Get Lost in the Historic Malolos

Posted on June 6, 2019 by Juan

Visiting the city of Malolos in Bulacan is like taking a step back into history. Known as the ‘Cradle of the Philippine Republic,’ Malolos City has a particular part in the history of the Philippines, as it is where the First Philippine Congress convened; the Malolos Constitution drafted, and the First Philippine Republic Inaugurated.

At present, there are still a lot of historical places around Malolos. Though Malolos is gradually keeping up with other cities in terms of industrialization, its prominence in history is still evident up until now through the existence of various tourist spots with historical significance.

Barasoain Church

Probably, the most famous tourist and a historical spot in the city of Malolos is the Barasoain Church. A branch office of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines is located inside the premises of the parish to assist tourists who would like to take a glimpse of the church and also to maintain its historical heritage. The ‘Museo ng Republika ng 1889’ can also be found inside the church compound.

The Kalayaan Tree malolos bulacan

Judgefloro [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

The Kalayaan Tree

It was said that President Emilio Aguinaldo himself planted a tree in front of the convent of the Malolos Cathedral. As it grew, it served as a meeting place for the Filipino revolutionaries. At present, the said siar tree is now called as Kalayaan Tree with a monument depicting a meeting between Generals Gregorio Del Pilar and Isidoro Torres, Don Pablo Tecson, Padre Mariano Sevilla, and Doña Basilia Tantoco.

Interior_of_the_Casa_Real_Shrine_Malolos_Historic_Town_Center

Judgefloro [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

Casa Real Shrine

The former National Museum and the National Printing Press during the time of the First Philippine Republic, the Casa Real Shrine is now the final repository of the what remains from the collection of relics from the First Republic. If you want to take a walk down memory lane, Casa Real should be your next stop in Malolos.

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Where to Go When you’re in Antipolo?

Posted on June 4, 2019 by Juan

Another go-to destination for a quick weekend getaway is the city of Antipolo. Located just around 16 miles from Manila, Antipolo has a higher elevation enabling one to see a scenic view of the entire Metro Manila. It is home to several natural attractions, though it is already a highly-urbanized city.

Pinto Art Museum

If you are into arts, you should visit the Pinto Art Museum. It displays a collection of contemporary Filipino paintings and sculptures. The Museum of Indigenous Art houses items from the Cordillera such as functional and ritual objects, textiles, jewelry, and other indigenous artwork. The entire compound itself is a work of art with its tropical gardens and Mediterranean-style villas.

Phillip’s Sanctuary

A venue fit for team buildings and other similar activities, the Phillip’s Sanctuary is also a place where you can go biking, kayaking, rafting, and camping. It also has a butterfly garden, organic fruit farm, and a pond with hoards of tilapia and other fish.

Luljetta’s Hanging Gardens and Spa

If you want to unwind, relax, and recharge your weary soul, then you should head off to Loreland Farm Resort and visit Luljetta’s Hanging Gardens and Spa. It has an infinity pool where you can enjoy the relaxing view of the entire farm resort. Take advantage of the hydromassage pool, fish spa, jacuzzi, and get a massage inside one of their bamboo huts. If you get hungry, you never have to go out of the resort as snacks and full-course meals are being served inside.

Mount Purro Nature Reserve

One day is not enough to see the entirety of the Mount Purro Nature Reserve. Perfect for families, friends, and couples, the park offers a lot of activities such as rope courses, treks, and tree-planting. There is also a restaurant inside that offers an extensive menu of home-cooked Filipino foods.

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Divisoria: A Haven for the Bargain Hunter

Posted on May 31, 2019 by Juan

A trip to Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, is not complete without visiting the shopping in the Metro – Divisoria. Here you will find a wide variety of consumer goods being sold at a very cheap price. So, if you are in for an authentic local shopping experience, come on and let’s take a trip to Divisoria.

