Ang Museo extends awards deadline following record number of museum visitors
MANILA, Philippines — The Museum Foundation of the Philippines Inc. (MFPI) is extending the deadline of submissions for the inaugural Ang Museo awards, which will recognize outstanding museums and individuals attached to them all around the country.
MFPI worked on promoting and preserving Philippine cultural heritage through fundraising efforts, education, and organized events in the last 40 years.
The organization believes the Ang Museo awards serve as a direct response to the current landscape of Philippine heritage, driven by the urgent need to support regional and independent stewards.
MFPI took note of the time, effort, and collaboration needed by local government units, community museums, and independent institutions to prepare nominations and decided to extend the submissions deadline until July 31, 2026.
The extension also comes amid growing public interest in Philippine history, culture, and heritage. The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) recorded back in 2024 3.8 million visitors to its museums, the highest attendance recorded in the institution's history
Sustained government investment in museum development complemented growing public enthusiasm, as evident in the openings of NMP satellite branches in Davao and Baler as well as continued development of heritage destinations like Palawan's Tabon Cave Complex in Palawan.
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The Ang Museo awards are open to all museums in the Philippines, whether permanent, non-profit, government-run, university-run, or private.
The inaugural awards will have 10 categories divided into two classifications: Institutional and Individual.
Here are the awards in Filipino and in English:
- Institutional (6)
- Gawad sa Pamanang Tanghal (Permanent Exhibition of the Year)
- Gawad sa Napapanahong Tanghal (Temporary Exhibition of the Year)
- Gawad para sa Institusyong Pang-Edukasyon (Educational Institute Museum of the Year)
- Gawad para sa Natatanging Pamana ng Bayan: Lunsod o Munisipalidad (Local Museum of the Year)
- Gawad sa Natatanging Programa ng Museo (Program of the Year)
- Gawad sa Sangay ng Pambansang Museo (National Museum of the Philippines Satellite Museum of the Year)
- Individual (4)
- Gawad sa Natatanging Paglilingkod ng Indibidwal (Individual Achievement Award)
- Gawad sa Tagapagtaguyod ng Sining at Kultura (Patron of the Arts or Special Recognition Award)
- Gawad sa Natatanging Pamumuno ng Museo (Museum Leadership Award)
- Gawad sa Natatanging Kawani ng Museo (Museum Worker of the Year)
Trophies for all categories will be carved from a raw slab of stone to evoke an archaelogical fragment, inspired by the Monreal Stones of Butuan — the earliest known artifacts bearing ancient Filipino script.
Each trophy will have a Baybayin carving of their respective recognition honoring the institution or individual. Winners will be announced during a gala awards ceremony this October, coinciding with the national celebration of Museums and Galleries Month.
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