I remember first finding out about Mystery Manila when one of their sponsored ads caught my eye on…read moreFacebook. I have to give props to their advertising agency or advertising team as the ad was extremely enticing and I know I wasn't the only one whose attention was caught by the copy and graphic that they used. Anyway, when the website finally launched (www.mysterymanila.com), my friends and I rushed to book the first room we could get our hands on. It was called Chained Chamber and we were a group of five (two guys, three girls). Upon entering the grounds at Libis, we were greeted warmly, briefed, offered drinks, and finally, blindfolded, and accompanied to the room we would be solving the mystery in by a guide. I was extremely expressed by what the owners have done with the place and how they've been able to so ingeniously utilize the small space that they have. For that space in time, I really did feel like I was somewhere else and the challenge in itself was quite a feat to tackle. I don't want to give away too much, but allow me to liken the experience to the Amazing Race. Been back several times since the first visit, and I can say that those experiences were super fun as well. I can vouch for the Sinister Sensorium (Jupiter branch) and the Ticking Time Bomb (Libis). Have fun... and don't forget your brain food!

If you feel like you want to play a game... *puts on a Jigsaw voice*…read more You're bound to have fun at Mystery Manila. You and your friends are locked in a room for one hour, and you need to solve some kind of puzzle (depending on the scenario) to get out. No athletics or brute force needed here, just lots of skill points in problem solving and teamwork! It's all about mind games and riddles, which you'll have to solve under an hour. I went with a group of 5 friends for the Sinister Sensorium room in their Makati branch (across Mapua). This was lots of fun because each of us had to pick a disability: 2 of us had to be deaf, 2 blind, and 2 mute. I won't give any spoilers here, but let me just say that it we had an awesome time. Gather a group of friends and try it out! :D (We also realized that if we were to actually be in a serial killer scenario, we'd be so screwed. :P)

Cosplaymania is the convention that I like introducing cosplay scene newbies or spectators to,…read morebecause it's where local cosplayers pull out all their stops and bring out their coolest costumes. It's also one of the most well organized and large scale conventions in the Philippines. Expect to see tons of huge armor cosplays, widespread wings, girls with big guns, and your favorite characters executed well. There'll also be guest appearances by prominent foreign and local cosplayers. What can the convention-clueless do during conventions? What everyone else does, really. There's a reason why us regulars enjoy it so much we go to conventions monthly. I'd suggest browsing the booths for all kinds of geeky merchandise, watching the cosplay competitions, taking pictures of and/or with some cool cosplayers, visiting the artists' booth and having a custom artwork commissioned, and making some new ultra geeky ultra cool friends. But mostly, enjoy the ridiculously awesome costumes you're about to see. Hey, maybe go in cosplay yourself! CosplayMania usually happens at around September-October. Pay attention to their Facebook pages for dates. Tickets go for around P250 a pop.

Standing erect amidst a vast, dark field in Pasay, Halloween Haunts Scream Park Manila is the first…read moreof its kind in Asia. It houses four horrific attractions for the adventurers and thrill-seekers to enjoy. And remember, it's not for the faint-hearted. Together with my family, I had the chance to immerse myself, as a horror fan, into this wonderland. Just a warning, though: the biggest person in your group MUST wear a large shirt. I'll tell you why later. The first horror you'll come into contact with is the Haunted Village - a literal ghost town set in the Spanish Era, where Katipuneros and Maria Claras wander around aimlessly. Your group will be asked to wait for approximately 15 minutes before going in for a more indulgent experience. By this time, expect the scaredy-cats clinging onto your arms. Yes, photo-ops with the zombies are allowed! However, that's it. For the next three attractions, cameras and video-cams are prohibited. You will be asked to leave all your things into a depository room. The next one is the Haunted House. Get ready to surrender your screams. The house is pitch black, and believe me when I say that your group will automatically hold hands upon the entrance! Now I don't want to spoil anything, but here is the gist. It's a maze, and you'll have to find your way out, all while encountering sudden scares, terrifying rooms, and your inner voice that says, "Not that brave at all, eh?" There are also narrow, squeaky and confusing hallways wherein you'll experience having a simulated epilepsy: watch out if you have health problems. As for us, we did find ourselves out after twenty minutes inside. And my Dad's shirt expanded from medium to large: we all clung into him while screaming and walking inside. The Haunted Cemetery, in my honest opinion, is the least scary and exciting. It's a field where graveyards feel more alive than they seem, and wherein you'll get to live out MJ's Thriller. Don't sweat it, you'll still enjoy especially if you are all scared. Forgive me, I cannot review on the Haunted Asylum, as it was not opened yet at the time we visited. It looks promising, though. It has jails and rails and you'll go insane just by thinking how it will turn out. Little tips: When the administration begins to open pre-bookings for tickets, grab them immediately! Not only will your group pay for a discounted price (it's 600+ Pesos per head), you'll be prioritized into the attractions especially when the Scream Park is packed with visitors. Also, when you get through the attractions, don't close your eyes! It'll soon be over and you'll regret not being scared and getting the most out of the experience. Lastly, take advantage of their official photography services! (Flash your smile with your friends, even if we know you're scared inside.) If you want to feel a realistic undead experience, then The Scream Park may be just the right kind of bite you need. Get those trembles out now!

