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Theresa & Charles came to the Philippines to attend a wedding in Batangas, where my Aunt had the pleasure of meeting them. She recommended for them to get in touch with me so that I could tour them around Manila after their succeeding trip to Palawan. So before flying back to Germany, this cool couple entrusted their last day in the country to MY LOCALITE! Since it was their first time here, they wanted to see a little bit of everything: from historic sites to non-touristy areas, along with shopping for antique sculptures, wooden carvings & local paintings. Given this, I was able to come up with an interesting itinerary for them despite the Holy Week break, wherein most places were closed.
We started out bright & early on Easter Sunday with a full agenda ahead! We drove through ROXAS BLVD., passing the famous Manila Bay & Rizal Park, making our way to the “Walled City”, the oldest district and historic center of Manila. Our 1st stop in INTRAMUROS was the iconic Manila Cathedral, the main Catholic church of the Philippines. We got to appreciate its grand Romanesque architecture & medieval interiors, while witnessing an on-going mass.
Then, we walked down the Gallery of Philippine Presidents, for a brief lesson on the past 15 Presidents of the Republic. Then, we got to admire the ornate San Agustin Church, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. We also checked out the Casa Manila Museum, which is a replica of a Spanish Colonial home (for a glimpse of the lifestyles of the rich & famous” in the late 1800s). And finally, accomplished some souvenir shopping in Silahis Arts & Artifacts, with a late lunch in Illustrado Café over good conversation.
After having had an overview of old Manila, I showed them the modern side of the city next! We went down AYALA AVENUE, the center of the Makati business district, breezing by the affluent condominiums & neighborhoods in the metro. Then, we stopped by the Manila American Cemetery, to pay homage to the memorial of all the soldiers who were killed in WWII. We also went around Bonifacio Global City, our fast-growing development, with buildings constantly sprouting up like mushrooms.
And to cap things off, we enjoyed some craft beers in Perfect Pint—the perfect way to end a day well spent & to celebrate their wonderful tropical holiday. PROST…All the best to you both, here’s to seeing you back in the Philippines again someday!
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