We all know that Malacañang is the house associated with the President of the Philippines, but who would have known that the President, or to be more specific, the Office of the President, maintains a number of other houses (some of them function today as guesthouses) around the area of the district of San Miguel in Manila? The probably most renowned and has figured in the news recently is the Laperal Mansion or the Arlegui Guest House. Located along Arlegui St. just a few walks away from the Malacañang grounds itself, the closest among the houses to the Palace.
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Malacañang from outside the gates
For a place as powerful and rich in history as Malacañang, it is somehow frustrating how much limited access an ordinary citizen has in visiting this place. While the restrictions are understandable given the importance of securing the country’s seat of power, it would have been nice if perhaps there can be some occasions when at least some more leeway can be given for citizens to get to see a bit more of Malacañang and the treasures the Palace holds.
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Roamer at the Palace: A day at the Malacañang Museum (Part 2)
The second level of Kalayaan Hall by itself has a colorful history; it is just proper that this particular area holds a lot of memorabilia related to Malacañang’s history. Probably the most important area in this level, and perhaps of the whole Kalayaan Hall as well, is the Quezon Room, which used to be the Executive Office of the President of the Philippines. First used by Manuel Quezon, (after whom the room was made) it was was where the President would hold formal and official business. (today, these functions being held at the Palace building itself)
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Roamer at the Palace: A day at the Malacañang Museum (Part 1)
It is a historic day for the Philippines as a new president in the person of Benigno Aquino III assumes the mantle of the country’s leadership. In the spirit of this momentous occasion, the Urban Roamer last week joined the “Power, Palace, and a Shot of Beer” tour of Mr. Ivan Man Dy which took me and some other guests mostly around Malacañang* Museum. *note: according to Mr. Man Dy, Malacañang refers to the whole Palace grounds: the Palace building itself, Kalayaan, Mabini Halls, New Executive Building, and the park at the opposite end of the Pasig River while Malacañan (the spelling we see on TV during press conferences) refers…