Manila Philippines Travel Guide
Rediscover Manila Philippines like you've never seen it before. Be charmed by the city's glorious past mirrored by its century-old churches, gallant forts, classic plazas, ancestral edifices, stately museums, and historic monuments. At the same time, relish the beauty of a modern city rising from the ruins of yesteryears. Beyond Manila's busy streets and crowded commercial centers lie festive joints that celebrate life.
Manila Philippines Intramuros, the Old City
Manila, which was named after a white-flowered mangrove plant called nilad, was a tiny Malay settlement along the Pasig River ruled by Rajah Sulayman in the 16th century. The Spanish colonizers moved the capital of the Philippines from Cebu to Manila in 1571. They built the walled city of Intramuros, which for the next 300 years, was to become the nerve center of the Spanish rule.
Intramuros was the political and commercial center of the Spanish regime. From this walled city, the Spaniards extended their cultural and religious influences to the different parts of the country. They built churches, Catholic-run schools and universities, government buildings, and magnificent artifices, which reflect the Castilian architecture.
At the turn of the century, the Americans came and ruled the Philippines for 50 years. They introduced their own architecture, language, education and system of governance. During this period, Manila underwent a facelift. A blend of American and Spanish influences gave way to a new Manila, which was to evolve into a giant urban area known as Metro Manila.
Today, Metro Manila Philippines is an aggregate of 10 cities and seven municipalities. Manila has officially 6 million inhabitants (unofficially more than 9 millions).
Among the popular attractions in Metro Manila are Intramuros, Rizal Park, Binondo, Malacañang, Malate, the CCP Complex, Nayong Pilipino, Ayala Avenue, the Fort, Ortigas Center, Quezon Memorial Circle, and countless bars and restaurants scattered around the metropolis.
Sights and Landmarks of Manila Philippine
Intramuros
Traces of the Spanish influence still loom in Intramuros. A tour of this landmark will provide the visitors a deeper understanding of Manila's rich heritage.
The walls around the city were 3km (1.9 miles) long, 13m (43ft) thick and 6m (20ft) high. Seven main drawbridges across the surrounding moat provided access into the city. The moat was later filled in and today it is a golf course.
Intramuros protects within its walls a number of national treasures like the
- Fort Santiago (once a prison for revolutionary Filipinos, now a peaceful park-cum-museum)
- San Agustin Church (the oldest structure in the country with its Baroque interiors and trompe l'oeil murals),
- Manila Cathedral (a magnificent architectural feat with its intricate stone carvings, stained glass mosaics, and rosette windows)
- Casa Manila (a former colonial house and now a museum of national relics)
- San Juan de Letran school.
Among the buildings in the walled city were 15 churches, six monasteries, a university, schools, offices, a hospital, a printing press and many impressive houses but the walls were about all left standing after World War II. The fort and St. Augustine Church still are good examples of colonial architecture.
Intramuros has been restored for the tourists. Today, it houses a museum, art galleries, an open-air theatre, fine restaurants, craft shops and souvenir stalls. It also keeps a park lush with tropical flora and homing pigeons. The park, Puerto Real, is the venue of Saturday musical performances during dry months.
The best time to wander around Intramuros is early in the morning before the heat of the day.
Fort Santiago inside Intramuros
Fort Santiago is a ruined old Spanish fort, now used as a park. A collection of rusting cars which belonged to previous Presidents dot the park.
The climb to the top of Fort Santiago is worth the view of the Pasig River. During World War II, the Japanese used the fort as a prison.
The dungeons are below the high-tide level and sometimes prisoners drowned here. Right at the end of the war the Japanese started on a wholesale massacre of prisoners, and in one small cell the bodies of 600 people were later found. The Rizal Shrine Museum is probably the most interesting part of more.
Rizal Park
Get away from it all and take a stroll in Rizal park. The park is a meeting place for the whole city, with Sundays being particularly popular days for a stroll and an ice cream.
Rizal Park is just beside Intramuros. The park is a 60-hectare conglomerate of gardens, historical markers, plazas, an artist's sanctuary, a 1913 bronze monument of Jose Rizal, a grand stadium, an observatory, an open-air concert hall, a light-and-sound theatre, restaurants, food kiosks and playgrounds, with dozens of fountains.
The Rizal Memorial is situated at the end of the park, and the place where Rizal was executed late in the 19th century is not too far away. This site is marked by a series of statues, depicting Rizal before the execution squad. The hero's remains lie within the cornerstone of the memorial, where a lightshow centering on the story is shown every evening.
Fronting the northwest side of the park is Manila Hotel, whose lobby is one of the most imposing in the world. Along the park's bayside, tourists can have an unobstructed view of the fabled Manila Bay sunset.
National Museum
A five-minute walk from Rizal Park is the National Museum, the official keeper and guardian of the country's cultural, historical and natural heritage. It houses the representative works of the National Artists, as well as the renowned paintings of Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo and Juan Luna. It puts on display some prehistoric finds, including the Tabon skullcap, pottery, ceramics and other artifacts from China and Indochina and remnants of pre-Hispanic boats that brought Malay immigrants to the Philippines dating to about 1250.
