Manila | 10 Things to See and Do at The Walled City of Intramuros

Intramuros is a huge part of my work journey here in Metro Manila. My first job used to be situated in one of the historical buildings inside the walled city, the Palacio del Gobernador. But as I said in one of my previous posts, I haven't explored Intramuros much during my five years stay in the area.

Last March, a colleague from our Myanmar branch visited us here for an official function. It was her first time here in the Philippines and she told us she wants to see Intramuros. So in one of her free days, me and another colleague accompanied her on the tour. From our office in Makati, we rode the MRT and LRT lines and walk our way to Intramuros  where we took a pedicab to our first destination, the San Agustin Church.

San Agustin Church

San Agustin Church was established by Augustinian missionaries during the Spanish era. The present church structure (several churches were built/destroyed before this one) was completed in 1607 and is the oldest stone church in the Philippines. This church was declared a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1993.

San Agustin Church also has a museum where priceless chalices and reliquaries, clergy vestments and other religious artifacts are on display. San Agustin Museum opens at 8:00AM to 6:00PM but closes on lunch break at 12:00PM to 1:00PM. Entrance is free but a donation is expected when you enter the museum.

inside the San Agustin Church in Intramuros

Trivia: The ashes of the Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the first governor general of the Philippines, and other known conquistadores are housed inside the San Agustin Church.

Manila Cathedral

Manila Cathedral, also known as Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, is the first cathedral of the Philippines. Like San Agustin Church, Manila Cathedral had undergone several constructions and reconstructions due to natural and man-made causes. The present-day Manila Cathedral is the eight cathedral built on this site and was consecrated in 1958.

Aside from historical significance of Manila Cathedral, it is also a popular church for wedding ceremonies. Several known personalities  and celebrities including Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion and Dodot Jaworski and Mikee Conjuanco took their vows in this church.

Manila Cathedral

Casa Manila Museum

Casa Manila Museum is a two-storey mansion located in Plaza San Luiz Complex in Intramuros. It is a replica of the old Spanish mansions found in Binondo, Manila. Casa Manila is a fully-furnished mansion that showcases the luxurious lifestyle of the affluent families in the olden days. Furnitures and fixtures inside Casa are all made of finest materials and the rooms are all big and luxurious. But of all the rooms and fixtures inside, there is this one room that will trigger your curiosity - the toilet! It has two toilet bowls companionably close to each other, you can do tête-à-tête while doing your thing. Weird eh haha!

Casa Manila Museum

Fort Santiago

Fort Santiago was built in the late 1500s to serve as fortress of the Spanish conquistadores. But before the Spaniards arrive, it is a native settlement of Raja Sulayman, one of the kings of Manila. After the Spanish regime, Fort Santiago then serves as a headquarter of the US Army to signify the American rule of the Philippines. When World War II erupts, the Japanese seized Fort Santiago and used its prisons and dungeons to imprison, torture and execute hundreds of Filipinos.

Fort Santiago is open daily from 8:00AM to 6:00PM. Entrance is 75 Php.

Rizal Shrine

Rizal Shrine showcases the life of Jose Rizal, Philippines' national hero, before and during his incarceration in Fort Santiago. It contains Rizal's memorabilia and artifacts including his writings. Also on display at the Shrine is a portion of Rizal's bone together with the bullet that struck him during his execution in Luneta.

Rizal Shrine is located inside Fort Santiago. It is open Monday, 1:00PM to 5:00PM and Tuesday-Sunday, 9:00AM to 6:00PM.  Entrance is free.

Jose Rizal Shrine

Kalesa Tour

One of the ways to tour around Intramuros and nearby attractions is to do a Kalesa Tour. The kutsero (the man driving the kalesa, a horse-drawn carriage) usually serves as tour guide, too. He'll tell you some bits and pieces of the history of a particular site or building within Intramuros which makes the tour more interesting and informative. The tour costs around 300 to 500 Php for a 30-minute tour. However, please note that if you step down and check out the sites and let the kutsero waiting, the entire tour would take around two (2) hours. There are some opportunist kutseros out there and they will not explain/emphasize that the tour is time-bound and will take more than 30 minutes, actually. So be prepared to haggle for the entire Intramuros tour rather than agree on a time-bound tour as the cost will go as high as 1,200 to 2,000 Php.

