BY: VALERIE DISMAYA
Since it opened on September 11, 2023, over nine thousand visitors have visited the Banaan Museum in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
It has attracted not just local tourists but also foreigners from different parts of the world.
According to the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO), most visitors in 2024 were women, reaching 5,337, while 2,983 were men.
The museum boasts eleven impressive galleries filled with historical artifacts, artworks, and interactive displays.
During the museum’s first anniversary celebration, Governor Guico emphasized the importance of local museums in preserving history and culture.
Governor Ramon V. Guico III expressed, “So under my administration, we conceptualized the Banaan Museum and included the necessary contents and budget, with the support of department heads, the Provincial Board, to fund this. And now we have a wonderful and beautiful museum for the province of Pangasinan. Congratulations to all Pangasinenses. Let me remind everyone of the gravity and impact of having a well-thought-out museum for a town and a province. It contributes greatly to our national identity, patriotism, love for the arts, and the culture we must preserve.”
Aside from history, the museum shop is filled with various products.
From blade crafts, eco-crafts made of bamboo, buri, and rattan bags, to upcycled artworks, and all of these are made by local artisans from Pangasinan.
Visitors will never go hungry, as there are twenty-four active concessionaires offering various foods.
Even other LGUs were amazed by the Banaan Museum.
Recently, a delegation from the San Juan local government, led by Mayor Francis Zamora, visited the museum.
The entrance fee is 200 pesos for tourists, 160 pesos for senior citizens and PWDs, and 100 pesos for students. The museum is open from 9 AM to 4 PM, Monday to Friday.
