Continuing on our adventures in Marikina, I didn't realize The Spirit of Bethlehem is also part of The Museum of Miniatures and what a perfect time to go! The Spirit of Bethlehem is a collection of Nativities from all over the world. Most of them are from the Philippines and left me drooling! I highly recommend it for your advent season.

It was quite difficult to take photos because of the harsh light but this is what much of the exhibit looked like.

After you walk through The Spirit Of Bethlehem the miniature exhibit is connected at the end.

The Museum of Miniatures is possibly the cutest place in all of Manila. Unfortunately, it is also really hard to photograph because of the light. Thus, the cuteness is hard to share.

The exhibit is set up in a child friendly way with raised steps so the children can look in easily. Each different window has a different theme or room.

Things to know about The Spirit Of Bethlehem and Museum of Miniature:

The Spirit of Bethlehem

The Spirit of Bethlehem is a private collection of over 500 belens/nativity sets/posters/paintings and sculptures from all over the world. It boasts of numerous pieces from here and abroad, collected thru decades of devotion to the Infant Jesus, by its owner, Gigi Abaya-Carlos.

Among those on display is her very first belen set bought in 1952 at Catholic Trade School in Tayuman. Belens/Nativity sets from different countries like the United States, Mexico, Spain, Israel, Africa, Guatemala, China, and different regions of the Philippines, will certainly catch your attention because they reflect the culture from where they originated.

About 80% of these Belens are proudly Philippine made.

After seeing all the Belens, one is awed by the collection of tiny but real-looking replicas of things you would find in all the different rooms of a European mansion. It is a collection of shadow boxes filled with Lilliputian pieces of 1:1 scale.

The miniatures are part of the collection of the late Aleli Vengua, a passionate artist who handcrafted most of the pieces herself. A lot of the materials used are from scrap items in our day to day living, be it plastic, wood, aluminum, fabric, and glass.

Each room is designed with so much detail and attention that one will never want to look away.

Rates:

General admission: P75/head (with Museum of Miniatures)

Senior Citizens with ID: 20% discount on regular fee

Teachers with ID and children either with the height below 4ft. or younger than 6 yrs. old (with proof): FREE [Not applicable to children's group tour/field trip]

Museum Hours:

Friday to Sunday: 8:00AM to 5:00PM

Open to walk-in and Group tours

Monday to Thursday: Closed

Open to group Tours of at least 30 people with at least 3 days notice

(Please call 5700701 loc. 334 for holiday schedules or email

mdoyco@riverbankscenter.com

)

Located at 2nd level, E-com Building Riverbanks Center, Barangka Marikina City (Take the stairs or elevator at the E-com Annex)