Welcome to Manila...capital city and premier gateway of the country. It is also the political, economic, social, educational, cultural and recrational center of the vast archipelago of the Philippines. The city is a delightful mis of old and new...of age-old traditions and modern-day attractions...of centuries-old buildings and gleaming high-rise structures...of quiant street stalls, and modern shopping malls...of colorful jeepney's, and sleek new cars...of stately museums, and disco's and bars. Truly, a busting and vibrant metropolis...it brings together the country's multi-faceted culture and different peoples.
what to see?
A day is definitely not sufficient to see all Manila has to offer (specially with poor traffic conditions). A good place to start is the walled city of Intramuros, which Spanish colonizers made their capital. The entire area is historic and has many attractions like...Fort Santiago, headquarters' to Spanish military troops and prison to many Filipino's including our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal...Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church, two of the oldest churches in the country and filled with an extensive collection of religious artifacts...Casa Manila, a reconstructed 19th century mansion...and just outside of Intramuros, is Rizal Park, with its wide expanse of manicured lawns, gardens, fountains and open air auditorium. Then drive through Roxas Boulevard to see beautiful Manila Bay towards nearby Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex the arts center which regularly holds ballet, concerts, stage plays, other performances and art events. Within the complex is the Coconut Palace, Philippines International Convention Center and the Philippine Center for International Trade and Exhibit. When open, the Malacanang Palace is definitely a must-see place. This is the official residence of our country's President's until turned into a museum by then President Cory Aquino.
A little distance away, it is interesting to visit the Nayong Pilipino (Philippine Village), which is a 32-acre theme park with a scaled down version of all tourist spots around the country...then proceed to Makati, the county's premier business district characterized by high-rise buildings, sprawling shopping malls, gourmet restaurants, fashionable bars and clubs...see the Ayala Museum, with it's diorama's depicting centuries of Filipino civilization.
what to do?
There are a number of golf courses in Metro Manila like Manila Golf Club and Wack-Wack Golf Club, but these are exclusively for members and their guests only. An hour or so away, some theme parks have opened in the last few years which children would definitely love...there is Enchanted Kingdom(a local version of Disneyland) and Splash Island (similar to Wet and Wild). There are also a number of first class beach resorts in Cavite with great accommodations but unspectacular beaches (sorry!). And for the diving enthusiasts, a 3-hour drive away is the town of Anilao in Batangas, which is a good diving place with lots of marine life, corals and some wrecks. There are no nice sandy beaches there...mostly rocks and corals.
Some tours: Two whole day tours I highly recommended are the Correhidor Island Tour, which is a 1 hour boat cruise to Corregidor Island, last stronghold of the allied forces in the pacific during World War II. The tour of the island and the light and sound show are very interesting. The other trip is to Villa Escudero Plantation Resort, where one can experience the native Filipino lifestyle in a farm-plantation setting. Included is entrance to their fabulous Museum, tour of the estate on board a carabao-drawn carriage, lunch by a water dam, and a special Filipino program on weekends. Overnight in beautiful cottages by the lake is also available.
Other day-trips outside Manila: Drive 1 1/2-hour south to scenic Tagaytay Ridge to see the spectacular view of a volcano island in the middle of Taal Lake. There are lots of picnic areas and restaurants to choose from. With time left, it would be a good idea to proceed to the town of Taal which would take another hour or so. This charming town with its historic old church and old houses is well worth seeing. There is also Hidden Valley Springs, 1 1/2 hours drive in Laguna, a popular retreat amidst lush jungle surroundings and natural spring and pools. About 1 1/2-2 hours north in Clark Air Base Pampanga, is Expo Filipino, one of the ceterpieces in the centennial celebration of our independence. It is exposition of the best in the country, showing past history, our present and future. Another great place 2-3 hour north of Manila is Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, former U.S. naval base in the country, and now an economic and tourism center. There are some good hotels, casino, yacht club, and beaches and duty-free shopping.