Museo del Galeón

Museo del Galeón^[1] (lit. 'Galleon museum') is a maritime heritage museum under construction within the SM Mall of Asia complex in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines. The museum will feature Manila–Acapulco galleon trade and will also house a full-scale representation of a Galleon within its interior.

Museo del Galeón

The Galeón dome as of 2025
Type	Maritime heritage museum
Website	museodelgaleon.org
Building details
Location in Metro Manila Show map of Metro Manila Location in Luzon Show map of Luzon Location in the Philippines Show map of Philippines
General information
Status	Under construction
Type	Dome
Location	Bay City, Pasay
Address	Seaside Boulevard corner Sunset Avenue
Coordinates	14°32′13″N 120°58′48″E
Construction started	November 2014
Estimated completion	2026
Cost	₱250 million
Dimensions
Other dimensions	65 m × 60 m (213 ft × 197 ft)
Grounds	5,000 m2 (54,000 sq ft)

Development

Conceptualization

Efforts to build a galleon museum date back to 2010 when Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo organized a diplomatic reception attended by ambassadors from 32 countries linked to the historical Galleon Trade. In the meeting, plans to build the museum were discussed.^[2]

Then-Philippine Senator Edgardo Angara went to Mexico City to meet with heads of relevant institutions to lobby for support for the project to build a galleon museum. Talks with the National Archives of Mexico, Colegio de Mexico, National Autonomous University of Mexico and Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí to discuss on a research collaboration with Philippine universities and academics.

Mexican firms Grupo Carso of Carlos Slim Helú, FEMSA, and Cemex as well as Guerrero State government stated that they will back the galleon museum project. The plans to build a galleon museum were supported by Mexican politicians and figures such as Margarita Zavala, First Lady of the then President Felipe Calderón, Senators Teofilo Torres Corzo, and Humberto Mayans, as well as Mexican academics and publications also expressed support.^[2]

Philippine-based cultural agencies requested government seed funding from the Philippine government while a public fundraising effort was made. A presidential instruction by President Benigno Aquino III was made to provide financial support. However, this instruction was unsuccessful. Henry Sy, President of SM Prime Holdings, later offered to build the museum and donate a lot within the SM Mall of Asia complex.^[2]

The Museo de Galleon Foundation was created for the project.^[2] In mid-2015, Sy met with Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim in Mexico with the latter agreeing to donate artifacts to the SM Group for the museum.^[3][4]

Construction and delayed museum opening

The dome structure under-construction. November 2015

The initial estimate for the construction of the museum initially dubbed as "The Galeón: Manila–Acapulco Galleon Museum" was pegged at ₱250 million, an amount which would be spent by the SM Group.^[3][4] Construction began in November 2014 and was initially planned for completion by late 2015.^[5] The museum was then planned to be opened in the 2nd quarter of 2016,^[6] but the opening date was moved at least three times to the 3rd quarter of the same year,^[7] to early 2017,^[8] and later to August 8, 2017. This date was planned to be the soft opening of the museum.^[1] On that date, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an "executive preview" of the museum was held, although the museum itself is yet to open.^[9]

The dome as of June 2016

An architectural firm based in Mexico along with architects based in Hong Kong and Florida, United States, were also involved in the project.^[10] The dome structure was built on a 5,000 square meters (54,000 sq ft) lot provided by the SM Group.^[11]

In April 2021, the Pasay City Government and SM Group announced plans to temporarily use the dome structure as a vaccination hub as a response against the COVID-19 pandemic.^[12] The vaccination hub, also known as the "Giga Vaccination Center," was opened on May 7. It was considered to be one of the country's largest vaccination centers, capable of vaccinating 2,000 people daily.^[13][14]

The space meant for the museum was formally turned over by SM Prime to the Museo del Galeón Foundation in October 2025.^[15] Work resumed for the museum which is now projected to open in 2026.^[16]

Museum layout

The museum will have an 8,000 square meters (86,000 sq ft) of total exhibition space and will feature a full-scale representation of a Galleon^[6] which will be 60 meters (200 ft) long within the interiors the museum. Visitors of the museum will be able to observe the construction of the representation which will take about 2 years to be completed.^[17] The museum as per 2015 reports states that it will have three stories and measure 65 by 60 meters (213 ft × 197 ft). The exhibit will have a linear presentation arranged in chronological order. Five permanent galleries and a temporary exhibition space will be housed by the museum. Among the exhibits to be housed in the museum are religious icons, navigation instruments, and trade commodities, originating from 42 countries involved in the galleon trade.^[11]

The Center for Pacific Trade and Cultural Studies, a research institute dedicated to the galleon trade, is also planned to be hosted inside the museum building.^[18]

See also

• Mexico-Philippines relations