No plans for Mother’s Day yet this year? Get a taste of travel without going too far from the city by exploring the newest museums and heritage-inspired sites with the whole family.
Blending leisure, history, and thoughtfully designed spaces from different time periods, exploring these sites offers a refreshing way to celebrate the occasion while discovering how culture and heritage shape our lives.
Here are five unique destinations around Metro Manila worth visiting this Mother’s Day and beyond.
Museo del Galeón
Embark on a voyage inside a full-scale galleon replica with the whole family at the newly opened Museo del Galeon. This immersive maritime heritage museum reflects the 17th-century Spanish colonial era, highlighting the 250-year Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade through interactive exhibits on Filipino seafaring history and global cultural exchange.
Located in the SM Mall of Asia complex in Pasay, this museum offers an exciting new spot for the whole family to visit in between errands and dining out in the mall. Take advantage of the free guided tours from Wednesdays to Sundays, with the purchase of regular tickets.
Regular entrance fees start at P675 for adults and P275 to P375 for students. Children under 2 feet are free, and discounts are available for seniors/PWDs. For Mother’s Day weekend, moms can enter for free with 2 paying companions.
Address: Mall of Asia Complex, Seaside Boulevard corner Sunset Avenue, Bay City, Pasay City, Metro Manila
Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Quezon City
Treat mom to a classic brunch or merienda surrounded by restored ancestral houses at Las Casas Quezon City.
Popular as a wedding venue, this heritage-themed events space highlights Filipino-Spanish heritage, featuring furniture and decorations reminiscent of the 19th to early 20th century. It offers the same atmosphere as the popular heritage resort with the same name in Bataan.
Las Casas QC currently has three restaurants inside, ideal for Mother’s Day celebrations. Dine on Filipino classics at the elegant Kusina ni Nanay Maria. Enjoy brick-oven pizzas made on the spot at Italian restaurant La Bella Teodora. Or cool down with drinks and desserts at Muni-Muni Bar & Cafe.
Regular day tours at Las Casas QC start at P500, inclusive of the entrance fee, vicinity map, plated kakanin, and welcome drink. Restaurant diners can enter free from Monday to Thursday, while merienda buffets on Saturdays start at P699/head. Las Casas is currently offering a “Buy 4, Get 1 Free” Mother’s Day Buffet Promo.
Address: 134 Fernando Poe Jr. Ave (formerly Roosevelt Avenue), San Francisco Del Monte, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Palacio de Memoria
Enjoy a thoughtfully curated lunch or afternoon getaway experience at Palacio de Memoria. This restored 1930s pre-war mansion on Roxas Boulevard in Parañaque showcases the luxurious lifestyle of the “old rich” before World War II. It serves mainly as a premier heritage events venue, museum, and hub for European art and antiques. Stroll around the museum and chapel, before dining in style at the onsite restaurants. Check out the decommissioned Russian aircraft converted into a vintage lounge and bar. This Mother’s Day, the Palacio is offering set lunch and afternoon tea. For reservations, book at events.palaciodememoria.com.
Address: 95 Roxas Boulevard, Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City, Metro Manila
MiraNila Heritage House & Library
Stroll around the grounds of a grand pre-war Filipino ancestral house with a heritage house, museum, and library at MiraNila. Built in 1929 by educators Conrado and Francisca Benitez, this former family home along Mariposa Street in Quezon City survived the devastation of World War II and was officially declared a Heritage House in 2011.
Visitors can explore the heritage house on guided day tours and even stay overnight on the property at MiraNamin Nest, a boutique bed and breakfast on the spacious grounds. Book a room to enjoy heritage-inspired suites, a saltwater plunge pool, a rooftop lounge, and a unique garden view for family retreats, staycations, and intimate gatherings. Heritage house tours start at P850 for adults and P680 for seniors/PWDs. For room rates, visit https://thenestbythesea.com/quezon-city/.
Address: 26 Mariposa Street, Brgy. Bagong Lipunan, Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Bahay Modernismo
Step into a time capsule for the 1950s to 60s at Bahay Modernismo. This heritage house museum inside Quezon Memorial Circle recreates the domestic life of the mid-century postwar era. Enjoy a taste of the years by walking around a kitchen, home office, entertainment room, and three bedrooms decorated with vintage furniture, kitchenware, and household items. Get a close-up look at all the childhood toys the Boomer generation grew up with and relive your mom’s stories of yesteryears when you visit. Bahay Modernismo is free to visit.
Address: Quezon Memorial Circle, Elliptical Road, Barangay Central, Quezon City
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