菲律宾国家博物馆始建于1901 年，最初作为人类学和自然历史博物馆，后来迁入现在的新址，其收藏扩展到艺术和科学领域。现在的博物馆建筑是由美国建筑师伯汉姆· 丹尼尔于1918 年设计的。它的建筑分为两部分，一部分收藏展示艺术、科学和其他相关种类藏品，另一部分主要收藏人类学和考古学成果。

    该馆下设的艺术部的主要功能涉及收藏、维护和展示菲律宾艺术家作品，包括绘画、雕塑、设计艺术、摄影和其他艺术形式，其主要目的是通过作品展示菲律宾历史上各种艺术形式的发展状况。博物馆也提供评估和鉴定艺术品的服务，由专家所组成的评选小组负责。向其他机构提供技术支持也是该博物馆的功能之一。博物馆还为大学生提供研究菲律宾艺术所需的艺术家简历及作品情况，也向艺术经纪人、收藏家、国内外游客及艺术爱好者提供咨询服务。另外，博物馆每年夏季都面向儿童举办免费培训班，让他们对本国的艺术传统有更深入的了解。此外，艺术部还负责接受私人和公共部门捐赠的当代绘画作品。艺术部中的研究与展览处负责科学研究、艺术家个人资料和作品更新。

    菲律宾国家博物馆是菲律宾物质和文化遗产的见证者和守护人。作为最重要的国家文化机构之一，它通过科学、教育和文化活动，肩负着传播国家文化和树立民族自豪感的重任。

National Museum of the Philippines

National Museum of the Philippines was established in 1901 as an ethnography and natural history museum, and subsequently housed in its present building, which was designed in 1918 by the American Architect, Daniel Burnham. Since then the National Museum has broadened its concerns in the arts and sciences. Today, it occupies the main building (former Old Congress Building) where the arts, atural sciences and other support divisions are housed and the adjacent former Finance building now called The National Museum of the Filipino People(part of national museum)where the Anthropology and Archaeology Divisions are housed.

The Arts Division is primarily concerned with the collection, maintenance and exhibition of the art works by Filipino artists, including, painting, pieces of sculpture, graphic arts, photography and other art forms. The aim is to be able to delineate the various developments in the history of Philippine art by way of the art pieces. It also provides services including evaluation and uthentication of art works conducted by a panel of experts from the private sector; and technical assistance to other institutions. The Arts Division extends technical assistance to students of different universities regarding their researches about our famous Filipino artists, their biographies and their works. Likewise, the division extends technical assistance to art dealers, art collectors, to foreign and local visitors and other art enthusiasts. In addition, some collaborative services are also extended to various individuals, to public and private entities as consultants. A yearly Summer Art Classes for children are conducted and sponsored by the division. Two sessions are being offered free. The expansion of this outreached program is designed to further raise the level of public awareness of our national artistic heritage.

Aside from the maintenance of art works, this section is in-charge of collection and preservation. This section is also in charge in the division s acquisition like the donation of contemporary paintings to the agency from private and public entities; Research and Exhibitions Section conducts scientific researches, the biographies and updated works of the National Artists.

The National Museum of the Philippines is the repository and guardian of the Philippines' natural and cultural heritage. As one of the lead government cultural agencies, it is tasked to achieve the goals of instilling cultural consciousness and a sense of pride and nationalism among Filipino citizens through its activities covering the sciences, education and culture.