Photos: Oliver Oliveros | Cover Art: Jekelyn Nisola via Canva.com

Manila, Philippines–’Chinatown Museum,’ built by Megaworld Corp., has recently opened its doors to the public. The museum, which showcases the colorful history of Binondo, the “World’s Oldest Chinatown,” is located at the 4^th level of Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo.

The museum has 18 galleries, each focusing on the various influences and historical events that have shaped the cultural, social, and economic landscape of Binondo—from its establishment as a settlement for the Christian Chinese to the rise of downtown Escolta as the bustling commercial district of colonial Manila.

It also highlights the economic, political, and religious influence of the Chinese mestizo and the birth of the Katipunan, a Philippine revolutionary society founded in 1892, and their impact on the Philippines’ post-colonial history.

Recognized by the National Historical Commission (NHC) and National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the museum is envisioned as a community space and heritage project that brings forth a visual retelling of the rich history of Binondo.

“It has always been our goal to integrate arts, culture, history, and heritage in the overall character of our developments. With Lucky Chinatown being at the center of a community characterized by its rich history, we wanted to extend this passion for the arts and culture to the mall experience and eventually boost tourism in this part of Manila,” said Megaworld Chief Strategy Officer Kevin Tan.

“We conducted thorough research and consultations for this project, and we collaborated with members of the academe, respected historians, and prominent figures in the community in order to provide an accurate and comprehensive representation of Binondo’s rich history. We went beyond a historical presentation of facts and we even developed the museum’s very own [Chinatown Museum] app [available on Google Play and Apple Store] to make it educational and at the same time entertaining especially to the young audience,” Tan added. Using Bluetooth technology, the “Chinatown Museum” app serves as a virtual guide while inside the museum.

The “Chinatown Museum” is the second museum built by Megaworld, which follows on the heels of the Iloilo Museum for Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA), the first public institution of its kind in the Visayas and Mindanao region.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission rates: P150 (regular visitors), P120 (senior citizens), and P100 (students).

Visit the museum’s Facebook Page.