Kalesa

Bambike EcoTour

If you're an active person and knows how to bike, you can take the Intramuros bambike ecotour. Bambike is a bicycle made of bamboo and can be rented for as low as 799 Php up to 1,200 Php for a 90-minute or 150-minute tour. This is a guided tour and has specific route, depending on the bambike package tour you availed. For more details about this ecotour, check out bambike website.

Bambike

Shopping for Pinoy Arts and Crafts

If you're a foreigner or even local tourists fond of buying souvenirs (for yourself or your loved ones), there are several stores selling Filipino arts and crafts -- pouches, wallets, bags, key chains, magnets, hats, shirts, even furnitures and fixtures -- all proudly Philippine-made. The materials used in the items being sold are usually found here in the Philippines, too, like sea shells and abaca thread.

Food Trip

Got a tough tummy? Check out and try some of the famous Pinoy street foods like fishball, tokneneng and kwek kwek; baluts are also available in the streets of Intramuros. But if you're not ready for street foods yet, there are several restaurants  located within the vicinity of the churches, you can check out those that offer Filipino dishes. On our trip, we've tried Restorante Delle Mitre, a restaurant and cafe that offers various cuisines including Filipino foods like sinigang and tinola. Restorante Delle Mitre is located just across San Agustin Church.

grilled tuna belly with mixed veggies
from Restorante delle Mitre

Photography

Photography enthusiast? Don't fret! There's a lot to shoot and photograph in Intramuros, from historical sites to century-old structures, manicured parks, too. You can even do sunset photography here, just climb the Intramuros walls and find a good spot for sunset. If you have the money, you can stay and dine in the Bayleaf Hotel, go to its rooftop and take the best cityscape you can get. You can also join bambike ecotours as sunset photography is one of the packages they offer.

Pasig River

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Quezon | Pahiyas: A Thanksgiving Festival (Schedule of Activities, How to Get There, Etc.)

Pahiyas Festival - Lucban, Quezon
in photo above is "kiping"  (leaf-shape rice wafer), a Pahiyas trademark decor

Festival, more commonly known as "fiesta", is one of the most celebrated events in the Philippines. It is part and parcel of the Filipino culture and is usually done so in honor of the locality's patron saint. One of these popularly known festivals is the Lucban San Isidro Pahiyas Festival in Quezon Province.

Pahiyas Festival is celebrated every 15th of May in honor of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers, as a thanksgiving tradition for a bountiful harvest. Pahiyas, a term derived from the local vernacular "payas", means "decoration or to decorate" [source].  Pahiyas Festival features houses adorned with various farm produce and the famous kiping, a colorful leaf-shaped wafers made of rice dough, arranged into various shapes and decors like flowers and chandeliers.

I got the chance to witness this well-known festival in 2015. Yep, the travel was three years ago! I went there all by myself; left Manila at around 6AM, got stuck in traffic somewhere in Sariaya (I think?!? hehe), and arrived in Lucban at around 2PM; that's how long my travel time had been.

I was still able to witness the parade, though; even had the chance to roam around town first, eat street foods - habhab, Lucban longganisa, sweetened squash (I forgot how they call it). For a solo wanderer still feeling dizzy from the long travel time, the town seems too big to roam around. But after some more walking and and lots of asking around, I finally get to the streets where the colorfully and artfully designed houses are located. It really is a feast for the eyes, the townsfolk passion and creativity is admirable. I just hope they continue this tradition though, as I read somewhere that the making of kiping, a known Pahiyas trademark, is becoming a dying tradition; the younger generations of Lucbanin becoming more interested in technology and social media than preserving the Lucban and Pahiyas traditions.

