Manila.
Capital of the Philippines, city of billboards. A lot of tourists opt to skip staying here
altogether, but there’s a reason why Filipinos flock from all corners of the
country to try their luck here. Is it
crazy? Definitely! But I bet you won’t be complaining of any
lack of character in this place either.
So from a true blue Manilenos perspective,
here’s a top-5 list of things to do for a fun and eventful stopover:
1.
Catch an Ateneo-Lasalle game.
Someone once said it is the most modern version of tribal warfare you
will ever see in the Philippines. What
is it, you say? It’s college
basketball, of course! It’s serious stuff where I'm from and best illustrated by an article that appeared in the New York Times some
years ago.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/sports/23rivalry.html
2.
Eat balut – People mistakenly think that Filipinos eat
balut as a matter of course. In fact,
not a lot of people do, but they will try to get you to eat it anyway
because seeing looks of disgust on foreign faces is so much fun. As one of the few locals that actually eat balut (fertilized duck egg to those who aren't in the know),
I assure you that they’re NOT THAT BAD.
If you give it the old college try, we’ll appreciate it. But if you actually keep it in, we’ll respect
you for it.
3.
Visit old Manila – One of the biggest complaints about Manila is the
fact that there’s not a lot of history to be found here. So when in town, make sure to visit one of
the few places that actually have the old buildings still intact. Strolling along on your own is the cheap
option, but joining a tour (which locals are also wont to do) is another
popular choice. Ivan Mandy and Carlos
Celdran are favorite tour guides.
http://www.oldmanilawalks.com/
http://celdrantours.blogspot.com/
4.
Check out homegrown talent – Filipinos are known the world over for
their singing prowess. So when in
Manila, make sure to make a stop at places that feature local bands. There are plenty! Who knows?
You may just be inspired enough to hop on over to a videoke joint right
after.
5.
People Watch – Nights out in Manila, which locals like to refer to as
“gimmicks”, can be quite the production depending on what kind of place you go
to. It always changes, but as of this
writing, people-watching is best at Greenbelt on weekdays and Resorts World on
the weekend.
Oh I’m sure I’ll have a lot of people
giving me their own two cents about the best things to do in Manila after
this. Obviously there’s more to Manila
than just these 5, and I know you’ll soon find that out for yourself when you
get here.
