The Visual Candy that is Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo

The facade of Pinto Art Museum.

Damp mid-day in Antipolo. Our car’s wipers sway to the incessant drizzling raindrops on the windshield. We negotiated the meandering curves uphill. 

It's a perfectly calm day to visit someplace new, anything to break the monotony of concrete jungle life. And since we were in Antipolo, the much - raved about Pinto Art Museum was on our mind.

We briefly pull up in front of the Grand Heights subdivision entrance gate where the museum is located. We asked manong guard, “Boss, sa Pinto Art Museum? (Sir, which way to Pinto Art Museum?)” We then handed to him Php 20 as subdivision entrance fee and drove a few meters to our destination.

There’s a peculiar mix of fancy and simplicity as you glean on the façade of Pinto Art Museum. You'll be awed as you wander inside, you realize the compound is more spacious and grander than it seems. After all the property is 1.2 hectares.

The entrance of Pinto Art Museum beckons.

White-washed walls exude that Mediterranean feel. Oppa!

Verdant gardens surround the concrete structures.

Pinto Art Museum is a gallery in Antipolo City dedicated to housing over 300 contemporary art installations, sculptures and pieces created mostly by local artists.  

Pinto, taken from the Filipino term for “door”, takes its namesake from this art gallery being an open door to all types of modern art.

The whole gallery seems to be a well-thought maze of concrete rooms, halls, gardens, stairs and walkways that takes one to a leisurely art perusing experience.

 The chaplet

This chaplet houses some of the owner's antique collections.

According to Jacqui, it's her first time seeing an image of Christ without the cross.

As you kneel in one of the kneelers inside the chaplet, watch out for this sculpture of a woman outside the window.I was a bit jolted too, to see this at quick glance.

The wooden kneelers inside the chaplet.

 Rizal's Meditation Garden

A fountain at the meditation garden "dedicated for the love of Jose Rizal and Leonora Rivera". Notice Rizal's bust in the ground.

If this were Jose and Leonora's garden, this would be their love nest.

An antique wooden study.

Notice the rustic feel of the old wooden bench against the amarillo wall. Pre-nup idea? You're welcome.

One of my favorite installations here: a carabao-drawn mobile crafts store. It's so FIlipino, it makes me proud.

Effortlessly fancy. No wonder not only is it a favorite destination for art pilgrims but it also is quite a famous venue for daytime rendezvous. I was told they hold garden weddings and parties here given that they have dining facilities here. They also have a eight-tabled nook called the Pinto Cafe inside. (Jacqui: But when we visited, the cafe was closed. -_- )

The main garden. The house on your left is strictly off-limits since it is the residence of the proprietor.

The pool area. Notice the giant day bed on the ground.

And from the roofdeck, you see the awesome Manila skyline.

I can imagine a Disney princess glamor shot with this grass-covered wall.

The pond view looks ethereal.

Concrete outdoor stairs.

With its clean, sophisticated landscaping and architecture, it likewise is drawing engaged couples for their pre-nup photo shoots. You can find their pre-nup rental rates below. Take note that the rate depends on the area of the property you wish to shoot in. 

Entrance and Photoshoot rates at the registration area.

I wasn't surprised when I saw a couple donning matching shirts with printed "Bride" and "Groom" leaped repeatedly in the garden, perfecting their jumpshot. Their pre-nup rates are a tad pricey but I understand their spending behavior - the views here are definitely picturesque.

This untitled wire sculpture is visually stunning, you feel like looking at a CG sequence unfolding before your very eyes.

The giant mural.

The Pinto Cafe.

  
The Art Galleries

Bell-tower inspired concrete structure.

White-washed walls with bamboo ceiling accents give that modern Filipino feel.

Then I realized this part of the compound is a house cum museum.

The wide veranda.

Browsing through the art pieces, I somehow got a glimpse of the workings of the mind of Dr. Joven Cuanang, the gallery owner slash well-accomplished neurologist, in no particular order. This museum is evidence that a human mind can be both a scientific genius and an art aficionado. A review of my favorite art pieces here is coming up.

Modern Filipiniana theme is consistent even in the toilets.

Even the blown away bamboo leaves from the recent typhoon looks effortlessly artistic.

Pinto Art Museum, we bid you adieu for now. But the next time, we'll bring our artsy friends along.

With an entrance fee of PhP 150, we were treated to some eye candy and therapeutic art respite that altogether was worth the visit. 

I give a visit to Pinto Art Museum five golden carabao- drawn mobile crafts store out of a possible five.

Cheers, 

Eric

Next: Check out my top 10 fave Pinto Art Gallery installations here!

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Useful Tidbits:

- How to get here:

1.  Driving along L Sumulong Memorial Center to Hinulugang Taktak, after passing by Ynares center take the first right turn, go straight until you reach the Garden Heights entrance. Pay Php 20 then drive a few meters then turn right on the first street then you are there. 

2. From Araneta - Cubao MRT station, ride the FX going to Antipolo located in the side of Araneta Center. Ask the FX driver to drop you at Ynares Center (1 hour ride; costs PhP 50 per pax). Then hail a tricycle to take you to

Grand Heights subdivision (Pinto Art Museum is inside), the tricycle drivers would know where to take you (8 minute ride; PhP 40 per ride regardless of number of pax)

- Parking: You park at one side of the road next to Pinto, but it's relatively safe as you are inside a subdivision. 

- Entrance rates: 
PhP 150 - regular visitor
PhP  120 - senior citizen 
PhP 75 - students with ID 

- Address: 1 Sierra Madre Street, Antipolo City, Luzon, Philippines

- Tel No. : 63 -2-6971015