City Scene, Manila

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OK, OK...it's nothing like the Marine World in San Diego, California or anywhere else, but these well trained South American Sea Lions know how to give a good show.

The show was designed to be EDUCATIONAL so they fed us with a load of information. ;)

In between all those lessons were some audience participation and some crazy sea lion antics.

The people watching, including my six-year old nephew, enjoyed every minute of it.

ADAPTED FROM CREWROWER'S PHILIPPINE FORUM REPLY *

For layover sightseeing, one good thing is that the airport is in Pasay City, which is essentially part of Manila's sprawl. So from the airport you can get on a bus or taxi and you're already in the city. One bad thing is that Manila's traffic gridlock is notorious, so you won't want to cut things too closely.

I suggest researching Intramuros (the reminants of city wall from Spanish colonial days) and the San Augustin cathedral. Also the "BayWalk" along the Manila Bay is recommended by many - I like it too but less so in the day. It's a nice area to watch the sunset and listen to music with beer in the evening. Also a lot of interesting shopping malls - the "Mall of Asia" not far from the airport bills itself as Asia's largest. The Philippines embraces the concept of the American shopping mall, but with fun Philippine characteristics. If you hit up a mall in Cebu, though, that'll be enough. Otherwise consider doing it in Manila.

I've been doing this for 2 years already in the surrounding city of Metro Manila..visiting 14 historical churches with different architectural structures and patrons give me a different fulfilling and spiritual enlightenment. Doing this spiritual tradition also gives one a sense of local culture of the city of Manila.

Read more stories on..

http://hazelovestraveling.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-visita-iglesia-new-way-of-cross.html

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The Dangwa Flower Market in Santa Cruz District of the City of Manila is the Main Trading and Buying station for Flowers and plants of the Metro Manila Area. This is where the flower central of the Metro Manila Area is located and various kinds of flowers and blooms like roses, santans, mumps, orchids and more can be bought here wholesale or for retail. the area can be quite jammed with people and buyers during busy days like All Saints Day, holy week, Valentine's Day, etc. The flowers originate from various locations all over the country and imported flowers from other countries too. You Can Haggle for nice prices if you have good haggling skills here in this flower market.

The Flower Market of Dangwa is open 24 hours a day and can be accesible by jeepney or taxi ride from the Manila Bay Area.

the repository and guardian of the Philippines' natural and cultural heritage. It was established in 1901 as an ethnography and natural history museum, the building was designed in 1918 by the American Architect, Daniel Burnham, (former Old Congress Building) ...i is where the arts, natural sciences and other support divisions are housed ...there's an adjacent building in the Agrifina Circle of Rizal Park "The National Museum of the Filipino People" ...it is where the Anthropology and Archaeology Divisions are housed.

"Bawal umihi dito"

See many photos under Google Images

when you tour Manila and many other places your nose will tell you that Filipino men can not read

As an economic indicator this helps tourists to understand the challenges facing the Government as they seek to promote tourism - the obstacles to be overcome are not limited to this

Visiting the Philippines can be a wonderful experience as long as you go prepared to accept the endless difficulties that are not present in other Asian countries with well established tourism.

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Malacañan Palace is special to me because...

We were treated as VIPs during dad's promotion. The main picture here shows former President Corazon Aquino (I just came from the beach so I had an extra tan)...the others are from a recent tour I had with some VT brothers and sisters. :)

;p

According to history books:

It was originally built as a private, 18th-century country house and purchased by the government in 1825, this opulent palace is the current seat of the Philippine government and features a palace museum open to the public, but you have to set an appointment first either via your tour group or set by people working there. You may also submit your names. Just call the number listed here. (PhP50.00 per person) Souvenirs are available near the gate. Security is very strict, but you will surely enjoy your visit. :)

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A Great Place to Gamble! (Yes I'm a Gambler!)

