Museum · Pasay City

AIMS Museo Maritimo

AT A GLANCE

Why go?

AIMS Museo Maritimo is the Philippines' first maritime-themed museum, dedicated to the rich seafaring heritage of the nation and the Filipino seafarers who carried it across the world's oceans. Housed on the sixth deck of the Lighthouse Building within the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies campus along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, the museum brings together more than 400 artifacts and navigational instruments across six galleries, tracing the archipelago's maritime story from prehistoric voyages to the global shipping industry of today.↗↗↗

Opened in 2012, the museum was the brainchild of AIMS President Arlene Abuid-Paderanga in collaboration with the Hiniraya Cultural and Heritage Foundation and ICOM Philippines. Its mission goes beyond display: the museum serves as a repository of maritime knowledge, a venue for research and lectures, and—through the broader Campus Museum project—a learning experience that integrates the university's own ship simulators, engine rooms, and radar labs into the tour.↗↗

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Museum · Pasay City

AIMS Museo Maritimo

Pasay City, PH 4.7 (26 Google reviews)

Photo: Google Maps

AT A GLANCE

Why go?

AIMS Museo Maritimo is the Philippines' first maritime-themed museum, dedicated to the rich seafaring heritage of the nation and the Filipino seafarers who carried it across the world's oceans. Housed on the sixth deck of the Lighthouse Building within the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies campus along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, the museum brings together more than 400 artifacts and navigational instruments across six galleries, tracing the archipelago's maritime story from prehistoric voyages to the global shipping industry of today.↗↗↗

Opened in 2012, the museum was the brainchild of AIMS President Arlene Abuid-Paderanga in collaboration with the Hiniraya Cultural and Heritage Foundation and ICOM Philippines. Its mission goes beyond display: the museum serves as a repository of maritime knowledge, a venue for research and lectures, and—through the broader Campus Museum project—a learning experience that integrates the university's own ship simulators, engine rooms, and radar labs into the tour.↗↗

What You'll See

The permanent exhibition unfolds in six thematic sections. The Early Philippine History gallery illuminates the archipelago's prehistoric maritime interactions, showing that seafaring was woven into Filipino life long before colonial contact. The First Global Circumnavigation gallery recounts Magellan's voyage and the saga of Enrique de Malacca, the enslaved man often credited as the first person to circumnavigate the globe. A Transpacific Trade and the Galleons gallery explores the Manila-Acapulco galleon route that connected the Philippines to Mexico for over two centuries. The Pillars of the Industry gallery honors leaders in Philippine shipping, training, and manning. The Philippine Navy gallery traces that service from its earliest days to the present. Finally, a Maritime Education gallery reveals what it takes to train a marine officer.↗

Among the objects on display are ship models, nautical instruments, marine art, and personal artifacts that collectively tell the story of individuals who shaped the nation's maritime identity. The museum also offers access to the AIMS Maritime Library on Deck 5, one of the largest repositories of maritime knowledge in the country.↗↗

The Lighthouse Building as a Living Museum

What makes AIMS Museo Maritimo distinctive is its setting. The Campus Museum initiative transforms the entire Lighthouse Building into a continuous learning journey. As you move through the decks, the narrative builds: Deck 6 houses the core museum galleries; Deck 5 holds the maritime library; Deck 4 features the Naval Architecture Program; and Decks 2 and 3 open up the Maritime Laboratories, where visitors can see the ship deck simulator, radar room, and engine room in action—facilities normally reserved for cadet training but woven into the museum experience.↗

The building's overarching story is structured in four acts: 'A Nation of Migrants' (tracing the great waves of migration that forged the Filipino people), 'A Maritime Nation' (the sea's role in unifying the archipelago), 'A Great Exodus' (the modern diaspora of Overseas Filipino Workers and the seafaring community), and 'Maritime Nation-Building' (the Philippines' evolving role in the global maritime economy, including MARINA's ten-year development plan).↗

Planning Your Visit

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays. The museum sits within the AIMS university campus, so a gate pass is required to enter; bring a valid ID, which you'll present at Gate 1 along Roxas Boulevard. Guided tours are led by knowledgeable curators who walk visitors through the exhibits and simulation facilities. The museum is wheelchair accessible.↗↗

For the best experience, book a guided tour in advance by messaging the museum on Facebook or calling +63 2 8831 2467, extension 1104. The tour covers the galleries and can include hands-on simulation. Visitors have noted that the experience is enriching when led by a curator who can contextualize the artifacts and stories; going alone means you'll miss the narrated depth that brings the exhibits to life.↗↗

Why It Matters

The Philippines has one of the largest seafaring workforces on earth—hundreds of thousands of Filipino officers and crew serve on merchant vessels worldwide at any given time. AIMS Museo Maritimo is the country's institutional acknowledgment of that reality: that the sea is not a boundary but a bridge, and that the Filipino maritime story stretches from ancient Austronesian outrigger canoes to the container ships and supertankers crewed by OFWs today. The museum's tagline captures this ambition: 'The North Star of Philippine Maritime History and Heritage.'↗↗

What makes it special

01

First maritime-themed museum in the Philippines↗

02

400+ artifacts across 6 themed galleries↗

03

Guided tours include hands-on ship simulation and lab facilities↗↗

04

Housed in the iconic Lighthouse Building on Roxas Boulevard↗

A little planning goes a long way

Bring a valid government or company ID—you'll need it at the AIMS campus gate before reaching the museum.↗
Message the museum's Facebook page or call ahead to book a guided tour; a curator-led walkthrough is what transforms the collection from a quiet gallery into a compelling narrative.↗↗
If visiting on a Friday, arrive before late afternoon; flag-raising ceremonies can delay your departure from the campus.↗
The museum is on the 6th floor of the Lighthouse Building, accessible by elevator. Allow roughly one to two hours for the full tour including the simulation facilities on lower decks.↗↗

About this guide

Compiled with AI assistance from the sources below; this is not a first-hand visit. Place details collected October 5, 2026. Hours, access and ratings can change; confirm with the venue before visiting.

Find your way

Gate 1, Lighthouse Bldg. AIMS Campus, Roxas Blvd, cor Antonio S. Arnaiz Ave, Pasay City, Philippines

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Opening hours +

As reported by Google Maps. Confirm holiday hours before you go.

Friday: 8AM-5PM
Monday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Tuesday: 8AM-5PM
Saturday: 8AM-5PM
Thursday: 8AM-5PM
Wednesday: 8AM-5PM

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