BAGUIO: My Guide to Visiting the BenCab Museum and Baguio Craft Brewery
My tips:
1. Visit the BenCab Museum and the Baguio Craft Brewery together on the same day.
You pass by the Baguio Craft Brewery on the way from the BenCab Museum, so you basically save time when you schedule both visits on the same day.
2. Visit the BenCab museum late in the afternoon then go to Baguio Craft Brewery afterwards.
Baguio Craft Brewery opens only at 5:00 PM, while Bencab museum closes at 6:00 PM. If you plan on visiting both places, then my suggestion is to go to Bencab museum in the afternoon.
Who is BenCab?
BENCAB'S ARTWORKS IN STEEL
BENCAB'S ARTWORKS IN BRASS
You can request a tour guide at reception. The tour inside the museum (gardens not included) lasts one hour. The payment is tip-based. However, during peak season in Baguio (usually during summer or holidays), a guide may not be available, so it's best if you can call in advance to book a guide if you have a definite date for your visit.
Entrance fee is 100 pesos.
5:30 PM- 6:30 PM: BAGUIO CRAFT BREWERY
Why Visit the Baguio Craft Brewery?
It's the only craft brewery in Baguio. You get to taste a wide variety of freshly brewed beer not normally found in local stores.
1. Visit the BenCab Museum and the Baguio Craft Brewery together on the same day.
You pass by the Baguio Craft Brewery on the way from the BenCab Museum, so you basically save time when you schedule both visits on the same day.
Baguio Craft Brewery opens only at 5:00 PM, while Bencab museum closes at 6:00 PM. If you plan on visiting both places, then my suggestion is to go to Bencab museum in the afternoon.
MY ITINERARY
Amount of time spent at BenCab museum: 1 hour
Amount of time spent at Baguio Craft Brewery: 1 hour
4:00 PM- 5:00 PM: BENCAB MUSEUM
Who is BenCab?
Benedicto Reyes Cabrera, better known as "BenCab", is a Filipino painter and was awarded National Artist of the Philippines for Visual Arts in 2006. He has been noted as "arguably the best-selling painter of his generation of Filipino artists." (wikipedia).
His biggest Sabel series painting was sold for 46.72 MILLION PESOS last September 2015. (To view the painting and details of the sale, see HERE). Sabel, his muse in many of his paintings, was a bag lady roaming around in Bambang were he used to live.
More details of BenCab's life is at http://www.bencabmuseum.org/national-artist/
His biggest Sabel series painting was sold for 46.72 MILLION PESOS last September 2015. (To view the painting and details of the sale, see HERE). Sabel, his muse in many of his paintings, was a bag lady roaming around in Bambang were he used to live.
More details of BenCab's life is at http://www.bencabmuseum.org/national-artist/
Must See at the BenCab Museum if you have only ONE HOUR:
(Photos posted are the ones I personally liked and a must see in the Gallery)
1. BenCab Gallery:
This gallery shows BenCab's personal collection of his own artworks.
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| BENCAB Geisha Reading Acrylic on handmade paper 2009 52 x 42 cms |
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| This is my favorite of all his works exhibited in the gallery. |
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| BENCAB Blue Sabel Acrylic on canvas 2012 99.5 x 75 cms I like the Blue Sabel best! It somehow reminds me of my favorite Vermeer painting, The Lacemaker |
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| BENCAB Sabel Acrylic on handmade paper 2011 47 x 36 cms |
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| BENCAB Sabel Acrylic on canvas 2008 57.5 x 55 cms |
THE FOLLOWING ARTWORKS REVEAL THE MULTIMEDIA TALENT OF BENCAB
BENCAB'S ARTWORKS IN STEEL
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| LEFT SIDE: BENCAB Twins Mild Steel 2013 42 x 28 x 12.5 cms RIGHT SIDE: BENCAB Homage to Matisse Mild Steel 2013 36 x 33 x 15 cms |
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| BENCAB Woman Fixing Hair Painted Metal 2012 147.8 x 81.5 x 22 cms |
BENCAB'S ARTWORKS IN BRASS
2. Cordillera Gallery:
This gallery shows BenCab's collection of Cordillera artifacts.