PAGCOR-PAVILION BINGO SCHEDULE:

a. 5:00 to 9:00 pm (M T W Th)
b. 2:00 to 6:00 pm (Sat & Sun)

SLOT MACHINE REGULAR PROMOTIONS:

a. Lucky Pick Promotion (Main)
12nn-4pm (Tuesdays & Sundays)
b. Payday Raffle Promo (Main)
6pm-12mn (15th & 30th)
c. Mucho Papremyo Raffle Promo (Ronquillo)
12mn (Thursdays & Sundays)
d. First Five at Four Early Bird Promo (Mabini)
4pm (Daily)
e. Raffle Mania (Mabini)
8pm-12mn every 2nd & 4th Sunday of the Month
f. Winner on Wheels (WOW) Car Raffle Promo
g. Jackpot To Joyride SM Promo

TABLE GAME REGULAR PROMOTION:

a. Araw-Araw Instant Papremyo (Main), 6pm-10pm (Daily)
b. Winner on Wheels (WOW) Car Raffle Promo

NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT

Mondays Sabor Latino (10pm-2am)
Tuesdays IAXE Band (9pm-2am)
Wednesdays Beat (9pm-2am)
Thursdays MixMatch Band (9pm-2am)
Fridays Joey Mulatto Band (9pm-2am)
Saturdays Moranos w/ Ledge Dancers (9pm-2am)
Sundays Silk (9pm-2am)

PAGCOR Club-Ronquillo

Mondays Tom Cat (9pm-1am)
Tuesdays Two Notes (9pm-1am)
Wednesdays Palito & D'Gang (9pm-1am)
Thursdays Henry Madrid (9pm-1am)
Fridays Black & White (9pm-1am)
Saturdays Quarter Notes (9pm-1am)
Sundays Elvis (9pm-1am)

Jeepneys are the most common form of public transport throughout the many islands of the Philippines. In Manila they are so numerous, that there is almost constantly traffic congestion. The jeepneys don't have air-conditioning. They have open windows. Most of the time the jeepneys are constantly-packed with many passengers. Jeepneys offer one of the cheapest ways of getting somewhere. They seldom have a special place to stop. The drivers will slow down enough to enable the passengers to jump on or out.

In the countryside the jeepneys offer possibilities to carry all kind of stuff. Chickens, sometimes even a pork, 50 kg sacs with rice and so on. Passengers are inside the jeepney, but more than once hanging on the back of the jeepney. The jeepneys are many times overloaded. Overloaded? There's always room for "just one more". So, if someone asks you 'How many people can you fit in a jeepney?', you know the only answer: " Just one more!"

Jeepneys are of origin old American jeeps. They were used in the war against the Japanese army who occupied the Philippines for several years. After the Japanese army was defeated and the American military mission was completed, the jeeps were left

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Manila has a few other historical catholic churches, outside Intramuros:

1. Basilica Minore of the Black Nazarene, Quiapo, Manila

More popularly known as Quiapo Church, this minor basilica is actually named St. John The Baptist Church. Widely visited for its said-to-be miraculous statue of the Black Nazarene, thousands of faithful gather every 9th of January to parade and celebrate its feast day - a must see!

2. Basilica Minore of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, Binondo, Manila

This church is a site to behold, considering its old baroque architecture being surrounded by modern structures. Founded in 1596, it was destroyed during WWII and restored in 1972.

3. Basilica De San Sebastian, Plaza del Carmen, Quiapo, Manila

This all-steel church, first in the Philippines and in Asia and second in the world, was designed by Gustave Eiffel (designer of Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, etc.) in 1883 and was prefabricated in Belgium. Completely knocked-down for shipping to the Philippines in 6 ships, it weighed close to 50,000 tons. Its stained-glass windows were done in France.

4. Remedios Church, M. H. del Pilar St., Malate, Manila

Another beautiful baroque-era church, the Our Lady of Remedies Church was built in late 16th century by Augustinians. A 1624-statue of the Virgin Mary, unscathed after the bombings of WWII, is kept inside and revealed only during its feast day on every third Sunday of November.

5. Holy Spirit Parish, Sta. Cruz, Manila