Manila Cathedral

The Manila Cathedral is situated in the Intramuros district of Manila and has taken quite a bit of damage since its original construction in 1581. It has had to be rebuilt numerous times. However, that does not take away from its historical air.

The original Manila Cathedral was actually made out of bamboo and nipa, but was destroyed by a fire in 1583. The Manila Cathedral was then rebuilt with stone, only to be destroyed by an earthquake.

Despite undergoing even more unfortunate natural disasters, I could not tell during my visit. It’s obvious that much effort was put into the restoration of this cathedral each time. I think it would make a lovely place to have a wedding and some couples even do get married here.

Japanese Garden

The Japanese garden is not as beautiful as it used to be. Most people seem to be disappointed when they go to it because they are expecting an amazing beautiful atmosphere and Japanese architectures and things.

However, this is just your typical park. There is a pond or a lake in the middle of the garden but it is dirty and looks like a pond. The Japanese garden must be seen in the right time of year if you are looking for total greenery and a beautiful atmosphere. It is a nice place to go and hang out for the day but there is not a lot to do. This is not a place to take your children for the day.

Chinatown

No matter what time you go to Chinatown in Manila, be prepared for chaos and a crazy day. There are people everywhere. If you love the crowd and the market shopping, Chinatown is the place to go. Here you will find plenty of shopping for jewelry, clothing, souvenirs, and anything you want to find in Manila. There are fresh fish markets you can buy from and just about everything.

You will see plenty of vendors, people giving rides on tricycles, homeless people, and even beggars. Careful giving to the beggars because once one person sees you give, you will have many more come to you. It is best to fill your pockets with change and give the change away.

Father Blanco’s Garden is actually a part of the San Agustin Museum and the San Agustin Church, which are connected together.  The garden is partly walled in the back of the museum.  Father Blanco’s garden was kept because Father Manuel Blanco was known for using his plants and herbs for medicinal purposes and healing.

 The garden includes a statue of Father Blanco adjacent to the garden.  If you go to visit the garden, you must see the museum and the church, which are amazing.  You must pay an entry fee into the museum for a dollar anyways if you want to see the garden, which is why you might as well visit everything while you are there.

The Enterprise Center in Manila is an amazing site of architecture and entirely dominates the skyline.  This is a new center of two buildings and not the world’s tallest building but a majestic symbol of Manila in the corporate world and new millennium. 

Two towers rest on top of five levels of a podium.  The five level podium houses restaurants, banks, shopping, and a massive grand lobby.  Even the hallways inside of the building are impressive. 

The towers are not the same in height and the symmetry fits perfect when looking at the buildings from a distance.  Microsoft is headquartered in the Enterprise Center, along with many other big corporations.

Casa Manila

Casa Manila is an amazing museum that takes you back to the Spanish Colonial era. You will learn how the Spaniards lived during these times and even see their homes. The museum will show you true architecture from back in these days that is real.

This is an amazing day trip and very educational for anyone who wants to learn the history of Manila. The architecture and the housing are exactly as people lived in the Philippines in those days. The reconstruction of the lifestyle and the rich culture of the Filipinos are amazing. If you are looking for a museum in Manila, you might want to add this one to your list.

The Metropolitan Museum of art in Manila is a wonderful place to stroll and enjoy the beautiful paintings, pottery, gold, and the different galleries.  There are plenty of galleries to walk through.  You cannot touch anything.  You also cannot take photos of the paintings because the flashes can damage the pictures. 

The museum is open Mondays thru Saturdays, closed on Sundays and holidays.  The gold and the pottery galleries are closed on the first Monday of each month.  This is a great trip for the family or to bring a class to teach about art.  The Museum is located at Bangko Sentral in the Pilipinas Complex.

Bahay Tsinoy

The Bahay Tsinoy is a museum located in Manila. This is a very popular museum with many different featured exhibits. The different exhibits you can explore through this museum include the Parian, life in the 1800’s, Martyr’s hall, a collection of ceramics, a rare shell collection, defense of freedom, colonial culture, early contacts, the emergence of the Chinese community, national leaders of Chinese descent, and the Tsinoys nation building.

Here you can learn a lot about the culture and how Manila became to be what it is today. This is a very educational experience for families to enjoy while they are on vacation.

The Marikina City Footwear Museum is located in the Philippines in Marikina.  This is known as the footwear capital of the world.  The museum houses shoes of the former First Lady Imelda Marcos, and shoes of former leaders all over the world. 

You can expect to see shoes worn by past presidents, celebrities, and people from all around the world.  The World’s largest pair of shoes that was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records is in this museum also.  This is a very popular place for visitors to go and enjoy.  If you are into shoes, you might want to make a stop here.

Mindoro Beach has white sands and is an amazing place to go in Manila if you are traveling to the Philippines.  There are plenty of hotels to stay in and resorts offering excursions as well.  Mindoro is a popular location for diving in the ocean.  If you don’t want to swim in the ocean because of the sand and salt, ,most of the hotels have private swimming pools for you to enjoy. 

The beaches are peaceful and appear to be right out of an exotic vacation spot you would only dream of.  Mindoro beach is a great place to enjoy for a day.  It is not overcrowded with people and you can find many sand and surf activities for the entire family.