When in Manila and looking for something intellectually stimulating and fun to do, I highly recommend you try going on a walking tour with Carlos Celdran. That’s what I did! I went to experience his Livin La Vida Imelda walking tour with a friend one Saturday afternoon. I’ve known about the famous Carlos Celdran Walking Tours since I was a fresh grad and being the history lover that I am, I’ve always wanted to try it. In fact, I made it part of my to-do list and thanks to When in Manila, I finally get to cross it off my list. Yay!

The meeting place was inside the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) at 2pm since this is where the tour started. But since my friend, Mai and I were so excited, we were there at 1:15pm! So yes, we had to wait for quite awhile. What did we do to pass the time? Take photos of course! (Okay so technically, pictures are NOT allowed inside CCP. But we had camera phones.)

Viewing a photo exhibit inside CCP while waiting for the tour to start

I was so excited to see Carlos Celdran again and start the tour – I saw him before up close and personal when I went to experience his Walk this Way Intramuros tour – the feeling was like meeting one of my celebrity crushes! I had a great time at his Walk This Way Intramuros Tour so I had really high hopes that the Livin La Vida Imelda Tour was gonna be fun!  We were so not disappointed. 

  The pied pier of Manila, Carlos Celdran, the best tour guide I’ve encountered by far 

The Livin La Vida Imelda Tour talked about the life of our former first lady, Imelda Romualdez Marcos of course! From my history lessons in school, Imelda has always been portrayed as this woman of beauty, poise and elegance. We never really talked about her struggles in her earlier life nor did we ever touch much about her love life.  

But here, with Carlos Celdran, I learned so much more about Imelda. Just like in the Intramuros tour, he shared with us trivia about the former first lady, Imelda Marcos – the kind you don’t learn from your history books all throughout the tour. For instance, I actually didn’t know that Imelda dated Ninoy Aquino for some time before Ferdinand Marcos.

I also didn’t know that Imelda being named as Muse of Manila before was only because she wouldn’t take no for an answer after losing the Miss Manila pageant. I have to say that had to take a lot of guts to march right in to the mayor of Manila and tell him “I deserved to win”. 

I thought Carlos was pretty hilarious in this tour with his Imelda acts – from the way Imelda holds her handkerchief and the way she talked – he’s got it all down.

Carlos speaking like Imelda Marcos

There sure are a lot of people – foreigners and Filipinos alike who attends his tours. There were about 30 to 40 of us who attended the tour that Saturday afternoon. One of them even caught my eye – hahaha! What a cutie. Too bad, he was there on a date with his equally pretty girlfriend. 

Crowd shots – everyone was listening intently to Carlos as he went on to tell us the colorful life of former first lady, Imelda Marcos. 

I was able to take a photo of the view outside CCP. Pretty nice I would say. 

I’m just disappointed that we couldn’t take photos inside CCP. I would have loved to have my photo taken sitting in one of the theater chairs inside CCP – just like Imelda Marcos used to do when she watched plays. Anyhoo…

The next stop of the tour was at Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), another one of the really beautiful architectures in Manila that the former first lady, Imelda Marcos had built.

It’s been quite awhile since I last had a chance to enter PICC. So you can bet your boots I was instantly in awe when we went inside and a view like this was what welcomed us. I have to say, Imelda did right with this building. It definitely screams of elegance doesn’t it? Not only can we hold international beauty pageants here, I bet we can even host a glitzy event such as the Oscars, Golden Globe and Emmys here. All that’s needed is a red carpet rolled out from the entrance stairs. Well that was actually the intent of our former first lady and she really did a darn good job making this vision come true. 

Look at those elegant chandeliers. I can almost imagine Imelda when this was being built and how she’s telling the architect “I want people to come in here and say Wow! I want people’s  jaws to drop in awe.”    

Storytelling time with Carlos Celdran. If you guys are going on his walking tour, I highly suggest wearing 1) flat shoes naturally and 2) pants. This is so that you’d be really comfortable especially when he asks you to sit down.  

What I loved about his tour is that there is no boring moment. You’re touring places. You’re listening to his stories, getting yourself a refresher course in history. You’re listening to music. He’s sharing trivia.  He’s making you laugh too! Truly I learned a lot more about the life of Imelda Marcos from the Livin La Vida Imelda Tour and I’ve to say that getting to know more about the former first lady of the Philippines through this tour, I have more respect and admiration for her.

This When in Manila correspondent highly recommends you guys try to experience Carlos Celdran’s Walk This Way Tour: Livin La Vida Imelda. I just can’t stop raving about it. 

When In Manila, do you feel like experiencing the Livin La Vida Imelda tour yourself? Visit: celdrantours.blogspot.com to find out the tour schedules for 2012.   

Carlos Celdran’s Walk This Way: Livin La Vida Imelda Tour – History Through the Eyes of Imelda Marcos

When in Manila and wishing to explore it’s many quirks and charms, then let the Manila Hotel be your first stop in your quest for rediscovery through their Manila Revisited room packages.

The Manila Hotel has long been known for it’s grand elegance and sophistication.   For years, she has housed dignitaries, royalties and even well-known celebrities.  And this 2012 sees the Grand Dame, as she is fondly called, celebrating her 100th year of service.

In line with this momentous occasion, the Manila Hotel recently launched it’s Manila Revisited room packages, which comes with buffet breakfast, free internet access, welcome drinks and complimentary use of the hotel’s health club facilities.

But what makes it more special is the Intramuros and Rizal Park tour by Castillian Carriage and Tour Services.  Be regalled by stories told by their able guides while on board a kalesa (horse-drawn carriage.)

Walk the very path our national hero, Jose Rizal, did when he was imprisioned at Fort Santiago.

See what luxury living was like in the time of the Spanish era with a tour of Casa Manila.

And view the actual execution site of Jose Rizal too.

Manila Revisited room packages start at Php7,500 NETT for a Superior Deluxe room and Php15,000 NETT for a Sunset/Sunrise suite.

So when in Manila and wishing for the days of Maria Claras and their fathers of the cloth, head on over to the Manila Hotel and enjoy their Manila Revited room packages.

For inquiries and reservations please call 527 0011 local 1100

or visit their website at www.manila-hotel.com.ph

Philippine Capital Revisited Through Manila Hotel: Discover Manila Tours

When in Manila and would like to detach yourself from the stresses of city life or looking for a romantic weekend getaway with your significant other without doing serious damage on your pocket? Let us recommend a place where you can once again re-connect with nature and find that piece of peace which you deserve!

Brace yourself as we take you to the historical island of  CORREGIDOR!!

another journey awaits!

For busy yuppies like us, I know that deep down in you lies a yearning for some peace and quiet. A yearning to re-connect with our inner selves and gain back that strength to keep us going in our respective journeys.  It is actually my 3rd time in Corregidor, and this time, it is indeed an honor to write about the whole experience for Wheninmanila.com because honestly, it is one of my all-time favorite vacation spots!

we all need to detach from this concrete jungle once in a while

For this feature, we will not delve into historical facts and details for we  don’t intend to make it into a sort of boring history lecture but instead, allow us to take you there with our photos and let them do all the talking as always! =)

For only 2, 599php /person you get to experience  these….

Roundtrip ferry transfers (plus shrine, entrance and terminal fees)

Check in at 7:00am at the CCP Bay Terminal

this service then came and took us to the pier… ETD is around 8:00am

the ferry ride takes about 1.5hrs 

it’s so nice to see many Filipino tourists as well!

Guided Island Tour (9:30-2pm)

all aboard lads and lasses!!!!

pay additional 150php to watch the Malinta Lights and Sound Tour (optional)

inside the Malinta Tunnel

my partner in crime Frank

Frank at the Battery Way

ruins of the Middle Side Barracks

Pacific War Memorial

with our tour guide Sir Jose Baja at the museum

flatwares and dinnerwares from WW2

the Light House

there are souvenir shops around the Light House

You also get 1 buffet lunch!

upon arrival at the Aplaya Restaurant, expect a very warm welcome along with a refreshing drink!

