Things to do in Manila
Manila has much to offer visitors and there is no shortage of attractions here. Many of the city’s highlights are connected to the city’s historical past as well as its location by the sea. From the historical Intramuros to Imelda Marcos' bizarre shoe collection at the Malacanang Palace, Manila continues to fascinate visitors.
Intramuros
The original part of Manila is Intramuros, the medieval Spanish walled enclave on the Pasig River’s southern bank. It is full of historic buildings and churches, many of which are undergoing or have undergone restoration. During the reconstruction of Intramuros, several parks and performing venues, art galleries, souvenir shops and restaurants were included. As a result, the area has developed into an attractive, entertaining and interesting tourist spot.
Fort Santiago was where political prisoners through the ages, from Spanish to Japanese occupation, were imprisoned, tortured and sometimes executed. Today, it is a green park full of flowering trees and birds, where visitors can take a ride along the promenade in a horse-drawn carriage. In the Barrio San Luis along Juan Luna street, there are five residences from colonial times that have been beautifully restored.
San Agustin Church and Museum
One of the few buildings in Intramuros to withstand the carnage of the Japanese invasion essentially undamaged, and Manila’s oldest stone church, San Agustin Church was completed in 1606. Its present interior murals post-date earthquakes in 1863 and 1889, which brought down one of its towers. The adjoining Augustinian monastery is home to the San Agustin Museum, which houses colonial religious art including altarpieces and screens that were recovered intact from other houses of worship in 1945. Phone: +63 2 527 4061.
Malate Church
Malate Church is famous for two points of historical importance. It is dedicated to Nuestra Senora de Remedios (Our Lady of Remedies), an image of the Virgin Mary, whom the faithful have turned to in times of trouble for over four centuries. The church is also historically important as the base from which the British launched their attack on Intramuros, which then put Manila under British rule for two years. The present battered adobe structure is in fact over 100 years old, but various forerunners have stood on the site since the end of the 16th century. Phone: +63 2 400 5877.
Rizal Park
An extensive open green area that shows Manila at leisure, 58-hectare Rizal Park is one of the largest parks in South East Asia. Its local importance can be measured by the fact that it is named after Dr José Rizal, the great Philippine anti-colonial rebel and intellectual. He is immortalised in the Diorama of the Martyrdom of Dr José Rizal, and his remains were interred in the Rizal Monument in 1912.
Among the many decorative gardens is a model of the entire Philippines archipelago in the eastern ponds. There is also a Japanese Garden, Chinese Garden, Orchidarium, chess plaza and a skating rink. In the morning, citizens gather to practice tai chi, Philippine stick-fighting or various forms of martial arts, while on most Sundays there is a free concert at the park in an open-air hall.
American Cemetery
Providing a quiet spot to get away from Manila’s rat race, the American Cemetery near the Makati commercial centre is a pleasant, peaceful oasis, visited by many tourists, especially veterans of WWII. The hillside cemetery has thousands of white marble crosses marking the rows of graves of those who died in combat. The names of those missing in action are engraved in marble columns on the circular memorial and massive wall mosaics portray battle scenes from WWII. There is also a small chapel here.
Malacanang Palace
The name of this palace, now the seat of government and official residence of the Philippines’ head of state, comes from the colloquial speech ‘may lakan diyan’, which means ‘there lives a noble man’. This splendid villa has been a noble residence on the north bank of the Pasig River since the 18th century, when it was built for a Spanish aristocrat. In 1825, the Spanish government bought the property as a summer residence for the Governor General, but it later became the permanent seat of the head of state. Today, the palace is home to a museum that contains mementoes from each of the Philippines’ presidents including the notorious Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos. Phone: +63 2 733 3721.
Manila Bay
This bay is closely tied to the history of Manila. Naval battles were fought here such as the legendary La Naval de Manila in 1646, which in effect put an end to repeated attempts by the Dutch to take over the Philippines. It was also in Manila Bay that the Spanish fleet was destroyed by the American forces under Commodore George Dewey, beginning 40 years of American occupation. But more than anything else, Manila Bay is famous for its stunning sunsets; a must-see for every visitor to the city.
Museums
Manila has several excellent museums showcasing the city’s and country’s proud historical and cultural heritage. Casa Manila Museum, housed in an accurate reconstruction of a 19th century Manila residence, offers visitors a replication of how life was during the Spanish colonial era. Each room is set up in period style and decorated with antique furniture, chandeliers, lamps, paintings, vases and knick-knacks.
Metropolitan Museum of Art houses numerous touring exhibits throughout the year. Additionally, two of the main permanent exhibits in this museum are the priceless Gold Gallery and the ancient Pottery Gallery, with pieces dating back to 220 BC. The National Museum houses the country's most significant works of culture and national heritage including the paintings of celebrated Philippine artist Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo.