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Travel Tips


MANILA


Spending time on one of countless tropical islands in the Philippines may be a vacation of a lifetime, but don't forget to set aside a few days to discover the bustling metropolis of Manila. Its rich past, incredible cuisine, and world-class shopping are just a few of the things that visitors enjoy when they visit this vibrant cultural city in the East.


INTRAMUROS


Intramuros is the historic centre and oldest district of Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. Also known as the Ciudad Murada (Walled City) because of its most famous feature: a nearly three-mile-long circuit of massive stone walls and fortifications that almost completely surrounds the entire district.

Museums


Bahay Tsinoy,
32 Anda cor. Cabildo, ☎ +632-5276083 / +632-5266796 (info@bahaytsinoy.org, fax: +632-5276085), [7]. Tnu-Su 1PM-5PM. A museum dedicated to the history and contributions of the Filipino-Chinese community. ₱100, ₱60 students/children.

Casa Manila,
General Luna (Calle Real del Palacio) cor. Real (across the street from San Agustín Church), ☎ +632-5274084, [8]. Tu-Su 9AM-6PM. A recreation of a typical upper-class colonial Intramuros home. The interiors are filled with antique furniture, artwork, and other artifacts from the Spanish era, all carefully arranged to illustrate what life was like for wealthy families of that period. ₱75, ₱50 students/children.

Light and Sound Museum,
Santa Lucia cor. Victoria, ☎ +632-5242827. Using images, sounds, and animatronics, the museum takes visitors on a journey through Philippine history under Spanish rule. The facility is housed in a building whose facade reproduces the appearance of the old motherhouse of the Beaterio de la Compañía de Jesús, which stood on the site until its destruction during the Second World War.
₱100 per person for groups of 10 or more; smaller groups are reportedly charged a higher per-person rate (contact the museum to confirm arrangements).

Rizal Shrine,
Fort Santiago Tu-Su 8AM-5PM. Located within the walls of Fort Santiago, this small museum contains exhibits related to the life and work of José Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines.

San Agustín Museum,
General Luna (Calle Real del Palacio) cor. Real (right next to San Agustín Church) ☎ +632-5274060 / +632-5274061. 8AM-noon, 1PM-6PM daily. Adjacent to the San Agustín Church this museum's collection includes Spanish colonial-era ecclesiastical vestments, sacred vessels, religious art, manuscripts, and other important cultural artifacts. The building itself is steeped in history, fashioned out of the surviving portions of a monastery that was heavily damaged during the Second World War. ₱100, ₱50 college students, ₱45 high-school students, ₱40 elementary school students.

Dining


Barbara's,
Plaza San Luis, General Luna (Calle Real del Palacio) (right across the street from San Agustín), ☎ +632-5273893 / +632-5274086,.
Housed in a Spanish colonial-style building a stone's throw from San Agustín Church, this centrally located restaurant serves traditional Filipino and Hispanic fare in an old-style setting.

Ilustrado,
744 General Luna (Calle Real del Palacio) (within the El Amanecer compound, a few blocks down the street from San Agustín),

☎+632-5273674 (reservations@ilustradorestaurant.com.ph)
Mainly Filipino-Spanish cuisine: rellenong bangus (stuffed milkfish), paella, and other traditional dishes. Fine dining in the heart of the walled city.

The best way to see the Intramuros, however, is through the tours of Carlos Celdran. You may visit his website:


http://celdrantours.blogspot.com/

Other nearby points of interest:


Metropolitan Museum


The Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, Roxas Boulevard, ☎ + 632-5230613. Mo-Sa 9AM-6PM Showcases a collection of gold ornaments and ancient pottery plus exciting changing exhibits of contemporary Filipino art.

The National Museum


The National Museum of the Filipino People, P. Burgos Street., Rizal Park, ☎ + 632-5271215. Tu-Su 10AM-5PM Houses a vast collection, including the skullcap of the Philippines' earliest known inhabitant, Tabon Man (said by some to actually be a woman), who lived around 24,000 BC. A large section of the museum is devoted to porcelain plates, coins, jewellery etc recovered from the wreck of the San Diego, a Spanish galleon that sank off the coast of Luzon in 1600. Other treasures include a large collection of pre-Hispanic artefacts and musical instruments.
In the central hall you will find the stunning Spoliarium, painted by Filipino master Juan Luna.

Quiapo Church


Quiapo Church, Plaza Miranda & Quezon Blvd., ☎ +632-7334945. Mo-Th 5AM-10AM, Fr 4AM-8PM, Sa 5AM-7PM, Su 5AM-7PM. Is a 1933 replacement of an older structure destroyed by fire. One of Manila's best-known landmarks, Quiapo is the home of the Black Nazarene, an image of Christ believed to be miraculous. The life-size statue, carved from ebony, was first brought to Quiapo in 1767. Twice a year the greatly revered image is carried on the shoulders of thousands of frenzied devotees in one of Manila's biggest religious festivals, the Black Nazarene Procession.

