Museum of Philippine Economic History is a display of Iloilo’s grandiloquent past
The Museum of Philippine Economic History of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) is a two-story architectural marvel which can be found right at the heart of Iloilo City’s bustling downtown.
The brick-laden wall, ornate woodwork inside and out, Capiz sliding windows, a grand wooden staircase, and elaborate floor tiles is a display of Iloilo’s grandiloquent past.
It proclaims the meticulous predisposition and the fine aesthetic taste of its owners and the Filipino craftsmen who constructed it.
It is the first museum in the country with 13 galleries that put on display the evolution of trade and commerce from the pre-colonial period up to 1941, with an emphasis on the interplay of 10 major industries.
See more photos here: Museum of Philippine Economic History
The ground floor offers a broader perspective on the history of the Ynchausti y Compañia Building, the history of Iloilo as an economic center, and the economic history of the Philippines.
Climbing up to the second floor through a majestic wooden staircase offers an unhurried opportunity to understand how major industries like Rice, Boat Making, Pottery, Body Ornaments, Textile, Blacksmithing, Tobacco, Sugar, Abaca, and Coconut have shaped the Philippine Economy and comprehend the sustained influence of these industries.
Built in 1905, the museum is a century-old building known then as the Edificio de Ynchausti y Cia which served as a branch of the Ynchausti y Compañia in Iloilo, a major trading company established by Basque business partners Jose Joaquin de Ynchausti Y Gurchategui and Joaquin Elizalde in 1816 that engaged in the abaca, tobacco, sugar, shipping, banking, and hemp industries.
The building was renamed the Elizalde & Co. Building in 1934 after the Elizaldes bought the company shares of the Ynchaustis.
It later served as the office of the Commission on Audit in Iloilo City and was interchangeably referred to as the Elizalde Building until the building was donated by the COA to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in 2016.
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It underwent restoration starting in 2018, and the building was opened to the public as the Museum of Philippine Economic History on February 11, 2019.
The 13 galleries of the Museum of Philippine Economic History
The Spanish and American colonizers established the system of modern economy, which shaped not only the Filipino way of life, but also the identity and history of the nation.
This is captured by the 13 galleries of the Museum of Philippine Economic History which aims to share the rich narrative of trade and commerce, showing the vast natural resources which became a source of livelihood and sustenance of pre-colonial communities of the archipelago, thereby serving as the foundation that created wealth and lubricated the wheels of economy.
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The ground level has a 759.69sq.m of space devoted for three galleries, namely:
- Gallery 1: History of the Ynchausti y Compañia Building
- Gallery 2: History of Iloilo as Regional Economic Center
- Gallery 3: The Economic History of the Philippines
The second level’s 763.16.sq.m floor area features 10 major industries that shaped our Philippine Economy. The gallery is arranged and curated side-by-side and it contains a summary text of the industry and its products like the following:
- Gallery 4: Rice
- Gallery 5: Boat Making
- Gallery 6: Pottery
- Gallery 7: Body Ornaments
- Gallery 8: Textile
- Gallery 9: Blacksmithing
- Gallery 10: Tobacco
- Gallery 11: Sugar
- Gallery 12: Abaca
- Gallery 13: Coconut
Visiting the Museum of Philippine Economic History
The visitor can spend at least more than an hour to learn from the museum while more can be devoted by researchers to gather information from the rich material of the well-organized sectioning of the galleries, including photos.
The museum is located at the corner J.M. Basa – Ortiz Streets or within the perimeter of the Iloilo City Hall with the Plaza Libertad in front. The museum of open from Tuesday to Sunday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Sources:
- The Museums, Galleries, and Art Spaces of Iloilo: Vignette of a noble past, flamboyant present, and vibrant future, Ted Aldwin Ong, Iloilo Art Book 2021 to 2023, Art in the Heart of the Philippines, published by the Iloilo City Government, 2023.
- Museum Guide of the Museum of Philippine Economic History from Ms. Jessel Pitallos.
