Manila unnerves me with its pack of beggars, criminals and swindlers (especially the one who victimized me last December)but I guess the things I love about this city outnumber the bad. I love Manila because it has s-o-u-l and it will always stand for the dreams and ambitions of its inhabitants who hope to make it to the big league, despite the seeming contradictions. Besides, I live and work in Manila so I have no choice but to love it back. I’ve made this list to convince myself of its virtues. Your contributions would be appreciated too (am not even halfway, not sure if I’ll make it to 101!)
1. the world-famous sunset
2. dirty ice cream ni mamang sorbetero
3. Baywalk
4. taho, ten pesos for one cup
5. hanging out in the open-air coffeeshop of the Manila Yacht Club
6. view of Manila Bay from any tall building in Roxas Boulevard
7. the CCP edifice
8. biking/jogging/strolling in the CCP Complex
9. Luneta – walang kupas!
10. bananacue
11. fishballs and squidballs – P10 per stick
12. One hundred peso footspas
13. $1 manicure and/or pedicure
14. Eng Bee Tin’s many-flavored hopia
15. airconditioned LRT coaches (as opposed to their microwave-oven counterparts)
16.Dining at Harbor View
17. Museo Pambata
18. the cobblestone streets of Intramuros
19. karitelas (horse-drawn carriages)
20. Jollibee in every corner
21. tapsilog 24/7
22. tree-lined Roxas Boulevard
23. karaoke galore
24. piping-hot pan de sal in the neighborhood bakery
25. $1 haircuts
26. Chow King halo-halo
27. ice-cold cheap San Miguel Beer
28. chicken halal in Quiapo
29. cheap DVDs everywhere
30. Made in China overload in Binondo and Divisoria
31. Chinatown
32. Jewelry stores in Ongpin
33. Old churches, incl. San Agustin, Binondo and Malate
34. Tsinoy Museum
35. Plaza Miranda
36. Stores selling orig, cheap designer watches in Carriedo
37. Second-hand book stalls in Recto
38. the brewed coffee in Everyday Cafe & Panciteria Lido
39. one-hundred peso comida china in Ramon Lee’s Panciteria
40. Savory Chicken in Escolta
41. Aristocrat Roxas Blvd.
42. Manila Bay boat cruise
43. Casino Filipino
44. My less than $200 two-year gym membership at Slimmers’ World
45. SM malls
46. tender juicy steaks at the Cowrie Grill of the Manila Hotel
47. the UST campus in Espana, my alma mater
48. Paco Park
49. Tutuban Mall
50. Fondue at Old Swiss Inn in Paco
51. Arranque Market
52. P120 “the works bento” in Iseya Hotel resto
53. Middle Eastern fare in Ghazal and Shawarma Center
54. German delicacies in Old Harry’s Pub
55. The best little corner in Manila at Cosa Nostra
56. Cafe Adriatico
57. Thai food at Sala Thai
58. Fifty-peso big ensaymada at Tita Fely’s
59. Aling Nene’s barbecue
60. pastries at Becky’s Kitchen
61. Vietnamese food at Cha Gio
62. La Solidaridad bookshop in Padre Faura
63. ensaymada & hot chocolate at Hizon’s
64. Vintage shopping at Marni’s Room – by appointment only
65. Madam Puring at the Pan Pacific food court
66. Paella and other Spanish food at Casa Armas
67. the Dangwa flower market in Dimasalang
68. Mojito and salsa dancing in Cafe Havana
69. Sanctuario Spa in J. Nakpil St.
70. Shanghai food at Suzhou Dimsum
71. Taiwanese fare in Success Coffee Shop
72. Exquisite Chinese cuisine in Good Earth
73. D’ electronics stores in Raon
74. warm, sunny weather
75. Malacanang Palace by the Pasig River
76. Estero cooking in Ongpin
77. Fine dining at Lolo Dad’s
78. Ballroom dancing at Makuhari
79. EJ’s to-die-for BBQ, as per Spanky
80. native handicrafts stalls under the Quiapo bridge
81. Intramuros Golf Club, the only public golf course this side of town
82. Blind massage
83. Remedios Circle resto row
84. Spanish cuisine & The Feast of Three Kings at Casino Espanol de Manila
85. Turn-of-the-century dining at La Cocina de Tita Moning
86. The Hyatt Hotel & Casino Manila Market Cafe buffet
87. Spanish-era ancestral houses in strategic parts of the city
88. The Manila Bulletin office, my fave place for meeting my media friends. Not many people also know that it has an Olympic-size sports arena and hotel-like area for its printing facilities
89. Star City
90. tiangges selling all sorts of clothes and knick-knacks
91. Coconut Palace
92. the designer ateliers of Pitoy Moreno, Frederick Peralta et. al.
