For the love of old buildings and culture: Escolta x Binondo

That thing called "looking for Tadhana"

My BFF Aira aka fake cousin (I pretended to be her cousin when I stayed with her at Dumaguete) is spending her semestral break at Luzon. Besides going to the same high school, loving the same books, sharing the same star signs, we both love history! 

Specifically she said, "BRING ME TO OLD BUILDINGS AND BRING ME TO A GOOD LEGIT CHINESE PANSIT PLACE. MY BUDGET IS 500". So here are my attempts of fulfilling her request:

From my university, we rode a jeepney to Plaza Miranda in Quiapo (Php6) where you can also see Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or more commonly known as Quiapo church. 

Plaza Lacson (former Plaza Goiti)

I lead Aira and Sam (Aira's cousin) to Plaza Lacson by way of FR Hidalgo St. and Palanca St. I pretty much know Quiapo and Escolta (one of my go to places definitely!) like the back of my hand by now since I've been constantly going to Escolta for about 2-3 years now to support local community artists.

From Plaza Lacson, you can see to your left the Neoclassical architecture of Don Roman Santos Building which housed the first savings bank in the country, Monte de Piedad Savings Bank.

Cornering Don Roman Santos is the entrance to Calle de la Escolta, one of the oldest streets in Manila. Escolta served as Manila's primary commercial district until its decline in the 1960s. The street used to have the city's tallest buildings, fashion district, tranvia (electric tram line), as well as the Manila Stock Exchange!

First United Building

Escolta will greet you with two adjacent buildings designed by Andres Luna de San Pedro, renowned painter Juan Luna's son. Regina building (left) formerly known as Roxas Building is a combination of neoclassicism and beux-arts while First United Building (right) formerly known as Perez-Samanillo Building is a combined project by Juan F. Nakpil is in Art Deco style. 

Fan fact (haha): 

First United Building was the tallest building in Manila in 1928.

On the first floor of First United Building, you will see what used to be 98B COLLABoratory's weekend market - an initiative to generate renewed interest in the street. The bazaar - Saturday x Future Market - used to run only every first saturday of the month. I'm so glad that they have decided to make it permanent under a new name: Hub: Make Lab though I have yet to visit (they're closed on Mondays. We visited on a Monday 😭)

Sy Lian Teng museum

On the second floor is the First United Community Museum. The museum shows the history of Escolta through one of the most prominent businessmen during its "Manila's Queen of Streets" glory, Sy Lian Teng. (He looks like my guakong 😂)

Natividad Building

On the next street, is Burke Building (the one with the Ministop) which had the first elevator in Manila.  After Burke is beaux-arts architecture designed Natividad Building by architect Fernando de la Cantera Blondeau.

Escolta Ice Cream & Snacks

The famous ice cream shop in the vicinity. I find it quite pricy and I also didn't like the tase - P72 for a pint! We got a pistachio-flavored pint.

Calvo Building

Calvo Building is of beaux-arts architecture and designed by Fernando Ocampo. It was the home of radio station DZBB-AM and the birthplace of Kapuso Network GMA. It has a museum (P20 for students, P50 for regular) of any old thing Manila + has one of those classic-style Otis elevators!

Capitol Theater

Across is national artist Juan Nakpil's art deco theater, Capitol.



On Yuchengco St., to your left you will find this UFO-shaped building which houses BPI and to your right is the homey hopia store, Polland.

They indeed serve their hopia hot. Comparing to other hopias, theirs is chewy and softer. I thought it was because it was served hot but I ate my leftover hours later and it still has the same texture.

Largest Chinatown Arch in the world

On Quintin Paredes St., you will see Jones Bridge which connects Binondo with Manila's center, Ermita. To celebrate the 444th founding anniversary of Manila and the 40th diplomatic ties between Philippines and China, this peace arch was inaugurated in 2015.

El Hogar Filipino Building

A wedding present of Antonio Melian y Pavia, 3rd Count of Peracamps to Margarita Zobel de Ayala in 1914 and one of Manila's earliest skyscraper designed by Ramon Irureta-Goyena and Francisco Perez-Muñoz remains standing at the corner of Juan Luna St. and Muelle dela Industria. One of the two remaining American-era structures in the area, this neoclassical and renaissance styled building is unused today.