Shopping


Mall of Asia, Sunset Avenue, ☎ +632-8317000. 10AM-10PM daily. One of the city's biggest malls is Mall of Asia, home to the Philippine's only Olympic-sized ice rink and an IMAX theatre.

MAKATI


At the centre of modern Manila is Makati, the commercial centre for the country. Here you can shop, eat and drink to your heart's content. It transcends the generic-mall syndrome by having its own unique vibe that comes from the hordes of locals who come here to work, relax and play.

Museums


Ayala Museum,
Makati Avenue cor. De la Rose Street, ☎ +632-7577117. Tu-Fr 9AM-6PM, Sa-Su 10AM-7PM. The modern and excellent Ayala Museum has ethnographic and archaeological exhibits on Filipino culture, art and history. At the heart of the collection is a brilliant exhibit consisting of 60 dioramas tracing the nation's violent history. The museum's rotating art exhibits tend to showcase Filipino masters like Luna and Amorsolo. Guided tours of the museum are highly recommended.

Shopping, Eating and Nightlife


Ayala Center- Greenbelt and Glorietta Malls,
Gloriette Mall, Apitong Street, ☎ +632 2315342. ‎10AM-10PM daily, Greenbelt, Apitong Street, ☎ +632 2315342. Su-Th 10AM-8PM, Fr-Sat 10AM-9PM
A commercial district of the best retail finds, international cuisine and local flavor, plus a potpourri of bars.

Balikbayan Handicrafts and Tesoro's


Balikbayan Handicrafts,
1010 Antonio Arnaiz Avenue, or HK Sun Plaza, (Along Diosdado Macapagal Avenue), ☎ +632 893-0775. Mo-Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 10AM-8PM.

Tesoro's,
3/F Filipiniana Section, Ayala Center, ☎ +632 812-1945. These stores carry an amazing variety and assortment of Philippine handicrafts – from hand carved 18-ft. wooden statues, 12-ft long one-piece wood dining table, picture frames to tiny shell keychains and knick knacks. Products are made from wood, shell, fiber, paper, bamboo, vines, resin, leaves, metal, clay, and other indigenous materials. Items can be traditional, innovative, or novel.

FORT BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY


The best of shopping and food finds as well as night life action, all in a modern city garden community.

Shopping, Eating, and Nightlife


Most trendy restaurants, bars, clubs, and retail outlets are located in Bonifacio High Street, Serendra, Burgos Circle and Fort Strip.


Bonifacio High Street is the first main street retail concept in the Philippines. Flagship stores and popular brands are lined up on both sides of the park; themed zones celebrate fashion, health and wellness, home, sports, technology and special interests. A "kinetic" park with interactive art pieces is also set amid the high street.

Next door is Serendra, host to a wide variety of eating options, from Filipino cusine to international favorites.

Nightlife centers around the Fort Strip, notably Draft gastro pub offering draft beers and other international beer options and Prive luxury club, Manila's newest night time venue.

 

Draft, Fort Strip in Fort Bonifacio (BGC),

☎ +632-8906046.
Prive luxury club, Fort Strip in Fort Bonifacio (BGC).



Other mentionables:


Greenhills Shopping Center,
Ortigas Avenue, San Juan., ☎ +63-2-721-0572, Su-Th 10AM-8PM, Fr-Sa 10AM-9PM. Somewhat like a flea market, with stall after stall selling DVDs and brand-named clothing of questionable legitimacy. But snoop around and you'll find quality antiques and the best selection of genuine pearls in the country.

 

Resorts World Manila,
Newport Boulevard, ☎ +632-8366333, is a luxury casino resort, located in Newport City, across the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. It is home to Republiq and it's ajoining bar, Opus, for those who desire a taste of Manila nightlife.

 

Republiq, Mo, Tu, Th & Sa 11AM-12AM, Wed, Fri & Su 11AM-6AM

 

Opus, 10PM-6AM

 

SOUTH OF MANILA


A three-hour drive from Manila will take you to the rural town of Calatagan, a quaint charming place bound by the shores of the China Sea and the expansive land of horse fields and fruit-bearing trees. On the way enjoy some interesting spots:


Tagaytay Ridge – A city high up in the hills of famous gorge, one can enjoy the cool day temperature and evening chill with the gorgeous view of the Taal Volcano, the famous lake within a lake from the gardens of Taal Vista Hotel. Dine at the beautiful Antonio's for either breakfast, lunch or dinner or enjoy a savory meal among the flora of Sonya's Garden.


Taal Vista Hotel, Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway, Tagaytay City, ☎ +63 464131000

 

Antonio´s, Purok, Barangay Neogan, ☎ + 63 9178992866.

 

Sonya´s Garden, Barangay Buck Estate, Alfonso, Cavite, ☎ +63 9175329097