I still call the place ULTRA. Most of my friends still do. Now, it is formally named Philsports…read moreArena, short for Philippine Institute of Sports Arena. My earliest memory of ULTRA was when my parents brought me here for various sporting events. After that, I would not hear about ULTRA again until I got into running and my friend encouraged me to try its outdoor oval. The track has a rubberized surface designed to relieve the force of impact in my strides, which must be the reason why it attracts both casual joggers and hardcore marathoners. To give some sort of order, the sprinters were relegated to take the inner lanes while the slow joggers stayed on the outer. (Also, I think this is where our national athletes practice and they have the place all to themselves in the morning.) It was a midsummer sunset run but somehow, the place was cool. It had a nice view of the tall buildings by the horizon, which reminded me of the field at the Manila Polo Club. One only has to pay 35 pesos to use the track, which is open until 9pm. It stretches 400 meters long, meaning I had to go around 25 times if I were to achieve my target distance. Another thing worth mentioning is that ice-cold water and Gatorade is being sold by the bleachers.

Carl (the previous reviewer) is right. Nobody I know calls this place "PhilSports Arena" or…read more"PhilSports Complex". To us, it was and it will always be ULTRA. I love it here. I have plenty of fond memories in the oval as I used to run for the track team back in college. So I've witnessed several sunsets here with people that I loved and bonded with even for but a time. The pool is decent too. I've even been inside the fencing hall because my best friends used to train there as they were part of the varsity team in their respective universities. This place is great for a run, a swim, or even just for hanging out. The arena isn't half-bad either.

My cousins brought me here when I visited, and this place contains so much of the Philippine's…read morehistory with the Spanish invasion. So much sadness for those who were tortured and killed to even the death of the country's hero. It makes you appreciate your own life and the freedom you have. If you'd like to learn more of its history, it's definitely a place to visit when you're in Manila.

Must visit for first timers to Manila. There's so much history here & landmarks. It's considered…read morethe Old Manila. It was a walled city. Definitely go early as it gets hot. I took a Grab from my hotel & walked the area. I didn't need a guide. I just took my time to walk around. There's some shops to grab souvenirs and a cold drink. Highlights are Fort Santiago where the national hero Jose Rizal was imprisoned & San Agustin Church the oldest stone church in the Philippines. Definitely try to enjoy lunch or dinner here at a restaurant called Barbara's. I did not use any tour guide or purchase any tour package to visit Intramuros or dine at Barbara's. I had a great experience.

Called to inquire about the venue rental. Sales agent not so entertaining. Would appreciate it if…read morethis agent would be more courteous.

I had the pleasure of going to Green Sun when several of the artists I handled were booked to…read moreperform at an event there. It has quite an interesting layout, with the middle area elevated. After supervising their sound check, I had the pleasure of going around the adjacent area where several "open stalls" where several independent local fashion designers and labels showcased their creations. There's also a cafeteria-style set-up, which could seat a huge number of people and would be perfect for themed events with such specific requirements. When the event proper began, the walls were transformed to screens. The area could probably hold about 500 people standing, which could really be perfect for special shows, or other sorts of events. There is a small patio in the back of the venue, which can be used as holding area or as smoking area as it also has a few tables and seat under canopies.

