The Sto. Niño Shrine in Tacloban City (is it really a shrine or something else? It has been renamed the Romualdez Museum) means differently to a lot of Filipinos. For those who have been inside, some (mostly Warays), view it as a legacy of Imelda Marcos; for others, it is an icon of the excesses of the Marcos dynasty.
Having seen it before and after the Marcos years, now it is but a bare picture of what it was before. It is in such a sorry state some things are literally falling apart.
Still under the custody and management by the PCGG, this is how the place looks today.
Photos taken January 23 & 24, 2011.
Imelda Marcos’ bedroom
Imelda’s bathroom
President Marcos’ bedroom
To my knowledge, the first family never slept here.
I thought this mansion was returned to Imelda Marcos.
Is it open to the public?
No, it was Imelda Marcos’ property in her hometown, Tolosa, Leyte whose sequestration was lifted.
The Sto. Nino Shrine is open to the public (P40/pax entrance fee for first group of 5; P20/pax for succeeding pax)
Impressive! Who maintains this property?
Thanks!
Still in a state of “suspended animation.” Meaning sequestered by the government ever since, it is still under the custody and management by the PCGG.
to this day, it’s still unbelievably INXS far as i am concerned. maintenance cost is on whose shoulder now? beauty and heartache don’t mix.
Sadly, maintenance cost rests upon the government and the people’s taxes
Thank you for the feature.
When I was there a year or two ago, one of the guides told us that the fees collected from the tours are used mainly for maintenance of the place.
I remember replying that I do not think the fees are enough for maintenance.
Dear Sir, your photos about taclobans sto. niño is superb. thanks for the posting.i love your blogs.God Bless. More power.