Meet and Greet Gina Gil-Lacuna, the Puzzle Queen

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Met her for the very first time during the Guinness World Records Awarding Ceremony on November 29, 2012. Gina Gil-Lacuna is now the title holder and the owner of the largest collection of jigsaw puzzles in all shapes, sizes and form. She has 1,029 puzzles housed at the Puzzle Mansion.

She has 1,028 puzzles when awarded the Guinness Record, the last one she did was a 10,000 pieces of puzzle, which is a birthday gift to her husband and his son.

The museum boasts puzzles that are made of cardboard, wood, plastic which are either flat, circular, 3D and 4D (I used to have an idea that puzzles are only flat, now I know). They depict pictures of people, animals, nature, occasions, religions, business ads, cartoon characters. There are also amazing puzzles of famous paintings by Picasso, Da Vinci, Van Gogh, Michaelangelo, Renoir and Goya to name a few.

According to ma'am Gina, her passion for puzzles began 27 years ago when she did her very first Disney puzzle as a gift for his son Gino who was then 2 years old.  Afterwhich she was enchanted and entertained by puzzles and began buying them during her travels abroad and put them together, thus the birth of her collection.

Her very first puzzle which she did 27 years ago.

A business guru herself, being the woman behind the successful maternity wear brand "Buntis" (I knew this brand because it used to be my maternity dresses before) she is proud to share that her lack of formal education (being a high school graduate) did not became a hindrance for her to succeed. Now, despite her busy schedule running the puzzle museum, she still engages herself with their garment's business operations.

When asked what was the very virtue you learned from doing puzzles? Her reply, "PATIENCE" which I totally agree because for someone to finish putting those pieces of puzzles together needs lots of patience which eventually will turn into perseverance. This hobby can be addicting, LOL.  But I believe, it will always bring about fulfillment.

She is currently doing the Ravensburger Puzzle which she aimed to finish by July 2013.  It is a 32,000 pieces puzzle by Keith Haring entitled Double Retrospect. When finished, it will measure six (6) pieces of plywood,  it might be another world record for her. But accordingly, she might possibly beat her own record as there are still several unfinished puzzles underneath her bed. 

Entrance to the gallery is P100.00, with a guided tour by ma'am Gina herself.

The museum once again put the Philippines, Tagaytay City in particular, on the world map. It has then became a top tourist destination for the locals and foreigners alike. Getting there, you will not get lost as there are visible directional signs that will lead you to the place.

Besides the gallery, the other attraction here is the Puzzle Mansion Bed and Breakfast (read my review HERE). I was personally invited by ma'am Gina to stay overnight here to enjoy and  experience their wonderful accommodation.

There's also a souvenir shop where you can buy presents for your family and friends back home. Puzzles, shirts, caps, towels, wall clocks, calendars, and various sort of gift items.

So the next time you are in Tagaytay City or nearby, don't forget to drop by the Puzzle Mansion and know for yourself how Gina Gil-Lacuna got her title.

Address:
Purok 4 Cuadra St. Brgy. Asisan
Tagaytay City, Philippines 4210
website: http://www.thepuzzlemansion.com/
email: puzzlemansion@gmail.com

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