The city once depicted by Dan Brown as the “gates of hell” in his novel Inferno seems a little unfair these days. Indeed, Manila’s bad rep has hindered the city’s progress as a tourist hotspot, when in truth, the metropolis has so much to give. While people will warn you that the traffic jams are terrible, it’s crowded, noisy dirty and dangerous, it’s important to question, what capital city isn’t? Manila is fast becoming a global city with districts and culture to rival any other Asian mega city, so maybe it’s time to get stuck in.
Thankfully for the Phillipino tourism industry it seems like people are finally taking notice of this underrated city and tourism in Manila is on the rise. The number of visitors for the period of January to June in 2017 was up 12.7 percent on the year before and in that timeframe last year, the capital of the Philippines welcomed a whopping 3.3 million people. Whilst Manilla’s old reputation from its colonial days as ‘The Pearl of the Orient’ and the ‘Paris of Asia’ is unlikely to be reinstated, the city still has so much to offer. With this in mind, here are 10 IDEAL reasons to visit Manilla
THE CULTURE
We know saying ‘the culture’ is such a broad term, but like many Asian countries, the Phillipines has a long and varied history and culture wise, there is so much to do an see in Manila. For one, it is the only place in Asia to have been colonised by the Spanish (1521–1898) and as such offers a unique take on architecture, religion and customs. Indeed, to experience all three in harmonious unison, a visit to the city’s many beautiful Spanish era churches is a must.
THE FOOD
The food in the Phillippines has been overlooked by the world and for many remains a culinary mystery, yet to be discovered. Offering a mix of Asian heritage and Western influence, the cuisine is made up of a unique blend of Malay, Spanish, Chinese and American influences and with 175 ethnolinguistic groups living in the country, as you can imagine, the cuisine varies greatly in different regions. However, Manila is one of the best places to get an overall sense of the grub in the country.
The unofficial national dish of the Philippines is adobo (ah-doh-boh) which is derived from Spanish influences and features intensely flavoured meat in a rich sauce. A must-try is bagnet – a deep-fried pork dish that’s popular across the country. We’re also obsessed with Lumpia which are a kind of deep-fried spring roll, stuffed with a mixture of minced meat and chopped vegetables. Oh and you can’t come to the Philippines and not try halu-halo (meaning mix) which is a crazy, colorful combination of sickly sweet ingredients.
THE NIGHTLIFE
If partying is your thing, then Manilla might just be the perfect place. From rooftop cocktail bars to cool speakeasy joints, there’s something for everyone here. Quezon city is the place for groovy hipster hangouts; here you’ll find Tomas Morato Avenue which is lined with restaurants and bars.
Makati is the perfect district for bar crawls with Don Pedro Steet and its numerous establishments being a draw for many. If you want to try your luck, for people who like to have a flutter on games like roulette and blackjack, the city is swiftly becoming one of Asia’s brightest gambling destinations. Finally, Filipinos love to sing and karaoke is extremely popular here; belting out a song out whilst drunk is a rites of passage on any night out in the capital city.
RIDE IN A JEEPNEY
Known as the king of the road, Jeepneys are synonymous with Phillipino culture. Yeah, they are cramped with commuters and the fumes that these gas-guzzling vehicles give off are something else, but these vehicles, made from surplus Jeeps left behind by American troops after World War II, are part of Manila’s charm and character and have become a sort of national emblem.
Hopping on one is the best way to get a real glimpse of life in Manila and see how the locals live and get around. However, the Jeepney will soon be a thing of the past; a push by the government to modernize the transportation system and replace all diesel engine-powered vehicles by 2021 is in currently under way.
A THRIVING ART SCENE
Along with having delicious food on every corner, Manila is also a hub for artists. There are a number of art centres in the city, with places like MO Space and 1335 Miami well-known for pushing the boundaries of Filipino art. Jaw – dropping, magnificent street art is also everywhere in Manilla and a Street Art Tour is highly recommended. Manila also hosts a number of annual film festivals, which include the French Film Festival in June and the International Silent Film Festival in August.
HILOT MASSAGE
Hilot massage (pronounced hee-lot) is an ancient Filipiono art of healing that has been practiced for thousands of years. A Hilot therapist, called manghihilot, identifies muscular and skeletal ailments through intuition and then uses chiropractic manipulation to treat these musculoskeletal ailments. Still today, many Philipinos will seek the help of a manghihilot as an alternative to a medical doctor. While you can now get this type of massage anywhere in the world, there is no better place to have it than its home.
MANY WORLD CLASS MUSEUMS
Manila is home to many world class museums. The Metropolitan Museum of Manila houses a vast array of contemporary art, and the Lopez Museum and Library, which features a huge collection of art and artefacts, is certainly worth exploring. If you can, visit during The Art Fair Philippines, which is a rapidly growing festival held in the Makati City area. In a mere two years, the exhibition area has doubled in size to 4,400 square metres.
THE OLDEST CHINATOWN IN THE WORLD
This district of Binondo in Manila is the world’s oldest Chinatown, dating back to the early decades of the Spanish colonial period. For four centuries this part of town was the hub of the city, where all the trade and commerce went down and it remains of important historical significance to the country. The food in this area, in particular, is phenomenal.
MANILA BAY SUNSETS
The spectacular sunsets in Manila Bay are renowned for being among the best in the world. Summertime is the best time to enjoy Manila Bay’s Sunset, obviously. One of the best spots to experience the sun descending is on Manila Bay’s promenade, right behind the Mall of Asia. Here you’ll also find many al fresco dining spots and open air cafes to head to after you watch the sun go down.
THE COST AND BUDGET HOTELS
If you’re still unsure about whether a visit to Manila could be for you, you’ll definitely be swayed when you hear about the cost of things in the Philippines’ capital. According to PriceofTravel, Manila is the 7th cheapest city in Southeast Asia. The survey suggests that as little as $22 per day is required for food and accommodation.
For travellers who want to get as much bang for their buck as possible, this is one of the best places to go. You could choose to stay in cheap hostels but lavish hotels are also reasonably priced for those who have a slightly larger budget. For a five star hotel like the Peninsula Manila, holidaymakers are looking at a price of around $120 per night.