The Plaza San Luis Complex is a charming commercial subsection of Intramuros right next to San…read moreAgustin Church. Made up of five reconstructed Spanish colonial era buildings, it reminds me of the shopping area around Mexico City's Zocalo, although on a much smaller scale. We walked around Plaza San Luis a couple of times during my trip to Manila, both to absorb the ambiance and to get lunch at Barbara's and shop for souvenirs. I didn't love the restaurant, but the plaza was lovely. There was a stone courtyard with an old fountain that was particularly attractive. If you're visiting Intramuros, make sure you drop by the Plaza San Luis Complex. I don't know about all the individual businesses, but the area is quite pretty.

I am embarrassed to admit that it took me almost 26 years as a Filipino to actually set food in…read morethis beautiful, historic place. I was lucky that someone was nice enough to take me here, as I am pretty sure I wouldn't have come across this place on my own. Plaza San Luis is a great representation of Spanish colonial architecture that luckily has survived and has been revived into a well-maintained establishment that houses smaller stores, a restaurant, and a museum. Those establishments do deserve reviews on their own, so I would really, really love to talk about how beautiful this courtyard is. It's amazing how this place has retained so much of its old-world feel, with all the plants, the fountain, the stone walls and floors--it's all in the details. It's no wonder that this place is now being offered as an events place that can be rented for special occasions. You can actually do a bit of exploring. You must go up the staircase and see the majestic view of the whole courtyard from the top. It's really beautiful. I really do hope that this place remains well-maintained and taken cared of. It's a gem of a destination that our history and culture cannot afford to lose.

I wanted to visit the oldest Chinatown in the world so we made a stop here on our trip. I figured…read moresince we were on vacation we needed to visit something historical. We took a rideshare from our hotel. We crossed the Jones Bridge then drove under the Binondo Chinatown Arch. We got dropped off on Ongpin Street and walked to the Binondo Church then stopped by Eng Bee Tin for Hopia. It was crowded but a fun experience. I'm glad we got to check out the neighborhood.

The World's oldest Chinatown! (MANILA Philippines)…read more We booked a van to drop us off at Lucky Chinatown Mall and came here on New Year's Day. From there we rode a tuk-tuk cart (a 3-wheeled gas passenger novelty taxi tricycle). That thing fit 8 of us inside plus the driver and his toddler so ten total). It dropped us off at Ongpin Street. I would've thought that the place would be empty because of the holiday but surprisingly many businesses and vendors were open. We came back a couple of days after and the streets had a more vibrant and bustling atmosphere. Ongpin Street in Manila is lined with restaurants and many shops including jewelry stores. There were many shops to pop into. You can find the Ongpin Northbridge Arch, and the Chinatown Welcome Arch and the Arch of Good Will at the end of Ongpin Street (cross-street Ronquillo Street). It ends on Juan Luna Street. Review #3287

E-mail and texting has overtaken snail mail as the main form of correspondence between people. That…read moredoesn't mean that people no longer write to each other using letters. This building is the central building for the country's mail sorting and distribution process. I pass by this mammoth of a structure each time I go to school or head home. It's a wonderful thing to behold. Few government buildings are as imposing and big as the Manila Central Post Office. Indeed, when I look at this structure I often wonder to myself why the country isn't littered with more structures like it. It's neoclassical structure is like a breath of fresh air compared to most of the box like buildings that I see populating Manila's streets. I love this building because it reminds me that there are hidden architectural gems in Manila that will stand out and make me look twice each time I cross the street or look around the corner.

The Manila Central Post Office never fails to move me and make me sad at the same time. It is…read moreeasily the most iconic and impressive building in Manila, and it is almost palatial. Seriously, looking at the Post Office loom over you as you cross the river is an arresting and breathtaking sight. However, all that majesty cannot hide the fact that the Post Office is in decay and needs all the help it can get. I'm hoping some group comes in and restores it for future use, because Philpost simply cannot take care of this magnificent structure anymore. There were talks that the Post Office was going to be converted into a hotel, although it appears talks have fallen through. I don't mind this turning into a heritage museum or something. Anything, really. Just save this gorgeous building, please!

