With the shift to Alert Level 3 in various areas in the Philippines, museums around Metro Manila have been given the go-signal to reopen, with limits on the number of visitors and online reservations systems in place. One of the 27 history museums under the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) that recently reopened is the Presidential Car Museum (Museo ng Pampangulong Sasakyan) inside the Quezon Memorial Circle.

The Presidential Car Museum features the largest collection of historic state cars in the Philippines. This unique museum gives visitors a chance to learn more about the country’s former presidents, based on the vehicles they used. The vintage cars on display serve as historical artifacts that give visitors new insights on Philippine history and former leaders. In case you haven’t been here yet, and you want to appreciate vintage and historic cars up close, now is a good time to visit minus the usual school field trip crowds.

I visited the museum when it briefly reopened last March 2021, before it was closed again for the third ECQ. As of October 19, 2021, the Presidential Car Museum has reopened once again to the public.

Location

The Presidential Car Museum can be found inside the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City. Other museums in the vicinity include the Museo ni Manuel Quezon, Quezon City eXperience Museum, and Quezon Heritage House.

Visiting Schedule

The Presidential Car Museum is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Online Booking

For Online Booking, visit this site. For inquiries, call or text them at (+63) 9054353396 or email them at presidentialcarmuseum@gmail.com. Download the Stay Safe PH App for contact tracing.

Who can visit

With online advance reservations, 10 people per half-hour are allowed at its permanent exhibition hall, making it a quiet and uncrowded place to visit. I think the Presidential Car museum is a worthy destination for car clubs, rider groups, motoring enthusiasts or anyone who loves vintage and classic memorabilia. There’s spacious parking in the area.

New guidelines (October 2021)

• As per IAFT, only FULLY VACCINATED individuals will be allowed to enter the museum.
• All visitors must wear a face mask and face shield before entering the museum premises.
• There are special screening checkpoints to check if visitors have fever or respiratory symptoms.
• To ensure the safety of the general public, the museum requires visitors to download the StaySafe.PH app available on Google Play Store, Apple App Store or use the built-in QR Scanner on mobile phones for contact tracing.
• Guided tours are not allowed, but it’s easy enough to tour the place on your own.

About the Presidential Car Museum

The Presidential Car Museum was spearheaded by the National Historic Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and formally inaugurated in August 19, 2018.

The museum houses presidential and historic cars that have been painstakingly restored and conserved for the appreciation of the Filipino people. The museum currently contains 12 presidential cars used by 13 past presidents, starting from Emilio Aguinaldo who ruled during the First Republic in 1899 to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who ended her term in office in 2010.

As of my visit in March 2021, the presidential cars of Carlos P. Garcia and Benigno Aquino III are not included in the museum as the former was never recovered, while the latter was still in use. Former President Sergio Osmeña opted to use the Packard of his predecessor, Jose P. Laurel.

To learn more about the specific cars on display, check out my article published on Wheels.ph, the online motoring website of The Philippine Star.

Presidential Cars on display

• 1924 Packard Single-6 Touring: Emilio Aguinaldo
• 1937 Chrysler Airflow Custom Imperial CW: Manuel L. Quezon
• 1942 Packard Custom Super Eight One-Eighty Limousine: Jose P. Laurel and Sergio Osmeña
• 1947 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 Limousine: Manuel Roxas
• 1953 Chrysler Crown Imperial Limousine: Elpidio Quirino
• 1955 Cadillac Series 75-23: Ramon Magsaysay
• 1959 Cadillac Sedan DeVille: Diosdado Macapagal
• 1980 Lincoln Continental Mark VI Signature Series: Ferdinand E. Marcos
• 1986 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL: Corazon C. Aquino
• 1986 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL Guard: Fidel V. Ramos
• 1993 Mercedes-Benz S600: Joseph Ejercito Estrada
• 1993 Mercedes-Benz S600 Limousine V140: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

Other vehicles of historic value

• Karwaheng Apacible
• 1934 Cadillac V-16 Transformable Town Cabriolet: General Douglas MacArthur
• 1943 Willys Jeep: Ramon F. Magsaysay
• 1960 Rolls-Royce Phantom V: First Lady Imelda Marcos

Just going around and looking at all the vintage cars on display can tell you a lot about the people who rode them. The elegant automobiles symbolize the changing styles, personalities, and socio-economic priorities of former Philippine presidents and figures.

Virtual Museum Tour

For those who can’t visit the Presidential Car Museum at this time due to restrictions, but are interested to learn more about it, here’s an exclusive virtual tour.

Rates

FREE! There is no entrance fee to visit the Presidential Car Museum all-year around. This applies to both Filipino and foreign visitors.

Address & contact info

The Presidential Car Museum is located inside the Quezon Memorial Circle, Elliptical Road, Quezon City, Metro Manila.