We were probably the oldest people in line when my friend's and I decided to try out Lazer Maxx as…read morea way to pass the time one weekend. Grown up kids all excited to get suited up, it was the dorkiest I've felt in a long time. They said we only had 30 minutes inside and I felt a bit bad for paying so much money for just half and hour but when you're running in the dark with a laser gun strapped to your chest, it does get pretty tiring. So the end goal is to get as many hits to your opponent's target without getting hit yourself. Each vest is equipped with a sensor that you should aim at, when you're hit, your gun temporarily shuts down and you'd have to wait until it's turned on again. I was a girly girl growing up so you can imagine the struggle I had aiming at boys running at lighting speed. But it's all good fun and even if I finished last on several occasions, yes we've been here more than once, it's a great place to blow off steam and burn off a few calories.

There are only a few things that can top the joy of shooting a friend for recreation. And there is…read moreno risk of you having to go to jail. This place gives you the opportunity to release stress, have fun and exercise at the same time. I got to experience Lazer Maxx with some officemates for a team building activity and it's been a very memorable experience. You will be divided into two teams and you each have a gun or what they call phasors. You will also wear a vest with sensors on it that your opponents will try to hit with their lazer and different points are given based on the location of the target that you hit. Sorry but no headshots here. They assign you a cool code name like Achilles or Perseus so you can keep track of your own score. Once everyone is ready then they release you in their arena. And then all hell breaks loose. I mean, you are in this dark arena with guys shooting lazers at you and you're trying to shoot back and you're trying to take cover while a comrade is asking for cover. The game is so frantic that the fifteen minute game play seemed like an hour for me. I exited the arena sweating and panting like I just ran a marathon. So yes, bring an extra shirt if you can. There are some things that I find interesting in this experience. For one, this is a game of wits. There are holes in hiding places that you can exploit to gain advantage over your opponent. It's fun to just go crazy and shoot at everything that moves but you'll just end up getting shot more by the other team. Strategies are needed. Plan the position of your team and make sure that someone covers your back at all times. On a side note, the game brings out hidden personalities and you get to see peolple for who they really are.The cute, prim and proper girl in the office is suddenly shooting wildly like a homicidal maniac who just drank a gallon of Red Bull. You also get a glimpse of who has a hidden angst against the boss, the one who has his target on your manager at the onset of the game. Or the one who keeps on "accidentally" hitting you even though you're on the same team. This is one of the most fun experience I've had. Your calves will be aching afterwards along with other muscles you didn't even know existed but it will definitely be worth it.

It's one of the most anticipated film festivals that would make any Filipino proud - Cinemalaya. It…read more is a showcase of all independent films made by our crop of very talented Filipino filmmakers. It has gained a lot of buzz through the years as it has showcased award-winning Filipino filmmakers, actors and producers gain international recognition. This year, from August 7-15, the festival will commence at The Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila. It has three categories: Shorts, New Breed and Director's Showcase. There's a wide variety of themes that you could watch from documentary, drama, romance, thrillers and adventure. There are more than 20 films that are shown throughout the festival. Tickets are priced at P150 for regular screenings. They also have discounts for students, senior citizens, PWD, government and military personnel. A Festival Pass is P3500 which can get you the priority lane, first dibs on seats and admission to all festival screenings at the CCP. If you could only allot one day for the festival, they also have a one-day pass at P500 for four screenings and P700 to 5 screenings that are valid on the day of purchase. Let's support the Filipino film industry! Let's prove even to our fellow Filipinos that our films aren't a dying art.

Another way you can show your nationalism and be more Pinoy (or Pinoy at heart) is by supporting…read morethe Cinemalaya Philippines Independent Film Festival. It's an amazing annual event that's both a festival and a competition. It provides exposure and a platform for trailblazing talented and creative Filipino filmmakers to show their skills and artistry. Not only that, the Cinemalaya Foundation is a not-for-profit and non-government foundation. They support and provide contestants with financial grants to help them in their film making journey for the festival, allow them complete artistic licence and enables their films to be seen by a wider audience locally and internationally. It also inspires them to join in international film festivals. Ticket rates are inexpensive. There are discounts and different ticket passes as well. Cinemalaya runs during early August. It's happening in a few months so do watch and support the future of the Philippine film industry! :)