They usually serve 1 pork, chicken, veggie and pasta dish. They also have a soup, salad and dessert station

our simple meal…

….. made special with a spectacular view!!

 Overnight accomodation at  Corregidor Inn!

The Corregidor Inn offers very decent rooms to stay in.

our room was  quite simple cozy

The  Corregidor Inn may have aged throughout the years, but I may say they are still able to maintain it well.

And for only an additional fee of 150php, you get to join all the other activities such as…

The Sunset and Sunrise Viewing at the Battery Grubs (sunset) and Pacific War Memorial (sunrise)

Malinta Lateral Tunnel Tour

ghost hunting!!!

are you ready?

Other activities…

When I say detach, I really mean literally detaching  from all distractions! Since it is an island, I really love the idea that I am physically away from Manila. Also, I love the fact that they have no wi-fi there so people can also detach from the world wide web even just for a few days. I’m sure you’d agree that the internet can also cause so much stress!!  Corregidor gives you this opportunity to relax, meditate and just be yourself! =)

Rock Balancing

Zip Line (150php)

The simple things worth appreciating…..

the feel of the water as it touches your feet is just so relaxing

i love the silence and the serenity which the place provides me

even the simplest of meals become special when shared with the right people

tapsilog

it was a very  pleasant breakfast

We also got to meet the Island Manager Sir Ed Batalia! He told us so many interesting stories about the place!

another reason why I love the place so much is because the people there are sooooo nice!!! Seriously! Every person carry stories with them that are worth hearing!

I remember pondering on one question in my head during the trip.. “Why do I keep on going back to Corregidor?”  Perhaps, it is due to the total detachment from the concrete jungle of Manila. It is one of the few places which I get to enjoy a good night sleep. I feel at peace here. There is a certain energy which the place enfolds me with.  I love how this place enables me to clear my head and  think more creatively. I believe this is the best reward I can give to myself. =)

So when in Manila, give yourself a break! Detach yourself  from worldly worries and book yourself a trip to Corregidor!

and like the famous words uttered by General Douglas McArhur….. yes Corregidor, I SHALL RETURN!! 

Sun Cruises

21st  FloorTimesPlazaBuilding
United Nations corner Taft  Avenues
Ermita, Manila, 1000 Philippines

click here to book a trip now!!!!

Join their official Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/corregidor.philippines

Special Thanks to Ma’am Kristine Castro, Sir Ed Batalia, Sir Jose Baja and to all the wonder people in the island!

Thank You Frank Ruaya for these stunning shots and for always making each trip

very memorable!

Looking For A Relaxing and Affordable Weekend Getaway? Visit Corregidor!!

When in Manila, you’ll definitely never run out of interesting places to unwind for the Philippine archipelago  possesses  countless natural treasures waiting to be discovered! As for this occasion, it was more of a re-discovery for us!

This week, let us take you on a visual tour for you to witness the spectacular sites and experiences during our trip to Pangasinan!

Last Nov 21 – 22, When In Manila got invited on a guided tour around Pangasinan courtesy of the Pangasinan government.

Frank and I feel very fortunate to be part of the When In Manila entourage for the 1^st Pangasinan Digital ICT Congress where our editor-in-chief Vince was invited as one of the guest speakers during that week long event.  As for us, our duty was to attend the tour to experience the sights, sounds, flavors as well as to witness the improvements which the government has worked so hard for the betterment of the province! The government of Pangasinan, spearheaded by their very hardworking governor, Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. has been doing its best in achieving its vision of  Pangasinan to become  “the best place to invest, work, live and raise a family”.

At first, we never really knew what to expect. Whatever it was, we both knew the trip was gonna be fun and memorable!

We really hate to bore you with long facts so we’ve decided to take you there with our photos. Frank and I enjoyed capturing every moment during this trip!

We never thought Pangasinan had sooo much to offer….

it was a perfect day to capture moments once again

we stayed at one of Lingayen‘s Prime resorts – the El Puerto Marina Resort and Spa

an ideal place to relax and rejuvenate

I must say, the longanisa at their restaurant was very tasty!! I just hope they can make the price more reasonable though..

I also suggest they work on their scrambled eggs  and the quality of their rice=) This meal can be improved!

It was indeed a looooong relaxing day for us. For dinner, we’ve decided to wander around town in the hope to find good eats. One good thing about us, I may say is that we always have the spirit of adventure with us. We don’t really make plans….we just say yes to whatever good unfolds! I remember telling manong driver to take us to a place where there’s food!

And so manong driver dropped us off somewhere at the capitol complex. We made a quick stroll and in no time, we saw quite a decent place to dine… the Capitol Cafe and Employee’s Lounge.

We never expected that dinner would turn out to be one of our  memorable ones, because the food tasted way better than the other hi-end  fancy looking restos in Manila! The food was definitely outstanding! Their fried chicken is the real SARAP TO THE BONES!

Super crispy!!! SARAP TO THE BONES!

After that very filling pleasant meal, we decided to wander around the capitol plaza to feel the cool night breeze.

How relaxing it was to breathe fresh air  and witness the joy and laughter of the locals that night. This is something which you can’t experience in Manila now a days. And for a moment, I wanted to exchange places with them because they live such simple and happy lives.

Frank at the famous Capitol Building which was constructed from 1917-1918 during the term of Pangasinan’s 7th Governor, Daniel Maramba

The people were very friendly and kind… living such simple and happy lives! 

Another thing which we found impressive was that the place was  very safe especially for shutterbugs like us who often have our

cameras with us.

The next day, we woke up early for our Pangasinan Tour…..

Heaven’s way of saying, “Prepare for yet another great adventure!”

 We were all asked to have breakfast at the Capitol Resort

Of course, we had to try their specialties….

Pangasinan is famous for their boneless bangus

I really miss their crispy fried Espada and the Alaminos Longanisa!!

After that super satisfying breakfast, we all hopped on the tour bus! Yey!!

We were joined by some of the ICT speakers.  Judith, our tour guide that day told us a lot of impressive facts about the province

First stop was a visit to the Our Lady of Manaoag Shrine!

Our Lady of Manaoag Shrine: the 400 year old church which  is still visited by believers up to this day.

A famous destination for thousands of catholic devotees from all over the world due to the countless miracles and requests granted.

believers pray for their requests to be granted

The market which surrounds the church offers a lot of souvenirs and delicacies.

Calasiao Puto and Tupig

Calasiao Puto and Kuchinta

Tupig and Patupat

For our next destination, we went on a 45 minute boat cruise along the Pantal River Mangroves.  For now, this river cruise is offered to the public for free! The Pangsinan government sure has a lot of plans for this place!

ideal for people who aim to relax and unwind

how nice it was to see a place as green as this

 the river is indeed blessed with these natural gems

For our lunch, our tour guide brought us to a so-called famous eatery in Pangasinan – Serato’s

they offer a wide variety of local dishes

We ordered this huge grilled hito (catfish)! This is now the best hito I’ve tasted so far! This was the one which we enjoyed the most!

The famous Ilocano Pinakbet

This is my first ever time to eat frogs legs! Yes, it does taste like chicken however, it wasn’t freshly fried so it felt like I was chewing rubber! ahuhuhuhu

For our next stop, we went to Je’s- the famous bagoong (shrimp paste) maker in Pangasinan!

it’s our 1st ever time to visit a bagoong factory!! The place was impressively clean!

meet their very kind lovely owner

the factory may not be modern but it sure was clean

The very Pinoy bagoong!

For our final stop, we requested Ms. Judith to take us to the wharf bound to the famous Hundred Islands!

