destination
Manila: 5 Must dos
the essential quick guide for discerning travellers.
3
Visit a VOlCanO
About an hour’s drive from
Manila, along one of the country’s
most scenic routes, is the resort city of
Tagaytay, which sits on a volcanic ridge,
by A L A N ROb LE S overlooking a spectacular sight: a large
lake, and another volcano within it. Taal,
the island volcano, is the world’s smallest
peer intO tHe past listen tO tHe MUsiC active volcano but among the deadliest.
1 2
Manila grew from Intramuros, Manila is arguably South-east Asia’s However, it’s been quiescent for decades,
a medieval enclave that Spanish music capital, and you’ll be spoilt for choice and it’s possible to trek there. If you just
photography: til ak het tige / photolibrary
conquistadors built in 1571. Its thick – Pinoy rock, or Filipino rock, is as diverse want to gaze at the volcano, Josephine’s
stone walls, cobblestone streets, plazas as the rock music genre itself, but with Restaurant (Tagaytay-Batangas Highway,
and churches recall a colonial past Filipino sensibilities. Aficionados of original Km 58, Tel: 632 842 9851) has one of BU Y pear ls For a pricier, more unique dining
4
brought to vivid life by guides like Ivan underground alternative music can go to the best views of the lake and serves The Philippines offers a king’s experience, go to Cafe Juanita (2 United
Man Dy (www.oldmanilawalks.com) Club Dredd (www.clubdredd.com/index.php) quintessential Filipino food. An alternative ransom in South Sea pearls, and there’s Street, corner of West Capitol, Tel: 632 632
and Carlos Celdran (http://celdrantours. or saGuijo Cafe (www.saguijo.com), while is Antonio’s Restaurant (Barangay something for every budget. At the 0357), a restaurant designed to look like
blogspot.com). Master raconteurs, they at the 70s Bistro (www.70sbistro.com), Neogan, Purok 7, Tel: 63918 899 2866) Greenhills Shopping Center, strands of a 19th-century salon, full of antiques and
will walk you through the walled city’s you’ll hear Pinoy reggae and alternative for fine dining. You can stay overnight in pearls dangle enticingly in row after works of art. It serves a menu of Filipino
hidden treasures: a plaza that once punk pop. Want to perform with a live Tagaytay, at the Alfonso Hotel Farm and row of stalls. The sellers are Muslims fusion dishes – try its interpretation of the
served as a bullfight arena, a 403-year- band? You can, at Mag:Net High Street’s Resort (www.tagaytay.alfonsohotel.net), for from the Maranaw tribe, an ethnic traditional adobo, which comes with string
old church whose architecture fuses (www.magnethighstreet.com) ‘rockeoke’ 2,575 pesos (US$53) a night. group famed as traders. beans, potatoes and a delicate mat of
baroque and Asian motifs, a magnificent night. For high-energy fun, head to Greenhills is also famous for its crispy fried onions.
view from one of the ancient bastions. Alchemy Club (Silver City Mall, Frontera tiangge (bazaar), an indoor warren of
You can also hire a calesa – a horse- Verde Drive, Pasig, Tel: 632 706 1305) or shops offering everything from shoes fast facts
drawn carriage – for a 45-minute ride Club Ascend (www.clubascend.com), where to mobile phones. Do haggle: Locals
CUr r enC Y
around Intramuros for 300 pesos (US$6). Filipino youth love to party. start by lopping off at least 20 per cent
Philippines Pesos (PHP)
from the original price.
US$1 = 48 PHP
www.greenhills.com.ph
V isa
Requirements vary. Check www.gov.ph for
Dine like a resiDent
5 details.
Filipino cooking has unjustly got
B e s t t iMe tO V isi t
a bum rap for being allegedly bland.
November to February has cool weather.
The secret is knowing what to avoid
Ge t t inG t Her e
– the generic ‘food courts’ inside the
Singapore Airlines flies 4 times daily from
malls. Go instead to any branch of
Singapore to Manila.
the restaurant chain called Dampa
MOr e inFOr M at iOn
(hut). Each is located in a market,
www.wowphilippines.com.ph
where staff will assist you in buying
the freshest ingredients – prawns,
crabs, vegetables – which you can
then have cooked any way you
like – traditional or otherwise. The
prices are incredibly low.
OPPOSITE PAGE, FROM TOP: Cafe
Juanita offers fusion food; Casa
Manila, a recreation of a Spanish
colonial house, showcases the
Intramuros lifestyle. THIS PAGE,
FROM TOP: A view of Taal volcano
in the distance; ‘rockeoke’ at
Mag:Net; clip-clop around
Intramuros on a calesa, whose
coachmen are trained guides.
SilverKris 8 0