Planning to visit Manila soon? Metro Manila is a huge place and deciding where to go can be a bane. To get you started in exploring Metro Manila, I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 places you should to visit when in Metro Manila.
1. Intramuros
The oldest district in Manila, Intramuros was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century. Surrounded by walls and moats, Intramuros boasts of the most number of churches with eleven in total, including the famous Manila Cathedral. It’s best to join a walk tour when exploring Intramuros. One of the best and famous tour guides in Intramuros is Carlos Celdran, who runs a tour called “Walk This Way.”
2. Rizal Park
A few meters away from Intramuros is Rizal Park. Named after the Philippines’ national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, the park was then called Bagumbayan (English: New Town) during the time of the Spanish colonial era, and later on Luneta, which means “shaped like a moon [lunette].” The monument of Dr. Jose Rizal can be found at the center, the very same location where he was executed.
3. Fort Bonifacio
Fort McKinley, the former name of Fort Bonifacio, located in Taguig City, is one of the fastest growing areas in Metro Manila. During the American colonial period, the U.S. government bought a 25.7 square kilometer in Taguig for military purposes. This was turned into a camp then known as Fort William McKinley, after the 25th U.S. President, William McKinley. One of the landmarks inside Fort Bonifacio is the Libingan ng mga Bayani (English: Cemetery of Heroes) which serves as a memorial ground for Filipino soldiers killed in Bataan, Corregidor and other battlefields in World War II. Presidents of the Philippines and other important figures are also buried here.
4. Manila Cathedral
The seat of the Archbishop of Manila, the Manila Cathedral, can be found inside Intramuros. One of the oldest churches in the Philippines, the Manila Cathedral has been rebuilt six times since it was completed in 1958. It was recently the venue for the wake and requiem mass for the late President Corazon Aquino, who died in August 1, 2009. The cathedral also serves as a resting place for previous prelates who have served the Archdiocese of Manila.
5. Manila Ocean Park
The first oceanarium in Manila, Manila Ocean Park has a bigger floor space than the Sentosa Underwater World oceanarium in Singapore, according to Wikipedia. However, the underwater acrylic tunnel is far shorter than Sentosa’s. The oceanarium is owned by China Oceanis Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of China Oceanis Group Ltd (COG).
6. Roxas Boulevard
Formerly known as Dewey Boulevard, Roxas Boulevard is one of the major roads in Metro Manila. Sunsets are spectacular on Manila Bay, which is parallel to Roxas Boulevard. You can also see the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the embassy of the United States of America, and the Manila Yacht Club along Roxas Boulevard.
7. Malate, Manila City
Malate, one of the districts in the City of Manila, used to be the haven of artists in the 80s with establishments sprouting along the streets of M.H. del PIlar, Mabini and Adriatico. While it may not be that glitzy as it was in the 80s, Malate is still one of the premier destinations for entertainment.
8. Metrowalk, Pasig City
Metrowalk is one of the premiere entertainment places in the metro where you can often see people driving exotic sports cars and motorbikes. This entertainment hub is located in the Ortigas Center central business district. Lots of entertainment options from restaurants to bars, and the occasional pirated DVDs.
9. Timog Avenue, Quezon City
Located in Quezon City, Timog Avenue is home to some of the metro’s best restaurants and bars. The area is also near to the country’s two biggest television networks — GMA and ABS-CBN. Timog is often called Scout Area, in honor of the 22 Boy Scouts who died in a plane crash en route to joining the 11th World Scout Jamboree.
10. Shopping malls
Metro Manila has plenty of shopping malls to drain your wallets. The biggest operator, SM, has more than 18 malls in Metro Manila alone the biggest of which is the SM Mall of Asia. Some of the popular malls are: Trinoma (Ayala), Megamall (SM), Robinsons Galleria (JG Summit Holdings), Glorietta (Ayala), and Greenbelt (Ayala).
Note: Images courtesy of Google Image search. If you own any of the images here, please let me know so I can give you credit. Thanks to Wikipedia for the tons of useful information.
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