Pahiyas Festival 2018: Schedule of Activities

I couldn't get hold of a detailed schedule of activities and events for this year but the following are the usual activities held during the festival:

• Holy Mass at the San Isidro Labrador Church as well as the procession of the patron saint
• Grand Parade featuring beautiful faces in custom-made gowns and suits usually made of local and/or indigenous materials, decorated floats, marching bands and street dancers
• Selection and awarding of the best Pahiyas Festival House Design and Decor
• Fireworks and performances at night

How to Get to Lucban for the Pahiyas Festival

Via Public Transport: I've read from other blogs that you can get to Lucban either via Sta. Cruz, Laguna or via Lucena. I don't know which is the better route but in my case, I chose Lucena. Several buses ply this route, with terminals in Cubao, Buendia-Taft or Pasay-Edsa so choose the one nearest you. From Lucena (SM terminal), you can then get to Lucban via a jeepney. Usual travel time is around four (4) hours but if you're traveling on the day of the festival itself, it will take around six (6) to eight (8) hours due to heavy traffic (I witnessed another town from Quezon celebrating its town fiesta on the same date).

Via Private Car:  If you're driving, you probably can take the same route as above or you may let google guide your way to Lucban. However, as I've mentioned above, there's heavy traffic on the day of the festival so I'd suggest you take Batangas route. From Manila, drive through SLEX and Star Tollway, exit at Lipa going to Ibaan, Rosario, San Juan (all in Batangas) all the way to Sariaya, Tayabas and then Lucban. I don't know if this is shorter but it's probably more convenient as I'm assuming there's less traffic in this route. We used this route actually, on our road trip to Kamay ni Hesus Shrine.

Other Places to Visit In Or Near Lucban

Kamay ni Hesus Shrine

Pahiyas Festival can be done DIY-style and on a day tour (just like what I did). But if you're with friends, it might be better to stay overnight, watch the continuation of the festivities at night and explore other places in or near Lucban, Quezon. One of the places you can check out is Kamay ni Hesus Shrine (you'll pass by the Shrine on your way to the festival). You can also do some food trip at Kamayan sa Palaisdaan in Tayabas, just a few minutes away from Kamay ni Hesus Shrine. Kamayan sa Palaisdaan also has a resort where you can stay for the night, if you haven't yet decided on a place to stay.

floating nipa hut at Kamayan sa Palaisdaan

~ oo00oo ~

Happy Sunday everyone! God bless!

~ oo00oo ~

Pahiyas Festival

Lucban, Quezon

Date of Visit: May 15, 2015

Expenses Incurred: around 800 Php,
including foods and transportation

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Pangasinan | Bolinao DIY Tour: Patar Beach Resort/Bolinao Rock Formations

Patar Beach - Bolinao, Pangasinan

It's past summer time and this post is long overdue but nonetheless, here it is - a continuation and the last part of our day tour in Bolinao.

Bolinao is a popular summer destination up north and prided itself with its pristine beaches. Beach resorts abound in this town; many are pricey but there are some public resorts, too. One of these public resorts is Patar Beach.

Patar beach is situated on the west coast facing the West Philippine Sea. It boasts of a long stretch of  creamy white fine sand and expansive beach front. It is a public beach with no entrance fee so expect to see a lot of crowds here, especially during summer. By the way, since Patar Beach faces an open sea, the beach looks kind of rough even during summer. I find it not safe for young children, probably even for non-swimmer adults, so make sure you watch out for your kids/each other at all times.

Sand's kind of beige but really fine, you can walk around barefoot.
Play, get drunk, chit-chat with your family and friends - some of the things you can do in Patar Beach

my newphews, with the crowd!
I'm somehow  afraid for my nephews' safety but I let them enjoy the waves and the sand for a few minutes, of course,
with my older nephew holding both the kiddos at all times and me kind of nagging him to never let go of them even for a few seconds

the not so friendly waves of Patar Beach :P

play volleyball, if you're tired of swimming

Bolinao Rock Formations in Photos

Our tricycle tour guide brought us in this resort, with 'rock formations' something in its name. Is this the real thing? Am not sure, all I remember is that I paid 50 Php per person as entrance fee here, including the kiddos. No kids discounts! A rip-off, I must say. I saw almost the same formations in the far stretch of Patar Beach.  Anyway, didn't take much photos in here, can't look/walk around because of the little kiddos.

my travel buddies!

lolong!

lion king!

How to get to Bolinao/Patar Beach

• From Pasay/Cubao: Go to Five Star Bus Liner terminal in Malibay (Pasay) or Victory Liner (Cubao-EDSA) and take Bolinao-bound bus; get off at Bolinao bus terminal; fare is around 500 Php for aircon buses, one way; travel time is around 6-7 hours.