Did you know you only have to pay 1,100- 2,000 pesos for a boat that can hold up to 15 people?  The tour includes a whole day boat trip (8-5pm) on 3 islands (food not included). Better  bring your own food because the prices in the islands are sooo expensive!

I will definitely comeback for the island hopping tour!

Frank, Judith and Me

Before heading home, the organizers took us to Dagupan City’s Galvan street where the famous Pigar-pigar is found!

Pigar pigar is actually Dagupan City‘s version of Beef Stirfry! It’s really easy to make!

Christine Mae is famous for their Pigar Pigar

deep fried strips of carabao meat and liver seasoned with salt n’ pepper 

stir fried vegetables such as cabbages, “sitsaro ” and white onions may also be added

let the feast begin!!!

It’s always a delight to try a special delicacy! The experience was very much appreciated =)

Flair Candy Hannah, yours truly and Jam

meet the  speakers and organizers of the  1^st Pangasinan Digital ICT Congress!! Say hi!!!

I never thought that trip would make a strong impact on me. I remember feeling melancholy as we journeyed back to busy old Manila. I loved the simplicity of the place and impressed with Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. ‘s leadership. I do hope that all of their plans will be successfully implemented in the future.  I must admit that at first, I was a little doubtful but after the trip, I’m convinced that their vision in making Pangasinan “the best place to invest, work, live and raise a family” could really be attainable  in time with proper planning, hard work and cooperation by everyone.  I may say that Pangasinan is indeed a model province!

We would like to thank the dedicated people behind the success of the 1^st Pangasinan Digital ICT Congress especially to Vange and JR for being such great hosts! Many thanks as well to the Pangasinan goverment for giving us this opportunity to experience the beauty and goodness of the province! Congratulations and more power to you Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. for doing such a great job!

So when in Manila, make it a point to treat yourselves and your loved ones!! Go on a getaway and experience the beauty and goodness of Pangasinan !

 for tour inquiries:

http://www.pangasinantourism.com/

 for more information regarding the 1^st Pangasinan Digital ICT Congress

http://pangasinandigital.com/

El Puerto Marina Resort and Spa

Thank   you Frank Ruaya for these lovely photos!

To view more photos, visit EATS A DATE!

Come And Experience The Beauty And Goodness Of Pangasinan!

When In Manila…’WALK THIS WAY!‘ Yes, walk your way to Carlos Celdran‘s world-famous tour  of  ’Intramuros’ in Manila.  Celdran gives guided tours of the old walled city of Manila, the Intramuros, and people throng to him, following him like he is the ‘Pied Piper’ of the Philippines !! He sings the National anthem of the Philippines with his hand on his heart (and boy, he’s a pretty good singer!). The tour begins….

All of us in the tour group of about thirty, marveled at his eloquence, sophistication, knowledge of history and that satiric-comic wit that laced every sentence. Is CARLOS CELDRAN just a tour guide ? He was pure entertainment from 3 Pm to 7 ! We walked when he walked, looked when he showed, stopped when he stopped, listened when he talked, ate when he gave. We were mesmerized, in short. And what was our man selling— a Filipino’s own version of his land’s history! Beauty!

Like the mythological Proteus, the sea-god who could change to any form, Carlos Celdran has the theatric ability to create a scene of Philippine history from pre-Hispanic 1500s to this date —  just all by himself and his little sling bag, a microphone and a boom-box!

Even his attire is a statement on Pinoy culture. Carlos rolls the sleeves of his ‘Barong‘ : a shirt that’s a cross between a south-east asian shirt the Kurta (with its light embroidery and pastel hues) and a Western formal shirt (collars and cuffs and buttons). This Barong-clad Filipino pulls out of his bag one of his several hats and morphs into a five act play!  

It seems that the walls of Intramuros are speaking through him– Fort Santiago, Rizal Shrine, River Pasig, Ateneo University, the skyline above the ruins left by the second world-war come alive with distant echoes from Manila’s heterogenous past.

Carlos is a social activist pushing for the Reproductive Health Bill in the Philippines (a controversial topic in the Catholic Christian context of Philippine’s socio-political fabric), he’s also a performing artist and an entrepreneur. But it is in his tours that he comes across at his pithiest best. Everything else he does seems an off-shoot of his complete identification with his country.

When you meet Carlos Celdran at his tour, you feel that Manila belongs to him. There is an undeniable, uncanny familiarity between the moss-covered stone walls of Santiago and this boy as he hollers “SECULARRRRR!!! “  to remind the present day Philippines of its aspiration and identity. In fact, there is a lot of social responsibility attached to such actions. I am surprised at his perkiness, the nip in his every statement. And he is such a regular guy– not very tall or short, not very thin or fat, not very Spanish or Filipino! Unless you see him perform at his tour…you might pass him by.

Just as you might pass Manila…enjoying yet finding faults with it…without appreciating the quintessential saga of the Philippines and its capital city. Carlos could be held erroneous, biased, politically motivated…. And over the years we might see him a little sullied by his success and endorsements. But for now.. he is still Sterling.

An ardent lover of his country who breaks his own heart as he admits the downsides of being a Filipino, and breaks a foreigner’s heart when he points at the inequities met out to his beloved homeland by the Spanish, the Americans, the Japanese and the Chinese. A romantic-pragmatist who sews those wounds by praising the incidental benefits of being influenced and espoused by the invaders.

When I stepped out of this charmed ‘regression’ session with my group of tourists from all over the world, we were all suddenly thrown into the present Circa 2011– cars on the streets, traffic on the way out of Intramuros. To jam-packed Manila roads, enormous billboards and faces that looked an admix of Asian-Caucasian, Chinese, Korean and Indian, American ;)

 This variety that never made sense before Carlos– made sense now.  That Filipinos are like ‘HALO-HALO‘ – a mix-mix Filipino dessert-  of all the cultures that set foot on its shore. That’s right– on Carlos Celdran treats his guests to the local chocolates, and ends the WALK THIS WAY tour by serving the yummiest Halo-Halo in town to ALL ! 

His Tita passes around a menu of Pinoy restaurant nearby, which is a perfect way of ending the tour.

CELDRAN’s Other Tours:

The CORREGIDOR ISLAND Tour which included a ferry ride, music , food and other cool stuff

And LIVING LA VI DA IMELDA: Celebrating the famous/infamous controversial figure of Imelda Marcos, the former first lady  of the Philippines with 800 pairs of shoes and enormous wealth and character besides!

  For the latest information on the rates and the dates of Celdran Tours, contact his secretary, email him or visit his blog

 celdrantours.blogspot.com

Email celdrantours@hotmail.com

When In Manila and looking for something worthwhile to do on a weekend, then check out Carlos Celdran’s Walk This Way Tour.

WhenInManila.com and our friends were given an opportunity to take part in Carlos Celdran’s popular Walking Tour of Intramuros. As a contributor, I remember my first post on WhenInManila.com was about the beauty and the history behind the walled city of Intramuros. I’ve always been in awe of the mystery, the ambiance, the architecture, the picturesque sights, and the stories behind every wall and street of Manila’s former prime center. Upon hearing about the opportunity to go back to Intramuros, I did not hesitate to grab this assignment, and boy was I happy I did.

The Walk This Way Tour of Carlos Celdran was scheduled to start at around 3 in the afternoon. My friend and I arrived at the entrance of Fort Santiago, along with a group of 20 – 30 tour ready individuals. I was surprised to see that almost half the sight seers were Filipinos! Locals who just wanted to re-explore and re-discover our awesome sites! Or perhaps they were all just there to see Intramuros from a totally different point of view, that of legendary tour guide: Carlos Celdran. 

