To our dear UP community and the Filipino public, welcome to a new chapter of the University of the Philippines Manila Museum of a History of Ideas.

As we celebrate our first decade under the theme “eXpansions and eXplorations,” we renew our commitment to being more than a repository of the past. Our museum stands as a testament to the enduring ideas—The University, The Modern, The Secular, The Tropics, The Filipino, and The Nation—that have shaped our collective identity since the early 20th century.

After reopening in December 2024 during the term of Chancellor Michael L. Tee, we have evolved to better serve as a true Museum of a Health Sciences University. We invite you to explore our re-curated galleries, such as The Secular Gallery, and join our transdisciplinary programs that bridge the arts, sciences, and heritage.

Our mission is to broaden the frontiers of scholarship and engage diverse audiences in a deep dive through history to inspire the present and future. We encourage students, faculty, and the general public to accompany us in this journey by volunteering in our programs, participating in collaborative research, or attending our events and workshops. Through these shared efforts, we foster a vibrant sense of ownership and community at UP Manila. Join us in generating knowledge in nation-building.

Professor Honey Libertine R. Achanzar-Labor, PhD

The University of the Philippines Manila Centennial Museum and Archives was established as a flagship project for the University’s centennial celebration in 2008, with approval during the administration of UP President Dr. Emerlinda R. Roman. Funding for construction and curatorial work was secured through Senator Edgardo J. Angara, former UP President and Chairperson of the UP Centennial Celebration, with additional support from the UP System and UP Manila.

Dr. Angelita T. Reyes, then a member of the Board of Regents, chaired the Museum’s Advisory Committee. Chancellor Ramon L. Arcadio appointed Dr. Manuel B. Agulto as Chairperson of the Museum Committee. Upon becoming Chancellor in 2011, Dr. Agulto named Dr. Leo D.P. Cubillan as his successor. Museum heads Dr. Raphael Bondoc (2014-2023) and Dr. Honey Libertine Achanzar-Labor (2023-present) were among the members of the Museum Committee.

The museum is housed in a historic building constructed in 1931. Originally, the structure served as the University Infirmary from 1931 to 1947. During World War II, it functioned as the emergency headquarters of the University of the Philippines’ administrative offices. After the war, from 1959 to 2002, it became the home of the UP College of Dentistry. Restorations in the building commenced in 2009 by the architectural firm of Eduardo Calma. On October 22, 2014, it officially reopened as the UP Manila Museum of a History of Ideas (UPM-MHI).

Marian Pastor-Roces of TAO INC developed and executed the curatorial concept. Initially, the museum was conceived as a space dedicated to the history of medicine in the Philippines, with particular emphasis on the development of community health services. Traditional museums were tasked with preserving a nation’s cultural properties and interpreting them for the public. Storage plays a vital role in safeguarding cultural identity, while exhibitions foster public engagement and pride in that identity.

In recent decades, however, museums have expanded their roles beyond preservation and display. They have increasingly embraced a pedagogical function, focusing not only on sharing knowledge but also on creating and generating knowledge infrastructures. The UPM-MHI builds on this contemporary understanding of museums. It moves beyond the concept of a “cabinet of curiosities” and positions itself as a dynamic space for examining the continuities and discontinuities in the development of ideas. It fosters both philosophical reflection and practical applications of knowledge, encouraging scholarly engagement within the public sphere.

Overall, the Museum of a History of Ideas stands as both a historical landmark and an intellectual platform, linking the University’s rich past with its ongoing role in shaping knowledge, identity, and national progress.

Mission
To represent, using its curatorial prerogative, the University’s histories as it intimately intertwines with nation-building

To challenge and push transdisciplinary by creating and providing a space where the university’s academics can engage in dialogues to tackle the problematics, as well as potentials and possibilities, in the generation of progressive ideas and the production of knowledge

To explore, articulate, and disseminate creative representations of the university’s multifaceted roles in social reform and transformation, privileging the plight of the poor and underserved sectors of society

To strengthen its organizational structure and curatorial leadership, build upon the affection, engagement, and knowledge of its university constituents, as it identifies and taps increased sources of income to facilitate the maintenance of its facilities and cutting-edge technological systems

Vision
The University of the Philippines Manila Museum of a History of Ideas (UPM-MHI) is a public museum that will advance the appreciation and understanding of the University’s history vis-à-vis the emergence of the Filipino nation and the Filipino citizen.

1. Affiliate, Local Historical Committees Network (LHCN)

• Affiliated since March 13, 2025
• Under the National Historical Commission of the Philippines

2. Institutional member, Alliance of Greater Manila Area Museums (AGMAM)

• Membership no. IS-2018-011
• Valid until June 25, 2026

The UPM-MHI serves as the laboratory museum for students enrolled in the BA Philippine Arts (Cultural Heritage and Arts Management) undergraduate degree program. Students gain hands-on experience in developing exhibitions and caring for collections, especially through the course Philippine Arts 164 (Curatorship and Collections Management).

Philippine Arts students and faculty may also use the facility for other academic engagements, such as, but not limited to, lectures, workshops, and other curatorial platforms. The former may further enhance the skills they learned in the program by applying as interns during the mid-year intake.

The lobby of the UP Manila Museum of a History of Ideas serves as a dynamic venue for exhibitions, academic forums, cultural events, and institutional gatherings. As a welcoming and accessible space within the University of the Philippines Manila, it supports the Museum’s mandate to promote dialogue, showcase scholarship and creative work, and foster meaningful engagement among students, faculty, partners, and the wider community.

Similarly, the Conference Room is available for small-group discussions and meetings.

The Permanent Exhibit has seven sections. While the Introduction serves to contextualize the Museum and the circumstances leading to the establishment of the University of the Philippines, each of the six other sections focuses on a specific idea or construct that the nascent UP helped develop: The University, The Modern, The Tropics, the Filipino, The Secular, and The Nation.