There’s more to pop culture than meets the eye. In fact, most movies—be they dramas, sci-fiction, or superhero films—are inspired by science in one way or another.
This is what the newly opened Omniverse Museum is all about. It’s a place that bridges fiction and reality with learning tools based on the inspiration that brought about blockbuster movies that people have come to love.
It does this with the help of more than 5,000 pop culture collectibles, interactive displays, and infographics that are designed to ignite the imagination and encourage a deeper interest in STEM or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
This is where the educational aspect of the museum comes in. The collectibles are accompanied by learning tools based on the inspiration that brought blockbuster movies to life.
The Game of Thrones room, for example, which features a huge figure of a legendary dragon named Drogon, is accompanied by explanations on what dragons are in Greek mythology or how scientists in Argentina discovered fossilized remains of a flying reptile known as ‘The Dragon of Death.’
Alongside the life-size likeness of the Star Wars character Chewbacca—a tall, bipedal, almost ape-like creature—are scientific explanations of what paleontology and anthropology are, as well as the stages in human evolution.
A project of the Philippine Amusement and Entertainment Corp. (PAEC), the Omniverse museum also has collections of items from the worlds of Harry Potter, DC, and Marvel, as well as anime favorites such as Dragon Ball Z.
There’s also a horror room that features iconic evil dolls like Anabelle and Chucky, as well as Sadako and Samara popping out of the well. Omniverse also features a life-size Ironman Hall of Armor, which houses 14 different armors, plus the gigantic Hulk Buster.
There is also a Batmobile from the classic 1989 Batman film, which was used in the actual movie, on display in the Batcave room. For those who have little kids in tow, there is an antechamber with popular kiddie characters that will veer them away from the scarier exhibits.
The collectibles are from the personal collection of avid pop culture collector, journalist, restaurateur, and businessman Ryan Sison. A certified fanboy of movies, series, and comics, Sison personally supervised the curation and cataloging of the exhibit.
The Omniverse Museum is located at Japan Town, 4th Floor, Glorietta Mall, Makati City. It is open from 12 noon to 9 p.m. daily. Regular admission is P1,500 per person with discounts if you come in groups. Allocate at least two hours to properly explore the entire collection at the Omniverse Museum.
