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Manila
City, Metro Manila, Philippines
 II.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Historical
- Cultural - Religious
- Man Made
1.
Plaza San Luis
Location:
Intramuros, Manila
Description:
Named after one of the old barrios of old Intramuros, this is
a cultural-cum-commercial complex currently composed of five houses
- Casa Manila, Casa Urdaneta, Casa Blanca, Los Hidalgos and El
Hogar Filipino. Plaza Ruis will eventually consist of 9 houses
representing different eras in Filipino - Hispanic architecture.
Aside from gift and specialty shops, the complex has a museum
at Casa Manila, containing late 19th century and early 20th century
furniture found in a typical Filipino illustrado or the priviledged
class home.
How
to get there?: From Mabini and Pedro Gil Sts., hail a PUJ
bound to the "Pier" and get off at the Bonifacio Drive
intersection. From here, Plaza San Luis is a 10 minutes walk going
towards Aduana St. As an alternative route, one can take any pier
bound PUJ in Quezon City and get off at Aduana Street.
Travel
Time: Approximately 25 minutes (from Manila). Approximately
an hour (from Quezon City)
2.
Fort Santiago
Location:
Intramuros, Manila
Description:
Which marks its entrance on the northwestern trip to Intramuros,
started in 1571 and completed nearly 150 years later by Filipino
forced labor. The pre Spanish settlement of Rajah Sulayman was
a wooden fort on the ashes of which was built the Spanish fortress
which was Spain's major defense position in the islands. It looked
out on the sea, towards which is canons were trained to ward off
pirates and invaders. Also known as the "Shrine of Freedom",
in memory of the heroic Filipinos imprisoned and killed here during
the Spanish and Japanes eras. Partly rebuilt from the ruins of
World War II, it is now a park and premonade housing a resident
theater company - PETA which has used ramparts, old garison and
small chapel, as theaters for both traditional and modern plays.
How
to get there?: From T.M. Kalaw St., walk to Mabini or Pedro
Gil Sts. and hail a PUJ bound for the pier and get off at the
Bonifacio Drive Intersection. From here, Fort Santiago is a five
minute walk going towards Aduana Street.
Travel
Time: Approximately 25 minutes.
3.
Rizal Shrine
Location:
Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila
Description:
The restored shrine inside Fort Santiago houses Rizaliana items
in memory of the Phiilppines' national hero. Jose RIzal spent
his last few days here before he was executed on December 30,
1896. Among the objects exhibited are various books and manuscripts
by and about the national hero; sketches, paintings, wood carvings
and sculpture done by the hero; paraphernalia and souvenir acquired
during his several trips abroad; and a collection of colonial
style furniture form his hometown in Calamba, Laguna.
How
to get there?: From T.M. Kalaw St., walk to Mabini or Pedro
Gil Sts. and hail a PUJ bound for the pier and get off at the
Bonifacio Drive Intersection. From here, Fort Santiago is a five
minute walk foing towards Aduana Street.
Travel
Time: Approximately 25 minutes.
4.
Mabini Shrine
Location:
Pandacan, Manila
Description:
Apolinarion Mabini, the intellectual leader of the Philippine
Revolution, lived in this house as a law student, a lawyer and
worker who advocated Philippine Independence from Spain. During
the American Occupation, it was much frequented by foreign correspondents
who found Mabini both interesting and informative and became intellectual
headquarters of the first Philippine Republic.
The
house was made of bamboo and nipa roof. the floors are polished
bamboo slats and the walls are sawali. It is a typical lower middle
income family house. The pieces of furnitures in the house are
replicas of the originals.
How
to get there?: From PWU in Taft Avenue corner Gen. Malvar
St., hail a PUJ bound for Paco and get off at the foot of the
Nagtahan Bridge. From the bridge, a short walk towards the Presidential
Security Group compound leads to the shrine.
Travel
Time: Approximately 20 minutes.
5.
Palacio del Gobernador
Location:
Plaza Roma, Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila
Description:
Formerly the home of Manuel Estacion de Venegas, a governors'
aide, the two-storey structure was expropriated and subsequently
made the official residence and office of the Spanish governor-generals
in 1654 until an earthquake brought it down in 1863. It lay in
ruins for almost a century until the Land Bank of the Philippines
built an 8-storey building on the site in 1978. the office of
Intramuros Administration is presently housed here.
