Manila –for Travelers
April 2, 2010 - Posted in manila vacation
At one o’clock on a weekday night Manila’s Roxas Boulevard (of Baywallk, as I is better known) is buzzing with a variety of entertainment. A group of young stand-up comedians in lurid polyester overalls, sporting gelled Mohawk manes, tumble across a temporary stage shrieking Tagalog lines that send the crowds into hysterical fits of laughter. A little further down a band called Harmony belts out mushy hip-hop to people sitting at a café. Vendors selling corn on the cob, cigarettes, guitars and ballot-a duck’s egg boiled once the chick inside has reached a certain stage of development (often having grown feathers too), a very popular and very grisly local delicacy- weave in and out of the crowds. On another makeshift stage, a group of young rappers keeps the audience dancing. A warm breeze sweeps in from Manila Bay, shaking the coconut trees, sending the decorative neon globes that line the boulevard into spasms, and distorting the faint light of ships anchored in the bay. A steady stream of traffic flows by.
The first thing that strikes you about Manila is not the beautiful bay, the smoggy traffic, the fantastic sunsets of the many different types of food-it’s the music. It’s everywhere. At the airport a 11-piece Pinikpikan band plays a harmonious (sometimes frantic) fusion of local folk music and modern jam-band rock, using bamboo reed pipes, flutes, xylophones and percussion instruments, singing in English and local dialects.
If there’s one thing Manila is not, it’s a walker’s city. Metro Manila is 17 different cities (Or administrative areas) rolled into one large National Capital Region (NCR), of which Manila city is one. Apart from a few areas in Intramurous (the old Spanish city) and parts of Malate and Ermita (the area around Baywalk,) the others are either too chaotic or too crowded to enjoy walking through.
GETTING AROUND IN MANILA Moving around in Manila is fairly cheap- taxis are the most comfortable and usually will not cost more than P250. Jeepneys are a much more fun way to see the city and talk to Manilineans but they can get hot and dusty
.
OUTSIDE MANILA Buses are the easiest ways to travel around Luzon,
But the bus system is fairly disorganized and there is no central station-it’s best to ask at your hotel. If you’re planning to travel to other islands you’ll have to take a boat. There are three major shipping lines, which handle inter-island traffic Negros Navigation Sullpicio Lines and Super ferry.
TOP TIP
SOUVENIR the Philippines has a lot by way of handicraft- from detailed wood carving to garments made from pineapple and banana fibre (barong Tagalog). But one of the nicest souvenirs is one of these gaily-coloured hand- painted vases. They are elaborately patterned and come in many different sizes. You’ll find them at a shop called Kultura at the Mall of Asia in Manila.
WHERE & WHAT TO EAT There’s a huge variety of food in the Philippines-every island has its own specialty. In Manila you can sample nearly all the different regional cuisines- from Tocino (honey-cured pork) to inihaw (grilled seafood, often including milkfish, marinated in kalamansi juice). If you’re adventurous you can try novelties like Balut or Tenga (pig’s ears).
WHAT TO DO
>An evening on Baywalk is a must do. Listen to some of the local bands; drink coffee at one of the many cafes, of hang out at one of the open-air bars with wonderful views of Manila Bay.
>its well worth doing a walking tour through Intramurous. Star at the Intramurous Visitors Center at the entrance to Fort Santiago, the seat of Spanish power. Don’t miss the San Agustin Church-the oldest church in the Philippines. The ornate interior is filled with significant historical objects. Stop by at EC. Manazan Handicrafts on Santa Clara Street to pick up some local handicrafts.
>The Greenbelt shopping mall in Makati can be fun to hang out at, after which you can visit the Ayala Museum, around the corner. It’s an excellent museum with dioramas on Filipino culture, art and history.
>Walk through Rizal Park, a 60-hectare spread of lawns, ornamental gardens and wooded areas. Every day hundreds of people come here to jog, picnic, sing, and practice local martial arts like arnis de mano (stick-fighting). There’s an open-air auditorium, which has concerts on Sunday.
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18 Responses to “Manila –for Travelers”
Have you heard about this: Manila made the Top 10 List…?
"Along with Paris and Rome, Manila landed no.10 in list of ‘TEN PASSPORT WORTHY LOCATIONS.’ Manila was described as a city with friendly people, some excellent nightlife, few historical sights that are worth the effort, plus some of the most cavernous shopping malls in Asia. At first sight, the city may seem clamorous, unkempt and rough around the edges, but what it lacks in architectural sophistication it makes up for with an accessible chaotic charm. The way to enjoy it is to step into the fray and go with the flow, which is exactly what Manilenos have learned to do. Yahoo likewise cited problems such as traffic and pollution which prevents it from becoming a serious tourist destination. Manila was also listed as the 5th most searched intl city on its search engine behind London, Cancun, Frankfurt, San Juan but turned up ahead of Bangkok, Paris, Rome, Puerto Vallarta and Amsterdam. Manila attracts budget travelers looking for beaches and nightlife.
MABUHAY!!!
By Inday on Apr 2, 2010
Wow!! that’s good news!!
