Discovering Museo Orlina - Tagaytay

I love museums. I enjoy discovering artifacts and learning its historical, cultural, artistic or scientific importance. Exploring museums is one of the activities that my brother and I share.

When he mentioned that we'll be visiting the Museo Orlina on the day of his birthday, I wasn't really that enthusiastic about the trip even though it is a museum. Maybe because I am not familiar with the works of Mr. Ramon Orlina. I know that he is into glass sculpture and I was thinking that his works are too abstract that I might not be able to understand what his art is trying to convey. Baka hindi ko ma gets:)

But I'm glad that we went to Museo Orlina. I got to appreciate his works and I am at awe with his artistry. He is really a genius. While we were looking through different galleries with our awesome and very accommodating guide, Miss Heidi, I couldn't help but be amazed at the talent of Mr. Orlina. How he was able to think of those concepts. I guess I don't have that artistic side in me.

"Virgen Maria" - This is my favorite piece because the eyes of  Mama Mary follows your gaze if you look at her from different angles and if you look to the sculpture upward the lips of Mama Mary turns into a smile:)

After visiting his museum, one of my wishes is to own an Orlina.

The museum levels or floors were named after his children. The first floor is Naesa, his eldest daughter who was born during the Asean conference so her name is the backward spelling of that conference. The reception area is located at the first level as well as the Reflection gallery. The art pieces in this gallery changes every now and then and features works by different artists.  The Reflection gallery spills into the lower level where more contemporary arts by other artists are on display and leads to the Sculpture Garden.

The reception area

His and Hers "butt chair"

Most of the works on display at the Reflections
Gallery are for sale

The outdoor garden contains sculptured works by Mr. Orlina and other Filipino sculptors. It also has an amphitheater for musical concert, poetry reading  and other theatrical and artistic presentation. Below the amphitheater is the carport. Mr. Ramon Orlina is an avid car collector and he used his Volvo and Volkswagen as canvas.

This 1988 Volvo 780 was painted in the signature Piet Mondrian colors (Piet Mondrian is a Dutch painter who Mr. Orlina really likes). The Volkswagen was painted by National Artist Ben Cab.

Sabel sa Beetle - the painting was done by National Artist Ben Cab

Homage to Mondrian - painted in the signature basic colors in black grid that Dutch artist Piet Mondrian is known for

The second level of the museum is called Ningning (the second daughter). It features two galleries. The one on the left features his earliest works when he was starting out as a glass sculptor and to the right gallery displays his most recent works.  Glass is not an easy medium to work on. The glass that he used was glass residues; it is admirable that he was able to come out with something beautiful out of waste materials.  One of the reasons he liked to used glass is because light can pass through it so there is a wonderful play of light on his work.

These are his early works. The black sculpture was a piece he did for actor Richard Gomez and it was called Dawn

His most recent works

The third level is Anna that features maquettes and photographs of his monumental works here in the country and abroad.  One of the things he was known for was the bronze sculpture that he was commissioned to work for the University of Santo Tomas. The Quattromondial Monument which celebrates the 400 year anniversary of the university.  He is a graduate of BS Architecture from UST.  The altar found in the Greenbelt Chapel or the Sto Nino de Paz chapel as well as the cross by the koi pond were also the work of Mr. Orlina.

A picture of the Quattromondial sculpture found at the UST.  Notice the color of the hand rails of the stairs - the colors are influenced by Piet Mondrian

The award he was commissioned to do for the PBA

The last floor was named after his youngest child and only son, Michael.  It is an open terrace with the spectacular view of the Taal Volcano.  There was a café before called the Green  Bean but it was already closed when we visited the Museum. It would have been lovely to sip hot coffee or hot chocolate on the spacious terrace while looking at the beautiful scenery and enjoying the cold Tagaytay weather.

Museo Orlina is a modern museum. It is interactive. Art enthusiasts and even individuals who are clueless about the arts like me will surely enjoy visiting this place. 

Museo Orlina 
Hollywood Subd, Brgy. Tolentino 
East Hollywood Subd, Tagaytay City
Opens from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.
General Admission P100.00
Senior Citizen and Students with ID P80.00

How to go to Museo Orlina
If you are commuting just like what we did
1. Ride a bus to Tagaytay City and asked the conductor to drop you off at the Rotunda. We rode the bus at the Coastal Mall Terminal and the fare was P78.00.
2. At the Rotunda, hail a tricycle and ask the driver to bring you to Museo Orlina. The driver charged as P10.00 for each passenger.

Pink Sisters' Convent - Tagaytay City

We (My brother and his wife, my other brother's girlfriend and I) left Quezon City last January 31, 2014 for Tagaytay at 4:45 am to make it on time to hear the 6:30 am mass at the Pink Sisters' Convent.  This did not happen because of the traffic at EDSA that morning due to some road re-blocking.  We reached Tagaytay a few minutes after seven.

From the Olivarez Bus Terminal, we took a tricycle and told the driver we were going to the Pink Sisters' Convent or The Convent of Divine Mercy which was located at Holy Spirit Drive, Tagaytay City. The ride cost us P40.00.



The Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration or the Pink Sisters because of the pink habit their wore lead a contemplative life.  Here at the convent the nuns take turns praying every hour before the Blessed Sacrament.

St. Arnold Janssen founded the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters

Being a place of worship visitors should wear proper clothes and refrain from making noises.