We started walking around Fort Santiago while Carlos, our extraordinary tour guide, gave us a brief yet comprehensive account of the beginnings of Manila and Intramuros. From Rizal, to Catholocism, to the dynamic developments of Intramuros in the past, Carlos took us back in history with his witty remarks and theatrical storytelling. I assure you that there is no dull moment with Carlos Celdran! We visited the Rizal commemorative museum inside Fort Santiago as our tour guide gave a review of the Spanish and American colonization of the Philippines.

Up next on our fun-filled tour date was a visit to the ruins of the former St.Ignatius Church and the former Ateneo de Manila. We had to ride a horse drawn carriage, also known as a Kalesa, to reach our destination. It was an interesting experience since it was the first time I was able to ride our ver own Kalesa. I felt like a kid riding my bicycle for the first time. It was also nice to sit next to an Australian couple who had very nice things to say about the Philippines and Filipinos. 

Carlos Celdran continued on with an eye-opening account of the war which destroyed Intramuros and affected the whole country. After which, we proceeded to the San Agustin Church to further give us an understanding of the Filipino history.

One of the highlights of the day was right at the end! We were treated to some local sweets, known popularly as Halo-Halo, to wrap up the tour. The name Halo-Halo literally translates to “Mix-Mix” since it is a concoction of all sorts of ingredients for this yummy dessert. Of course, Carlos found a great way to incorporate our final sweet treat with the entire trip. According to him, we are like the Halo-Halo dessert. The Filipino culture has become a conglomeration of various cultural influences due to American, Spanish, and Japanese colonization. Removing all these influences, we just might not be the culture filled people with such colorful backgrounds that we are today! 

The Walk This Way Tour has given me a different perspective on our rich and humble beginnings as a nation and I will definitely use this to enrich my passion for being a Filipino. This may be a simple walking tour for some, but with an open heart and mind, this tour can really be a lot more.

When In Manila, and feeling the thirst for some nationalistic exerience, do check out Carlos Celdran’s walking tours of Old Manila and more! You may check their schedules, rates, and other updates at http://celdrantours.blogspot.com for their Walk This Way and Imelda tours. Try it out and gain a different perspective of being a Filipino.

Thank you Sir Carlos Celdran! It was a truly memorable experience.

Walk This Way: Walking Tour of Manila by Carlos Celdran

The Filipinas Stamp Collectors Club does not sound like a group that would be offering walking tours, much less free ones.  Their primary goal, as the name suggests, is to promote the popular hobby of philately, which is a fancy word for “stamp collecting.”  But in  1998, the year of the Philippine Centennial Celebration, the group had a brainwave–why not take advantage of the historical hype that surrounded the 100th birthday of the Philippines and give tours about the Manila that few ever get to see; a Manila memorialized forever in postcards and postage stamps and that, in many ways, has been lost to time.  Thus, the FSCC Postal Heritage and Metropolitan Theatre Tours were born, giving a distinct view of a little-toured part of Manila.

The FSCC’s monthly tours (happening every third Sunday of the month) gained some notoriety after adding the Metropolitan Theatre to their itinerary.  Considered one of Manila’s most haunted locations, “the Met,” as it is often called, has been sitting in ruins for years, awaiting a restoration effort.  Bloggers in search of some supernatural thrills have favored the FSCC free tour because it provides what other tour groups cannot: a tour of the inside of the supposedly haunted building–a building that is supposedly also a playground for photography enthusiasts with its old-world charm.  I have to admit that it was for those reasons that the FSCC Postal Heritage and Metropolitan Theatre Tour caught my attention, leading me to quickly sign up for their November tour date.

Memories of a grander time: View from Plaza Lawton/Liwasang Bonifacio of the neo-Classical Philippine Post Office Building, designed by architect Juan Arellano.

It was blazingly hot on the afternoon of November 20, when I and my partner in crime, my mother, turned up at Plaza Lawton/Liwasang Bonifacio to assemble for the free tour.  While waiting for our tour guide, Mr. Lawrence Chan, I managed to snap a photo of the Post Office Building, a neoclassical giant, and one of the stops on our walking tour for the day.  I had a bit of a wait, but it didn’t feel quite so long since I got to play “Citizen Paparazzi” at a nearby television shoot for Robin Padilla‘s serial TV show.  I managed to steal a shot of the man himself, taking five after being put through his action-hero paces.

Papa-paparazzi: A stolen shot of actor Robin Padilla on location for his TV series, filmed near Plaza Lawton/Liwasang Bonifacio.

A few minutes after I’d managed to grab photos of Robin Padilla, Sir Lawrence showed up, and one by one the rest of our tiny tour group–some of whom were actually fellow spectators to the television shoot–assembled in the square, which turned out to be the very first stop on our tour.  Sir Lawrence was careful to mix in factual details–and views of stamps associated with the history, of course–with historical gossip, which is always juicy no matter how old.  A funfact I learned at Plaza Lawton?  That Queen Isabella II, the Spanish Queen featured on our coinage and even on one of our first postage stamps, was known as “The Bitch” for her notorious number of lovers.

The man with the plan: FSCC‘s brilliant tour guide, Lawrence Chan, in action, explaining the history of stamps at Plaza Lawton/Liwasang Bonifacio.

After Plaza Lawton, we made a quick trip across the street to the Philippine Post Office Building, where we stood in the breezy outdoor “hallway” created by the neo-Corinthian colonnades.  Sir Lawrence expounded on the architectural style–neo-Classical–the architect–Juan Arellano–and on the particular features of the building, but he also had really interesting old postcards featuring Jones Bridge and the Philippine Post Office Building back when they were still brand new.  My favorite of his “artifacts,” however, was an old envelope featuring a sketch of Rajah Sulayman, the famous rajah of Manila.  The colors were still very vivid.

Think Greek: The neo-Corinthian colonnades of the Philippine Post Office Building, providing a breezy shelter for our tour group.

Mint condition: A perfectly preserved envelope displaying an old icon of Rajah Sulayman, former rajah of Manila.

We went around to the back entrance in order to see main lobby of PhilPost, where there was a stamp exhibit.  This was interesting, but what caught my attention the most was that the PhilPost still had a telegraph machine!  But the telegraph apparently was not the only relic of the bygone age: according to Sir Lawrence, the PhilPost is apparently home to quite a few “spirit workers”–faithful postal servants who, after their passing, continue to serve.  I didn’t see anything, but it was strangely chilly in the building even though the sun was burning outside.

Know the code: A relic of bygone means of communication, PhilPost still has a telegraph station.

After we finished our tour of PhilPost, we cooled off in the PhilPost Museum and Library, where we attended a lecture on stamp collecting and got to peek at a live auction.  The things up for bid were an odd mix, ranging from international phonecards to old manga to a bill dating back from World War II with the monetary value of one peso!  You can tell it’s from World War II, or just after it, because of the mark in the corner which reads “Victory Series.”  I’d seen the giant coins before, but never a bill for such a small amount…but then again, back then, one peso wasn’t exactly a “small amount.”

It’s all about the green (or yellow): A post-war “Victory” one peso bill, up for auction by the members of the FSCC.

By the time it was cool enough to go back outside, we did not have much time to go through the whole itinerary–which, according to Sir Lawrence, has made some tours last until seven PM–so we made a beeline for the big one: The Metropolitan Theatre.  A sprawling art deco building, in its heyday The Met was the place for Manila’s glitterati to see and be seen.  The years, however, have not been kind to this building, and it has since fallen into complete ruin–a shame, because the space has wonderful acoustics, and could even stand toe to toe with the CCP if given a chance.  It was declared a National Heritage Site, but as of today the restoration effort remains to be completed.

A grande dame of a bygone age: The Metropolitan Theatre is a beautiful art deco ruin.