One cannot easily tell when market time begins and ends in Divisoria. The area is alive during daytime. Shopping malls are open as early as 9 o’clock in the morning and usually closes at 7 o’clock in the evening. As soon as the malls close, the night market opens. The usual things sold at the mall are also made available to the shopping public at the night market. Most of the stalls at the night market closes at 2 o’clock in the morning.

Divisoria

Image Credit: Inquirer

Fresh produce

However, it is also during this time that buying and selling fresh catch and produce are at its peak. Suppliers of vegetables, fish, meat, and alike coming from the northern and southern parts of Luzon usually arrives in Divisoria at the evening until midnight. If you are trying to buy these goods for an even lower price, try to catch them as soon as they are being offloaded from the delivery trucks. You can buy these produce at a wholesaler price and what’s even better is that they are guaranteed fresh.

Clothes and textiles

Divisoria is also where you can find affordable clothes which are imported from the neighboring Asian countries such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, and even as far as China and South Korea. You can buy a nice, good quality blouse for as low as P150. If you are lucky, you might even score a discount.

Wedding and party needs

Looking for beautiful gowns which are still within your budget? You came to the right place. The cheapest gown is priced around P1500 while the grandest costs around P30,000. Aside from the gowns, you can also find here other party supplies such as decorations, souvenirs, and invitations.

What do you need when you go to Divisoria

You need not bring a lot if you are planning to go to Divisoria. You only need the bare essentials such as your wallet with your money, umbrella, face towel, and water. More than is already excessive. What you need to bring in excessive amounts are patience, energy, stamina, and bargaining skills. There are stretches of bargain shops and a lot of walking is involved. If you are planning to visit on a weekend, expect that the area is packed and it gets too cramped. But that’s Divisoria for you.

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Places to Visit in Subic

Posted on May 27, 2019 by Juan

One of the most popular weekend getaway choice is Subic. Located on the west coast of Luzon, the Subic Bay opens to the South China Sea. For just a few hour drive from the country’s capital, visitors will be able to enjoy a variety of ecotourism and outdoor activities in Subic.

So, where are the best places in Subic?

Olongapo_City_Subic_Zambales_Roads_Landmarks

Judgefloro [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

Ocean Adventure

Stressed out? Why not chill it all out with the dolphins of Ocean Adventure? Subic is host to the first Open Water Marine Theme Park in Southeast Asia and one of the premiere attractions in Subic.

Inflatable Island

If you are thinking of water and playground, your destination should be the Inflatable Island. Known as the biggest floating playground in Asia and the first of its kind in the Philippines, the Inflatable Island has a lot of trampolines, obstacles, and rides.

inflatable island subic

Photo Credit: Inflatable Island PH

Zoobic Safari

Thinking of spending the day with tigers, deer, bear, guinea pigs, and monkeys? Then, off you go to Zoobic Safari. Inside, you can ride a train that runs around into a sanctuary of animal farm which also houses exotic ones. Furthermore, there is also a realistic Aeta Village that features their homes. If you are lucky, you can catch a tribal show where they perform a butterfly and a war dance.

Tree Top Adventure

If your body is craving for an adventure that involves a lot of physical movements, then you should head off to the Tree Top Adventure. Enjoy one-of-a-kind zip line adventures, cable car rides, and trekking adventures. If you like your quick weekend getaway to be exhilarating, you will never go wrong in Tree Top Adventure.

The Duty Free Shops

If shopping is your therapy, Subic will not disappoint you. There are a number of duty-free shops in Subic and all of them are filled with imported goods such as chocolates, wines, toiletries, and other stuffs.

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5 Things Every Guest Must Do in Tagaytay

Posted on May 23, 2019 by Juan

If you are from the Metro and longing for a quick escape from the searing heat and stress but do not have the time for a Baguio trip, your best option is Tagaytay. Located just around 60 kilometers from the country’s capital city of Manila, Tagaytay has a cold climate and relaxing atmosphere. It is a popular weekend getaway destination for most city dwellers because of its location and breathtaking natural beauty.

