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A tour inside Malacañang: What can you visit and which areas are off-limits

There are some areas in the presidential complex that are open to locals and tourists. Click to know which ones are worth a visit.

Before everything else, let us first clarify the confusion between the two spellings of our subject. Is it Malacañan or Malacañang? According to Dianne Illavera, PSO IV at Presidential Museum and Library, both spellings are acceptable. However, to avoid confusion, they advise using Malacañan without the ‘g’ when referring to the palace proper. Everyplace else that is outside the palace, but is still within the 16 hectares gated complex should be addressed as Malacañang.

Now that we’re clear which term to use, let us know talk about the notable places within Malacañang Complex. 

1. Off-Limits: Malacañan Palace

The Malacañan Palace is the principal residence and office of the Philippine president. But not many know that it wasn’t specifically built to serve as a Presidential Palace.

In 1750, Spanish aristocrat Don Luis Rocha built the Malacañan Palace to serve as his summer house. In 1802, Don Luis sold the palace to Col. Jose Miguel Formento for P1,000. In 1825, it was again resold to the Spanish government for P5,100. The Malacañan Palace only became the official residence of the Philippines president during the establishment of the Philippine Commonwealth. Former President Manuel Quezon is the first Filipino resident of the Malacañan.

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Contrary to popular belief, Presidents are not required to live in the Palace. In fact, there are three former Philippine presidents who did not live there: Cory Aquino and Fidel Ramos, who lived in the Arlegui Guesthouse; and Joseph Estrada, who lived in the nearby Bonifacio Guesthouse. Current President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino, III doesn’t live in the Malacañan either. He stays in Bahay Pangarap, across the Pasig River, and takes a ferry to go to Malacañan.

During the term of former President Ramon Magsaysay, locals were welcome to enter and tour the palace because he believed that Malacañan is owned by the Filipinos. Today, the public can only peer through the fences along Jose P. Laurel St. because Malacañan is off-limits to those who have no official business inside.

2. *Open to the public: Presidential Museum and Library
Kalayaan Hall, Malacañang
Monday to Friday: 9 am to 12 pm; 1 pm to 3 pm (except on public holidays)
Rate: P50 for adults; P30 for students and senior citizens
Dress code: smart casual (shorts, sleeveless tops, and slippers are not allowed)
*Online reservation is required (at least 7 days ahead of your scheduled tour)

Located in Kalayaan Hall, Malacañang, the Presidential Museum and Library offers visitors—both local and foreign, a glimpse of the rich history of the palace and the presidents who used it as an office. It has a total of nine sections; each area stands as a tribute to the lives and achievements of the Presidents of the Philippines.

Pre-registered visitors are required to submit to inspection at the entrance. Only one camera per group can be used inside the premises. Visitors are also to leave the non-essentials in a package counter.

A briefing about the house rules will be done in the Presidential Broadcasting Studio. The guide will also discuss the history of Malacañan as a summer house. Afterwards, the group will be ushered into the Malacañan as a Prize Room, where different campaign paraphernalia is displayed. Here, you can listen to President Ramon Magsaysay’s jingle: Mambo, Mambo, Magsaysay.

The second room, Malacañan as a Pulpit, is where the different iconic laws are displayed. The most interesting bit here is the copy of the Proclamation No. 1081, which subjected the nation in Martial Law. The furniture used by President Ferdinand Marcos, when he appeared on national TV is also is displayed.

In Malacañan Palace as a Stage, the first ladies who served as official hostess of the palace are commemorated. The other rooms, Osmeña, Quezon, Roxas, Quirino, and the Old Vice President’s office each tell a story about the room’s former occupants. Finally, the Main Hall + Northeast and Southeast Galleries feature the memorabilia of the Philippine presidents.

The tour is more than an hour long. But it’s definitely worth checking out because most of the facts and trivia discussed by the guide weren’t discussed in our High School elementary lessons and/or can’t be found in History books. Entry is strict. A week ahead reservation is a must (the PSG will do a background check on you). But the lessons you’ll gather inside are all worth the hassle.

3. Open to the public: Casa Roces
1153 J. P. Laurel corner Aguado Streets in San Miguel, Manila
735-5896 or 708-4020

Located just across the Malacañan Palace, Casa Roces is a house-turned-restaurant that offers Spanish-Filipino heirloom recipes.  The house was built by Filomena “Menang” Roces de Legarda and sold to the present owners: the Prietos. The Roces clan includes newspaper publisher Joaquin “Chino” Roces, National Artist for Literature Alejandro Roces, and artist Alfredo Roces.

The menu is an education on the staple dishes served in house parties of the illustrious residents of San Miguel District during the Spanish and Commonwealth eras. They are notable for their Lengua, Quezo de Bola Croquetas, Paella, and Cochinillio. President Noynoy is a patron of the restaurant and can, usually, be seen having his business here. 

4. Open to the public: National Shrine of Saint Michael and the Archangels

If you are a devout Catholic, you probably know about St. Jude Thaddeus Church, located within San Miguel District. St. Jude is the patron saint of the hopeless cases, therefore, many students troop to church to pray for their board examination results.

But not many know about the other church in the Malacañang Complex: the National Shrine of Saint Michael and the Archangels.

This 411-year-old Baroque-style church is the only one in the whole world dedicated to all of the archangels. History says that after World War 2, when Manila Cathedral was bombed, St. Michael was designated as the temporary cathedral of Manila.

One cool feature of the church is the giant calendar outside that you can use to determine who your angel is.

Touring San Miguel District can be quite a hassle, compared to other tourist attractions in Manila. Prior reservations are required to visit the museum, and IDs/licenses must be submitted to the guards at the gate of the complex. But it does offer an alternative look at the history of the Philippines, one taken from the perspective of the powerful and illustrious. 

If you can spare half a day, are curious about little-known trivia, and have an appetite for adventure, then a tour inside Malacañang complex is something you should do on your next free weekend.

How to commute to Malacañang:

From Quiapo, ride a jeep to San Miguel District, Manila. Ask the driver to drop you off at the Malacañang complex.

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