Over the centuries, the Philippines has become a melting pot of
cultures. Malay stock mixed with Spanish and Japanese conquerors,
Chinese traders and
American liberators. But while they have all left
their mark, the Spanish, Japanese and Americans have largely left,
leaving the Chinese immigrants or Tsinoys as the largest identifiable
ethnic/cultural group of foreign origin in the country today.
The Chinese influence grows strong in food, fashion, the arts, and
virtually almost every aspect of modern Philippine culture. Add to this
the fact that the majority of big businesses in the country like
shopping malls, banks, hotels, and airlines are owned by the Chinese.
These modern day success stories of the Tsinoys are in no way indicative
of the turbulent times the first Chinese immigrants had to face. During
the early colonial days the enterprising Chinese steadily grew in number
and influence that the ruling Spanish considered them a threat and
constantly subjected them to persecution.
 The Tsinoys were allowed to reside in the
Parian, then a place outside
the Spanish walled city of Intramuros. Here they were able to ply their
trade, albeit cautiously and under the shadows of Intramuros’ cannons
pointed at the Parian.
That was more than two hundred years ago, now in a twist of fate and
irony, Intramuros houses a museum of the Chinese experience in the
Philippines.
The Bahay Tsinoy is located in the
Kaisa-Angelo King Heritage Center in
the corner of Anda and Cabildo Streets in Intramuros.
The museum attractions are divided into 14 main sections like the “Early
Contacts” section which shows that the first Chinese traders arrived
long before the Spanish explorer Magellan discovered and claimed the
Philippines for Spain.
Another visually exiting section is the “Parian” which shows the life of
the early Chinese immigrant in the Parian settlement through life size
wax statues.
The museum also features life size replicas of Chinese houses in the
18th century, depicting how the Tsinoy’s lived then.
Other sections show the Chinese role in events that eventually led to
the Philippine Spanish War up to World War II history.
The Bahay Tsinoy also features a gallery of rare prints and photographs,
a rare Philippine shell collection.
The museum also has a section devoted to recent history where national
leaders of Chinese descent are featured like former President Corazon
Aquino.
All in all the Bahay Tsinoy takes visitors through almost 10 centuries
of Chinese life in the Philippines.
The Bahay Tsinoy museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 1-5 pm. The
entrance fee is P100 for adults and P60 for children.
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