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| Layout of the gallery |
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| Kupit Used as lunchbox, tobacco container or jewelry box |
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| Healing bulol |
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| RAYMOND HALILI Portrait of a Man/Woman from the Cordilleras Watercolor & gold dust on paper 2004 4.5 x 3.5 cms |
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| Close-up of the artwork You shouldn't miss this artwork when you visit the museum! |
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| ISMAEL OGNAYON Bibak Tribal Dance Bamboo carving 2011 98.5 x 24.5 x 23 cms |
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| Headhunting Implements Spear, shield, axe |
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| Musical instrument |
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| Backpacks (above the shelf) |
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| Even the broom's handle was carved. |
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| Kulkulis (foot massage) Resting bench for massage |
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| Hagabi Long wooden bench carved from a single piece of wood. |
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| Bulol installation Bulols are rice granary gods. |
3. Gallery showcasing works of other artists
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| ABI DIONISIO Ready to Hope Acrylic & oil on canvas 2011 90.5 x 60 cms |
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| LEONARD AGUINALDO Faking Me Rubber cut 2003 168 c 128.5 cms |
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| Close-up of the corner of the artwork above. |
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| JAMES GABITO Tungod Oil on canvas Undated 64 x 44 cms |
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| RAMON ORLINA Cordillera Glass 2008 37 x 76 cms |
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| Ifugao furniture ca. 1930s |
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| JOHN FRANK SABADO Ancestor in the Wooden Age Mixed Media 2008 244 x 183 cms |
4. BenCab's house
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| BenCab's house is located beside the museum. This photo was taken from the upper floor of the museum. |
5. BenCab's farm and garden
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| Located at the foot of the museum. |
6. If you're lucky, you will see BenCab himself.
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| The man with the cap is BenCab. He was in the midst of an interview so we didn't disturb him with a selfie. |
MY TIP:
You can request a tour guide at reception. The tour inside the museum (gardens not included) lasts one hour. The payment is tip-based. However, during peak season in Baguio (usually during summer or holidays), a guide may not be available, so it's best if you can call in advance to book a guide if you have a definite date for your visit.
Entrance fee is 100 pesos.
5:30 PM- 6:30 PM: BAGUIO CRAFT BREWERY
Why Visit the Baguio Craft Brewery?
It's the only craft brewery in Baguio. You get to taste a wide variety of freshly brewed beer not normally found in local stores.
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INSIDE THE TASTING ROOM
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| KINDS OF BEER AND PRICE Individual glasses range from 170 to 190 pesos There are dark beers, fruit beers and lagers. A total of 18 kinds of beers ABV (Alcohol by volume) is indicated. Stout Crusader, a fruit beer, has the highest ABV. IBU (International bitterness unit) is also indicated. Hop Attack has the highest bitter hops |
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| We got the Six Pack Sampler It costs 320 pesos. It's composed of: 2 dark beers: Throat Cutter, Hop Wheat 2 lagers: Old Xavier, Bergnebel 2 fruit beers: Ripe passion fruit, Orly's Dunkelweizen |
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| The beer on top from left to right: Throat Cutter (Herb and Spice Ale) Old Xavier s6 (Bohemian pilsner) Ripe (passion fruit) beer (Fruit beer) The beer below from left to right: Hop Wheat (Imperial IPA) Bergnebel (German amber lager) Orly's Dunkelweizen (German dunkelweizen) |
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| The beer's name is indicated in the container. |
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| PRICE LIST OF BEER MATCH (FOOD TO MATCH THE BEER) Food price ranged from 280 to 550 pesos |
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| We ordered the fastest to cook. The fish n chips was delicious. This costs 320 pesos |
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| A pack of 6 costs 999 pesos |
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| A pack of 6 costs 999 pesos + 20 pesos for each individual bottle |