Abandoned for years, The Met has earned a reputation for being “haunted.”  While traveling in it, I could see why.  Aside from the occasional tours by FSCC (which is the only group that has a permit to conduct tours within the theatre), the place has lain deserted for years.  Inside, tour-goers are required to carry flashlights, as the theatre’s electricity is often shut off, save for a single light on the stage, ironically called, in theatre parlance, a “ghost light.”  Sir Lawrence told us stories of people who had felt hands grabbing at their feet, or had the hair on the back of their neck stand on end.  He even warned us to take lots of shots, just in case a few didn’t materialize, as had happened when other photographers toured the place.  Apparently, the ghosts are camera-shy.

A remembrance of things past: The haunting remains of The Metropolitan Theatre‘s former glory.  From top–the ruins of the rehearsal hall where my mother remembers taking jazz classes, the stage of The Met with its flooded orchestra pit and the burning “ghost light,” the grand ballroom where theatre receptions were held, and an old vaudeville poster, found in one of the ruined rooms.

Thankfully, they chose not to tangle with me and my Canon G12, “Ed.”  I went completely trigger-happy in the hauntingly beautiful Met ruins, and went completely wild when we were let up onto the roof to get views of the sunset and of Manila.  The spires of The Met made it look like we weren’t in Manila anymore, but somewhere in Eastern Europe instead.  The distant tower of Manila Cathedral in the distance added to this “European” feel.

Dreaming spires: Details of the rooftop of The Metropolitan Theatre, complete with mosaic tile detail.

Me caught in a candid moment on the roof of The Metropolitan Theatre, watching the sun set.

Our last stop was the Arroceros Forest Park, one of the last forest reserves in Manila.  The Philippine equivalent of what the Meiji Jingu Shrine is to Tokyo, the Arroceros Forest Park is a peaceful retreat from the bustle of the city.  While we were there, a student group was having “open mic” performances in an open square, and I paused to eavesdrop before looking around for birds: Sir Lawrence told me that Arroceros Forest Park was a favorite of birdwatchers who went on the FSCC tour.  Sadly, there were no more birds at this hour–apparently they go to sleep–but there was a lovely sunset view of the river.

A sunset view: Taken from the riverside of Arroceros Forest Park, a gorgeous sunset reflected in the water.

Time to say goodbye: A debrief by Lawrence Chan of the FSCC in Arroceros Forest Park.

After a final debriefing by the riverside, we each went our separate ways, with me and my mom returning to the PhilPost complex, where we’d parked.  But before heading to the car, I snapped another shot of where the tour had began: Plaza Lawton, lit up by the bright lights of the fountain in the twilight.

All of the lights: The view of the Philippine Post Office Building from Plaza Lawton/Liwasang Bonifacio, at night. 

The ghosts may not have felt like coming out to play, but FSCC’s Postal Heritage and Metropolitan Theatre Tour was definitely worth the five or so hours I devoted to it.  From gorgeous architectural ruins to interesting tidbits of historical gossip, the tour definitely delivered on its promise to take me through a side of Manila I didn’t even know about.  I definitely will take the tour again (hopefully the second time around we might get farther along in the itinerary: the fun part about FSCC’s tour is that the itinerary constantly evolves)  So When In Manila, if you’re looking for a day of adventure without having to be too adventurous about your wallet, why not book a free tour with the Filipinas Stamp Collectors’ Club?  You will definitely come out viewing the capital city with new eyes.

Interested in joining the tour?  Inquire with:

Mrs.Josie Tiongson – Cura – ( 0917-9800708 / 735-5001 )
Monday to Saturday 1pm to 5pm only

Ms. Nena De Guzman – ( 527-00 -96) Postal Museum and Library
Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm only for parking instruction.

Mr.Lawrence Chan – ( 0919-3901671) Email:L_rence_2003@yahoo.com.

Filipinas Stamp Collectors’ Club Takes On a Different Side of Manila With Their Postal Heritage and Metropolitan Theatre Tours

 Photograph of the Philippine Post Office, courtesy of Mr. Lawrence Chan.

When In Manila, you are in a multilayered city.  The lights of the Metro, the most familiar face of this Oriental capital, is only the surface layer.  Go down deeper, and you may discover pieces of Philippine history you never knew.  Go deeper still, and you may discover its very beginnings.

The best way, perhaps, to do this digging, is to go on a walking tour of old Manila.  Tours like Carlos Celdran‘s Walk This Way and the charming Old Manila Walks are tourist favorites, and well worth the fees paid for them.  But for the budget traveler, or the Manileño wanting to find their roots, the Filipinas Stamp Collectors’ Club, or FSCC can help you dig down deep and find the Manila you never knew before…without paying a single peso.  In cooperation with Philpost, the Museo ng Maynila, the Intramuros Administration, the National Press Club, the Winners Foundation, and the Department of Education, the FSCC  invites anyone and everyone interested in discovering a side of Manila they may have never seen to their FREE Postal Heritage and Metropolitan Theatre Tours!  Spend a fun-filled afternoon traveling, unravelling stories, nature tripping, discovering mysteries and (perhaps) sighting a ghost or two at some of the city’s most historical buildings, wilderness areas and sites.  Photography is allowed.

The FSCC conducts tours based on the history of the Philippine postal system, but the tour does not appeal exclusively to philately (That’s a fancy word for stamp collecting.) enthusiasts.  Bloggers, travel enthusiasts, architecture lovers, history buffs, shutter bugs, and even seekers of the paranormal will all find something to appeal to them at FSCC’s Postal Heritage and Metropolitan Theatre Tours.  The itinerary is based on photos from old Philippine stamps, and discusses everything from architectural funfacts to postal trivia to juicy historical gossip.  

The tour assembles at the Liwasang Bonifacio fountain area between 12:30PM to 1PM, and covers several locations of Manila that aren’t common to walking tours.  The itinerary is as follows:

Arroceros Forest Park – one of the few remaining forest parks in Manila, harkening back to when the capital was green.

Metropolitan Theater - The famous theatre is one of the few remaining buildings in the art deco style, and was designed by brothers Juan and Arcadio Arellano built in 1931.  Many tour goers report paranormal activities whenever they come here.

Manila Main Post Office – The gorgeous neo-classical building was designed and executed by Mr. Juan Arellano, Tomas Mapua and Ralph Daune.

Puerta Isabel 2 Gate – Built in 1861, it was the last gate in Intramuros to be opened for public use.  Its name is after the famous Queen Isabella II of Spain.

Monumento del Reina Isabel 2 – The monument was first installed in 1855 in the old Plaza Arroceros (present day Liwasang Bonifacio ) after her ouster. The statute was ordered to be destroyed by the Ayuntamiento de Manila , however Senor Barreto a royal sympathizer hid the statute and the statute was installed in Plaza Ermita in Front of Malate Church (present day Plaza Rajah Soliman)before a powerful Typhoon Patsy (aka Yoling) toppled the statute in 1970. The present statute was relocated to the present site in 1975.

National Press Club grounds – The main building was designed by well-known architect Mr. Angel Nakpil in an earthquake-proof style, during the 1960.  It holds an interesting Merlion mosaic and see-through glass staircase.

Plaza Mexico - A relic of the old Manila Galleon Trade, the Plaza Mexico houses old letters and postcards, transported by the galleons. 

The FREE tour is scheduled every third Sunday of the month, with this month’s being on November 20.  To those who are interested in coming to the tour, Pre-Registration is until November 18.  Can’t make it?  Don’t fret!  The next scheduled tour is on December 18 , 2011.  Pre-Registration is a must for these FREE Guided tours, because some of these sites are restricted areas that the FSCC has special privileges to visit.

Among these special privileges is an arrangement with the Post Office to hold meetings and even allot parking space to those attending, which is why pre-registration is a must. Also, for those who love to collect stamps, coins, and objet d’art, a short lecture/discussion about stamps other collectibles is held at 1:30 PM at the library of the Postal Museum.