Getting around Tagaytay

One does not need to own a car to be able to explore Tagaytay. There are public utility vehicles which are available and accessible around the area such as buses, jeepneys, and tricycles.

Best things to do in Tagaytay

1. Bond with family and friends at the Picnic Grove.

Perched on top of a sprawling grassy hill, the Picnic Grove is a park that offers different activities that can be enjoyed by the entire family or a group of friends such as kite-flying, horseback-riding, or, as the name suggests, have a picnic.

2. Get your adrenaline rushing in Sky Ranch

The Sky Ranch is an amusement park where visitors can enjoy exciting rides such as the Sky Eye Ferris Wheel, the Sky Cruiser, or the good-old Zipline.

3. See the entire city and the Ta’al Volcano and Lake from the People’s Park in the Sky

As the highest point in the entire city, the climate in People’s Park in the Sky is almost chilly. The park also hosts wooden footbridges, a Roman-style amphitheater, and several gazeboes. It is also an excellent place for families and group of friends to hang out together.

4. Visit the Puzzle Mansion

With an extensive collection of a jigsaw puzzle, the Puzzle Mansion Bed and Breakfast is, indeed, an exciting place. Aside from the puzzle collection, this bed and breakfast have a big blue pool that can also be enjoyed by the guests.

5. Finally, take a personal look at the Taal Volcano

Though you might have seen Taal Volcano from movies or any printed materials, the experience of personally witnessing a volcano-within-a-volcano is something that you should never miss once you are in Tagaytay—not to mention that inside one of the volcanoes is an island. You have to see that for yourself.

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Binondo: Where Chinese and Filipino Culture Meets

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Juan

Chinese traders had frequented the Philippines even before the Spaniards settled in the country. After establishing the seat of power inside the Walled City of Intramuros, the Spanish colonizers have developed a particular area for Chinese in the Philipines who have converted into Christianity. This move gave birth to the place which we know as Binondo.

Established in 1594, Binondo has become a melting pot of the Chinese-Filipino culture. One can find here a unique flavor – one that cannot be easily found in any other Chinatown around the world. This unique flavor is the product of several millennia of assimilating Chinese and Filipino culture that is evident, not only in the dishes served in Binondo but in every aspect of life in the district.

The_Heritage_Town_of_Filipino-Chinese_or_Binondo_Church

Binondo Church was built in 1596 to serve Chinese Christian converts in the Binondo area and permitted Chinese and Chinese mestizos to live. The church is home to the Our Lade of China and also served native Filipino Christian. It is a Baroque architectural style and notable for its octagonal five-tier Chinese-style bell tower which reflects the culture and art of the surround Chinatown.: Bernard Pasatiempo Recirdo II [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Today, Binondo has not changed much from what it was during its early years—a business district. It is a part of Manila where one can see amenities of modern life standing side-by-side with infrastructure serving as a testimony of the past, decorated with a distinctive hint of Chinoy culture.

Various historical landmarks are still standing in the Binondo area. One of which is the Arch of Goodwill marking the borders of the Chinatown area and commemorate the friendship between the Filipinos and the Chinese.

Another historical landmark is the Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz, more popularly known as the Binondo Church. It was initially built in the late 1600 but was made more prominent in 1700 to cater to a growing population around the area. The church was destroyed during the Second World War, leaving only the façade, the belfry, and the side facing Ongpin Street. It was reconstructed after the war.

The Binondo Church houses the oldest colonial painting in the country, the Nuestra Senora de Santisimo Rosario.

Still standing in front of the church is the Plaza Calderon de la Barca or the Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz which used to be the biggest square in Manila during the Spanish era.

Aside from its cultural and historical significance, Binondo is also known for its various restaurants lining up the streets serving authentic Chinese cuisine. Serving tasty, heartwarming meals on a wallet-friendly price, the Binondo food crawl is an adventure that often finds itself on somebody’s bucket list.

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