How
to get there?: From T.M. Kalaw St., walk to Mabini or Pedro
Gil Sts. and hail a PUJ bound for the pier and get off at Bonifacio
Drive Intersection. The Palacio del Gobernador is a 15-minute
walk going towards Aduana Street. As an alternative route, hail
any pier bound PUJ in Quezon City and get off at Aduana Street.
Travel
Time: Approximately 25 minutes.
6.
Plaza Samplucan
Location:
General Luna St., Intramuros, Manila
Description:
The site belonged to a Spanish merchant who became the paramour
of Governor General Alonso Fajardo's wife in 1621. Legend has
it that the house in this plaza was their trysting place, shunned
as a place of sin and and demolished after their deaths at the
hands of the cuckolded official. Tamarind trees spontaneously
grew on the spot which, which according to many, is the symbol
of their bitter-sweet love affair.
How
to get there?: From T.M. Kalaw Kalaw St., go to Mabini St.
or Pedro Gil St. and hail any pier bound PUJ and get off at the
Bonifacio Drive intersection. The Plaza Samplaucan is a 15-minute
walk going towards Aduana St. As an alternative route, hail a
pier bound PUJ in Quezon City and get off at Aduana Street.
Travel
Time: Approximately 25 minutes.
7.
Malacañang Palace
Location:
J.P. Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila
Description:
Seat of the head of Government of the Philippines since Spanish
times; officially stands on the northbank of the Pasig river whose
beauty has been said in legend and in song.
Malacañang,
from the vernacular "May Lakan Diyan" meaning "There
lives a noble man," was built in the 18th century as a recreation
villa for a Spanish aristocrat Luis Rocha. In 1825, the Spanish
government bought the palace for P5,000.00 thus turned it into
a summer house of governor generals. The earthquake which brought
down the Palacio del Gobernador in Intra-muros officially designated
Mala-cañang Palace as the permanent seat of the Head of
State.
How
to get there?: From T.M. Kalaw St., hail a PUJ bound for "Quiapo".
Get off at Quiapo and hail another PUJ going to "San Miguel".
Get off at the J.P. Rizal Laurel Street and proceed to gate number
6 of the palace.
Travel
Time: Approximately 30 minutes.
8.
Rizal Park
Location:
Rizal Park, Manila
Description:
Considered as one of the largest parks in Southeast Asia. It has
an era of 58 hectares which runs from Taft Avenue up to the walls
of the famous Manila Bay.
Known
as the Bagumbayan field during the Spanish era since this was
where the Filipino Moslems took refuge after the Spaniards occupied
Intramuros in 1571. It was also called "Luneta" which
means which means "Little Moon". For 74 years, it was
used as an execution ground by the Spaniards for Filipino rebels
and multineers. By 1902, Daniel Burnham, architect and city planner
chose Bagumbayan as the site of proposed American government center.
He designed a U-shaped position building, but only three were
erected. These are the Executive House, the Department of Tourism
building and the Department of Finance building.
It
is acquired its present name "Rizal National Park" in
dedication to the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Protacio
Rizal whose mortal remains were interred in the cornerstone of
the Rizal Monument in 1912.
How
to get there?: Coming from the south of Manila, take any Taft
Avenue bound jeepney. Get off right at the park. From Quiapo,
one can take a PUJ bound fro T.M. Kalaw St. via Taft Avenue and
get off right at the park.
Travel
Time: Approximately 30 minutes.
9.
Chinese Cemetery
Location:
South Gate on Aurora Avenue, Blumentritt, Manila
Description:
Founded in the mid 1850's by Lim Ong and Tan Quien Sien (Don Carlos
Palanca) to accommodate the many Chinese, who were not allowed
to be buried in Spanish cemeteries.
The
cemetery covering 54 hectares has streets lined with mausoleums
which are richly adorned with marble and wrought iron, some with
strained glass windows. Some imposing mausoleum serve the dual
purpose of honoring the dead and exhibiting the socio-economic
status of the family.
