Museo Sugbo: Exploring Cebu’s Rich Culture and History

Cebu has been one of the premier tourist destinations in the Philippines, not only for its pristine beaches but also because of its rich culture and history. We checked out one of the most interesting museums which is Museo Sugbo or also known as The Cebu Provincial Museum. Museo Sugbo is located in M.J. Cuenco Avenue in the old Spanish-era area of Cebu named Tejero.

It used to be named Carcel de Cebu during the Spanish Occupation. “Carcel” is a Spanish word which means “prison”. It is the Provincial Jail of Cebu before it became a Museum. It was designed by Domingo de Escondrillas on 1869 and he was the only architect in Cebu during that time. At first the Carcel de Cebu was proposed to become the Carcel de Distrito which means jail in the district of Visayas because of its large size at the time it was constructed.

Museo Sugbo Entrance Fees:

Adults: P30 (Filipinos), P75 (Foriegners), P75 (Balikbayans) Students: P10 (Filipinos), P50 (Foriegners), P50 (Balikbayans) Senior Citizens: P10 ICOM Members: Free Admission

The galleries are housed in four separate buildings and are in chronological order. It’s as if you are time-traveling or stepping into a different era every time you walk in a gallery.

The museum had plenty of important objects and artifacts to offer. From the stone age up to the age of barter with Chinese, Thai and Arabs traders; from the Spanish legacy of conquest, conversion, and consolidation up to the Revolution of 1898; from the war against the American up to their last legacies of democracy, public infrastructure and education; from the Japanese invasion and brutal occupation up to the American liberation. The political history gallery threads through our political history, from the early period of family-based groupings thousands of years back up to the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and beyond. The presidential gallery offers a fascinating look at the 14 presidents of the country through their political portraits with their signatures etched in 24-karat gold plated metal amidst objects and artifacts of their different reigns.

We highly recommend that you take the time to stop by Museo Sugbu as it is full of information and memorabilia’s and learn more about the island’s history and get a glimpse of the country’s rich culture. The museum is open from 9:00am – 5:30pm.