Museum date? Manila City Hall’s got you

February 15, 2024

The entrance of the Manila Clock Tower Museum on the fourth floor of the Manila City Hall. (Photo by Hyacinth Kate Villanueva/The Manila Warden)

Manileños have another go-to destination in the capital. Located on the fourth floor of the Manila City Hall is a hidden gem where Manileños can enjoy their free time and unwind by looking at art pieces by artists all over the country.  

The Manila Clock Tower Museum is a free-for-all museum that exhibits captivating and interesting art pieces from Filipino artists that tell the history of the city. One of the notable pieces in the gallery depicts the Battle of Manila during World War II. Made by Ohm David and Elba Cruz, the 3D art highlights crucial moments during the war. 

Aside from historic pieces, the museum also has a gallery displaying unique pieces of clothing of various ethnic groups in the country, as well as portraits of the previous and current mayors of the city. 

After looking around and appreciating the glorious artworks in the museum, guests can sit down and quench their thirst on the fifth floor of the Manila City Hall. Inside the museum, the Clock Tower Café serves a wide variety of coffee and non-coffee-based drinks priced from P110 to P200. It also offers all-day breakfast and pasta from P200 to P240.

A three-dimensional display of the crucial events during World War II. (Photo by Hyacinth Kate Villanueva/The Manila Warden)

 History of the Museum

Antonio Toledo, an architect, designed the City Hall and Clock Tower. It has four side clocks that face the four major districts of the city — Ermita in Taft, Intramuros, Divisoria and Ayala Bridge in Quiapo. In an article written by Faith Agursino from Manila Bulletin in 2022, it says that it is currently the largest clock tower in the Philippines, standing at almost 100 feet (30 meters) and was completed in the 1930s. However, it did not last long, and the City Hall was destroyed in 1945 during the Battle of Manila.  

In an article written by Art+, a magazine that features the Philippine art community established in 2008, it says that three renovations were done over the years, the first one being in the early 2000s. The second renovation was in 2014, during Joseph “Erap” Estrada's reign as the city mayor. It had the goal of eliminating the need for manual time adjustments and enhancing the clock accuracy. The latest renovation was drafted by the city's former mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno”  Domagoso in 2021. This renovation transformed the interior of the clock tower to an art gallery and museum.

The Wall of Heroes is displayed on the first floor of the Museum. (Photo by Hyacinth Kate Villanueva/The Manila Warden)

Why you should visit 

The Manila Clock tower museum guarantees to give the visitors a wonderful time. It has artwork relatable to all ages, historical and cultural pieces that will educate tourists, and even a spot where guests can rest and hang out. The museum has a quiet but comfortable ambiance that can help visitors unwind and enjoy. According to the museum's plaque, it ensures it will remain a source of pride for the country. The museum was awarded a Golden Leaf Presidential Award in 2022.  

How to book a slot 

The museum is open from 10 AM to 3 PM, Tuesday to Friday. To book an appointment, guests must follow the following steps: 

• Go to the official Facebook page of the Manila Clock Tower Museum. 

• Send a message via messenger indicating the following 

• Date of visit 

• Time of visit 

• Name 

• Contact number 

• Email Address 

• Address  

• Number of guests per group 

• Nationality 

• Wait for a message from the page that confirms your appointment. 

As the bells of the clock tower chime and echo throughout the busy and stressful atmosphere of the City Hall, the history that brought the Manila City Hall does not only linger in its halls. It is displayed in such a unique way. 

- H.K.V.