Interested in joining the tour?  Here are the people to contact:

Mrs. Josie Tiongson-Cura – ( 0917-9800708 / 735-5001 )
Monday to Saturday 1pm to 5pm only

Ms. Nena De Guzman – ( 527-00 -96) Postal Museum and Library
Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm only for parking instruction.

Mr.Lawrence Chan – ( 0919-3901671) Email: L_rence_2003@yahoo.com.

When In Manila, why not check out FSCC‘s Postal Heritage and Metropolitan Theatre Tours?  If you do, be ready for an epic afternoon discovering a side of Manila you may have never knew.

Discover Old Manila with Filipinas Stamp Collectors’ Club’s FREE Postal Heritage and Metropolitan Theatre Tours

When in Manila, make sure you make it a point to fly over to Palawan to check out Palawan River, one of the newly declared New Wonders of Nature! According to news reports, “the New7Wonders Foundation, which is based in Zurich, Switzerland, came up with the list based on votes through text messaging and Internet voting, which ended Friday.”

According to the New7Wonders Foundation, Palawan River dubbed as one of the new wonders of natures is a result of the current tallying of votes, however, the foundation has yet to verify the results and will confirm the winners in early 2012. Out of a list of over 400 locations and over 220 countries,  other gems of nature that have graced the list in the initial counting include the Amazon, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo, and Table Mountain.

“The new wonders that have been selected are the people’s choices,” the group New7Wonders explained. The new Wonders of Nature will then “bring our natural heritage onto the same level of appreciation as that which has been made by humans,” the group added.

“We congratulate each of these participants on achieving their provisional New7Wonders of Nature status, and look forward to completing the confirmation process to celebrate each one in their own official inauguration ceremony early in 2012,” the New7Wonders Foundation said.

Given all the bad media that our country has been receiving as a result of NAIA Terminal 1, this is truly a breath of fresh air and a title that the Philippines should not only be proud of but hopefully is one of the many positive titles that have yet to come. 

Palawan River: 1 of 7 New Wonders of Nature

When In Manila, the race for the New 7 Wonders of Nature (N7WN) is rounding up to a close, and our very own Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan is neck-to-neck with 27 other natural marvels all over the Earth for a spot in the prestigious hall of fame.

The Palawan Puerto Princesa Underground River is a UNESCO-appointed Natural World Heritage Site and, at 8.2 km long, is also the longest navigable underground river in the world. It stretches along a huge subterranean cave landscaped by natural limestone formations before flowing directly out to the South China Sea. Since being declared an official entry to the N7WN, the River has garnered an increasing amount of well-deserved media and tourist attention. Domestic flights coming to and going from the city has already been doubled, and the tourism industry in the region has boomed.

Online travel directory Travelbook.ph recently held a small gathering of travel bloggers to help spread awareness about the N7WN campaign. Folk songwriting icon and PP Underground River advocate Noel Cabangon graced the event to share his passion for the cause: “This win is for the Filipino people. This is for the country”.  As of late, voting trends for the River on the official N7W website has shown a decrease. Last year, the N7W Charter, the same group behind N7WN, held the New 7 Wonders of the World Campaign for which the Philippines had four entries, namely: the Chocolate Hills in Bohol, the Mayon Volcano in Bicol, and the Tubataha Reef and even the Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan. Unfortunately, none made it to the final seven. With the New 7 Wonders of Nature, the country is one step away from forever being remembered as the home of one of the most majestic sights that has ever been seen on this planet.

Every Filipino and every tourist who has been struck with awe by the Palawan Underground River are called to support the campaign.

When In Manila, vote for the Underground River by texting PPUR to 2861 or visiting www.n7w.com.  Online voting entails voting for six other entries from other countries; texting allows us to vote only for the Underground River.  Each SMS vote costs P2.50 (Globe/Smart) or P2.00 (Sun). Voting ends on November 11, 2011.

When In Manila, and looking out for the funniest, craziest and wackiest trends and memes, then there’s no other place to go than Taallywood!!!

If you haven’t heard, then check out the full story here – http://www.wheninmanila.com/possible-hollywood-like-sign-in-batangas/

Pretty much, Governor Vilma Santos-Recto, former A-list celebrity actress of the Philippines, has decided to place a Hollywood like sign in her province by one of the most sacred and nationalistic landmarks of our country – Tall Volcano. Governor Vilma Santos-Recto reportedly plans to erect a sign of “BATANGAS” on the said Taal Volcano, highly known to be one of the smallest volcanoes in the world.

Of course, the online community is crying foul over this whole thing. They’re pissed off because not only are we desecrating a national landmark and turning it into a billboard, but we’re also doing it in a very non-original way by making it similar to the Hollywood sign.

This of course leads many to wonder if this Hollywood type Philippine landmarks proposal is just the first of many… 

Anyway, thanks of course to the wonderful Facebook page called HollywoodPilipinas – https://www.facebook.com/hollywoodpilipinas, we now have an endless arsinal of the best memes out there for this specific Tallywood dilemma.

Here’s some more of our favorite Hollywood Pilipinas signs:

When In Manila, do chime in and let us know what you think of all this. Would putting up a Hollywood Batangas sign be good for tourism and the economy? Or is a Taallywood sign completely useless, pretentious and ruining our natural resources?

Share your thoughts on the comments below:

Best Hollywood Pilipinas, Batangas, Taal Volcano Sign Ideas by Vilma Santos for Taallywood Meme

The Filipinas Heritage Library is conducting a Travel Writing and Blogging workshop    

Traveling is a way to open yourself up to the culture of the Philippines and the world. Travelers love to get together and share their experiences – the things they’ve seen, dishes they’ve eaten, people they’ve met. The sharing of experience has become faster, richer, and more accessible with the rise of online travel journals or blogs. Through them, we are able to discover new places at the click of a mouse. These travel pieces also help us prepare for our own journeys as we learn from those who went before us.

Join your fellow travel enthusiasts and view the historic churches of Manila! Be updated on some of the best online travel writing and learn how to create your own piece.

The facilitator, April Yap, is a PhD Candidate in Creative Writing at UP Diliman. She has written for magazines such as Metro Society, Preview, and Playboy. April has published creative non-fiction work, in particular her two books “Stressed in the City,” and “Ohmygosh! The Unbearable Lightness of Being Burgis.” Her travel and food notes can be found at www.dishesandplaces.wordpress.com.

The workshop fee is Php 4,000 inclusive of workshop handouts and materials, tour, transportation, handouts, materials, meals, and a certificate. A down payment of Php 2,000 is required for slot reservation. The deadline for reservations is September 16, 2011. A Php 500 discount will be given to those who pay in full on or before the deadline.

Travel Writing and Blogging
September 22, 2011 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
September 24, 2011 | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
September 30, 2011 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Payments can be made in cash, check, or through credit card.

*Discount does not apply to credit card transactions. For more details about the library’s workshops, please check the Filipinas Heritage Library website.

For inquiries, please call Camille Martinez at 892-1801 loc. 27, send an SMS to 0917-561-2413, emailmartinez.cc@ayalafoundation.org /  mailto:martinez.cc@ayalafoundation.org, or visit www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph

Filipinas Heritage Library: Travel Writing and Blogging Workshop by the Ayala Foundation

 
The Underground River was formerly known to be St. Paul’s Cave by the ancient people. As it was handed down to generations, it was resolved to be named as St. Paul’s Underground River National Park. Until March 26, 1971 by virtue of a Proclamation No. 835 the underground Palawan River was officially named Puerto Princessa Subterranean River National Park.
 

 
It has become a popular local tourist attraction and has gained recognition throughout the world. The Underground River is the official entry of the Philippines and is 1 of the 28 finalists currently vying for a position in the New 7 Wonders of Nature (voting will end on November 11, 2011).

 
The world’s longest navigable underground river measures 8.2 km and stretches through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea. Inside the caves are many major formations of stalactites and stalagmites in various shapes and sizes.

