For those willing to go further…
4. Divisoria
If you have a little bit more time on your hands, head over to Divisoria. Unleash your inner-Tita and start shopping! Make sure you haggle because they do hike up prices! Aside from the shopping, you could also grab a bite to eat. Divisoria is riddled with restaurants and food carts to try out! Your budget for this trip depends on what you plan on buying and/or eating. Rest assured there will always be something for you given whatever budget you set out.
Getting to Divisoria, although a tad bit far, is easy. Across DLSU campus, take the jeep that has a Divisoria sign on it. It will take you directly to Divisoria. One-way it should cost approximately P 11.00
Good for how many hours? 3-6 hours
3. UST Area
If you’re the type of person who enjoys visiting other universities, why not take a trip to UST? Not to mention, this is also the perfect place for a food trip! The streets surrounding UST like Padre Noval and Dapitan is filled with restaurants and stalls that offer food that is so affordable and delicious, it makes you rethink why you went to study in DLSU. Aside from tripping on food, you could head into their beautiful campus, meet your friend, or meet your soulmate. Just kidding! Or am I? That’s up to you. Anyway, you could also hear mass while you’re in campus. They also have a small museum in the main building that you could check out.
READ: A Thomasian’s Campus Chibog Map
To get to UST, you could take the UV vans that are bound for SM Fairview. It drops you right in front of their campus. It should cost less than P 40.00. You could also ride a jeep (P 13.00) to Dapitan, Dangwa, Espana, or any of the streets surrounding the campus. The LRT-1 can also take you to the area. Just ride the train until Bambang station (P 15.00)
UST is also a good starting off point to go to Mendiola. Simply ride a trike for about P 10.00. Get off by the Mendiola arch and ask the guards to point you to St. Jude Church. This is where, according to my co-intern, you can pray if you need a miracle or a boylet/girlet. Worth the try, right?! Anyway, near St. Jude’s is Malacanang already! So take a tour there if you’ve got the time! Heading back to Mendiola arch, you’ll pass by a gorgeous church made out of metal. That church is St. Sebastian church, another place to say a prayer and make a wish!
Good for how many hours? 4-8 hours
2. Binondo
A must-do in your days as a college student in Manila is visiting our city’s Chinatown, Binondo! The Binondo district is a great place to go for a photowalk. You could also do another food trip or go shopping! You can finally stock up on some tikoy and egg tarts! Another fun thing to do is to visit the temples in the area and light some incense (for free). While in Binondo, you could head to Escolta, where there are museums and buildings full of history to explore.
To get to Binondo, you can ride a jeep Sta. Cruz or straight to Binondo (P 11.00)
Good for how many hours? 3-4 hours
1. Quiapo
Quiapo is popular for its church and for the affordable goods within it. Known to host the country’s annual Feast of the Black Nazarene, Quiapo church is another historic place to visit. Why not buy a string of sampaguita for Mama Mary and offer a prayer?
Just outside the church’s plaza, you’ll find plenty of vendors of fruits, and random items. I usually buy myself tempered glass for P 100.00 when I’m here. Again, there is a very random variety of goods to get your hands on here. The ukay-ukays in the area will get you a lot of clothes for just P 200.00. While if you head over to Wellmanson, you can buy a lot of cheap gift items or accessories for P 300.00. For photographers, Hidalgo street is the place to go for affordable cameras, lenses, and accessories. For those who need lenses for their eyes, Paterno street is the place to go! Here you can get prescription glasses, complete with frames for just P 600.00 pesos. Plus it will only take an hour’s wait.
To get to Quiapo, you can take the jeep across DLSU campus that have Quiapo signs on them. You can take any jeep heading to the UST area because Quiapo is along the way. It should cost P 10.00 for a jeep. You could also take the LRT-1 to Doroteo Jose station (P 16.00) and then walk the overpass to Recto LRT-2 station. Go down the Isetann side of the station and walk straight to Quiapo church at the end of the street.
Good for how many hours? 3-5 hours
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What are you waiting for? Get up and get going! Stop attempting to kill 6 hours in the Henry Sy library; you’ll just go insane! Hit up these locations and start your Manila mini-adventure!
What’s your favorite place to go to during your long breaks? Let us know in the comment section below!
