Getting to admire the fossil of a giant extinct conch snail—a relic from the Late Miocene that lived up to 11 million years ago—is an experience you never forget. Similarly, the fossilized shell of an extinct ammonite at Manila’s National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is a visual feast. Seeing these artifacts in person becomes even more profound when you realize the mollusk dates back to the Late Cretaceous Period, roughly 100 to 66 million years ago.
The NMNH is a true treasure trove. Its halls house white petrified wood that still retains its fibrous, log-like appearance, ancient Carabao skulls, and specimens of the Rafflesia. These rare parasitic plants produce the largest flowers on Earth—some over a meter wide—and are famously nicknamed the "corpse flower" for the pungent odor they emit in bloom.
I still thank myself for spending a summer afternoon "sneak peeking" the NMNH during a 2019 visit to the Filipino capital. The museum masterfully exhibits the rich biological and geological diversity of the Philippines through creatively curated displays of botanical, zoological, and geological specimens. Today, it stands as one of the most visited educational landmarks in Metro Manila.
I was in town for the 13th Pan Asia Farmers Meet, basking in the hospitality of The Manila Hotel—a landmark Ernest Hemingway once praised as the perfect representation of the city’s resilience and vitality. One afternoon, while watching the sun dip over Manila Bay, I decided on a stroll that eventually led me to Agrifina Circle in Rizal Park. Just a few steps later, I stepped into a surreal world spread across the museum's 12 galleries.
The museum’s "mountain to sea" theme begins with a literal giant: Lolong, the preserved remains of the world’s largest crocodile ever held in captivity. Nearby, the massive skeleton of a Marinduque Sperm Whale guards the hall entrance. At the heart of it all is the Tree of Life, an architectural masterpiece in the central courtyard that visually connects the museum’s various ecosystems.
In the Geology of the Philippines gallery, I found rocks older than the dinosaurs—some dating back 250 million years. The collection ranges from hardened andesite boulders from the 1814 Mt. Mayon eruption to minerals forged deep within the Earth’s mantle. Other thematic galleries cover everything from mossy pine forests and mangroves to a fascinating array of taxidermied sea creatures and arachnids, including whip spiders and sea urchins.
Before leaving, I was captivated by the story of Lolong. Captured in Agusan del Sur in 2011 after a three-week hunt, the 6.17-meter saltwater crocodile weighed over a ton. Though he passed away in 2013, his presence remains a focal point of the museum.
I also took a moment to try the Lava Palm Print exhibit, where placing your hand on a sensor triggers a vivid simulation of flowing lava across a dark, rock-like surface.
Returning to my hotel as the sun set over the bay, I spent the twilight hours reflecting on the ancient wonders held within the walls of the NMNH.
