Manila Bulletin
Philippine presidential cars now have a museum of their own
Philippine presidential cars now have a museum of their own
Published Aug 23, 2018 04:01 pm

The National Historical Commission now boasts of 24 museums in the country, however of all of those, there is one that will particularly tickle the interests of car aficionados: the Museo ng Pampangulong Sasakyan (Presidential Cars Museum).
The Museo ng Pampangulong Sasakyan (Presidential Cars Museum) houses the official state vehicles of our pasts Presidents, as well as other vehicles of historical significance.
The museum was inaugurated on Quezon City day last weekend, attended by Quezon City Mayor, Herbert Bautista, and with Guest of Honor, Harry Roque, as well as NHCP Chair, Dr. Rene Escalante, and executive director, Ludovico Badoy. The opening also saw the attendance of the families of the past Presidents.

The museum is a project of the National Historic Commission of the Philippines and is one that has been several years in the making. The 2,000 square meter building is located in the Quezon City Memorial Circle Park. On display are 14 vehicles used by the Presidents and historical figures in the country’s history.
Among the highlights are 1924 Packard Single-6 Touring used by the President after his term, Manuel Roxas’s Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 Limousine, Manuel Quezon’s 1937 Chrysler Airflow Custom Imperial, and a replica of Diosdado Macapagal’s 1959 Cadillac Sedan DeVille.

Among the cars of historical significance are General Douglas MacArthur’s 1934 Cadillac V16 Transformable Town Cabriolet, Ramon Magsaysay’s 1934 Willys MB Jeep when he was Secretary of Defense, and Imelda Marcos’s 1960 Rolls-Royce Phantom V.
The museum hopes to expand the collection, looking to acquire the Presidential car of Carlos P. Garcia if not a replica of it, and that of President Benigno Aquino III, soon.

Besides the vehicles on display, the museum also boasts of an interactive projection mapping wall, a meeting room, the curator’s office, as well as a souvenir shop, which sells various items, including the recently released PHLPost commemorative presidential car stamps.
The Presidential Cars Museum is now open to the public. Admission is free.
Text and photos by Iñigo S. Roces