Manila
is the capital city of the Philippines, and aptly so. Here is a city
where the old seamlessly blends in with the new, where history and
the present live side by side. Cars race down a busy highway, while
horse-drawn kalesas amble slowly on the other side of the road.
Intramuros, the Walled City, stands proud and tall while nearby,
modern establishments like SM City Manila greet travelers with their
stony facades.
With
one visit to Manila, you might think you’ve seen everything there
is to see in the city. However, there are some interesting reasons
you might want to go back to the Pearl of the Orient.
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Saturday X Future Market: Escolta was once known as the shopping haven of Manila. To revive this reputation, a collective called 98B set up a monthly artists’ assembly called Saturday X Future Market. Up and coming artists sell their artworks, zines, clothes, and stickers in the First United Building. Most market-goers are of the hip and artsy type but even if you’re not one of them, don’t worry – with the sheer number of items on sale, you won’t run out of things to check out and buy.
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Admire the architecture of the Capitol Theatre: The Capitol Theatre is one of the biggest theatres in Metro Manila. Designed by National Artist Juan Nakpil, its exterior and interiors are something to behold. There are carvings of the Muses of Tragedy and Comedy made by Francesco Riccardo Monti, and the top of the building is modeled after a ziggurat in the art deco style.
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Bambike around Manila: One of the old houses in Intramuros is called Casa Manila. On the ground floor is the small shop of Bambike Ecotours, a socio-ecological enterprise that creates bikes out of bamboo. For only PHP 200 an hour, you can rent one of their cool bikes and go zipping through Manila’s highways. Alternatively, you can go on one of their guided tours, starting at PHP 800 per package.
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Organize a picnic at the Chinese Garden: Luneta Park is a sprawling field all in itself, but within it is a small piece of land called the Chinese Garden. Built to promote friendship between the Philippines and China, the Garden features red and white lanterns strung along overhead, small buildings with a temple-like structure, and a lagoon where you can rest and meditate.
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Visit the National Museum: Of course, you cannot leave any city without visiting its main museum, especially when the entrance is free for everybody. The National Museum is home to some of our best local artists’ obra maestras such as Spoliarium by Juan Luna and Guillermo E. Tolentino’s towering sculptures. There are so many works of art on display that you simply cannot finish the whole museum in one day. Plot at least two days to fully explore everything.
After
touring Manila’s hidden gems, you must rest in a quiet place and
find yourself a hotel in Ermita, Manila. Cherry Blossoms Hotel is one
such option, being a good choice due to its proximity to most of
Manila’s major tourist destinations. This hotel Manila serves
comfort and convenience at affordable rates, so check them out any
time you’re in town for a visit.