93. Wok Inn
94.
(to be continued)
Okay rin yung madalas na rally sa Mendiola at ang magarbong Malakanyang malapit dito.
Famous halo-halo of Little Quiapo
Taking the boat ride in Manila bay
Thanks for your inputs Ederic and Noemi. Please find them on the list. Whew! 75 down, 26 more to go:grin:
i miss our musical roads (read as maiingay na busina from the jeepneys and buses)!
and i love going to spa to get a good massage at less than US$20.
what chicken halal are you refering to?
Moud Halal Chicken sa Globo de Ora, Quiapo?
LOVE THAT PLACE! ;p
whew!!! galugad mo kamaynilaan ha!!
uhmmnn ..how about ..
halo-halo sa ugbo
sa may tundo
hanapin mo ajay
walang kasing sarap yun
tested since 1969 ata 🙂
btw. ang ganda ng name mo
annalyn
kasing ganda ng name ko 🙂
annalyn 🙂
sana magkapera ako
para pag-uwi ko ng pinas
mapuntahan ko ang
marami diyan
sa list mo 🙂
have you been to ESTERO? yung strip of carenderia in Binondo. fresh ang mga ingredients, and you watch them cook it, maliit na version ng seaside market. sarap food doon. wag ka lang titingin sa view, he he.
e yung emerald siopao at Emerald Resto? grabe, big and yummy! 😛
Total Coolness! thanks for showing some love for our city!
you really should send this list to Mayor Atienza.
maraming pasasalamat mula sa isang Batang Sta. Cruz!!
spanx!
ajay,
have you tried the varied BBQs in EJ’s, the hole in the wall directly across Tia Maria’s Malate?
the not-so-best-kept-secret source of the best BBQs (pinoy and japanese style) in the city. among the cheapest too.
try their liempo BBQ coated with chopped garlic, or their tomato-bacon grills. addicting!!!
hey guys, thanks for dropping by. Just came from out of town:wink:
Yeah, Moud’s Zee..just as you told moi. Will make a post one of these days, probably..
Ahah, tokayo melai, san ko naman kaya sa tundo ko hahanapin yang halo-halo sa ugbo? anung street poe??:grin:
okay jane, will put estero on the list. tnx! kahit sa manila yacht club, ang ganda ng view sa restaurant, wag mo nga lang amuyin ang tubig:razz:
hwaw, Spanky. I must have hang out in EJ’s (or was it tio mario’s?) but their liempo bbq should be a must-try:smile: will try and make a run for it one of these days
tukayo ajay,
pagdating mo ng divisoria, sakay ka ng velasquez, pagliko bago dumating ng ..vitas 🙂
dagdag ko pala yung tapsihan ni lola ely’s sa may ..sang bang lugar yun ..nalimots ko na 🙂 lapit sa tayuman at sta cruz 🙂
Thanks for the tip Melai. Hopefully di naman life-threatening yang pupuntahan ko:grin:
Oh yeah, nakapunta na rin ang lakwatserang ito sa Tapsihan ni Lola Ely’s.. Regards
nyahahaha! dun kaya ako pinanganak at lumaki
i assure you safe ka run 🙂
Lola Ely’s???
wow. Robin Padilla’s favorite Tapsilog joint in Sta. Cruz!
try their Lechonsilog. Generous amounts of Lechon Kawali served with the super-tasty sinangag of Lola E. perfect at 3am after a long night of drinking!!
wow gimikero si spankyenriquez,
gawain yan ng mga napagod sa gimikan e 🙂
yes melai and spanky, i tried lola ely’s about a decade ago:grin: i think it’s located in or near bambang
Malate! would that count?
Can someone please help me to the correct address of the Italian Restaurant Cosa Nostra located at M. Adriatico, Manila . . and phone number too.
Thanks a million