Digital Manila features exhibits sprawled over 161 square foot of floor space, where visitors can explore a rare collection of digital renders and footage depicting the urban landscape of Binondo during the height of its economic success in the 1930s.

The exhibit is created in partnership with Renacimiento Manila — a group of artists, creators, and history enthusiasts committed to heritage advocacy, with a particular interest in Manila’s built heritage  — are photos and digital renders of the iconic buildings and landmarks of Escolta, the country’s pre-war economic center and financial hub and was once called “The Wall Street of Asia”.

In partnership with Renacimiento Manila, National Commision for the Culture and Arts, Lucky Chinatown, and Fundador

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
- Lao Tzu

Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) was founded in 1899. The school opened in response to the needs of the local Chinese community, many of whom came from immigrant families that have chosen to find refuge and a better quality of life in the Philippines. The community wanted an education for their children that was not only deeply rooted in Chinese values, but was also accessible in their new homeland. Hence, ACS was born.

In partnership with Chinatown Museum, the exhibit mounted by the school showcases the rich history of the school. The exhibit reflects the many vignettes of the ethnic Chinese in Philippine life told through theeyes of the school.

The exhibit celebrates St. Stephen’s High School’s centennial anniversary tracing its roots from the beginnings St. Stephen’s Church of Manila to its current status at the forefront of Filipino-Chinese Christian education.

“In a Nutshell” is a visual summary of the symbols of Binondo. Inspired by the popular tipos de pais of the nineteenth century, Wolf depicts Chinatown characters on polished coconut shells highlight the richness of Philippine identity and culture. The array of subjects from her latest bau art includes: peddlers, saints and mestizo inhabitants.

By the 1870s, Escolta had become the country’s center for shopping, dining and entertainment. Businessmen from all over the world were drawn to do business at Calle Escolta from German pharmacists and Jewish jewelers to Indian merchants and American entrepreneurs.

The Battle of Manila began with the liberation of the Santo Tomas Camp internees on the evening of February 3 and ended with the official declaration of the end of the battle on March 3, 1945. During the course of the month, over a hundred thousand Filipinos died and numerous cultural and heritage properties were destroyed.

Binondo was not spared from the carnage. The Japanese troops blew up Jones Bridge. Bullets flew from street to street. Escolta was aflame. The tranvia system became unusable. Binondo residents were forced to evacuate away from the city center and smoke became a feature of the district’s skyline. Binondo was nothing short of a charred urban war zone.

Despite the darkness that descended upon the community, glimmers of hope and heroism emerged. Binondo residents turned freedom fighters joined American troops and other guerrilla groups to liberate Manila. When Binondo was reclaimed by the soldiers and guerrillas, its residents witnessed the end Binondo’s central role in finance and luxury as it turned into a former shell of itself.

An Homage to Rizal delves into the Jose Rizal’s time and memories of Binondo. When Rizal arrived from his travels abroad, he would often stay a few days in Binondo before heading to his family estate in Laguna. In 1888, his family was evicted from Calamba over land dispute. The Rizal family moved to Binondo.

The exhibit presents Binondo as Rizal’s second home. Rizal heavily featured Binondo in crucial scenes across Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. When not in Calamba, Rizal’s characters are set in scenes along the Pasig River, Escolta Street, and the Binondo Church. These vignettes are illustrated onto boards that are set against furniture reproductions from their family home in Calamba. The Philippine Postal Corporation honors his memory through stamps released between 1946 - 2011 that commemorate his birth, martyrdom and heroism in Rizal’s home away from home.

“Galing” is a double entendre that can mean either “from” or “amazing”. The title can be translated to 'From Binondo' or 'Amazing Binondo'.

Galing Binondo is a postcard exhibition that features Binondo’s landscape from the early 20th century to its contemporary landscape. In collaboration with Philippine Postal Collaboration (PhilPost), this interactive exhibit allows guests to send postcards to friends and family.