Saturday, January 26, 2013

New BPI Museum in Historic Cebu


Louie Nacorda invited me to visit the new BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) in Cebu City.  This museum is another welcome develop in the Historic District of Cebu City.  The Bank Manager Carlos Apuhin gave us a grand tour of this museum, which includes a small art gallery in one wing. The building of BPI is a designated historic building, although it continues to function as a bank.  The inside space was far bigger than needed, with a very high ceiling to boot.  The interior space was redesigned to reduce the work space -- the area that has to be lit and cooled by air conditioners, costing quite a lot of money.  The new interior design had space around the work area, space which is now the museum.

This museum provides a look at the banking and financial history in Cebu from the time of Queen Isabela in the 1800s, through the Spanish colonial period, American period, Japanese Occupation, to the present. It's an interesting museum, which is right next door to other tourist sites: Magellan's Cross, Santo Nino Basilica, and Fort San Pedro. The Chinese Heritage Museum is being developed just across the way.  A lot of development in historic Cebu, including new parks: Senior Citizen's Park and Collins Children's Park.

Here are some pictures of the BPI Museum.  The viewing of the BPI museum is by-appointment, so contact Carlos Apuhin beforehand.







tags: Travel, tour, Cebu, Philippines, Asia

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