The
crematorium is opposite the temple. A nearby building houses ashes
on 2nd Floors and on the 3rd Floor, the bones of those who will
return to the mainland.
The
poor are buried in terraces to the left of the Buddhist Temple.
How
to get there?: From T.M. Kalaw St., proceed to Taft Avenue
anf hail a PUJ bound for "Blumentritt / Dimasalang".
Get off right in front of the SIlver Drugstore. A 15-minute walk
towards the south gate on Aurora Avenue.
Take
the LRT at UN Avenue station or Pedro Gil station. Get off at
R. Papa station. The cemetery is right down from the station.
Travel
Time: Approximately 30 minutes.
10.
Paco Park and Cemetery
Location:
Paco, Manila
 Description:
Once a Spanish cemetery surrounded by a massive circular wall
during the Spanish era. Intended for the victims of the cholera
epidemic niches inside the cemetery were leased for P20.00 for
three years, renewable. When all niches were filled, remains of
occupants those leases had expired were transferred to the ossorio
t allow for new burials. The last interment was in 1913.
Remains
of Spanish governors and the elite were laid to rest in the Chapel
of San Pancratius. Today, only the remains of Governor-General
Ramon Solano are still in the chapel.
In
1996, the cemetery was declared a National Park which makes it
a charming spot where visitors promenade.
How
to get there?: From Taft Avenue corner Padre Faura Sts., hail
a PUJ ato Paco and get off along Padre Faura, and take a 7-minute
walk to the park.
Travel
Time: Approximately 20 minutes.
11.
Ermita District
Location:
Ermita, Manila
Description:
Originally known as "Lagyo". In 1591, a chapel was constructed
for Nuestra Señora de Guia. A Mexican hermit arrived in
the place and lived in the chapel and people referred to ti as
"La Ermita".
Ermita
was a fishing village prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. When
the Spaniards moved out of Intramuros, they integrated with the
Indios in Ermita and adjacent Malate and to a lesser extent, Paco.
These became a fashionable residential areas in the Spanish era
to the American era.
Today,
Ermita is the heart of the tourist belt area, with countless restaurants,
bars, clubs, handicraft stores and art galleries.
How
to get there?: Along T.M. Kalaw st. or Maria Orosa St., hail
a PUJ going to Mabini and get off right in Ermita.
Travel
Time: Approximately 10 minutes.
12.
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
Location:
General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila.
Description:
Formally opened on July 17, 1967, is the first university in the
country to have its official name in Filipino. The first and only
tuition free institution of higher learning in the Philippines
and perhaps in Asia. It is also the first and only university
funded solely by a municipal government in the country.
How
to get there?: From Quiapo or from the Manila City Hall, hail
a PUJ bound Mabini. Get off at the Round Table a 2-minute walk
towards the university.
Travel
Time: Approximately 20 minutes.
13.
Plaza Dilao Paco District
Location:
Paco, Manila
Description:
On a patch of land across the road from the Paco Post Office building,
is a statue of Japanese Feudal Lord Wukon Takayama, who was exiled
to the Philippines in 1614 because he refused to disvow his Christian
beliefs. At that time, the Spaniards referred to the Paco Area
as the "Yellow Plaza" because of the more than 3,000
Japanese who resided there.
Plaza
Dilao is the last vestige of the old town of Paco.
How
to get there?: From the PWU in Taft Avenue corner Gen. Malvar
St., hail a PUJ bound Paco and get off at the foot of Nagtahan
bridge. From the bridge, take a short 15-minute walk towards the
Plaza.
Travel
Time: Approximately 30 minutes.
14. University of Sto. Thomas
Location:
España, Manila
Description:
The oldest university of the Philippines and in Asia that was
founded on April 11, 1611 by Reverend Father Miguel de Benavides.
Originally
opened as the College of Our Lady of the Rosary - the university
has been bestowed the title "Royal" by King Charles
III of Spain 8n 1758, while Pope Leo XIII granted the title "Pontifical"
in 1902.
Located
originally in Intramuros, it was only transferred to its present
site in 1911. The university has 3 ecclesiastical faculties, namely:
Theology, Canon law and Philosophy. There are 12 colleges and
faculties as well.
Owned
by the Spanish Dominicans which is governed by the Board of Trustees.
