AS PRESIDENTIAL AS IT CAN GET As it is today, the century-old estate is already a crowd-drawer in Baguio City. But The Mansion may soon be transformed into a full-fledged Presidential Museum, according to first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. EV ESPIRITU
MANILA, Philippines — First lady Liza Araneta-Marcos is keen on turning one of the landmarks of Baguio City into a museum about the men and women who have served in the highest office of the land.
Araneta-Marcos plans to duplicate the Presidential Museum—which is currently housed at the Teus Mansion within the Malacañang complex in Manila—at The Mansion.
It will be put together with the young and upcoming generation of Filipinos in mind.
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“I noticed that the youth, they don’t know history. They just criticize,” the first lady said in her interview with broadcaster Anthony Taberna that was shown on his YouTube channel on Friday.
“How can you love your country if you don’t love your President?” she said, noting how the country’s succession of chief executives shared the common fate of being bashed early in their terms because the public still had to know more about them.
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A ‘hit’ worth copying
The Teus Mansion is popular among youngsters and students, with its free tours drawing around 6,000 visitors a month to the Presidential Museum, she said.
“Since the Teus Mansion turned out to be a hit, we will duplicate it in Baguio City, at the Mansion House. We will house it there, for the tourists in Baguio City. This is for free,” she said, referring to the place by its old name.
For starters, the envisioned museum at The Mansion could house the “barong” worn by the former presidents and donated by their heirs—perhaps on the first lady’s request—among other mementos.
Known for its history and stately architecture, The Mansion was built in 1908 as the official summer house of American governors general during the prewar era. It was turned over to the Philippines during the Commonwealth period. At present, it serves as the official summer residence of the President.
Life and times
On the other hand, the Teus Mansion in San Miguel, Manila, now doubles as the Presidential Museum. On display are items from the life and times of the country’s past 16 presidents before Marcos: clothes and footwear, campaign souvenirs, keystone documents, momentous news clippings, gifts from foreign governments and art pieces, among others.
The Teus Mansion is one of three heritage structures in the Malacañang compound. The others are Bahay Ugnayan, which now features a timeline of key events in the life of the incumbent President; and the Goldenberg Mansion, an opulent residence built in the 1870s by a Spanish merchant family that was later refurbished and repurposed as an arts and culture venue.