Travel: Museo Orlina in Tagaytay

I've always been fascinated with glass sculptures. When I first saw the Chihuly ceiling in Bellagio, the Fiori di Como, I was so amazed. It was such a beautiful installation. That was in 1998.

Fast forward to 2014, on our way back to Manila from Tagaytay, I quickly saw the sign Museo Orlina as we were about to turn from the main road. I am a fan of Mr. Ramon Orlina's glass sculptures too, and I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to visit the place. It is located in a downhill subdivision overlooking Taal Volcano. It was a Tuesday and we just walked in, hoping that the place was open. It was.

Given that it was a weekday, there was only one small group inside who was about done. That meant we had the whole place to ourselves. We were in luck too, because our tour guide, an art studies major, told us that it was crazily packed during the weekends. Entrance fee was only P100, so sulit.

Aside from his own works, the place also has paintings and sculptures of other local artists up on display or for sale in one of the galleries. An amphitheater for small concerts is scattered with bigger sculptures made by different artists. Our guide also showed us the private garage housing a couple of cars in his collection -- a Beetle painted by his artist friend, Bencab (another artist who has a museum up on the mountains on the North), and a Volvo Mondrian-inspired car painted by Mr. Orlina himself.

I don't think I can explain in words the art of Mr. Orlina. It is definitely a place that everyone should visit.