Imagine you are in a museum, admiring a beautiful painting of a large, old galleon sailing into the sunset. Okay, nice enough. But what if that ship actually sails outside the boundaries of its frame? What if seeing that ship approaching you makes you feel jittery ? Now, that’s a whole level of visual and mental adventure, isn’t it?
This is what Cebu Happyworld Museum is all about. Located in Barangay Gabi in the island of Cordova, this one-of-a-kind museum features more than 70 superb three-dimensional paintings, interactive art, and optical illusion exhibits. All these artworks are created by talented Korean artists. Let’s go and have a look.
This cool museum is located just 15 minutes away from where we live!
Now, that’s a pretty cool facade. The Cebu Happyworld Museum is housed in a castle-like building. The structure itself invites people to open up their minds and let their imagination run wild.
No worries if you’re bringing your own vehicle. The museum has a huge parking space in front of the building.
To maintain the interior’s cleanliness, wearing of shoes in the museum is not allowed. You walk barefoot on the cold, hard floor, which is quite uncomfortable and exhausting. It would be better if the facility offers flip-flops to patrons. Wearing light footwear makes touring around the museum more comfortable. Furthermore, wearing slippers is more hygienic than walking around barefoot.
Don’t worry about your dear shoes. They will be safely stored inside these shelves.
Pretty and friendly receptionists and staff make sure that your tour inside the museum is pleasant and memorable from the time you take off your shoes to the time you wear them back.
Upon going inside, you would see large wall paintings such as these. They seem pretty ordinary, aren’t they?
Nope, they’re not. These are superbly made, high-quality 3-D paintings. What’s so special about these paintings, you may ask? Well, when you pose a certain way in front of it, it would seem that you’re doing something to it! Here, my sister-in-law, Didin, added a personal touch to Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
I was a little thirsty since I wasn’t able to drink a glass of water before we left. Good thing that the Roman goddess of love and beauty Aphrodite bought a whole jug of water for me.
Let me help you with that foot, miss ballerina!
Aside from three-dimensional paintings, the museum also features exhibits that play with visually perceived images that are actually different from objective reality—optical illusions, in short. In this exhibit, my dad seems to be cleanly cut in half!
What’s my Sweetie’s head doing on a basin outside a home?
Catch them, Sweetie! Enormous flying fish seem to jump out of the painting.
Here’s another cool 3-D painting, depicting pouring a blue ocean of water from a gigantic LCD TV.
I ain’t going to die without a fight! Come on, tiger, let’s see what you got!
Now, that’s a really sad-looking seal.
Oh, crap! Don’t eat me! Some of the paintings, such as this shark painting in the Oceans Section, actually look very realistic.
Attacked by a ferocious tiger, chased by a gigantic shark and now shot by hostile tribesmen, this seemed to be my unlucky day! How many times do I have to die?
Tired of the real world, Sweetie and I rode a unicorn to dreamworld. Hehehe! Actually, that’s just a cutout of a unicorn. There’s a bench at the unicorn’s back where you sit down.
Optical illusions galore! Attuned to the Force, Sweetie seemed to be hovering on thin air!
My bro fell while climbing his way on the stairway to heaven.
That’s a cool mirror illusion.
This is one of our favorite illusions. I seem to tower over my brother who, in reality, is actually bigger and taller than me.
The museum also features professionally painted cutouts. We’re back in the Jurassic era!
Go, Manny Pacquiao, go! It’s glitzy Las Vegas here in Cordova, Cebu; and we’re right at the ringside!
Don’t worry if you don’t know how to pose or where you should take a photograph. Each painting or interactive exhibit has easy-to-read instructions on what to do. English instructions also have Korean and Japanese translations.
Dammit, not you again! Help!
Alexa’s a pretty angel! The wings are painted on the wall; you’ll just have to stand and lean between them.
Are we in the romantic, flower-filled country of Holland?
In just a few minutes, we were teleported to ancient Egypt overlooking the mighty Nile River.
First, there’s a tiger, then a shark. Then a group of hunters and now, a T-Rex? Run for your lives!
