revisiting manila

i had not really been to manila, the capital of the philippines for a long time (like about 3 years already). but during my last trip recently, i did make the effort to visit four well known places of manila that are becoming big hits with OFWs (overseas filipino workers)/immigrants as well as with local tourists. one was intramuros, or the walled city. recently, the place was transformed into one huge tourist area with restaurants and exhibit stalls selling all sorts of filipino traditional goodies....that day i went it was the CARAGA region (which is part of MINDANAO island) that was exhibiting their products and wares. i managed to buy two shawls which i really liked. the atmosphere was very festive and i felt quite safe walking from one end of the intramuros walls to the other end. i went there with my family so that helped a lot in making the experience so memorable and so wonderful.

the second place in manila i visited again was the roxas boulevard area which is actually the shore of manila bay. i remember coming to this area quite often when we were small. my father used to bring us to manila bay every weekend to breathe in the fresh air coming from the bay as we wait for the sun to come up and then have a picnic breakfast in luneta area and then play until it is midday before we head back home. but after a while when developments in manila bay was peaking and air quality was dropping, we stopped going there. no more weekend picnic family outings! so when i came back and saw some difference in roxas boulevard, i felt so happy just being able to walk near manila bay again (tho the air quality has not increased yet i must say!)...but never mind at least it was more fun now with restaurants along the bay and wooden swings and safe free parking. very important for tourists as well as for locals.

the third area i visited was malate, which used to be an upscale old rich residential area but now has been transformed into block of bars and restaurants. quite nice to walk there as well and cafe havana, i must say looks a lot better in malate than in makati city. so classical and more in keeping with its name. i had fun dancing with two other friends to latin music. so much part of our culture and our psyche: music and dancing.

the last but the most fun was when i visited divisoria, which is that part of manila where you can find anything and everything under the sun at the cheapest price. from LV bags and shoes to the latest edition of Lego toys. all things there can be bargained and can be bought at wholesale price. with one condition and only one condition. you will have to be prepared to have your face changed with another face or your wallet taken stealthily or your clothes pasted to your body (because of so much sweat) or get lost from your friend or your companion for no reason other than there are just ttttttooooooooo many people who go there to shop. it really beats cha tu chak in terms of price and variety....and after being there for half day, i was ready to die from heat and hunger and dehydration....thank God i came with a friend who is so well versed in the culture and environment of one of the oldest trading places of manila. kudos to you dada for spending your hari raya holiday accompanying me on this impossible journey!

so next time you want to buy cheap goodies but of better quality, then come to manila and experience the wondeful charm of filipino hospitality and filipino ingenuity! only in the philippines really!!!!!!!!

yes goofy, i did manage to get out of makati city during my last trip back home.