MANILA, March 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- UnionPay International (UPI), a global payment network, has signed an exclusive sponsorship agreement with Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, the retail and lifestyle development arm of property giant Megaworld Corporation currently leading the development of the Philippines' first Chinatown Museum.
The partnership between UPI and Megaworld Lifestyle Malls was formalized during the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the two parties held recently at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City, Metro Manila.
Present during the signing ceremony were UPI Chief Cooperation Officer Mr. David Lee, UPI Country Manager for the Philippines Mr. Samuel Tan, Megaworld Senior Vice President and President of Megaworld Foundation Mr. Francisco Canuto, and Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Senior Assistant Vice President and Head for Marketing and Business Development Ms. Tefel Pesigan-Valentino.
Envisioned as a heritage project and tribute to the Chinese-Filipino community in Binondo, Manila, and known as the world's oldest Chinatown, the Philippines' first Chinatown Museum is currently being developed and is set to open this year in Lucky Chinatown, Megaworld's lifestyle mall development located at the heart of the bustling Chinatown district.
Upon its completion, the museum will feature 15 galleries showcasing the different stages of the rich history and heritage of Binondo, including its nearby areas - from its inception as a sixteenth century settlement for Christianized Chinese, into a nineteenth century cosmopolitan hub of colonial Philippines and on its way to becoming a bustling commercial downtown of Manila.
The museum is also being eyed as a cultural repository and an educational institution for the benefit of Filipino students and scholars as well as the Chinese-Filipino community.
"With the help of UnionPay International, we will be able to make the Chinatown Museum an even better place where people can learn and increase their knowledge about the richness of the long and intertwined history of Chinese and Filipinos and how it shaped our country, while promoting social and cultural integration within the community and preserving the distinct Chinese – Filipino tradition we have here in the world's oldest Chinatown," said Ms. Valentino.
Mr. David Lee said, "We are delighted to be the presenting sponsor for the Exhibit Hall of the first Chinatown Museum in the Philippines. The museum is a great opportunity to showcase the rich history of Binondo and the Chinese-Filipino community. Supporting the Chinatown Museum also reaffirms UnionPay's effort to localize in the Philippines and we will be exploring more opportunities with Megaworld Corporation on other events and programs that will benefit the community."
