What's inside Nanjing Memorial Hall

The Nanjing Memorial Hall which was built to remember the 300,000 victims of the Nanjing Massacre is one of the finest and most modern museums in the world today. Erected over an area of 28,000 square meters and a floor area of 3,000 square meters, the massive hall is a standing tribute to the men, women, and children who were killed by Japanese invaders in the 1930s. It is divided into more than 10 halls that now house photographic exhibits and artifacts, life-like dioramas, sculptures, testimonials and an AV room. The Hall is built on top of one of the sites of the mass graves of the victim.

A miniature version of the Nanjing Memorial Hall was brought to Manila this month for an exhibit at the Bahay Tsinoy, Kaisa-Angelo King Heritage Center, Anda corner Cabildo Streets, Intramuros, Manila. The exhibit runs until November 27, 2009.

The project is part of the Exchange Exhibition arrangement with the Philippine Veterans Bank to bring part of the display at the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall.

Another exhibit entitled “The War of Our Fathers … A Tribute to Filipino Freedom Fighters” shows the Filipino at his finest defending the motherland from foreign aggression.

Both exhibitions are in partnership with the Veterans Federation of the Philippines, the UNESCO Culture Committee chaired by Carmen D. Padilla and Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran and the Bahay Tsinoy, Museum of Chinese in Philippine Life.

Filipinos and Chinese have a shared history as both endured the same hardship and suffering during World War II. Over 100,000 civilians were killed in the Battle for Manila by withdrawing Japanese troops during the war. There are similar stories in Cebu, Davao, Laguna and Batangas. The aim of the exhibits is to remind people of the atrocities of war and the attendant responsibility of every citizen to continuously work for peace.