"Manila, Manila, I keep coming back to Manila ...." Part 1 - Revisiting the Past

These lyrics would best sum up the weekends of my May-June 2016. In a period of one month, I spent my weekends in Manila, as in Old Manila.

Manila City Hall
Source:  Wikimedia

One weekend was spent with my org mates. Another with my family and the last with my travel buddy, Auntie.

Being a South Girl, anywhere beyond Alabang and Makati CBD is far. I even tease Auntie that Pasig is Central Luzon while Quezon City is Northern Luzon!  But I guess, Manila will always be an exception. After all, it is the other area where I have stayed longest. Six months to be exact when I was reviewing for "The Board".

Manila may not be as chic and cosmopolitan like the other cities in the Metro and may be referred to as "naiwan ng panahon" but it has a certain charm that attracts those not prejudiced against the city and its "reputation".

Keep on reading and let me take you back to Manila.

Reconnecting with our heritage.

Our org is on it's 18th year and all these years our members have been generously contributing their time, talent and treasure to the org's causes. This is why our Board decided that this is the year to give back to the members.  And one of our first projects was the cultural heritage tour in line with the National Heritage Month of May.

Being busy with our work in a fast-phased environment, we've almost forgotten about the past that helped shape the future where we are right now. It was like going back to our school days when we still had field trips. Some members were very excited to sign up because they said that they were still in elementary and high school when they visited the places in our itinerary.

Coming from the Kabukiran, we left for Manila early in the morning. While on the road, we started playing trivia games about the places we were about to visit and Philippine history, in general. Of course, no trip of ours will be complete without food. And the best part about the food was, some members sponsored the pandesal, cakes, snacks, coffee, water and even hot water that were served on the road. We were having a picnic inside the coaster!

Facade of the museum
Source:  Tripadvisor

Our first stop was at Intramuros & Rizal, Bagumbayan Light and Sound Museum in the historic walled city of Intramuros. The simple facade of the museum which was formerly the Beateria de San Ignacio (the first nunnery in the Philippines) was the exact opposite of the museum's contents.

Entrance fee for a minimum of 10 pax is Php150. But we were in for a surprise. They were celebrating their anniversary so our fees were discounted to Php77.77!

A tableau of the Ilustrados' life in Europe
Source:  FB of DAcuna

 Through light, sounds, robotics and animatronix, the museum chronicles life in the Philippines from Pre-Spanish colonial times up to the martyrdom of the country's National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal who happens to be from the province of Laguna where our org is based.

DJPR:  Josephine, baket?
Source: FB of DAcuna

The tour ended with us being lead out to the perimeters of Intramuros and us seeing the Philippine flag while the song "Pilipinas Kong Mahal" was playing in the background. It had quite a nationalistic effect.

It was a one hour walking tour but was not boring at all. I guess that's the difference between being an interested adult and a student who's just there for the sake of joining a field trip.

Instead of using the coaster, we walked the streets of Intramuros to get to our next destination, Casa Manila. The building is actually just a replica of the San Nicolas House, a 1850's house that was once located at Calle Jaboneros. Casa Manila was one of the projects of then First Lady Imelda Marcos.

We passed by the Gallery of Philippine Presidents
 on our way to Casa Manila
Source:  FB of DAcuna

The museum depicts the colonial lifestyle during Spanish times. Taking photos inside the museum is not allowed and you need to walk on the red carpet only or else you'll hear from the Gwardya Sibil. Seriously, the museum security were clad in Gwardya Sibil uniforms.

Welcome to Casa Manila
Source:  Wikimedia

One of the most interesting features of the museum was the comfort room. It was designed for two sitting side by side while doing you know what!

Who is photobombing who?

The architecture is tops. That's why it is a favorite spot (the outside) for pre-nuptial photoshoots/ engagement sessions. Barbara's, the Spanish Restaurant is also in the complex as well as the White Knight Intramuros Hotel.

We also took the time to say a short prayer at the San Agustin Church right across the museum. The historic church also has its own museum but we needed to leave for our next destination, Binondo!

Welcome to Binondo

If Intramuros was for the Spaniards, Binondo was the settlement made for the Catholic Chinese. It is the world's oldest Chinatown.

Because it was the height of the summer and the weather was unforgiving, we opted to go to Lucky Chinatown for our lunch. The mall houses branches of some of the restaurants Binondo is known for. A large number of our "contingent" went to Sincerity Cafe and Restaurant while others opted for the likes of Masuki and Ling Nam.  The mall also has stalls featuring Eng Bee Tin (Did I hear somebody say hopia?!) and Lord Stow Portuguese Tarts (Yes, same as the one in Macau).

Wonton Noodle Soup with Special Asado Sauce

With our energy levels replenished, it was time to test our business skills. The good thing about Lucky Chinatown Mall is it's near the bargain hunters' havens 168 and 999 malls. I couldn't remember if I was able to buy anything but I am quite sure that while my colleagues were having a grand time shopping (and haggling), I asked to be excused and went back to Lucky Chinatown Mall. Why? I am not agoraphobic but I really do not like it when there's a lot going on around me. 168 and 999 were full of goods and of people milling around. That's the reason I really work on the timing when I want to shop. You'll see that in the coming posts.

See? My hands are bare

I actually found myself sitting on the benches with the bored husbands/ boyfriends and tired senior citizens. I had to laugh at myself. What have I become? 'Guess, I was just tired.

Another engagement photo session
Source:  FB of DAcuna

Our second to the last stop was the National Museum. Because it was The National Heritage month, entrance was free. Good news is, entrance to the museum is now permanently free. I should say museums because there are two. One is the Fine Arts Gallery and the other is Museum of Filipino People (Archeology and Anthropology).

We were quite surprised that the lines in both museums were very long. Though we had to queue for a short time, it was nice to know that Filipinos are starting to get in touch with our culture and heritage. By the way, they don't do group tours on Sundays so if you're a big group, better make an arrangement with the museum reps ahead of time. Actually, in our case, Madame President and I had to make some arrangements on site because even if we were just 18 they need to follow museum protocols. We were allowed to get inside in two batches. Politeness with a dash of charm, goes a long way.

Reunited with the Vicente Manasala Murals

You need at least half a day to explore both museums. Pressed for time, we opted for the Fine Arts Gallery because our Institute has an exhibit/hall at that museum. Personally, I was ecstatic about it. It was my first time to see our Institute's works of art after they were moved to the museum. I call these murals "my babies" because I am part of the team in the Institute that takes care of them.  Finally, we were reunited even for a while.

Juan Luna's Spoliarium 

We went from gallery to gallery. Visitors are free to take photos of and with the exhibits. Just make sure to avoid taking wacky shots as they are not allowed even as simple as mimicking the exhibits. Quite understandable. The artists poured their hearts and souls in making these works of art and therefore should be treated with high respect. The security personnel were quite courteous when they pointed this out.

Ben Cab's "Two Mestizas"
The painting, of course!

When we were about to leave the museum, someone went missing. Baby Girl was nowhere to be found. She was in pursuit of a painting, the cursed painting as urban legends have it. So, who said museums are boring? I will let you do the research on who the artist is and which painting it is.

With Baby Girl found, we headed to our last destination. Kilometer Zero. Okay, across it, Rizal Park. It was interesting to learn that though some of my colleagues always see the park from a distance whenever they pass by it, they have not been there before or that they were very young the last time they were there.

Somebody's really happy!

With the sun setting at Manila Bay, we bid Manila adieu.

The cultural heritage tour gave us a better understanding and appreciation of the present because of new things we learned about our past.