Ms. Aleli Lourdes Salinas Vengua, an interior decorator, started her miniature collection as a hobby. As a child, she preferred smaller toys to big toys and would exchange her big toys for the smaller ones. Her love for smaller things got her started making miniature items for the interior of a rich man’s mansion. When she passed away, her daughter, Lara Vengua, lent her miniature collection to the Marikina City government for public viewing. The collection was opened for viewing to a select few on December 23, 2005, then opened to the public on January 20, 2006.
The museum showcases about 60,000 miniature pieces to make 24 miniature rooms in glass cases, shadow boxes of a sari-sari store, artists studio, frames of various items like animals, hats, cups, musical instruments, and model houses with miniature interiors. They are made from various materials like glass, ceramic, plastic, and wood. Mrs. Vengua carefully planned, designed and patiently handcrafted the 24 rooms of a rich man’s mansion. The rest of the exhibit where either given or done with the help of her daughter, Lara, and her staff. Mrs. Vengua was a businesswoman, Arttraction Inc., manufacturing and selling novelty items, Christmas decors, miniatures, wedding giveaways and exports some of her products to Europe.
The Miniatures Collection presents the interior design of a mansion showcased in room boxes as envisioned by Mrs. Vengua – Master’s Bedroom, Boy’s Room, Girl’s Room, Guest Room, Bathroom, Kitchen, Dining Room, Living Room, Ante Room, Garage, Terrace, Game Room, Sewing Room, Reading Room and Music Room.
The Master’s Bedroom with its sala and a polar bear rug. The Girl’s Bedroom has its own Toilet and Bath, a coffee table and a canopied bed. The Boy’s Bedroom with its own billiard table and a sala. The Guest Bedroom complete with a television, an armchair, food and wine, a hat, parasol and luggages. The Nursery with its crib, toys and another bed. The Game Room has a jukebox, a turntable and a billiard table. The Music Room with a lounge, 2 pianos, a turntable and string instruments.
Shadow boxes, referring to miniature room boxes that stand on its own, are comprised of the Food Shop, Toy Store, Christmas Room, Oriental Room and Artist’s Studio.
Shopping is the Food Shop and the Toy Store. The Food Shop shows several miniature viands in plates like eggs, hot dog, ham, bread, cheese. The Toy Store shows the vendor with an array of various toys like dolls, animals, birds, airplane, trucks, and mini houses.
The Christmas Room portrays the traditions of Christmas, like the Christmas tree with the gifts under the tree. Most especially it shows us the reason for our Christmas festivity… the birth of Christ… as shown by the miniature Belen with the Holy Family, the Three Kings and the Star of Bethlehem.
The Oriental Room show the classics of oriental furniture in miniature.
The Artist’s Studio with finished paintings in miniature and another painting on an easel still being worked on.
Philippine nationalism is presented in the vivid portrayal of Filipino traditional livelihood like the magsasaka (farmer) selling their produce of fruits and vegetables, the mangingisda (fisherman) in his bangka, the basket maker selling her baskets, and the clay pot maker selling her various pots. Shown also is the Filipino traditional costume, the baro’t saya, the Filipino traditional Bahay Kubo and the Filipino traditional sari-sari store.
Musical instruments of various types of guitars, banjos and ukulele are also featured in the miniature in glass cases and frames.
Hours 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday - Sunday
Lunch Break 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Closed on Holidays
Admission P50.00 per person
Location V. Gomez Street ,
Barangay Sta. Elena,
Marikina City
Tours and Group Visits For information on special tours and group visits, please call Marikina Cultural, Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotions Office (MCTTIPO) at (632) 646-2360 loc 207/208; (632) 646-3787 (telefax) or email us at : invest@marikina.gov.ph
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- Created by MISCC Department
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