The Pasig River Ferry is a unique way of seeing Metro Manila. The service has come and gone over…read morethe past few years, and the current incarnation has been active since late last year. The ferry service's resumption was so under the radar that a lot of locals aren't even aware that it's up and running again, and fewer still have actually taken it. That's a shame because it's a gorgeous, gorgeous experience. Okay, the Pasig River is not known for its cleanliness, which is a damned shame. However, rehabilitation works on the river have been undertaken intermittently through the past few years, and the river's quality has improved a lot. Which is good because the ferry's open air. The boats the ferry service uses are slim and sleek, and should fit around 40 passengers. There are seven active ferry stations from Intramuros in Manila to Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City, although most of the people who use this service get off at the Guadalupe station in Makati. The trip from Intramuros to Guadalupe takes about 40 minutes and gives you a glimpse on how important the Pasig River is to Metro Manila, in terms of livelihood, commerce, and interconnection. The fare varies depending on your embark and disembark points; Intramuros to Guadalupe costs P50 (roughly a US Dollar). Whip out your cameras as you pass by the Manila Post Office, as well as some old buildings and quaint riverside residences. Tuck that camera in as you pass by Malacañang Palace, the residence of the President of the Philippines, for security blah blah blah whatever. Seriously, it's a shame you can't take pictures of the Malacañang Palace because it's grand and majestic in the way most structures in Metro Manila aren't. The approach leading to Circuit Makati and Rockwell Center is picture-worthy and gives us a glimpse of the future of the river.

A less-popular and actually very convenient way of getting yourself from Makati to several parts of…read moreManila is via the Pasig River Ferry. If you're a local and you know what Pasig River is, then this mode of transportation won't exactly sound enticing. But you know what? It's cheap, comfortable, fast, and not bad at all. Fellow scout and cousin Ronan E. and I have just finished scarfing down double vegan cheeseburgers at a cafe nearby, and we had absolutely nothing to do. We've already walked along EDSA, went fruit-shopping in Guadalupe, took sneaky pics of that obscure park no one goes to at Guadalupe, and naturally, this was the next, obvious activity. We're both in our late twenties and until now have not been on the river AT ALL. They have several stops that can take you to Pinagbuhatan, San Joaquin, Sta. Ana, PUP, Escolta and Intramuros. For Php 50, you can get your butt to Plaza Mexico, Intramuros, the furthest stop in this ferry route to Manila and it will take you around an hour or more, depending on how many stops the ferry has to make because if you were a boat and you had to ply through Pasig River, that only means A LOT of things can get stuck in the engine/motor thingy (honestly I have no idea what this should be called). We had to stop several times to fix these small issues. But DON'T WORRY, this thing happens normally, so you won't actually get stuck in the middle of a trash-filled river. The only pre-requisites for anyone who wants to ride the ferry are as follows: you are definitely not 'maarte', and you can handle scents that vary from normal canal to very bad toilet to chemical/sulfuric fumes. Operated by the MMDA, the stations are actually quite nice, clean and well-maintained. But as for the river itself, Pasig River's 'cleanliness' varies from point to point as we saw during the trip. There are areas where it actually looks pretty 'okay', and there are other, horrifying areas that are floating with mounds of plastic, styro, and other non-biodegradable crap (I even saw a floating, dead cat! :( Huhu). The river has been in worse states, but it still needs some major rehabilitation. I also do think this ferry ride is quite educational, as you really see where OUR TRASH goes. Here. It will really make you think of switching to a more sustainable lifestyle. Even with those things being said, I still HIGHLY recommend everyone to give this ferry route a try if you'd like to experience a different, more rugged side of Manila. You get nice views of the several bridges, the Post Office, and Malacañang, too. NOTE: This route passes by Malacañang Palace and you can see how beautiful it is and not exactly orange like the bill (Haha), like Ronan. E here kept joking about. Though, don't take photos! It's prohibited. I was scolded by the boat crew. Haha. TIP: Try to avoid getting splashed by the water. You don't want any of that on you.

Downtown Manila is a place where sidewalk vendors have taken root to the point that it's almost…read moreimpossible to get rid of them. Carriedo street is just one where the stalls are not just occupying the sidewalks, but they've actually taken over the street itself. Why the local government unit tolerates this, I'll never know. But what I do know is that the stalls sell all sorts of dry goods at sometimes ridiculously low prices, so what's not to like about them? AT the foot of the LRT Carriedo station is a hodgepodge of small businesses selling street food and all kinds of footwear. The few that occupy the frontage of the now shuttered Isetann department store has a cornucopia of everything that we all need at sometime or another. The slippers are really, really cheap, practically half the price of similar slippers found in the department stores in the area. One little oddity that I was not inclined to buy were cotton buds that used sticks instead of plastic or cardboard stems. I also had some doubts about the moist towelettes which looked partially open. And I've tried the generic batteries sold there, too. Believe me, they're not worth it. But I did buy a flash light with a rechargeable battery for an incredible P300. It came with a bag too. I saw something like it in a Makati shop and the price was P499, so yes, there are some real bargains in the street stalls of Carriedo and Rizal Avenue.

