Manila for the Time-pressed Traveller—Part II


For the visitor to Manila, tight on time but big on adventure, here is a list of things one can't see, do or find anywhere else in the world.

Special Tours

  • See the entire Philippines in a day! Visit the Nayong Pilipino (literally, Philippine Village) and breeze through the country's 7,107 islands within 46 hectares of land. Highlights of this whirlwind tour are the Banaue Rice Terraces, the famous Mayon Volcano and the Muslim mosque-all replicated in smaller scale, of course. Several museums, an aquarium, orchidarium and an aviary are located inside the park. Colorful jeepneys ferry visitors around the village.

    Nayong Pilipino Complex
    NAIA Road, Pasay City
    Tels: 832-0593/832-3763
    Open Tuesdays to Sundays,

    from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

  • See the different applications of the coconut tree-the Tree of Life-on Philippine architecture by visiting the Coconut Palace at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex. The building, as well as its furnishings, are made of coconut tree-based material-coco lumber, coco fiber mats and coco shell décor and columns of inverted coconut trunk. Guided tours are available.

    Coconut Palace
    CCP Complex, Manila
    Tels: 832-0223
    By appointment

  • When in Quiapo, visit the San Sebastian Church. The Church built in 1891 is wholly made of steel and is earthquake-proof.

    San Sebastian Church
    CM Recto Ave., Quiapo, Manila
    Tel: 742-3331

  • A secret tunnel, used during World War II, is part of a guided tour of the Philippine Army Museum. Displayed at the Museum are war materials such as weaponry, war relics and dioramas depicting the multi-dimensional role of army soldiers.

    Philippine Army Museum
    MacArthur Ave. cor. Memorial Rd.
    Fort Bonifacio, Makati
    Open daily except Wednesdays

    from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  • Visit Las Pinas Church, home of the Bamboo Organ, made by Fray Diego Cerra of the Recollect Order on 1798. The bamboo organ measures 12 feet wide and is composed of 843 bamboo tubes. It is the only one of its kind in the world.

    Las Pinas Church
    Las Pinas, Metro Manila
    Tel: 801-6789

  • A souvenir that has a long tradition of excellence is the Manila cigar. Pressed, molded and rolled by hand, Manila cigars are made from 100 per cent tobacco leaves and are packed in attractive mahogany boxes. La Flor de la Isabella Compania General de Tobaccos de Filipinas, maker of the world-famous Tabacalera cigars, offers a guided tour of its factory.

    Handmade Manila Cigars by Tabacalera
    La Flor de la Isabella Inc.
    848 Romualdez St., Ermita, Manila
    Tels: 50-80-26/823-7833

  • A total of 24 museums are located within the metropolis. A number of these are worth visiting: The National Museum showcases among other things, mummies from the Mountain Province, elephant fossils and the remains of an ancient boat; Ayala Museum in Makati has an impressive dioramas depicting highlights in the nation's history from pre-Spanish times to the present; the Central Bank Money Museum features currency all over the world and coinage of the Philippines from the pre-Christian era until the present: the Carfel Seashell Museum has a collection of over 50,000 shells including fossil slabs of Pyritized Ammonites (170 million years) and Nautiloids (350 million years).
    The copyright of the article Manila for the Time-pressed Traveller—Part II in Travel for Young People is owned by Haydee De Guzman. Permission to republish Manila for the Time-pressed Traveller—Part II in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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