It usually takes 2-3 hours land drive from Puerto Princesa City and a 20-minute boat ride from Sabang Beach to get there. Upon getting there, you can find monkeys, large monitor lizards and squirrels roaming around near the cave.

The Underground River tour is 1.5 km long and takes around 45 minutes. It is really dark and taking photos can be very difficult. Once inside, you can definitely feel a mystical ambiance to it. You’ll get to see the large number of bats living in the cave. The boatmen will guide you throughout the tour and will reveal a bunch of facts about the river.

Other activities that can be enjoyed at the National Park are jungle trekking, wildlife watching, mangrove paddleboat tour, and swimming/snorkeling in the white sand beaches.

So When In Manila, oops, I mean when in Palawan, make sure to experience one of nature’s amazing creations and take a tour of the Puerto Princesa Underground River. It is, indeed, a Philippine beauty.

 
Please don’t forget to show your support by voting the Underground River of Puerto Princesa, Palawan as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

Visit http://www.new7wonders.com for more details.

Palawan Underground River

Official Website: http://www.puerto-undergroundriver.com/

Tel No: +63 (48) 434-2509

Email: info@puerto-undergroundriver.com

Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan

Our first stop was at the historical Barasoain Church, the cradle of democracy in the Philippines. We whispered our prayers before proceeding to the small museum right beside the church. This was where the Philippine Republic was inaugurated in 1899, with Emilio Aguinaldo as the president. It was a profound moment for us – to be in the midst of one of the most important moments in our country’s history.

Lunch at Aling Lucing’s Sisig in Angeles City, Pampanga

We got lost on the way to Aling Lucing’s Restaurant, as it was not exactly located in a tourist spot, and not everyone in the area was familiar with the place (or perhaps they knew of this delicious sisig place, just not aware of its name). According to the waitstaff, the area used to be surrounded by other sisig places along the railroad tracks, but they closed down one by one until Aling Lucing’s became one of the only few ones left. We’ve never tried the other franchises but we can definitely attest to how delicious this restaurant’s sisig was. Sisig was Aling Lucing’s specialty, but they also served lutong bahay food such as adobong sitaw and caldereta. We wanted to get halo-halo from the original Razon’s as well, however due to time constraints, we had to pass and proceed to our next stop.

The Aquino Museum in Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac City

Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., opposition leader against the military rule of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, and his wife Cory Cojuangco-Aquino, first lady president of the Philippines, are probably the first two names that come into mind whenever Philippine democracy is mentioned. It is no wonder, then, that they now have their own museum as a tribute to everything they did for the country – “The Aquino Center” in Tarlac.

The museum featured the Aquino couple from their birth to their struggle during the martial law era to their final goodbyes. It showed actual letters exchanged between Marcos and Ninoy during the martial law, diary entries of the Aquinos during Ninoy’s exile, newspaper clippings, photos, and a lot of memorabilias. You should not miss the replica of the room that Ninoy stayed at during his exile; this replica contains actual items (mugs, typewriter, weighing scale, etc.) that Ninoy used. The most remarkable memorabilia for me was the blood-covered jacket that Ninoy was wearing when he was assassinated in the Manila International Airport. Looking at it gave me the chills and I truly felt his patriotism through that piece of memento. The museum continued with inspiring photos taken during the 1986 People Power Revolution led by Cory Aquino. It also showed Cory’s humility through her simple paintings.

We were not able to take any photos inside the actual museum as it was not allowed, so we took them in the lobby and outside the building.

Shopping at Puregold Duty Free in Subic Bay Free Port

Finally reaching the Subic area, we couldn’t resist shopping for tax-free imported goods like chocolates and potato chips. We also checked out some outlet shops beside the supermarket.

Dinner at Coco Lime in Subic

Before we realized it, the day was almost over so we headed to Coco Lime in Subic for dinner. We were greeted with a warm welcome even though the place was jam-packed. Every dish we ordered was cooked to perfection and we all felt so full afterwards. Highly recommended – the pineapple rice (served in a sliced pineapple fruit), grilled squid, and beef pochero (with free refill of the wonderful soup!). Other mouth-watering menu items we ordered include the crispy fried tilapia, nasi goreng, bagoong rice, and pinakbet. Truly a superb way to end a tiring but inspiring cultural trip up north.

Stay at Venezia in Subic

Finally, we went to the place we agreed to stay in – The Venezia Hotel in Subic. It was very easy to locate, as the building’s ground floor housed a PAGCOR casino and a first-class restaurant. The room itself was clean and the bed was comfortable, and the rates were surprisingly not as expensive as we thought it will be. After settling down, we decided to checkout the local night spots, but realized that we were too tired so we just grabbed some midnight snacks and headed back to our room.

Brunch at Xtremely Xpresso Café in Subic

We heard that a place called Xtremely Xpresso served quality Italian food and good coffee. Upon arriving at the place, we saw humongous pizza platters on other diners’ tables, so we knew we made the right choice. We got a pizza (half of it was Seafood Pesto and the other was Big Ben), Special Oriental Shrimp pasta, steak platter served with fries and corn, dessert of cheesecake and tiramisu plus coffee. Everything we got were commendable. We made sure we were fully loaded before heading back to Manila.

Overall Budget

We spent PHP2,000/head (8 pax in all – includes meals, gas, toll fees, accommodations).

Wrap Up

The Philippines is a country with rich culture and heritage, so When In Manila, you shouldn’t miss visiting at least 1 historical place – be it a museum, a church, or even a time-tested restaurant. You will never regret it.

Barasoain Church

Address: Paseo del Congreso, Barangay San Gabriel, Malolos City, Bulacan, Philippines

Aquino Center

Address: Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac, Philippines

Aling Lucing’s Sisig

Address: G. Valdez Agapito del Rosario St. Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines

Contact No: (45) 888-2317

Coco Lime Subic

Address: Rizal Highway, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales, Philippines

Contact No: (47) 252-2413

Xtremely Xpresso Cafe Subic

Address: #1 Dewey Ave. cor Sta Rita St. SBFZ , Zambales, Philippinse

Contact No: (47) 252-3681

Website: http://www.xtremelyxpresso.com/

ADVENTOUR PACKAGE 1

• 3 Days/ 2 nights accommodation with daily breakfast
• Underground River Tour or Honda Bay Island Hopping
• Half-Day City Tour
• Buffet Lunch at Taraw Restaurant (if Underground River Tour) or Buffet lunch in Honda Bay
• Services of a licensed tour guide
• Roundtrip airport transfers
• Van transfers
• All boat and entrance fees
• T-shirt for each participant
• Travel Insurance

ADVENTOUR PACKAGE 2

• 3 Days/ 2 nights accommodation with daily breakfast
• Underground River Tour
• Honda Bay Island Hopping
• Half-Day City Tour
• Buffet Lunch at Taraw Restaurant (for Underground River Tour)
• Buffet Lunch at a beach in Honda Bay
• Snacks during city tour
• Services of a licensed tour guide
• Roundtrip Airport Transfers
• All boat and entrance fees
• T-shirt for each participant
• Travel Insurance

ADVENTOUR PACKAGE 3

• 4 Days/ 3 nights accommodation with daily breakfast
• Underground River Tour (Day 2)
• Honda Bay Island Hopping (Day 3)
• Half-Day City Tour
• Buffet Lunch at Taraw Restaurant (for Underground River Tour)
• Buffet Lunch at a beach in Honda Bay
• Snacks during city tour
• Services of a licensed tour guide
• Roundtrip Airport Transfers
• All boat and entrance fees
• T-shirt for each participant
• Travel Insurance

All packages are inclusive of Roundtrip Airfare, fuel surcharge, airport service fee, ticket service charge & 12% VAT.

