Philippines Hosts Asia's First Portal in BGC
The Portal is a visual bridge connecting Manila with cities in Lithuania, Poland, Ireland, the US, and UK. No, you can't stick your hand through it like in the movies - but you can wave.
by JV Ordoñez
Published on Jan 16, 2026
Like a spectacle straight out of classic science fiction, the world-famous Portal art and tech installation is set to open in the heart of metropolitan Bonifacio Global City - a visual bridge connecting people in real-time to other Portals in Lithuania, Poland, Ireland, the US, the UK, and soon Brazil.
To bring you up to speed: the Portals global art series was founded by former tech entrepreneur Benediktas Gylys, who had a spiritual awakening exactly a decade ago that led him to find meaning in connecting the world through gateways and fostering "oneness with all life on Earth."
The monumental permanent video bridge is set to rise near the big naked-eye 3D LED billboard on 5th Avenue on January 21 - a huge deal as BGC beat every other Asian city to host this medium for global human connection, without any agenda, filter, or ulterior motive.
The portal in Vilnius, Lithuania
"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 deep sense of human connection - expands our vision of a world connected not by borders, but by direct human encounter," Gylys said in a news release. The Manila portal will maintain a 24/7 livestream synchronized with the various other portals in Lithuania, Dublin, Philadelphia, Ipswich, and a forthcoming portal in Piauí, Brazil.
"We are delighted to introduce Portals to the Philippines and, for the first time, to Asia. At BGC, we draw inspiration from experiences that bring communities together and celebrate culture and diversity," said Enrique Manuel, Jr., chief operating officer of BGC. "With Portals and at BGC, we hope to create a new space for connection - one that not only engages our community, but also proudly shares the vibrancy and richness of Filipino culture with the world."
The concept for Portals emerged from Gylys' existential crisis about technology and his search for spiritual meaning in life - ironically leading him to harness more tech, this time tapping into humanity's age-old desire to transcend time and space. The initial two portals connecting Lithuania and Poland cost around 130,000 euros (approximately P8.96 million) to build through a partnership with the government of Vilnius.
Through the existing Portal installations worldwide and more expected to launch, the project's core mission is enabling people to acknowledge the existence of those from different walks of life and appreciate the vibrancy of diverse cultures. However, don't expect full sci-fi portal technology with holographic pass-through capabilities just yet.
The making of a Portal and existing bridges in Dublin and the US
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