THIS is the most awesome statue of Andres Bonifacio in existence. Not the one in Monumento (A…read moretravesty, really), and not the one in front of the National Post Office. THIS. I am totally in love with the raw energy, the fierceness, the drama of this monument. Not content to showcase Bonifacio standing, they show him charging into action, ready to fight, ready to sacrifice his life for the country as he actually did (Though not at the hands of the enemy, but this is not the time for that discussion). If you angle your shot at just the right spot, you can actually depict Bonifacio attacking Manila City Hall. It's an incredible shot that may or may not be representative of whatever.

The City of Manila and Manilenos love Andres Bonifacio, placing him on a pedestal practically at…read morepar with National Hero Jose P. Rizal. This is with good reason. Bonifacio was founder of the movement known as the Katipunan, which waged a revolution against Spain in the 1890s. It is one of Philippine history's greatest tragedies that Bonifacio became a victim of the very revolution he started, being assassinated by the men of Emilio Aguinaldo after the revolutionary forces split into two factions. Today, the nationalist and Leftist movements consider Bonifacio a national hero. He is their symbol as well as rallying point in their modern day war against oppression. Bonifacio Day is celebrated as a national holiday and the most important shrine to the revolutionary from Tondo is the Kartilya ng Katipunan shrine in Liwasang Bonifacio. No less than National Artist Ed Castrillo created this metal and wood sculpture. The plaza in front is often used for different events, from political rallies to city fairs. Above it all stands the mighty Bonifacio, wielding his bolo and rallying his men to fight the better equipped Spaniards.

A long time ago, there was a plot of land beside the Manila City Hall where old trees proliferated…read more Known as the Mehan Garden, it was a park where city dwellers could commune with nature. Over the decades, little by little, Mehan Garden gave way to various construction projects. Today, only a small portion of the original garden remains. Still, the trees which are more than a century old are still thriving. The remnants of the Mehan Garden has not been kept properly by the city government, but the trees are still alive and well. Although there isn't much grass, the place still invites couples and families to lounge and relax, read books, listen to music, or just chat the hours away. Hopefully, the current or the next administration for the city will take better care of the site. Incidentally, on the other side of the back road is a small forested area which has more lush greenery. This was a project of former Mayor Fred Lim. Thankfully, the administration of Mayor Erap Estrada has allowed the forest park to survive.

This is a fort in Manila Philippines although I have been there multiple times I have never been…read morehere. Disclaimer here, I have a long and semi obsessive history with well history. I loved this, we didn't have a tour guide (if they even have any) we went all over and then finally went into this museum which does have a charge to enter. You can't wear any hats inside as a sign of respect. Also if you are over 6 ft (183 cm) be prepared to squat, twist bump most parts of your body as this was built for Philippinoes a long time ago ie: short. If you can take this part of it then you will definitely enjoy it or at least learn something new. Well I would say try it and learn from history. Enjoy.

Fort Santiago was an amazing place to visit and experience Philippine history firsthand. Seeing the…read moreactual jail cell where José Rizal was imprisoned was incredibly moving and easily the highlight of my visit. The only disappointing part was learning that the footprints marking Rizal's final walk to his execution had been removed. I really wish they had kept them, as they added such a powerful and meaningful element to the experience. Still, Fort Santiago is absolutely worth visiting, especially if you're interested in Philippine history.

The Manila Metropolitan Theater (Met for short and Tanghalang Pangkalakhan ng Maynila in Tagalog)…read morefor me epitomizes one of the greatest faults in our country. The MET is another Once a gem of Manila, this theater was designed by renowned Filipino architect Juan M. Arellano. Look carefully enough and you'll spot how some of the buildings architecture transitions from Art Nouveau to Art Deco. To date, many fall in love with her looks despite being as old and withered as she is. In a way, the MET , and even perhaps the entire country, is like the MET. It was once wonderful and glorious. It served as a beacon and symbol to Filipinos celebrating their own culture by hosting Zarzuelas, Filipino opera, and so much more. It withstood the Japanese occupation for crying out loud. Unfortunately, the MET fell victim to Pinoy politics. It played the rope in a tug of war game between the local government of Manila and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), though what the GSIS plans to do with a theater is beyond me. Many attempts have been made to revive this old girl. None have succeeded in restoring the MET back into the once shining and polished gem that it once was. However there is hope. Recent stories have said that the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has been given approval by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to buy this building. The NCCA now plans to spend half a billion pesos on restoring the building in the hopes of restoring its former glory.

