervous because of all the shark films I probably watched as a child.

Many types of sharks.

With a nurse shark. (Note: No one was there, only took off the mask for the photo for a couple of seconds.)

Smileeee.

- Going up the second floor, I met the penguins of the Ocean Park once again. They're so adorable and active, I'd love to pet them if I could. I could actually pay to go inside and feed them, but at that time I was really just happy to see them from outside the tank. I always liked seeing them waddle on land, but turn into these playful and delicate creatures once them jump in the water and swim.

So lucky to have had a photo with a swimming penguin! (Note: No one was there, only took off the mask for the photo for a couple of seconds.) 

It was a challenge to capture them while swimming.

I'd like to hug them. Just hoping they won't bite.

Close up.

- After visiting my penguin friends, I had the chance to see other attractions since I bought a combination ticket. I got to see some creepy crawlies, which I only like looking at as long as I don't touch them.

A hissing cockroach.

A blue monitor lizard just sitting around.

A legless lizard - it's not a snake!!

Now this is a snake. Look at that python!!

An albino boa constrictor.

- I also go to see some floating jellyfish. They're called "dancing jellyfish" because the tanks make them float around as if they're dancing. The changing lights are actually a bit distracting to me; many oceanariums across the world have this type of attraction though. I still went inside because it was included in my ticket (read: I paid for it so I must get my money's worth. HAHA.)

Mindlessly floating.

- Overall, I enjoyed my trip to the Manila Ocean Park mainly because my brain needed it before I go insane from work. I was really just glad that there was (almost) no one in the Ocean Park, so I was able to get from peace and quiet from whatever is happening in the world right now. I actually remember going to the Ocean Park probably in 2019 (sorry no blog about this) for the same reason: just to have some moment of tranquility. I'm happy that the Ocean Park has opened once more and that they're observing health protocols too. I hope that the pandemic will go away soon so more people, especially children, can enjoy the Manila Ocean Park once more!