The Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum, located in Casa Real, Lingayen town, has welcomed more than 15,000 visitors since its launch in September 2023. The museum, which has become a significant cultural hub, has generated over PHP616,000 from entrance fees and an additional PHP94,000 from its souvenir shop sales as of January 2025. A notable attraction within the museum includes replicas of unearthed skulls, which have been a popular photo opportunity for visitors.
Nathaniel Daroy, the Designate Deputy Museum Director, shared that the majority of the museum’s visitors are students aged between 11 and 20, closely followed by young professionals aged 21 to 30. The museum’s entrance fees are structured as follows: PHP200 for adults and tourists, PHP160 for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and PHP100 for children and students.
Situated in the heart of the provincial capital, the Banaan Museum boasts 11 galleries that display a rich collection of artifacts, artworks, interactive exhibits, and installations, all of which celebrate Pangasinan’s vibrant cultural heritage. Additionally, the museum operates the Banaan Museum Shop, offering a variety of locally crafted items such as bamboo and buri handicrafts, rattan bags, upcycled wood products, and artworks.
The museum also supports local commerce by hosting 24 active concessionaires from various towns in Pangasinan, providing refreshments to its visitors. In celebration of National Arts Month, the museum is set to launch a new promotional event in February, with further details to be shared on its official social media platforms.
Maria Luisa Elduayan, head of the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO), noted that the museum has attracted international visitors from countries including the United States, Denmark, Korea, Indonesia, Samoa, France, Japan, Vietnam, Bulgaria, Britain, Thailand, Malaysia, and Germany, as recorded through online visitor registrations. The museum has also seen visitors from various provinces across the Philippines.
Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III highlighted the importance of local museums, stating that the Banaan Museum not only represents the identity of Pangasinan but also serves as a gateway to understanding the province’s rich culture, history, and arts.