Renowned to be one of the must-visit cultural institutions in the Philippine capital the Bahay Tsinoy Museum is an illustrious cultural Mecca located within the Kaisa-Angelo King Heritage Centre. Ideally situated in the Old Walled City of Manila otherwise known as the Intramuros quarter the museum is housed in a structure designed by none other than Honrado Fernandez and Eva Penamora. Having opened its doors to the public in 1999 the venue was built by a non-profit organization established by Teresita Ang-See to inculcate national pride in the Chinese community while understanding the culture’s overreaching influence in the country over the years. Forging a better understanding of the Chinese and Filipino relationship is another motive in establishing the Bahay Tsinoy Museum. Showcasing the history of the Chinese community in the Philippines the museum delves into the lives of ordinary Chinese citizens in the Philippines and their immense contribution in making the country what it is today.
Divided into 12 galleries the Bahay Tsinoy Museum’s main attractions include exhibition areas dubbed The Parian, Colonial Culture, Early Contacts, Gallery of Rare Prints and Photographs, Emergence of the Chinese Community and In Defense of Freedom. Other highlights include Life in the 1800’s, the Martyr’s Hall, National Leaders of Chinese Descent, Ceramics Collection and the Rare Philippine Shell Collection. The Martyr’s Hall is an intriguing point of interest as it documents the contribution of Chinese soldiers during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines while the Gallery of Rare Prints and Photographs captures towns such as Binondo during American occupation as well as Spanish colonial times. Precious ceramics dating from the 10th century and spanning up to the 17th century are displayed at the Ceramics Collection gallery. Discovered through excavations in the Philippines the Chinese origin ceramics establish strong maritime relations between the two countries throughout the centuries.
The Rare Philippine Shell Collection however is a treat for shell collectors the world over as the displays include precious mollusks the likes of the golden cowrie, cypraea valentine and extinct shell varieties such as the Gloria Maris.
Travellers in search of an elegant hotel in Manila should not look beyond The Heritage Hotel Manila for their needs of accommodation. Providing guests with the best in contemporary facilities this Manila hotel redefines the experience of vacationing in luxury.
Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+