By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

LUBLIN PORTAL. The Lublin Portal, unveiled in May 2021, is positioned on Litewski Square, in the heart of Lublin, Poland. Located in public spaces, Portals offer a real-time, unfiltered livestream 24/7, inviting people of different cultures to meet above borders and differences. (Photo courtesy of Portals Organization)

MANILA – The futuristic art installation dubbed “The Portal” is set to land in the Philippines on Jan. 21—the first ever in Asia and sixth in the world.

The tech sculpture, to be called the Manila Portal, will debut at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, which is one of the country’s most dynamic and fast-growing urban districts.

Once opened, the Portal will operate as a 24/7 live stream, connecting people in the Philippines with existing Portals in Vilnius (Lithuania), Lublin (Poland), Dublin (Ireland), Philadelphia (United States), and Ipswich (United Kingdom).

It will also connect with a soon-to-launch Portal in Piauí, Brazil, along with additional countries set to open their own Portals later this year.

“The opening of our first Portal in Asia is a powerful and exciting moment for us. Bringing the Portal to BGC in Manila—a city known for genuine warmth and a deep sense of human connection—expands our vision of a world connected not by borders, but by direct human encounter. We cannot wait to welcome Filipinos into this shared global experience,” said Benediktas Gylys, the artist behind the exhibit and founder of Portals Organization.

The Manila Portal will be unveiled on 5th Avenue at Bonifacio High Street, with the opening ceremony scheduled for Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. (PNA)