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By bluecross0924 on Apr 3, 2010
Mabuhay! India is one of the cheapest destination to travel but Manila, Manila… I keep coming back to Manila. Simply no place like Manila.. i’m coming home to staaayy. yeah!
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By Madame on Apr 3, 2010
Link please?
Unfortunately, I can’t share the same enthusiasm you have for Manila. Honestly, I despise that city with passion. For the life of me, I don’t understand why people would visit Manila for "beaches and nightlife" considering it does not have any beaches, and the "nightlife" is limited to small pockets such as Libis (Eastwood).
I understand your pride, which I may say I do have for other parts of the country than Manila, and it is nice to have that pride, but don’t let it blind you to the reality of things.
The Glorietta bombings might not help a bit. It might in-fact trigger searches in search engines. Tourist destination? Give me a break.
Our base of operation near NCR is in Marikina. THAT place I am proud. I live in a province waaay north in Luzon. THAT place I’m proud.
Manila have a looooong way to be a desirable tourist city. Mega malls aren’t enough to lure tourist. They need to clean up the crime, then the streets (literally!), then the politics. Maybe then a couple of daring tourist might just visit Philippines, not as missionaries, eco-tourist, or sex-touring losers.
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I’m Filipino. We need to get rid of this first:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_999.html
By azrach187 on Apr 3, 2010
5th most searched intl city on ITS search engine? which search engine?
who made the survey?
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By bReAd-WiNnEr on Apr 3, 2010
Whoa! That’s a great news! I’ll visit Manila then.. <*-*>
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By ஐღ☆Felicity☆ღஐ on Apr 3, 2010
Yey Manila! Manila’s not that bad and it’s the entry point for all who comes to Philippines to savor the scenic spots all over the archipelago.
Azrach18..does have a point. The travel advisory is enough to scare eveyone and avoid Philippines altogether during their Asian trips…
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By battgirl on Apr 3, 2010
Damn, and I only visit three times a year!! I guess its time for a change to future plans and add couple more trips to visit the big M.
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By Ω 007 on Apr 3, 2010
yay! that’s great news!
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By swtpnayloveeeeee on Apr 3, 2010
oh! thanks for the info…
yepeyepeyUh!!!!!
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By *yanmehr* on Apr 3, 2010
That’s such good news : )
is that the whole article?
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By skipper on Apr 3, 2010
…that’s something to go by, thanks to you!
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By kudos on Apr 3, 2010
This news is old. I first read it on Yahoo! back in December 2006.
(And yes, Manila is included in the Top 5 Most Searched Destination in Yahoo!, although the reasons can be pretty much debatable.)
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By Becky Go-Belmonte on Apr 3, 2010
hey you guys!!! I’d better appreciate the news, than contradicting it…
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By John C on Apr 3, 2010
They made the Philippines sound like a paradise. I wonder what percentage of the tourists coming in that saw that write up would be disappointed after one week here. I consider that false advertising. Sorry.
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By Ken on Apr 3, 2010
Manila fully deserves the honour – for being one of the most foreigner-friendly and genuinely hospitable city.
)
It is high time our lyricists composed and Pop-singers rendered a special song titled ‘Manila, mon Amour !’
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By Indychen on Apr 3, 2010
(Riyadh time: nearly eleven in the evening. Just came back from desert.)
I heartily applaud the news and congratulate the authors of the survey, Dear Heart.
==================================================
Now, that said, I would like to meet the points raised by Little Boy Blue, Azrach 18,:
1. The survey would hardly cover such recent news as the Glorietta incident;
2. The article says "Manila attacts budget travelers looking for beaches and nightlife". Nothing said about beaches in Manila. And if it did, we could always take the tourists on boat rides from Pasig and out into the breakwaters, park the boat with Luneta yonder, and take a swim in clear, blue waters of the Bay. I speak from experience. Also, the term "Manila" nowadays refer not only to the city proper, but to the entire metropolitan area surrounding it, and this includes Marikina. Bataan beaches as well as Cavite’s share the same Bay of Manila. One can hardly blame city folks as saying those beaches are their own, than Azrach can dissuade people in the provinces to make distinction between Marikina and Manila. ("No, I am not from Manila. I am from Marikina!" – and they wil rightfully answer, "Ah, yes! Taga Maynila. (A Manila folk!)
3. Travel Advisory – We can no more hope to get rid of this, as we can expect OFWs to take no more than token regard of warnings from Govt. agencies, whose only concern is to cover their a@#sses. If, somehow, there is any possibility that the forest fires could be blamed on these officials, you would somehow see Southern California included in the next Travel Advisory.
Finally, I would advise Little Blue Boy (Azrach 18) and others like him, to have more respect for AGUADULCE. When she posts something, "itaga mo sa bato" (You can mark it on stone.) it is authentic. Unlike people who claim to be Filipinos, but would profess to personally "hate the city (Manila) with passion", the city that symbolizes the country he claims to belong.
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By Aref H4 on Apr 3, 2010
I enjoy the way this article was made, so easy to learn from it.
By Cinderella Rufi on Jan 10, 2011