Visitors can pray inside the convent's chapel, write their petitions and place it inside the designated box so the sisters can pray for it.  In the same box, you can drop your donations to support the congregation.

After saying our prayers and writing our petitions, we strolled around the garden of the convent and took pictures.


The place was very peaceful and solemn which was really conducive to praying and meditation .  The garden was beautiful and well taken care of.

There's a gift shop inside the convent but it was still close when we visited the place.

Our next destination after the Pink Sisters' Convent was at the People's Park in the Sky.

Sky Ranch - Tagaytay's Newest Attraction

To continue with our day tour of Tagaytay, after having lunch in Chowking (at the Rotunda), we (my brother and his wife, my other brother's girlfriend and I) hailed a jeep going to Mendez, Cavite.  We then asked the driver to drop us off at Sky Ranch. The jeepney fare was only P8.00.

Sky Ranch is the name of the complex while the amusement park is known as the Sky Fun.  Inside Sky Ranch aside from the amusement park, are food stalls, gazebos and restaurants.  Sky Ranch offers horseback riding at P250 for 30 minutes and there's a zipline as well.

Posing at the entrance

Sky Ranch's Map

Lining up for the tickets

Taking a rest at one of the gazebos

Entrance fee was P100.00 but since there was a promo we only paid P50.00 per person.    Guests at Sky Ranch were not allowed to bring in food and beverages.

You have to pay for each of the ride in Sky Fun.  They don't have a ride all you can ticket.  Most of the rides were intended for the kids.  Adults on the other hand will enjoy riding the Viking and the Sky Eye.

Price of the other rides:
Super Viking - P100
Nessie Coaster - P50
Mini Viking - P50
Wonder Flight - P50
Red Baron - P50
Express Train - P50

Sky Eye or the Tagaytay Eye is the tallest Ferris wheel in the country at 63 feet with 32 gondolas. This was the park's main attraction. Each gondola can accommodate four persons.  A ride cost P150.00/pax.

I am a scaredy cat and I hate heights!  But since it was Chinese New Year, I decided to try something I've never done before which is to ride a Ferris wheel.  So despite my apprehension I've decided to buy a ticket for the Sky Eye.

The view from the gondola

Taking pictures from inside the gondola

Me, all smiles and conquering my fear

Riding the Ferris wheel only took a few minutes. It was just one complete loop at the Ferris wheel and the ride ended. I savor the moment I was on it because I got to beat my fear and enjoy the Tagaytay scenery.

Sky Ranch I must say had the most breathtaking view of the Taal Ridge, Taal Lake and the Taal Volcano.

What a sight

Sky Ranch was our last destination for the day.  Before riding the bus to take us to Manila, we got some pasalubong from Loumar's.

Our Yummy pasalubong - Buko Pie, Buko Tart, Pastillas, Yema Tart, Uraro cookies, Panocha

Tagaytay City's - People's Park In the Sky

Because Chinese New Year was a holiday, my brother and his wife, my other brother's girlfriend and I decided to go to Tagaytay City and took advantage of this day off from work.

We were already at the Coastal Mall Bus Terminal at 5:30 am and were already in Tagaytay City by 7:00 a.m. Our bus fare cost us P74.00 each.

The aircon of the San Agustin bus that we rode was really cold and all I wanted was to step out of the bus to warm myself.  I can't wait to get off at Tagaytay.  Little did I know that Tagaytay was even colder than the bus' aircon.

Stepping out of the bus, we were greeted by the cold air of Tagaytay and the wind was blowing very hard as well.  My long sleeves shirt and sweater is no match for Tagaytay's weather.

Our first stop was at the Pink Sisters' Convent which was at Holy Spirit Drive.  I'll post a much lengthier post on this convent next time.  We said our prayers and offered our petitions here.

From the Pink Sisters' Convent we went to the People's Park in the Sky.  We rode a tricycle to People's Park in the Sky which is also known as Palace in the Sky.  The tricycle driver charged as P100.00.  It was a long drive from Olivarez.  We even passed by the Picnic Groove and Tierra De Maria.  It felt like we were going to the other end of Tagaytay.

There were a lot of tourists here at Palace in the Sky.  We paid P30.00 each for entrance.  At the entrance of the park you can take a jeepney ride for P5.00 to take you to the shrine and the mansion.  We opted to take the hike to the top.

People's Park in the Sky was located at Mount Gonzales.  Before it was known as Palace in the Sky during President Marcos' administration.  In the 1980's, the government started building a mansion here for the Marcoses and the construction was hastened in the 1981 so that it will be completed in time for President Reagan's visit to the Philippines but this did not push through.  When the Marcoses left the Philippines, the new government converted this incomplete mansion into a park and became known as the People's Park in the Sky.

This place had a breathtaking view of the Taal Volcano, Taal Lake and the Taal Ridge, and at its elevation, it was very windy and colder here.There's a shrine of the Our Lady of Fair Love and a Doppler Weather Station of the PAGASA inside the park.

There are picnic huts you can rent, food stalls and souvenir shops here.

It was just sad that the place has fallen into ruin.  I wonder where P30.00 we paid go into.

The place was rusty.  A fresh coat of paint was badly needed for the structures.

The signage had incomplete letters in it and was covered in moss.

I hope the city of Tagaytay can do something about the state of the People's Park in the Sky.

From People's Park in the Sky, we went to Tagaytay's newest attraction which is Sky Ranch.  Watch out for my post on it!