Finally, an awards program for museums and museum professionals
MFPI’s Ang MUSEO launches the country’s first nationwide awards honoring excellence in museums and heritage stewardship.
Words Philip Paraan
Photos courtesy of Museum Foundation of the Philippines
May 31, 2026
Museums serve as vital repositories of collective memory and cultural experience, yet the immense work involved in mounting compelling exhibitions and sustaining public engagement often goes unnoticed. Equally overlooked are the individuals who labor behind the scenes, as is the case for many remarkable but lesser-known museums across the country. Addressing this gap, a new awards program now recognizes outstanding museums, community galleries, local and regional institutions, university-run spaces, museum programs, and heritage stewards in the Philippine museum sector through a bold venture by the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (MFPI).
Ang MUSEO: Gawad ng Museum Foundation of the Philippines is a landmark initiative of the MFPI that coincides with the Foundation’s 40th anniversary celebration. The program aims not only to highlight excellence in museum practice in the Philippines, but also to encourage innovation, collaboration, and stronger engagement with younger generations of Filipinos.
The initiative was inspired by the growing number of museums nationwide and the public’s increasing interest in cultural events. This has been reflected in rising museum attendance, heritage site tours, and growing crowds at art fairs organized by the Foundation in recent years.
Museum Foundation of the Philippines Inc. (MFPI) Trustee Blen Fernando during the official Ang MUSEO: Gawad ng Museum Foundation of the Philippines, the country’s first dedicated recognition for local cultural preservation.
MFPI President Danny Jacinto said, “The MFPI has always been proud to serve as stewards of connecting Filipinos with their cultural heritage. It is our hope that Ang MUSEO will help reinforce and honor all those who work to protect national memory and foster appreciation for history and the arts.”
Founded in the 1980s as Friends of the National Museum, the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Philippine art and cultural heritage. It has played a key role in major cultural initiatives, including advocacy for the National Museum Act of 1998 and support for conservation projects such as the restoration of Juan Luna’s La Bulaqueña. The foundation continues to advance public appreciation of Filipino history and culture while supporting the long-term sustainability of the National Museum and its satellite museums across the country.
Organizers describe the nationwide search as the first recognition program of its kind dedicated to honoring excellence in cultural preservation, education, and outreach. The initiative expands the foundation’s broader work, which traditionally includes fundraising efforts, educational programs, and partnerships such as Art in the Park, as well as signature events like the MaArte Fair.
The official launch of the MUSEO: Gawad ng Museum Foundation of the Philippines
The awards program takes its cue from the standards set by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). Ang Museo has ten distinct categories, among them, the Gawad sa Natatanging Pamana ng Bayan (Local Museum of the Year), Gawad Para sa Institusyong Pang-Edukasyon (Educational Institute Museum of the Year), and the Gawad sa Natatanging Kawani Ng Museo (Museum Worker of the Year).
According to MFPI Executive Director Tanya Pico, the awards are driven by a “shared love” for Philippine heritage. “We want to bring well-deserved recognition to the unsung regional stewards, independent museum owners, and university-run museums nationwide, ensuring that every vital space—no matter its size or location—is honored for keeping the Filipino story alive.”
All entries will go through a rigorous, two-tier review which will be led by an esteemed and select group of independent experts in museum work, heritage conservation, and education.
The deadline of nominations will be June 30 and the winners will be announced around October.
All information regarding the awards is available at (https://museumfoundationph.org/ang-museo/). For updates on the MFPI and its ongoing projects, please visit the official Museum Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (MFPI) website (https://museumfoundationph.org), Facebook (@MuseumFoundationPH), Instagram (@MuseumFoundationPH), or X (@museumfdnph).
