MANILA, Philippines — Giving local fans an up-close encounter with homegrown icons, a new domestic entertainment destination has officially launched in the heart of the capital. Manila has debuted its own “humble” answer to world-famous wax attractions with the grand opening of the Startista Gallery.
The brand-new museum showcases life-size, hand-sculpted wax figures celebrating standout Filipino personalities across showbiz, sports, comedy, and public service.
The Startista Gallery has established its permanent footprint inside the legendary Star City amusement park, situated within the CCP Complex in Pasay City/Manila.
To bring the figures to life with realistic precision, local creators utilized an innovative mixture of traditional hand-sculpting, precision 3D printing, and dynamic video displays—creating an immersive walk-through experience reminiscent of international hotspots like Madame Tussauds.
The initial rollout of the gallery features a diverse cross-section of famous Filipino figures arranged across specialized cultural zones:
[ STARTISTA GALLERY INAUGURAL ROSTER ]
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[ ENTERTAINMENT & TELEVISION ] [ TITANS OF SPORTS ] [ PUBLIC SERVICE & POLITICS ]
• **Angel Aquino** • **Hidilyn Diaz** (Olympic Gold) • **Imee Marcos**
• **Rhian Ramos** • **Efren “Bata” Reyes** (Billiards)• **Richard Gomez**
• **Michael V.** (Comedy Legend) • **Francisco "Django" Bustamante** • **Lucy Torres-Gomez**
• **Paolo Contis** • • **Isko Moreno**
• **Ara Mina** • •
• **Maui Taylor** • •
• **Gladys Reyes** • •
• **Ashtine Olviga** • •
The current lineup represents just the first phase of the museum’s long-term curation plans. Gallery organizers confirmed that official licensing and permission have already been legally secured to begin immediate production on the wax figures of two major industry names:
- Dolphy — The immortalized “Comedy King” of Philippine cinema.
- Bayani Agbayani — Beloved actor, comedian, and television host.
By establishing a permanent showcase dedicated purely to Philippine pop culture and history, the gallery aims to provide local and international tourists with an affordable, accessible space to celebrate the faces that have shaped the country’s modern entertainment landscape.