Poetic Isolation

My brother and I recently visited Cebu Provincial Museum, also known as Museo Sugbo. We’re both lovers of history, so we’ve always wanted to explore places rich in cultural and historical value. This marks our second summer visiting museums around the city together, since my brother only comes home to Cebu during this season.

Museo Sugbo is truly a great place to visit—especially if you’re looking for somewhere cool, meaningful, and educational. The museum offers a glimpse into Cebu’s rich and fascinating past through its collection of rare artifacts and antiques that reflect the province’s heritage and grandeur. It’s also a beautiful spot for photoshoots, with its historic architecture and timeless atmosphere.

If there’s one thing I can promise, it’s this: visiting Museo Sugbo is absolutely worth it.

Here's some brief information about the museum:

photo from google images

Museo Sugbo is the Cebu Provincial Museum located in Cebu City, Philippines. Located at what was once the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) on M. J. Cuenco Avenue in the old Spanish-era district of Cebu called Tejero. It is some four blocks north of Plaza Independencia.

Designed in 1869 by Domingo de Escondrillas, the lone architect in Cebu at the time, the Cárcel de Cebú was originally proposed as the Carcel del Distrito, the main prison for the Visayas District. After twenty years of use, a renovation was ordered in 1892, which added more buildings behind the main structure that now serves as the first six galleries of the museum.

Records are not clear as to when the second story of the main building was added. But the architectural design suggests this to be during the American colonial period.

The Cárcel de Cebú housed not only criminals in its 135-year history. During the Revolution, many of the Katipuneros were incarcerated here without trial and many of them were eventually executed in nearby Carreta Cemetery. During the Japanese Occupation, guerrillas were imprisoned here after enduring torture under the hands of the Kempei-Tei, the Japanese secret police. After the war, many of the collaborators in Cebu were also imprisoned here. From the 1950s to 1976, the front section of the Cárcel served as the city jail, while the three structures behind were used as the provincial jail.

source:wikipedia.com

I wasn't able to take a photo of the front view because my brother won't let me take photos in the street. You never knew what would happen ;)

Here's a side view shot inside the museum instead.

The museum's way bigger than I thought.

This is me attempting an “outfit pose,” lol. I’ll be posting my outfit shots soon—I just decided to make a separate post, so I don’t overwhelm you with such a long one. For now, history muna tayo, okay?

But honestly, being there made me realize something—the place would be absolutely stunning for wedding receptions and similar events. Imagine celebrating in a space filled with so much history and character. I’d love to have my own wedding reception at Museo Sugbo!

The museum itself is divided into four galleries—two permanent and two special ones—each showcasing artifacts grouped by time period or category. There’s so much to see that it’s impossible to photograph everything, so I’ll just be sharing a few of the pieces that really caught my eye.

Different antique saints donated to the museum

Antique Gold Buddha

Military swords owned by Spanish Encomiendos.

Chinese and Japanese porcelains

Original letters written by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi

A sketch made by Jovito Abellana after he was released from the Japanese prison.

Japanese flag posted in one of the Japanese military bases during the Japanese occupation.

A newspaper published during the Japanese era.

Japanese military jugs.

One interesting fact about these water jugs is that their designs vary based on their ranks.

Typewriter on used during the American occupation

Sake cups used by the Japanese Generals occupying the country.

Money.Money.Money. The museum houses lots of money from the past.

My brother beside the old military guns and a bomb (below).

I can't believe The Freeman had existed for a very long time. This one's their issue in Visaya with Don Leon Kilat in the headlines. o_0

A Bayonet used by the Japanese soldiers. This kind of knife was used by the Japanese soldiers to demonstrate cruelty. According to what I've read, babies were thrown upwards and then caught by the tip of a bayonet.

A bayonet (from French baïonnette) is a knife, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over, or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket, or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear.
-wikipedia.com

A camera used by a journalist during the American occupation.