UNDERGROUND RIVER TOUR

• Services of a Licensed Tour Guide
• Van Transfers
• All Boat fees and entrance fees
• Travel Insurance
• Buffet Lunch at Taraw Restaurant

HONDA BAY ISLAND TOUR

• Van Transfers
• Boat Fees and Entrance Fees
• Running Tour of the following islands:  Pandan, Luli, Bat, Meara Marina, Starfish & Snake Island
• Buffet Lunch

CITY TOUR

• Baywalk (local version of Baywalk Manila)
• Immaculate Conception Cathedral
• Plaza Cuartel
• Souvenir Shop/market
• Crocodile Farm
• Mitra’s Ranch
• Baker’s Hills

You can also add additional tours such as:

• Firefly Watching Tour with Dinner at a Local Restaurant
• Dolphin Watching Tour
• Estrella Falls

For more details about the different Adventour packages, you can visit the official website of Airphil Express. When In Manila and badly need a vacation that requires less planning, book an Airphil Express Puerto Princesa Adventour now!

Website: www.airphilexpress.com

Follow Airphil Express on twitter.com/airphilexpress
Like Airphil Express on facebook.com/airphilexpressph

Experience Palawan with Airphil Express Puerto Princesa Adventours!

by JC Ansis

When In Manila and feel like going on a vacation, book a flight and fly to Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Last weekend, I was invited by Airphil Express for a weekend getaway with other bloggers to visit the beautiful city of Puerto Princesa in Palawan. We left Manila on Friday, after being skeptical whether or not the flight would push through because of the storm. Upon arriving at the airport, I met the employees of Airphil Express (who would accompany us on the trip) and the six bloggers who were also invited, namely: Mica, Winston, Robbie, Eric, Rochelle and Anton. We took off at around 8AM and arrived in Puerto Princesa about an hour later.

We were welcomed by Ms. Anne, a tour guide of Maple Travel and Tours and our chaperone for the weekend. From the airport, they took us straight to Marianne Home Inn. This place not only has a beautiful facade but they have decent rooms and great services as well. Marianne Home Inn offers cheap rates, with a standard room for two costing only P1,200 per night and a dorm-type room for large groups for only P3,000.

After checking in and dropping our luggage, we hit the road and departed for our Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour. After registering at the Sta. Lourdes Wharf and securing a boat, we headed first to Pandan Island (getting its name from the many Pandan trees you can spot near the shoreline). FYI though, there’s an entrance free, P25 per person.

The beach was amazing, the water was crisp. The air was addicting. There were cottages and jet skis available for rent. While we were waiting for lunch to be prepared, we grabbed our cameras, took some photos, put on some sun block and took a dip. I put on my snorkeling gear and spotted a bunch of striped fish. Black and yellow, black and yellow, black and yellow. Then lunch came. We ate, silenced our tummies and lounged around.

Next up was a 10-minute boat ride to Snake Island. It was called that because the island is shaped like a snake. I took a swim, fed some fish and enjoyed a refreshing halo-halo before leaving. We ended the Honda Bay tour at Pambato Reef. This was like a mini-dock for boats, so visitors can snorkel and marvel at the corals and bigger fishes underneath. There were actually two cabins, one for fish feeding and another designated for swimming.

Before the day came to a close, we went to Ihawig for the Firefly Watching Tour. Gay as it may seem, I was pretty excited to experience this. It’s a 45-minute boat tour of Ihawig River, surrounded by mangroves and napa trees. Of course, there were fireflies. It was actually cool seeing them flicker like Christmas lights. The boatman shared a lot of interesting facts about fireflies, the river and star constellations. I even suggested that maybe they could turn it into a symphony of lights show or something. But he didn’t mind me.

The next morning, we visited the famous Underground River. Going there took us 2-3 hours land drive and a 20-minute boat ride from Sabang Beach. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s longest navigable underground river. Currently, there’s a vote campaign to include it in the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

The Underground River tour was 1.5 km long and took around 45 minutes. It was so dark inside; taking photos was as difficult as playing darts blindfolded. We had hard hats on so we could avoid getting guano-ed by bats. All sorts of shapes and sizes of stalactites and stalagmites decorated the cave. Indeed, an amazing thing of nature.

After that, we headed back to Sabang Beach and had a hearty buffet lunch at Taraw Vista Lodge and Restaurant. The Underground River tour was the only activity for the day so we pretty much just basked around. A few of us took naps, while the others enjoyed the waves of the beach.

On our last day, we had a city tour of Puerto Princesa. We visited Baywalk, the Plaza Cuartel, Mitra’s Ranch, Baker’s Hill, Binuatan Weaving Center and a few souvenir shops. At around 12, we went back to Marianne Home Inn, packed our stuff, had lunch then departed for the airport.

The whole weekend was fun, 70% of the time I was laughing, the other 30% eating. I made new friends and had a wonderful time at Puerto Princesa. The beaches, tours, food and people were great.

You, too, can experience Palawan by booking tours with Airphil Express. The Palawan Tour Package promo of Airphil Express runs from July 1 to October 15.

For as low as P6,886 per person, the tour package includes:

• Roundtrip Airfare (ASF, YQ & TSC & 12% VAT)
• 3 Days/2 Nights Accommodation
• Roundtrip Airport Transfers
• Daily Breakfast
• A choice of either Honda Bay Tour or Underground River Tour
• City Tour

Visit their website for more details.

Thank you to Airphil Express for the invite, especially to Ms. Line, Nicole, Brian, and Mike.

A Weekend Getaway to Puerto Princesa, Palawan with Airphil Express!

When in Manila make sure to enjoy a culture filled and historically informed weekend in Intramuros. This is probably one of the most affordable yet noteworthy weekend destinations in the Philippines. With these things said, when my photo buddies and I decided to do a photo walk the first thing that came our minds was Intramuros.

Intramuros is probably the oldest district in Manila since it was established by the Spaniards in the 16th century. During the specified period, it was heralded as Manila itself due to the architectural developments and the different institutions established in the area. It was termed as Intramuros meaning “within walls” due to the resilient and interestingly designed walls surrounding the city. If you try to visit the area coupled with your knowledge of basic Filipino history, you may still see well made structures and landmarks inspired by the Spanish Colonial Era.

Photography lovers, history buffs, and even foodies may find Intramuros an interesting destination nowadays. If you are to visit Intramuros today, you can still feel and see the Spanish influences and historical landmarks in the area. You can even see people dressed as the Spanish civil guards during the colonial era for that overall blast from the past. In addition to that, you can also see interesting finds especially if you love vintage and handmade crafts.

When we were approaching San Agustin Church, we saw this quaint vintage decor shop popularly known as “The Papiér Tolé Shop”. This shop was established in the 1600’s. They specialize in selling lots of handmade vintage decorations, from paper machéd pen holders, boxes, to stylish and perfectly crafted accessories and photo frames. Try to make it a point to visit this shop when you’re in Intramuros.

In addition to that, one should never fail to visit the different cathedrals and basilica’s located in area namely the Manila Cathedral and the San Agustin Church. Filipino superstition would say that if it is your first time to visit a church, make sure to knock on its doors before you enter and make a wish. I did. Who knows? It might come true.

Was I able to mention that visiting Intramuros is very cheap? You do not have to much spend at all if you just walk around the city reading historical plaques, visiting parks, old churches, and the likes. However, if you plan to take a walk at the walls of Fort Santiago, you may have to bring some extra cash with you. We paid around Php50.00 per head for the entrance fee. It was quite worth it since Fort Santiago an area one must never fail to visit when in Intramuros.

All in all, our visit to Intramuros was very much worth it. Even the strong heat of the summer sun cannot beat the different historical information and architectural perspectives and structures we saw. When in Manila, one should never forget to visit the Walled City and re-experience the past in a modern light.

Intramuros is located in the City of Manila near the Pasig River and quite adjacent to the Manila City Hall. This area now houses schools such as the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, and Mapua Institute of Technology.