THE BENCAB MUSEUM INAUGURATION

After almost two years of construction, BenCab’s lifelong dream has finally come to fruition. National Artist for Visual Arts Ben Cabrera, or BenCab, had long been wanting to put up a repository for his collection of Philippine contemporary art as well as his treasured collection of indigenous artifacts of the Cordilleras, the northern Philippine highlands he has called home for over 20 years.

The BenCab Museum will soon open its doors to the sound of tribal gongs and the spectacle of a traditional canao ritual. Built on a promontory on Bencab’s farm and garden in Tuba, Benguet, the museum is a 15-minute drive from Baguio City center. It commands a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains and the South China Sea in the distant west.

Apart from the permanent collection galleries, the museum also has galleries for changing exhibitions; a function room for art workshops and film showings; a museum shop selling art books and souvenirs; and Café Sabel, which offers fresh and natural food in an ambiance that will refresh your palates and feed your soul.

The farm and garden below the museum showcase organic farm produce and the typical indigenous architecture of the Ifugao, Kalinga and Bontoc. A river runs through the property, with cascading waterfalls on one end, and a forest with an eco-trail. There is an aviary housing peacocks and various birds, and a veritable animal farm with ducks, geese, turkeys, and other local livestock. Guided tours of the farm and garden can be arranged.

With its vision of bringing arts closer to the people, the Bencab Museum is committed to the promotion of the arts, and the preservation, conservation and protection of the environment, as well as the culture and traditions of the Cordilleras. It is an expression of the artist's gratitude to the country that nurtured and inspired an artistic career that continues to grow, mature and fascinate.

The BenCab Museum is a project of the BenCab Art Foundation, a non-stock, non-profit organization that supports activities related to the arts and environment.

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Museum hours: 9:00AM to 5:00PM, Tuesdays to Sundays. Closed on Mondays.
Address: Km. 6 Asin Road, Tadiangan, Tuba, Benguet 2603.
Tel/Fax: (+63 74) 4427165.
Email: bencabmuseum@gmail.com.
Website: www.bencabmuseum.org.