The Lights and Sounds
Museum in Intramuros
Lights and Sounds Museum
The Lights and Sounds museum is a must-see tourist attraction in Intramuros, Manila for international and local tourists alike. It is a spectacular display of visuals with accompanying narration and sound effects on the history of the Philippines. Walking from one hall to another through inconspicuous entry points seems like time travelling from one era to the next; from pre-colonial Philippines up to the brink of the Philippine Revolution in 1896.
The 1,800-square meter structure located at Sta. Lucia Street near Baluartillo de San Diego was inaugurated on November 30, 2003 through the initiative of then Secretary of Tourism, Richard Gordon. This was the very site of the formerBeaterio de la Compañía de Jesús founded by Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo.
The 1,800-square meter structure located at Sta. Lucia Street near Baluartillo de San Diego was inaugurated on November 30, 2003 through the initiative of then Secretary of Tourism, Richard Gordon. This was the very site of the formerBeaterio de la Compañía de Jesús founded by Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo.
I went there for the first time in 2004 as part of an educational tour of the UST Faculty of Theology. It was such an awesome experience.
My second visit was with my family in 2010 and I was very delighted to see how thrilled they were. I, too, enjoyed my second time which was focused more on the details.
Our schedule was not on time but my mother and sisters had a great time checking out some souvenirs while waiting. The staff were very polite in entertaining us. The guard is even dressed up as a guardia civil. There is also an exhibit on Mother Ignacia at the lobby and we had an ample time for picture taking at the aesthetically appealing INTRAMUROS sign with embedded scenes from the Spanish colonial era.
My second visit was with my family in 2010 and I was very delighted to see how thrilled they were. I, too, enjoyed my second time which was focused more on the details.
Our schedule was not on time but my mother and sisters had a great time checking out some souvenirs while waiting. The staff were very polite in entertaining us. The guard is even dressed up as a guardia civil. There is also an exhibit on Mother Ignacia at the lobby and we had an ample time for picture taking at the aesthetically appealing INTRAMUROS sign with embedded scenes from the Spanish colonial era.
The Walls of Intramuros
Since we are from Bulacan, we made the reservation ahead of time and visited other interesting places in Intramuros before our 2:00 PM schedule. There was a moment when the narration failed to sync with the presentation of pioneer heroes but it did not spoil the experience at all. The rest is perfect. The guide told us that the computer might have malfunctioned. With an affordable entrance fee of 1,000 pesos for 10 persons, this is a great place to savor the Filipino pride.
The Spanish built the walls not only as fortification for the city but also to serve as a discriminating colonial icon that segregated the Filipinos from the Spaniards. The building and the breaking of walls in Intramuros are depicted inside the museum.
It is a fitting tribute to the Filipino’s pursuit for freedom under the leadership of Dr. Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, and other revolutionary leaders like Lapu-Lapu, Rajah Soliman and Andres Bonifacio among others. The highlight of this one-hour tour is the martyrdom of Rizal. However, there are many interesting scenes along the way.
The museum is divided into three parts: the pre-Hispanic civilization, the Spanish colonial era and the life and martyrdom of Jose Rizal. The experience cannot just be described in words so I'll stop here for you to have a glimpse of some random pics.
