Marcos Museum and Mausoleum of Batac (Ilocos Norte)

"That body is waiting to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani."

It is weird but it is open for public viewing, but it is actually private. Uh, quite confusing, hard to reconcile but it actually exists.

Ok, before we tackle this point, let me give you first a chance to explore what's inside this Marcos Museum.

But before we proceed, I just want to let you know that all the information I added here is my personal thoughts. Yeah, very personal to the point that I am making it sure to get rid of Google and of Google-ing to refrain me on becoming objective, lol!

An Introduction

Ok, if you may have arrived here through search engine, the things written here may not be the information you need. As I said above, I'm writing this based on my personal experiences and feelings so please bear with me for that. But you can read it. I am sure, you will learn [not-so-sensible-non-living-] things a lot.

Inside Marcos Museum.

Ok, this not-so-kick-ass 1 day town explorer explored the city of Batac in one day. I believe one day isn't that enough to explore the whole city but I only [usually] explore in a day because my work on which I need to fund my wanderlust only gives me a 1 day break in a week. Can you just imagine how workaholic I am?

So now, I just explored sites in Batac that fill a part of our history. I have actually made a teaser post about the 5 historical sites of Batac few days back but for now I want to blog about Marcos Museum heart-to-heart.

As I walk along the streets of Batac, I noticed that there was this old-looking house that looks elegant. A lot of cars parked near the house and tourist-looking people flocked in front of the house.

So this one made me think... and made me curious. Without any hesitation, I went near this elegant old-looking house. There I saw the words written on a rectangular stone with letters made up of golden shining metallic thing: "Ferdinand E. Marcos Presidential Center."

I supposed to enter the house but someone, sitting at the desk near the door, requested me to fill-up the form and pay 50 pesos for the entrance fee.

Marcos Museum Interior

I entered the so-called Marcos Museum and "Apo Lakay" Marcos welcomed me. No, not his ghost, but a life-sized statute dressed in Barong Tagalog (second photo above).

Inside the Marcos Museum, a.k.a. Marcos Presidential Center, it brought me back in time because of the ambiance while seeing some portraits of the late President Marcos in paintings and in sepia prints.

It made me feel proud, because 3 Philippine presidents are Ilocanos and I guess the greatest of them is Ferdinand Marcos - being renown for his great works (both good and bad, if there is) and visited by tourists although he is now dead.

I have to be honest that I am not amazed by the interior of the museum because I have seen a lot of this set-up and it is common to many old mansions in my hometown but still, the old-world feel brings charm! Sorry to say that because I see ancestral houses in a row along cobblestone street everyday.

Anyway, I love the unison of the colors inside Marcos Museum -- the sepia-effect ambiance, the red floor and some furniture in maroon.

Imeldified with Imelda!

I never have seen Imelda Marcos in person but everytime I hear about her name, the first thing that comes out my mind is... I'm sure we must be thinking the same now... Yes, her iconic terno and those pointed shoes!

Inside the Marcos Museum, the presence of Imelda Marcos is evident. There I saw her adorable clothes. She must not be using these clothes anymore. I bet she now has another thousand set of new clothes. So these clothes will just be worthy for dispaly.

Marcos Mausoleum

Marcos Mausoleum is the one I am referring to you as a public and private entity in one (if there is a thing like that or I am just making a story on my own) well, look who is telling the story, it's me. lol.

The Marcos Mausoleum is a public site (yes, it is open to public) but in limited time. So make it sure to be here from 9am-12noon and 2pm-4pm.

This is the one I am talking about that although the Marcos Mausoleum is open for public, the viewing public is restricted to capture photos inside. So the privacy of what can be seen inside must be upheld.

The photos you are seeing above is where the Mausoleum is housed. So what about this mausoleum?

Marcos Mausoleum is where the remains of Marcos' body is displayed for public viewing. This must be the longest wake -- friends, family members and almost anyone can visit him. Don't worry there are no necrological services happening each time.

For Your Eyes Only

You may have brought with you your most expensive camera, or the most sophisticated camera lens but sorry, they will occupy no space inside the Marcos Mausoleum.

Mga nakikiramay, este, tourists wanting to visit the mausoleum and no one of them will ever have the chance to capture the dead body of Marcos in photos.

Every weekday, the Marcos Mausoleum (which is just beside the Marcos Museum) has ample of visitors except during Holidays and extreme weather conditions.

But the displayed body is thought to be a wax, a replica of Marcos' dead body. So do you think the visit is of worth seeing just a wax?

Wait, they say the real body is located beneath. That body is waiting to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani but who cares right? The Yellow government is reigning in power, right Noynoy? Marcos' family mortician said the body is real but some speculations reveal that the body is buried secretly.

Final Thoughts

This is my disease, I tend to overrate every place I have been because I can not resist becoming excited even if the place I am exploring is a barangay with nothing to see but ricefields, or cornfields, or olive farm (the last example is imaginary).

I guess it has no cure at all. I am even blogging mountains covered with coconuts, not-so-interesting tricycles on which I tend to make people believe to be cool because I look at it to be cool, an isolated carinderia in Quezon, about the 5-peso Tupig I bought in Pangasinan, etc.

So if you ask me if this visit is of worth, I will surely say yes! As long as it has given me a lot of thoughts in mind to share, as long as it made me feel excited, and as long as I have blogged about it, it means, I find it cool and interesting. And yip yeah... I don't blog things that don't catch my attention, even if that place is your favorite beach or mountain.

Look how dramatic those windows are! I am imagining that a beautiful girl wearing a Maria Clara dress is waving her hands to me while she is saying "Goodbye! Keep safe," as her tears fall down seeing me dragged by the Japanese soldiers, LOL!

Wait I am not yet done with Batac City because after seeing the Marcos Museum and the Marcos Mausoleum collectively known as the Marcos Presidential Center, I visited another museum in the City.

Batac #TownExploration Series

Map showing the Location of #Batac

Click this map to view all posts about #Batac