I was a bit hesitant to go in because of the 60 Pesos per person entrance fee with a minimum of 3 persons but my aunt said that she will treat me and my grandmother to enter the Santo Niño Shrine. There’s also a fee of P30 for each camera that we will be using.
Santo Niño Shrine (Romualdez Museum) from the outside
After paying, the tour guide instructed us to remove our footwear and wear the slippers they provided so as not to bring the dust inside.
Not doing my assignment to research about Tacloban, I thought that the Santo Niño Shrine was only a church but as the tour progressed I realized that it was actually a house of the former first lady of the country, Imelda Romualdez Marcos. Thus the name Romualdez Museum.
It has 13 guest rooms that had different themes showcasing different features of the Philippines and a diorama telling the story of Imelda Marcos, 7 rooms for the members of the Marcos Family with additional rooms for their body guards, a big dining area and a spacious ballroom.
Ifugao Room
Shell Room
Bamboo Room
Dining Area
Ballroom
Dioramas of the life of Imelda Marcos
With such extravagance, Santo Niño Shrine did not felt like a church nor Romualdez Museum felt like a Museum and being a former rest house of the Marcos Family it certainly did not feel like a house. It felt more like a 4 to 5 star hotel. It was a symbol of power and luxury.
According to our guide many of the display there were gifts from different leaders of other countries including Russia and China.
Gifts from Russia
With my hesitation to enter earlier I realized that the 180 pesos was worth it and I would recommend when you are in Tacloban a visit to the Santo Niño Shrine (Romualdez Museum) is a must.
From Tacloban City, Leyte ride a tricycle and tell them that bring you to Santo Niño Shrine. Fare is 7 to 10 Pesos depending on where you will be coming from.
- The Santo Niño Shrine is maintained by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).
- Schedule and Fees
Schedule and Fees
Schedule: Monday to Sunday from 8AM to 5PM; No Lunch Breaks
Fees:
Flat rate of P60.00 per visitor (Minimum of 3 persons)
Student Rate: P30.00 (Prep to College Students with valid ID) (Minimum of 5 students)
Camera: P30.00
Video: P200.00 - Try to avoid getting the tour guide named Vicky. She is very rude and does not answer questions courteously.
Here’s a snippet of one of my tries to ask her about the details about the place.
Me: Bahay po ba ito dati?
Vicky: Hindi, museum ito. (rude tone)
Me: Bakit may mga kwarto?
Vicky: Museum nga e. (rude tone with escalating volume)
Thanks to the other tour guides who were taking a break namely Star and Evangeline for filling up most of the details I got about the place.
Follow my Tacloban-Basey-Eastern Samar Series by checking the links below
Tacloban City, Leyte and Basey, Samar Destinations
- Weaving around Basey, Samar
- 40 Minute Walk Across San Juanico Bridge (Must try!)
- Santo Niño Shrine (Romualdez Museum) at Tacloban City
- Visiting Leyte Landing Memorial Park
Eastern Samar Destinations
- Hagnaya Beach in Salcedo (Awesome!)
- Divinubo Island Eco Tour Park
- Minasangay Island Marine Ecological Park & Resort
Guiuan, Eastern Samar Subseries
- Getting Around Guiuan (Guiuan Travel Guide)
- Bridge to Calicoan Island
- Beaches of Calicoan Island (Awesome!)
- Dumpao Beach Resort
- Airport Town of Guiuan
- Parish Church of the Immaculate Concepcion
- Guiuan Transport Terminal
A travel blog by Josiah Sicad that aims to make Filipinos Travel Responsibly and observe the unique culture of the Philippines. 
Maybe it should be named the Imelda Marcos Shrine? Hahahaha.
Ang bitch lang nun Vicky! Subukan niyang ganyanin ako pag ako ang mag-tour. Hahaha.
Di ko maalala kung sino yung tour guide ko dyan, but definitelty not rude like Vicky…