Different eye reflections? How can that be?
I’m the president of the United States holding a press conference!
Don’t worry if you don’t have a camera. These guys will take memorable photos of you levitating in the air, being cut in half, feeding buko juice to a shark, etc.
You can have your favorite museum photo framed or printed on a certificate for a fee.
Touring around the museum can be quite tiring. Don’t worry. You can just sit down and take a break in their small café. Light snacks, soft drinks, and juices are available at affordable prices.
While taking your snacks, you can marvel at the superb paintings that adorn its walls. Many of these nice paintings are actually for sale, so if you’re an avid art enthusiast, you may want to take home one or two of these.
After a short break, it’s time for more illusory adventures in the wild!
The last area in the museum is also the largest—and full of really deep ravines!
A brick well above the clouds! Don’t look down if you’re afraid of heights!
Falling over a massive waterfall! Help!
Even though it wasn’t an adventure in the typical sense of the word, our visit to the Cebu Happy World Museum on a rainy Sunday is truly fun! Not only were we able to play around with the magnificent paintings and stimulating exhibits, but we were also able to admire and respect the creative minds behind these amazing pieces of artwork.
Photos courtesy of Glenn Jubs
Check out our Facebook page for more photos.
Tips
1. To get to Cebu Happyworld museum via public transportation, take any jeep in Lapu-Lapu City, Pusok Road, or the airport that goes to Cordova. Fare is around P10 to 12. Ask the driver to let you disembark at the Cordova crossing, which is actually the main square. Take a tricycle going to Barangay Gabi and tell the driver to drop you off at Cebu Happy World Museum. Fare is P8.
Note that fares may change without prior notice.
2. You can get in touch with Cebu Happyworld Museum by using the following details:
- Mailing Address: Cebu Happy World Museum, Lot 2-A-3, Barangay Gabi, Cordova, Cebu, 6000
- Phone number: (032) 520-1695 to 6
- Globe number: 0905-661-2365
- Sun number: 0923-468-2938
- Facebook Page: Cebu Happyworld Museum
3. For rates, please check the photo below:
Rates are subject to change without prior notice, so it’s best to contact the museum for updated rates.
4. There are over 70 paintings and exhibits divided into 6 sections (World Famous Art, Religious Beliefs, Ocean, Jurassic Animal, Philippine Pride, and Ending Sections).
5. Wear flip-flops, open-top laceless shoes, or other kinds of footwear that is easy to take off.
6. If you don’t like the idea of walking around barefoot, bring on some lightweight indoor walking sandals, those fluffy ones you wear at home. Tell the representatives that you’d prefer walking with something on for hygienic purposes; most likely, they’ll allow you to walk with your sandals on.
Adrenaline Romance 
That looks like a lot of fun!
Hi Brownyn Joy,
It definitely is! The museum is located just 15 minutes away from where we live!
Nice!
Lingaw lagi diri. 🙂
Hi Kikit,
Yup, definitely! It’s really fun! Don’t forget to bring a camera. 🙂
some very funny, surreal photos! Looks like a cool place to see 🙂
Hi Charlie,
Thank you for the compliment. Indeed, it is a cool place to have fun with friends. Kids would definitely love it here.
A very fun place to visit. Great acting and interaction, you guys. 🙂 It made me smile going through the pictures.
can we copy your pictures sir?so that we will post it into our account on facebook.CEBU HAPPYWORLD MUSEUM here.:)
thanks!
Hi Desiree,
Sure! But please do give an attribution to us.
it’s more fun here.promise.heheheh
Hi Tata,
Great to know you enjoyed your visit there. 🙂
hi… is there a discount if we will eat in lantam native restaurant?
Hi Rachel,
We’re not sure. We don’t think Cebu Happyworld Museum is connected to Lantaw restaurant.
How many hours did it take for you to see all the paintings in the museum? Because we’re planning to go there before our flight back home (4PM). Do you think we’ll have enough time to explore the museum if we visit it from 10AM to 1PM? By the way, during our trip, we will be staying in Maribago.