Until the late 19th century, the university only accepted students
od Spanish parentage. Women were first admitted in 1927.
UST
campus served also as an interment camp for American, British,
Canadians and other allied nationals by the Japanese Occupation
Forces from January 1942 - February 1945. More than 10,000 people
were imprisoned although it never held more than 4,000 at one
time.
How
to get there?: From T.M. Kalaw St., hail a PUJ for "Fairview".
Get off right in front of the university along España.
Travel
Time: Approximately 20 minutes.
15.
San Miguel District
Location:
San Miguel, Manila
Description:
During the 18th century, the place developed into a fashionable
summer resort area because of its nearness to the once clean and
non-polluted Pasig river. Elegant villas fringed the river, streets
lined with flamed trees, and occupants commuted by carriage going
to the place.
How
to get there?: From T.M. Kalaw St., hail a PUJ bound for Quiapo
and take another PUJ bound to San Miguel. Get off at San Miguel.
Travel
Time: Approximately 25 minutes.
16.
Isla de Convalencia (Hospicio de San Jose)
Location:
San Miguel, Manila
Description:
An orphanage which was established in 1782 by Don Francisco Gomez
Enriquez and Doña Barbara Versoza in pious gratitude for
Don's recovery from illness. Now known as the Hospicio de San
Jose and is under the management of the Daughters of Charity of
Saint Vincent de Paul. The orphanage accepts "Abandoned babies
and children."
How
to get there?: From T.M. Kalaw, hail a PUJ bound for Quiapo.
Get off at Quiapo. Take another PUJ going to San Miguel. Get off
half-way of the Ayala bridge.
Travel
Time: Approximately 25 minutes.
17.
Pasig River
Location:
Manila (a portion)
Description:
Considered as the "Cradle of Civilization" in Manila,
1 16-km. long river. Great communities have always sprung along
waterways and that was how Maynilad must have begun.
How
to get there?: One can have a joyride in Pasig river by taking
the metro ferry down MacArthur bridge.
Travel
Time: Approximately 25 minutes.
18.
Manila Bay
 Location:
Manila (a portion)
Description:
Considered the finest harbor in the Far East, where the famous
"Mock Battle" occured. This was the battle between the
Americans and the Spaniards in 1898.
Many
historians believed that the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade between
Philippines and Mexico thrived principally because of the strategic
location of Manila Bay. The Galleon Trade lasted for 244 years.
How
to get there?: One can start the tour from Rizal Park going
towards the Bay.
Travel
Time: Approximately 30 minutes.
19.
Escolta
Location:
Escolta, Sta. Cruz, Manila
Description:
The elite shopping center during the Spanish and American regimes.
How
to get there?: From T.M. Kalaw, proceed to Taft Avenue and
hail a PUJ bound for Sta. Cruz. Get off right in front of Sta.
Cruz Church. A 5-minute walk towards Escolta. From Ma. Orosa St.,
hail a PUJ going to "Divisoria". Get off at Escolta.
Travel
Time: Approximately 15 minutes.
20.
Philippine Normal College
Location:
Taft Avenue corner Ayala Boulevard, Manila
Description:
The first college institution founded by the American Colonial
Government in 1903 specializing in the field of education.
How
to get there?: One can start from RIzal Park going towards
P. Burgos St. Cross Taft Avenue and the college is right in front
of the Executive House.
Travel
Time: Approximately 25 minutes.
21.
Chinatown
Location:
Binondo, Manila
Description:
The Chinatown which is located along the northern bank of the
historic Pasig river symbolizes the long history of the Chinese
people presence in the Philippines; long antedating the arrival
of the Spaniards. The Chinese had been much involved in business,
especially the retail trade and have been absorbed into a Philippine
life-style.
How
to get there?: From Taft Avenue or Ma. Orosa St., hail a PUJ
going to "Divisoria". Get off at the "Arch of Goodwill"
which is the main gateway to Chinatown.
Travel
Time: Approximately 10 to 20 minutes.
Historical
- Cultural - Religious
- Man Made
AVL-Country-Sight-Travel,
Inc
Contact : VIOLY,
RITA
Tel. (632) 372-4865, 371-1492, 371-1493
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