Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary And Art Gallery — Attraction in Cebu City

Spent nearly 2 hours listening to the stories of Humaida and her brother Osman about their late father, artist and Lepidopterist Julian Jumalon who was a painter who spent his life studying butterflies.

Professor Julian Jumalon is so famous in the world of butterfly scientists that 4 butterfly types were named after him.

The Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary is actually their home, surrounded by a huge garden where they have a butterfly pen and hatchery and plants that caterpillars like to eat.

Next to the home is a little art gallery where the paintings of the professor are displayed. He is the first person to ever create portraits and paintings out of butterfly wings. The paintings are FABULOUS! If you are an appreciator of the arts, you have to see his works!

Unfortunately, the sanctuary is obviously run down and needs finances to keep it going. At the moment, Ms Humaida Jumalon is finalising 3 books on the life of her Father, which will be released in October 2019. Hopefully, the books will raise the funds they need.

Meantime, she is battling a neighbor who set up a Tin Factory that has been polluting the air in the neighborhood for many years. The DENR has issued several orders for them to close but according to Ms Humaida, these orders have all but been ignored.

There is also nobody in the family to carry the torch since none of the grandchildren of the professor are interested in running the sanctuary. Ms Humaida admits that she and her brother are getting old so finding someone or some organisation to take over the butterfly sanctuary and museum is of prime importance.

Now that you know the troubles they face, when you visit the place, manage your expectations. Don't find value in the venue. Find value in the stories and significance of what Prof. Jumalon was able to achieve in the...

One of the best experiences in Cebu City. Lucky enough to be the first tourist led by the student interns from the Don Vicente Rama Memorial National High School back in March, a very well prepared and organised tour. Madame Jumalon, the daughter of late Prof Jumalon, gave an incredible introduction and her insights on local butterfly species as well as her late father's one of its kind in the world, Lepido Mosaic artwork by upcycling butterfly wings. The sanctuary is not very big and is divided into three parts, the outdoor garden for butterfly, the indoor exhibition for butterfly specimen and the art gallery for lepido mosaic artwork (where photos are not allowed). You could spend an hour or two inside, definitely worth a visit, especially for those who are into ecology and butterfly. They were very friendly and helped me hired a Grab to catch the ferry when my phone somehow...

for start I will just say: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Huge and beautiful collection of dead butterflies and moths from all over the world. Outside they have an open garden with many types of butterflies. by using the right plants they make the buterflies come out of their choise. The brother and sister who run this place are very nice and hospitable. They know a lot almost about everything and will love to explain. They kind of continuing the legacy and great work of their father who was an artist and a butterfly scient. There is also an art gallery with many beautiful paintings (some made only of butterfly wings!). great people and great atmosphere. even if you have only a half day to spend in Cebu City, you should head strait to this sanctuary, before all the churches and museoms. GO VISIT! YOU WON'T REGRET! opens every day, better to come in...