Thanks!!!
Hi Karen,
Thank you for visiting. Yes, 10 AM to 1 PM would be good.Just be ready to depart and check out at 9AM.
Hi Sir, is it near in Cebu City?
Hi Winnie,
Well, it’s a little bit far from Cebu City itself, but its within the tripartite cities of Metro Cebu. It’s in Cordova in Mactan Island.
Cordova is part of Cebu City. It’s not Lapu-Lapu nor Mactan
We meant Metro Cebu. You know, that large city in mainland Cebu?
You see, we’re not trying to confuse readers by strictly sticking to official geographic locations. We want to make people find their way to their destination easily.
Describing Cordova “in Mactan Island” is easier (because it is truly just beside Mactan Island) for the readers to locate the facility rather than pointing them to Cebu City (which most people recognize as mainland Cebu).
great.! amazing.. 🙂
Thank you, Grace! Please visit there sometime; we assure you, you won’t regret it. 🙂
Eat kimchi and puke. Tourist Trap.
Uhm, okay. Is this supposed to help the facility or the readers of this blog?
Hi! We will be visiting cebu next month, can you help us out with the directions to Happy World Museum from Cebu City? we really dont know which way and how much.. sms 09327935161
In Cebu City, take any jeep that goes to Lapu Lapu City, Mactan (where the airport is located).
From there, take any jeep in Lapu-Lapu City, Pusok Road, or the airport that goes to Cordova. Fare is around P10 to 12. Ask the driver to let you disembark at the Cordova crossing, which is actually the main square. Take a tricycle going to Barangay Gabi and tell the driver to drop you off at Cebu Happy World Museum. Fare is P8.
Hope this helps.
How much is the fee for 18 years old ? For local resedince and how much Is the fee for foreign??
Fee for 18 years old would probably be the same as that of an adult. For rates, please scroll down to the Tips section of this blog post. Item 3 has an image of the rates as posted in Happyworld.
Hope this helps. Thanks!
Hello Happyworld , I will be visiting in July, Are we aloud to take our own pics?. And is their a charge to take our own pictures?. As my Girlfriend Loves taking so many pictures, Average 20 pics per Picture, she is a real selfie addict. hahahaha.
Hi Raimon,
We’re not from Happyworld; we just blogged about Happyworld.
Yes, you and your sweetheart are definitely allowed to take as many photos as you like. 🙂
One of the best Trick Art Museum i visited, im so proud of being a pilipino. MABUHAY to all the pilipino great artist. Greetings from obras.ph
Indeed, it is! 🙂
We’ll be on cebu on the 3rd week of this month. How far is this place from the mactan airport? We are currently planning for our itinerary and maybe this place would be a nice spot to add on.. Just maybe if its not that far cuz we’r bringing our lola with us.
Thanks for the future reply. 🙂
Hi Jake,
Well, if you take a taxi, it will take you around 15 to 20 minutes to reach the place from the airport as it is on as Cordova is on the other side of Mactan Island, opposite the airport.
We recommend you take the taxi for speed and convenience.
thx ive beeb there,its nice
Yes, it is. it’s been quite some time since we’ve visited there. Do they have new paintings, artwork, or attractions?
Hello. How can we get to Gabi, Cordova from Cebu City?
Hi Hope,
Where exactly in Cebu City will you start? We need to know so we can help you with your route.
Hello. How can we get to Gabi, Cordova from Cebu City? like transportation route? Thank you..
It’s a bit complicated if you ride a jeepney. We suggest you take a taxi and ask the driver to take you to Cebu Happy Museum. Where in Cebu will you be originating? If you tell us, perhaps we can tell you which jeepneys to ride.
Hello this is Wing. how far is the location of this museum to crown regency fuente branch in cebu? we in Cebu this June 9 -10 and we are planning to see this place.
Hi Wing,
That’s pretty far, about 50 kilometers away from Crown Regency. We suggest you take a taxi in going to Cebu Happworld Museum from Crown Regency for convenience.