• In Bolinao, take a tricycle going to Patar Beach, fare is around 150 Php, one way. 

• In our case however,  we get off at Church of Saint James since we came from Bani (via a jeepney). On the side street across the church are tricycles offering Bolinao tour; cost is 600 Php, round trip; tour takes around 3-4 hours, depending on how long you stay in each of the tour destinations.

~ oo00oo ~

Patar Beach is part of a DIY tour my nephews and I made last 2015, while on vacation at my mother's hometown Bani. Just like my Ilocos Norte adventure, it was also via a tricycle. Bolinao DIY tricycle tour costs 600 Php covering four of Bolinao's tourist destinations - Bolinao Lighthouse, Enchanted Cave, Rock Formations and this beach.

Patar Beach

Patar, Bolinao, Pangasinan

Entrance Fee: None

Shower Fee: 10 Php

Date of Visit: May 3, 2015

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Quezon City | 10 Things To See and Do at Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center

Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center

~ oo00oo ~

UPDATED JANUARY 2020:

Last year, for the first time in my life, I've been to the clinics every quarter of the year; having myself checked for various symptoms and pains I'm experiencing. I've found out I'm having elevated BP, my uric acid level is above normal range, I have GERD and I have chronic shoulder/back pains. So aside from regular check-ups and doctors' advice, I read a lot of health and fitness articles online and found out I could eliminate all the pains I'm having if I will just lose weight. Since then, I realized I need to get out more and move more if I want to live a healthier life, free from medicines and diet restrictions. No more Netflix and mobile games now (I'm trying hehe). So this 2020, I started again this #sitlessmovemore mantra. Everyday on my way to work, I walk from MRT to my office  instead of riding a cab. And I didn't just walk, I do brisk walking, in order to keep my heart pumping and improve my VO2 max. And every Saturday, I went to Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center to jog/walk for at least an hour. I still couldn't do straight jogging for 1km but I'm working on it.

Enough about me and my health and fitness issues, back to the reason why I'm updating this blog. One of the commenters below wrote new rates and that NAPWC charges more to foreign visitors. I didn't know it back then so when I started again this weekend jog at the park, I inquired about their new rates. And he's (or she's?) right, NAPWC rate for foreign visitors is 100 Php, higher than the entrance rate of local visitors. Actually, all NAPWC rates were increased; rates got tripled, more than triple for some fees, actually. But the entrance clerk quickly mentioned that they're not implementing foreign rate as of now as they don't have 100 Php tickets, yet. I don't understand why foreign visitors should be charged higher than the locals but for now (or until they have printed 100 Php tickets), foreign visitors out there who want to explore NAPWC can enjoy the 30 Php entrance fee, same as local visitors. Below is the copy of the updated Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center entrance, parking, facilities and commercial filming rates.

Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center 2020 entrance, parking and other fees

~ oo00oo ~

Sit less... move more... explore!, my mantra this 2017. This is because I realized I'm not getting any younger that getting physically fit is a must. And one way of achieving it without getting bored is to go out and explore the city (am living in Quezon City) around me. One of the first place I explored is the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center.

Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center (NAPWC) is a 22 hectare zoological and botanical garden located in Diliman, Quezon City, very near Quezon City Memorial Circle (just across QCMC's North Avenue entrance). Aside from being a park, it serves as a temporary refuge for donated, abandoned, rescued and confiscated animals. Several government offices under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are located there, including the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB), an agency in-charge of the management, protection and conservation of protected areas and wildlife including those sheltered in NAPWC.

Anyway, if you're like me who wants to move more without spending more, Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center is one of the place to be. It's very near and it's cheap (only 30 Php entrance fee), a very good alternative than going to a gym. In NAPWC, you'll lose some extra pounds while exploring your very own city; you'll even learn something new that will raise your awareness of the environment.

forest in the city

Exercise: Walk/Jog around the Lagoon

As I mentioned earlier, NAPWC is a good place to do your walking and/or jogging. You can walk and jog here anytime of the day since the park is mostly shaded with trees. Walking around and exploring the park would take about three hours so imagine the calories you'll lose. I did it the first time I went there. The next time around, I did my walking/jogging just around the lagoon, circling around it at least two times.

jogging/walking around this lagoon and taking photos, too :)

