Ambassadors tour Malacañang mansions

MANILA, Philippines — Ambassadors were given a glimpse of the Philippines’ history and heritage in a guided tour of historic homes in Malacañang that seeks to promote the Philippines’ culture while boosting its diplomatic ties with other countries.

Last Tuesday’s tour covered the Goldenberg Mansion, a former presidential guest house; Teus Mansion, a 19th century home that houses the Presidential Museum, and Bahay Ugnayan, a museum for the sitting president.

The diplomats also had a surprise visit to the newly restored Laperal Mansion, described by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) as “the crown jewel of the group of residences.”

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos accompanied 40 envoys during the tour.

In a statement, the PCO called Teus “a home with a past as colorful as its facade” that serves as “a treasure trove of priceless pieces of Philippine history.”

The Goldenberg Mansion, meanwhile, is the venue for important dinners and events about culture and the arts. Malacañang recently announced that it would hold a series of concerts in the mansion, which was owned by Michael Goldenberg, a French-Jewish businessman and father of soloist, concert pianist and music professor Stella Goldenberg Brimo.

Bahay Ugnayan is the site of “Road to Malacañang,” an exhibit about the life of President Marcos, including the events that led to his return to the Palace.

The three historic homes have undergone restoration and are now museums that are open to the public, free of charge.

The visit to the Laperal Mansion, which will serve as the official presidential guest house for foreign heads of state or government, served as the highlight of the tour, according to the PCO.

The European mansion, which is situated on Arlegui street adjacent to the Palace, is filled with tropical touches and has 14 “meticulously designed” bedrooms and two sun rooms named in honor of previous presidents.

It also has three staterooms named after key personalities of the country’s history, namely Magellan, MacArthur and Rizal.

According to the PCO, the mansion is a “collaborative effort” that has resulted in a “revival of heritage, a showcase of local talent and a celebration of foreign diplomacy.”

A museum tour guest list provided by the PCO showed the names of the envoys of the Holy See, New Zealand, Egypt, Italy, Cambodia, Timor Leste, Laos, Kuwait, Sweden, Greece, Brunei Germany, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Hungary, Belgium, Israel, Thailand, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, Oman, China, Palestine, Russia, Finland, Türkiye, South Korea, France, Chile, Indonesia, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Romania, US, Australia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Canada and Qatar.

Last year, Marcos signed Executive Order No. 26 creating a center and an advisory board to ensure the efficient management of the Malacañang heritage mansions.