Venerable Hui Chuan Visits Bahay Tsinoy Museum, Affirms the Preservation of Chinese Filipino Heritage and Fo Guang Shan's Contributions

Fo Guang Shan Mabuhay Temple

Venerable Hui Chuan, Executive Vice Abbot of Fo Guang Shan, Director of the Executive  Council, recently visited Bahay Tsinoy – Museum of Chinese in Philippine Life, accompanied by Venerable Yung Guang, Head Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Philippines. During the visit, he also paid a pastoral visit to Fo Guang Shan Honorary Merit Sponsors Mr. Hui-Huang Tsai and Mrs. Chen-Chen Shih, extending his care and blessings to long-time devotees.

Upon arriving at the museum, the delegation was warmly received by Honorary Chairman Victor G. Co, who introduced the museum's founding vision, historical development, and permanent exhibitions.

Located within the Kaisa Heritage Center in Intramuros, Manila, Bahay Tsinoy is one of the Philippines' leading museums dedicated to Chinese Filipino history and culture. Through its extensive collection of artifacts, historical photographs, archival materials, and multimedia exhibits, the museum chronicles centuries of Chinese migration and settlement in the Philippines, highlighting the Chinese Filipino community's significant contributions to the nation's cultural, economic, and social development.

The museum features galleries on early Sino-Philippine exchanges, the Parian during the Spanish colonial period, colonial society, the formation of the Chinese Filipino community, the struggle for freedom, nineteenth-century Chinese life, Chinese Filipino national leaders, historical photographs, the Hall of Martyrs, burial artifacts, and the Chinese Filipino contribution to nation-building, offering visitors a comprehensive understanding of the community's historical journey.

During the tour, Venerable Hui Chuan expressed deep appreciation for the museum's longstanding efforts to preserve Chinese Filipino heritage, promote intercultural understanding, and strengthen national identity. He commended the museum for its important role in cultural education and historical preservation.

Venerable Hui Chuan was especially delighted to learn that the museum has recognized Fo Guang Shan's longstanding contributions to the Philippines through the promotion of Humanistic Buddhism, Chinese culture, education, and charitable service. The museum has included information about Fo Guang Shan as part of its permanent exhibits documenting the development of the Chinese Filipino community, reflecting the organization's positive and enduring impact on Philippine society.

Venerable Hui Chuan remarked that culture serves as a bridge connecting different communities, while education is the foundation for preserving and transmitting cultural values. Guided by Fo Guang Shan founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun's vision of "propagating the Dharma through culture and nurturing talent through education," Fo Guang Shan will continue working hand in hand with Philippine society to foster mutual understanding, strengthen friendship among diverse communities, and enable the compassion and wisdom of Humanistic Buddhism to flourish throughout the country.