Other establishments worth visiting in the area are the Metropolitan Theater and the National Library.
Malacañang
From Escolta, one can proceed to the San Miguel district, known for its Spanish-style houses and the Malacañang Palace, seat of the Philippine government. Malacañang Palace is located on José P. Laurel Street and is a graceful mansion, about 200 years old.
This ornate Spanish colonial palace, with its arches and balconies, was built as a private country house in the late 18th century and purchased by the government in 1825.
At first the governor-general's summer residence, it became his permanent residence in 1863, after the Palacio Real in Intramuros was destroyed by an earthquake. Because of its previous use, the palace is sometimes referred to as the Philippines White House.
The former residence of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos can now be visited. In 1986, the palace museum was opened for the public. The mansion is still exactly as was when the Marcos family fled to Hawaii in 1986. Visitors are advised to call first. The telephone number is 521-2307.
The CCP Complex
The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex is the arts center of the country. Located along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, this is the premier venue for ballet presentations, concerts, stage plays, performances, exhibits and trade fairs.
Inaugurated in 1969, the CCP comprises a fine concert hall seating 2,000 plus an intimate 400-seat theater as well as a library, museum, art gallery, and an upscale restaurant. The lobby is opulent, with marble floors, curving staircases, and glass and kapis-shell chandeliers.
This CCP Museum is located in the bayside Cultural Center in Malate. Opening hours: 9 am - 6 pm, daily except mondays
Coconut Palace
Also within the complex is the Coconut Palace, an architectural wonder made from the coconut tree mixed with other indigenous material. The Coconut Palace in the Cultural Centre in Malate is actually a guesthouse that was built for the Pope John Paul's visit in 1981 (in which he refused to stay) by order of Imelda Marcos, and cost USD10 million to complete.
Coconut Palace was built entirely of palm wood and coconut shells and therefore got its name from the materials used in the construction - more than 70% of the materials come from the coconut tree. Take a guided tour and see the 24-carat gold fixtures in the bathrooms.
The Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), the Product Design and Development Center, the Folk Arts Theater, Philippine Center for International Trade and Exhibitions (PHILCITE), Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel and Manila Film Center are also found here.
Beside the CCP Complex is the World Trade Center, while fronting it is the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) building.
The BSP houses two museums: the Money Museum, which showcases excavated antique gold jewelry and the Metropolitan Museum, a repository of classic Filipino paintings and a host of rotating international art exhibitions.
Roxas Boulevard is also lined up by de-luxe and standard hotels, lively nightclubs, and the Cuneta Sport Center, home of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Parks and Zoos
From the CCP complex, one can proceed to Nayong Pilipino. This 32-acre theme park is also just a 10-minute drive from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The park features scaled-down replicas of the country's top tourist destinations such as Mayon Volcano, the Banaue Rice Terraces and the Chocolate Hills.
A smaller park, which offers a venue for relaxation is also within close distance. The Paco Park, which was built as a cemetery in 1820, is now a frequent site of mini-concerts and musical performance by the country's finest artists.
The park is surrounded by trees and plants, which are properly identified. Behind the park is the Paco Hong Giarn Taoist Temple. Nearby are the New Swiss Inn, with bar, restaurant, and delicatessen, and the Park Hotel, with lounge, restaurant, and swimming pool.
Not far from the area is the Manila Zoo on Adriatico street. Manila Zoo, the country's largest and oldest, hosts international and indigenous animal species such as the Tamaraw and Philippine crocodile. It is open everyday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The northern part of Metro Manila takes pride in maintaining two animal sanctuaries, Parks and Wildlife Nature Center and the Malabon Zoo. The former, located at the corner of Quezon Ave. and the Elliptical Road in Quezon City serves as the protection center for exotic animals confiscated from smugglers and illegal collectors.
A stone's throw away is the Quezon Memorial Circle, a park noted for its 30-meter-high monument of former President Manuel Quezon. Its underground chambers house the Quezon City Museum and Art Gallery.
The Malabon Zoo and Aquarium, located along Gov. Pascual Avenue in Potrero, Malabon also has a collection of interesting fish and animals. It is open everyday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
In Makati City, an air-conditioned zoo at the Glorietta mall is frequently visited by parents and their small children. The area also has a small playground.
Other Sights
University of Santo Tomas
The University of Santo Tomas is one of the oldest universities in Asia. It has a very interesting Arts and Science Museum.
Arts and Science Museum
In the Santo Tomas university. One of the best in its kind in Asia.
Museo Ng Makati
This museum is located in Makati, the business area of Manila Philippines. The museum displays art works, paintings, sculptures. Phone: 8960722/896-2464
Ayala Museum
Ayala has a very beautiufl botanical garden, a quiet place in the big city.
Chinese Cemetery
A very impressive cemetary. Some gravesites are full-sized houses.
American Military Cemetery and Memorial
Located in the suburb of Makati, it has excellent World War II exhibits.
Excerpts from the Book of Pinoy Facts & Records, which is now available at all National Bookstore outlets in the Philippines.
Manila Philippines Travel Guide sources include Wikitravel and World66
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