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Bahay Tsinoy

Manila is the capital of Philippines and is at the centre of the country’s education, finance, governance and religion. Tourists entering the city for the first time are met by a sea of concrete buildings, a flurry of activity and loud noises. However, just beneath the gritty exterior lie gorgeous churches, delightful squares and charming old buildings. Many of the popular tourist attractions are located along Manila Bay, but there are plenty of treasures waiting to be discovered especially in the city’s older sections. The Bahai Tsinoy is one of the city’s most interesting museums and should be visited by all those who want to learn more about Philippines.

Located in the Old Walled City (Intramuros) section of Manila, the Bahai Tsinoy (which literally means ‘Chinese Filipino House) is a museum documenting the histories and the Chinese people’s contributions in Philippines. This attraction was designed by the late Honrado Fernandez and Eva Penomora and was completed in 1996. The museum is divided into several sections. The first section is called Early Contact and documents Philippine prehistory dating all the way back to the ice age. It shows how at one point Philippines was connected to Asia by land bridges and how early Chinese settlers came over bringing their unique culture.

The other sections are the Parian, which details life under the Spaniards; the Gallery of Rare Prints; National Leaders of Chinese Descent; and Photographs ; Life in the 1800’s; Colonial Culture, a look at life under colonial rule; and Martyrs Hall, an exhibit featuring local heroes during the Japanese occupation. The museum is housed inside the Kaisa Angelo King Heritage Centre Building, on Anda cor Cabildo Street. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm and is closed on Mondays. Entrance fee for adults is Php 100 and Php 60 for children and students.

Public transport while not exceptional can be quite useful and one can get to the museum by bus. When it comes to choosing a Manila hotel tourists have a number of options. One can find anything from budget inns to high end hotels. Tourists looking for Manila luxury hotels can try the Peninsula Manila. The hotel enjoys a convenient location near the heart of the city and allows guests easy access to all the best tourist spots.

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