Having an appreciation for the, let us say, more exotic and low-market things in life, I would like…read moreto think that I am helping prepare people with the eventual desire to explore the seedier parts of Manila. There is no finer place to start, I think, than Recto street, in Manila. Famous (or infamous) for being THE place to go to for spurious legal and/or required documents, this street gave rise to the local question of "Recto yan ano?", an accusatory statement regarding one's diploma. But this street is far more than that. Part of the University belt, this street touches two premier universities in the country, UE and FEU. This means that for cash-strapped students and book hunters alike tend to visit one of the many, many informal book sellers, selling everything from used textbooks (useful) to old copies of FHM (you might run the risk of getting one with pages stuck together), and all purchases made coming with the promise of the old book smell, and the old mold colony dust to boot. But the charm of Recto street for me comes in the form of the other, less reputable vendors. To name a few: confusingly-branded Starbucks canvas coin purses, cheap piercings (surprisingly hypoallergenic once properly cleaned), the somewhat menacing cut-off dreadlocks (which deserves a piece on its own), shops selling authentic death-metal concert t-shirts, even, on special occasions, a man selling monitor lizards and snakes from two grimy sacks. This street is definitely MORE than just spurious diplomas and hastily concocted aliases.

The main blvd of manilla where everyone comes out at sunrise before it is compete wicked hot and…read morefull of cars and population / pollution. Prime example of natives selling everything from sidewalk manicures and pedicure to massages in front of street laden with feces from all sorts of animals. Sweet stench of crap and full of people. Most fascinating experience for foreigners as I've been to streets like this in LA, south of France, etc. Clear example of could be an awesome place once cleaned up. Kids sleeping on the dirt on rollup pads down the street from USA Embassy makes me want to cry for humanity. Poverty, Kids begging for money, mixed with expensive hotels and fast food chains like jollibee is such a huge dichotomy.

Home to the famous and always stunning sunset of Manila, Roxas Boulevard is a strip that I think…read moredeserves more attention. I mean have you passed by it lately? The vast waters and the sunset are beautiful! It's not in every country where you can enjoy sunsets as beautiful as Manila Bays'. I try to avoid politics as much as I can. But when one Manila Mayor decided to turn this strip into a local nightlife scene, that was just too much. Roxas Boulevard was beautiful on its own - serene, vast, and well, clean. I really couldn't imagine why anyone would turn it into anything more than it already spectacularly is. Try to get there about 30 minutes before sunset to get a nice spot to watch the sun go down. Park your car at Aristocrat and have dinner there afterwards since it's the most convenient location. Make sure to keep the area clean too!

If you're a culture enthusiast like me but have seen Intramuros for a couple of times already, your…read morebest bet for a healthy dose of culture and arts is Escolta, dubbed as the Queen of Manila's Streets. I have not really been into celebrating Escolta until they had that entire craze about reviving the street to its former glory through the #SelfiEscolta event last year. What's to see there? 1. 98B Collaboratory Future Market where you can buy all artsy and vintage pieces 2. Calvo Museum which stores a lot of wonderful relics from the city's past 3. Escolta Ice Cream and Snacks which serves big scoops of ice creams and also a lot of other must-try snacks 4. The most magnificent buildings that are true testaments to the glory of Manila in the old days

Escolta street in Manila remains one of the most important thoroughfares in the city. On one side…read moreis Sta Cruz, while on the other end is the Binondo district. Up until the 1960s, this area was considered the business center of the country. It is where most if not all the big banks and insurance companies had their head offices. It was also where a number of now departed department stores were located, such as Syvel's and Aquinaldo's. The latter was owned by the family of the country's first president,Emilio Aguinaldo. There are still a few calesas that ply the Escolta to Divisoria route, but they are now an endangered species. Escolta remains an important artery and it is worth noting that most of the historically significant buildings located there are still standing, still being used as offices. There has been some upgrading of some of the buildings,mostly renovation work on the ground floors. Walking in the area can be pleasant most days.

The Marian quadrangle was a big DLSU hangout spot some 3 years ago. It was basically, well, like…read moreany other quadrangle with its large concrete steps and stage in the middle. Why, you ask, is it no longer a big hangout spot in DLSU now? Well, a few years ago, a building called Henry Sy Sr. Hall was built smack dab in the middle of campus, and brought with its lobby on the ground floor multiple things that Marian Quadrangle always lacked. Sockets to plug chargers in, strong Wi-Fi signal, and a very strong breeze for days when it's hot out. However, to all DLSU novices, I implore you to take a second look at the Marian Quad. Not only has Henry Sy become an insanely noisy home of insanity in recent months, but the "breeze" has turned into a mini hurricane. Literally, try to put a piece of paper or half-empty bottle on the ground and it will almost definitely be swept away by the wind. Marian Quad still remains one of my personal hangout spots, at least when my laptop is on max battery life.