Surrounding it are photographs and post cards issued at that time and some bus tickets own by Corominas. (brown cards below the camera)

What they call the anting-anting of Leon Kilat. It was said that he wore this as an interior clothing.

Those are just some of the photos we took during our visit. Like I mentioned above, I couldn’t possibly take photos of every item in the museum, nor could I post all the photos I captured here. So, if you want to see more, I guess you should go visit the place yourself.

The whole museum closes at 5:30 PM, but some rooms close at 5:00 PM, so we really made sure to use our time efficiently to visit all the rooms and check everything out. Right before we left, we made a wish at a wishing well located at the back portion of the museum. Yes, the museum had a wishing well—and there were even instructions posted on how to make a wish.

By the way, the museum also has its own gift shop and coffee shop (the one shown above). They said it used to be an underground prison during the Japanese era. Too bad we weren’t able to check it out since it was already closed when we got there—tsk!

Nevertheless, the entire visit was great, and I feel so grateful to have experienced the place. Visiting the museum made me even prouder to be a Filipina living in Cebu.

Now, here are the “How to Get There” instructions by Ms. Cille Anne from the blog Penfires, just in case you’re around Cebu and want to visit the museum as well (because I’m really not an expert when it comes to commuting—lol!).

Museo Sugbo is located in M.J. Cuenco Avenue in the old Spanish-era area of Cebu named Tejero.

image from google

The Cebu Provincial Museum is located in M.J. Cuenco Avenue. If you are coming from Mabolo or Mandaue take a jeepney with signage “Marteres” AND “Cathedral”. This museum is a few walks before reaching the corner of T. Padilla and M.J. Cuenco.

From Maguikay, Mandaue Coliseum, or Mabolo area, take a 21D jeepney. It passes by the front of Museo Sugbo. Fare from Maguikay is P10 per person, from Mabolo P8.
If you are in SM area, ride 01K and tell driver that you will get off in the corner of T.Padilla and M.J. Cuenco. Note though that you will have to walk 2 blocks to reach Museo Sugbo.
If you are coming from Colon, take 01K, it also passes by the Museum on the jeepneys’ way to SM and Cebu North Bus terminal. So therefore if you are on a DIY Cebu City Tour and you are already in the Cebu Heritage Monument area in Colon or Parian District and you want to check out the galleries of the Museo Sugbo, you can ride 01k. 01k passes by the Colon Obelisk.
When the 01k jeeps reach the end of Colon Street ( you’ll know because you will see the Obelisk), it will right turn all the way to Cebu Cathedral and then will left turn on the side of Patria Building until it reaches M.J. Cuenco Ave. When your ride reaches the corner, it will take another left turn, you will then be already cruising through M.J. Cuenco Avenue. A few minutes after, you’ll be by the side of the Cebu Provincial Museum.

How I Get There:

We rode in a jeepney with the signage 12D going to Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
We cross the street going to Patria Bldg.
We commute in a jeepney going to Mandaue with the signage 21A
I just told the driver to stop by the Cebu Museum.
You'll know you're there once you see the museum.

Entrance Fees:

Adults: Php30 (Filipinos), Php75 (Foreigners), Php75 (Balikbayans)
Students: Php10 (Filipinos), Php50 (Foriegners), Php50 (Balikbayans)
Senior Citizens: Php10

Museo Sugbo is open from Mondays to Saturdays at 9am-5:30pm.

If you wanna know more about the museum, you may ring them with these numbers: (032) 516-2205 or (032) 239 5626

Thank you for reading! Good luck!

If you're in Cebu and you're planning to visit the place,

I hope this post will help you.

If you're not in Cebu, I suggest you visit the place

Side Note:

*The photos above are mine unless otherwise stated.

***The photos I took inside the museum (e.g the photos are artifacts) were not taken illegally. The dude from the museum who welcomed us told us that it's okay for us to take photos, but we can't use the flash of our cameras.

My Museo Sugbo Experience