If you're a Metro Manila local, I'm sure you've passed by the Manila Metropolitan Theater countless…read moretimes before. In my case, I used to pass by the structure every day back in college as I took my FX to class. "The Met" as many fondly call it, had hosted countless of international artists. The National Commission on Culture and the Arts also declared it a National Culture Treasure as authorized by Republic Act No. 10066. It is however very unfortunate that such a beautiful art-deco structure is being left to rot and decay. I was fortunate enough to attend a concert in The Met a few years back. My favorite Filipino rock band, Wolfgang, decided to hold a concert there. It was indeed a brilliant and cool idea. On one end, it was a nice way to change things up and hold a rock concert at an unusual venue. On the other, it was a way to raise awareness that the structure is in desperately need of proper care and maintenance. As Wolfgang frontman Basti Artadi called it, "the old battle axe." Here's to hoping that future Manila City leadership pursues a concrete and more importantly, sustainable initiative to restore this art-deco beauty to its past glory. The 5-stars I'm giving for this rating is for all The Met's history and legacy, but on how it has been forgotten and disregarded by everyone, one star would even be too generous.

Because there are a number of government and private offices in Intramuros, Manila, parking can…read morestill be a problem on some days. The good thing is that some idle places have been opened to parking and these are surrounded by the historic walls. Among them is Plaza Maestranza, which has been well maintained by the Intramuros Administration. Some purists complain that turning such sites is not right, that they should be kept as public areas. But this would be a waste of space, considering that most of Intramuros is not exactly wanting in public areas. Besides, the cars are owned by people who are there not as tourists but as part of their jobs. What I like best about Plaza Maestranza and the rest of Intramuros is that the guards are dressed in uniforms that harken back to the time of Jose Rizal. It's a nice touch.

There were recent reports that the magnificent Post Office Building in Liwasang Bonifacio would…read moresoon be sold to a Korean conglomerate which would turn it into a five star hotel. The purchase came with the promise that the exterior would not be touched. If this report is true, then it may be acceptable. For all its beauty, there is no questioning the fact that the global postal system is in flux. The traditional post offices are all facing serious challenges brought about by modern technology. The Philippine Postal Corporation tried to put up a bank to make remittances easier. Instead of sending postal money orders by mail, it would be infinitely better to send funds bank to bank. There have also been serious attempts to speed up the delivery system. All these attempts have been in vain, and the reason cited for possibly selling the awe inspiring Post Office building is because of the heavy losses of the government agency. As long as the building itself is never destroyed, we can live with whatever it becomes in the years and decades to come. But it would be better if a Filipino rather than a foreign group were to take over the edifice with its classic Roman architecture.

There is the shell of a building along historic Aduana street within the Walled City of Intramuros…read morein the capital city of that is begging to be restored. The building was where Customs used to be located in pre-war Manila, but was all but totally destroyed during the war, For some odd reason, it has practically become a tourist site, as well as a favorite of professional and amateur photographers. Only the outer walls and steel bars remain of what looks to be a magnificent looking structure when it was intact. It is not clear who has jurisdiction over the site. It may well be the Intramuros Administration or the National Historical Institute. It could even be the City of Manila itself. Whoever is in charge of this landmark is missing a great opportunity to restore a historically significant structure. But even in its totally destroyed state, it remains sadly beautiful.

The Bonifacio Monument in Liwasang Bonifacio in the Philippines' capital city of Manila pays…read morefitting tribute to one of the greatest Filipinos who ever lived. Here was a man born of a poor family from Tondo who rebelled against the Spanish had occupied the Philippines for three centuries. He brought together his small group of fellow rebels who wanted the islands to become one republic. History books still have many gaping holes where Bonifacio is concerned. Even the house where he was born is debatable. Some historians have sought to rewrite history by saying he was not really as poor as originally believed, that he was actually of a lower middle class family. His role as the true first president of the First Republic has also been largely unappreciated, perhaps because he had the position all too briefly before the camp of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo removed him from the post. But there is one thing that cannot be denied. Andres Bonifacio was the founder of the Katipunan, which waged a fierce war of independence against Spain, and succeeded, only to have the Americans enter the picture as the super power of the 20th century. By then, Bonifacio had been assassinated by Aguinaldo's men. Still, the image is firmly embedded in the Filipino psyche. Bonifacio was a true warrior, a giant among men. He is celebrated as the man who set the stage for the creation of the Republic of the Philippines.

I have to admit, I was very surprised by what I saw when I came here. Initially I figured it would…read morebe completely historical with stone fortifications, but instead there's an actual city with restaurants and homes. Must be pretty cool living within history, there's also an amazing view from top of the walls.

Intramuros has endured wars, calamities and foreign invaders and yet this 64-hectare stone city…read morestill stands as strong as it first did 400 hundred years ago. How could it live through such a beating? Clearly, there was so much more to these massive stone walls than its impeccable engineering. Everybody has a lot to say about this citadel, its squatters and scammers but it's the only window to our past and even if we try to look away, we will always come home to it. It's the heart our city, the last breathing structure that has escaped the commercialization of Manila. And while all of us will go on, the undead will remain on its streets guarding the last memory of the Philippine's colonial past.