Picnic/Play With Family/Friends

For QC dwellers, NAPWC is known as a picnic park. Many families go there especially those with young children. They play around, do some catching up (probably some gossiping, too... hehe), eat together and just sit and relax. Some even celebrates a family member's birthday. Cheap yet fun, right?

a family celebrating a member's birthday

playing around with friends

pink-themed picnic :P

more picnics

picnics pa more

Photography/Videography

Walking around the park, I noticed several photo sessions here and there. I've also seen some groups shooting and directing some plays. Majority involves children dressed like a princess and/or using their (probably) favorite character's costume. I've also witnessed an on-going photography session with aspiring (I suppose, hehe) models. If you're a photography enthusiast, drop by NAPWC and be inspired by those photographers. You may even ask to join them, I just don't know if it's free.

kid's in a photo session...

dressed like a little princess...

briefing before the photo session...

photographers in action...

heard the theme's about the sang'gres, you be the judge!

photographing the photographers ;)

Wedding Prenups

If you're on a budget but still would like to have that dreamed prenup photos and video to showcase on your wedding day, consider NAPWC as your photo shoot location. You and/or your photographer will surely find a nice spot to do it; you may even bring some props and kits to help with your theme. I've seen several couple doing it, just be creative.

Wildlife Rescue Center

As mentioned above, NAPWC is a refuge for donated, abandoned, rescued and confiscated animals. There is this particular section of the park dedicated for them, the Wildlife Rescue Center. It's a bit of a cramped area with cages all around that housed various animals - birds, snakes, wild cats, crocodiles and many others. Check them out and make your children be aware of those protected animals.

Wildlife Rescue Center

caged chattering lory... aptly named,
she (beautiful color so I assume a she's a 'she' hehe) never stopped chirping and chattering

lawin!
not within the rescue center area but still caged

caught him (I assume he's a 'he') munching on his food

Philippine Eagle: he (again, I assume he's a 'he') seems sad
probably he wants to be free

looking for a way to escape?!
Haring Ibon: pambansang ibong ng Pilipinas

Fishing Village

I wasn't able to enter the fishing village premise but I suppose you can rent the place for a special occasion. I saw it fully decorated with caterers/waiters waiting around to serve its guests. You may ask the park's administration, for a more accurate information about this one.

The Fishing Village

Gazebo and the Amphitheater

Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center is a photographer's haven. And the Gazebo is it's most photographed section, I suppose. A lot of people gathered there to do their selfies, some others (young and young once) in photo session with their photographers.

where people do their selfies :P

the amphitheater: just don't know if it's for free
saw teenagers practicing their dance steps here, though

where selfies and photo sessions abound...

you can do some bamboo rafting in here, too

The Aquatic House and the Serpentarium

In case you don't know, NAPWC also has this section for sharks and other marine life. It doesn't look well-maintained and with only a few fishes but if you want to introduce your children to marine life, then you may check out their aquatic house. It is located just beside the serpentarium.

hammer head sharks and me ;)

the aquatic house...

The Serpentariun
several snakes can be seen in here

Food Trip

If you and/or your family didn't bring some food, there are several food stalls and vendors inside NAPWC. Rice meals, noodles, dim sums, ice cream, chips and other junk foods - you'll find them there. For a rice meal, price ranges from 50 Php to 60 Php; noodles and other snacks are of course, cheaper. For a minimal amount, you'll never get hungry in this place.

the food station, where I took my brunch :)

because me and my wallet's on a diet ;)

food vendors...

Relaxing, Dating, Training, Meetings and a lot more

relax with your daughter, on a hammock

Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center is a popular field trip destination
even on a weekend, many buses arrived here transporting children for their field trip

don't know who they are but it seems like they're here for a training

sleep under the canopy of trees

date with your special someone...
fresh air, peaceful environment and most of all, free (almost!)

~ oo00oo ~

Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center

Diliman, Quezon City (near QC Circle)

Entrance Fee: 30 Php - adults; 15 Php - student; FREE for SCs/PWDs/children below 7y/o

Parking Fee: 150 Php - bus; 60 Php - jeep/coaster; 45 Php - cars/SUV; 20 Php - tricycle/motorcycle

Operating Hours: Tuesday - Sunday; 7:00AM - 5:00PM

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