Infront of El Hogar is the Juan Luna building.

In San Vicente St. corner Quintin Paredes St. is art nouveau Uy Chaco Building built in the 1920s.

Filipino-Chinese Frienship Arch infront of Uy Chaco Building

Another old building in Dasmariñas St. corner Quintin Paredes St.

Binondo Church

A long walk from Dasmariñas St. to Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz is Binondo Church or Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz which was originally founded to serve Chinese converts to Christianity. Masses are helf in Filipino, Mandarin, Hokkien and English.

I'll be reserving the food review for another post. For this trip, we ate at Polland, New Po Heng, Holland, Wai Ying, Shanghai Fried siopao, Diao Eng Chay and Sincerity.

Ongpin St.

Last stop for the day was baroque Sta. Cruz Church and Carriedo Fountain as National Museum was closed that day.

We spent less than P500 for the day.

//Will probably update the pictures next time when I finally take a photo of Quiapo church and Plaza Miranda

Miag-ao, Iloilo

The Municipality of Miag-ao is a one and a half jeepney ride from the main city. You can ride a jeep for Php48 (Php38 for students) to Miag-ao from Iloilo Terminal Market/"Super" (we rode from here), Mohon Terminal in Molo or the terminal in Arevalo. You can also ride buses going to Antique.

The entire ride, I was super sleepy. I've been sleeping usually around 3am. I was mentally slapping myself awake. It was not helping at all that I went with my little sister and little cousin who kept on falling asleep during the ride. You could say I was nanny for the day. But that beats travelling alone.

Miag-ao Church, also known as Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church, is indeed a sight to behold. It's the prettiest church I've seen. The church is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Baroque Churches of the Philippines". 

I could totally see myself getting married here. But ugh why is it so far from where I live. I doubt my guests would make their way to this town just for my wedding lol //We ate fillet mignon (Php180) at The Bistro for lunch.

Of course, I just have to visit University of the Philippines, where most of my friends go to. ...where I could've also gone to if I decided to push thru with my application. You can ride tricycles from the back of the church for P7 per head.

After this, we went to Miag-ao Cemetery Camposanto but sadly, the structure there was already ruined. But seriously, you can walk these 3 places.

I really wanted to go to San Joaquin but my lola wouldn't allow me. That and because of my companions. My sister isn't exactly the best travel buddy. She hates walking. I guess I'll be visiting San Joaquin, Guimbal and Tigbauan next time!

Sibonga, Cebu: Monastery of the Holy Eucharist

I've had my fair share of religious places. I thought the Monastery of Transfiguration in Malaybalay, Bukidnon and the Divine Mercy Shrine in El Salvador, Cagayan de Oro (tallest in the world!) was as good as it's gonna get in the Philippines. Boy, was I proven wrong when I saw this shrine in Cebu.

In our "true" itinerary that I've made, not considering the time constraint, I've actually planned to visit all these little towns like Barili, Carcar, Badian, etc. Upon realizing the physically impossible feat of doing all that in under 5 days plus a probable side tour to Bohol/Dumaguete, we decided to just stick with one place outside the city proper (It takes around 4-5 hours travelling TO one of the places in our list that is outside the city proper).

For this day, we only planned for Oslob but as we were getting back to the main city, my friends decided that we should push one more place in our list. We only knew the name of the place and not how to get there but nevertheless, we hopped off the bus as it approached Sibonga (ride the bus from South Bus Terminal if you're coming from the city proper).

Where the bus passes by or drops you off is pretty much their town proper already. We asked for directions and we were advised to take a habal-habal (motorcycle) to the place. I think fare should not exceed P100/person unless you are being conned. From the town to the shrine takes more than 10 minutes if I remember correctly because you are going to apparently really get dropped off on top of the mountain!

I suggest you wear appropriate clothes - no short shorts or sleeveless. Do not follow my example or you would have to make-shift your jacket into a skirt.

Also, the Shrine closes at 6pm. Sadly we arrived with only 30 minutes to spare so we had to speed tour the area - a great disrespect for such a solemn place if you ask me.

When I saw this view, I thought I was witnessing the construction of a castle or a Disneyland on top of the mountains because of the throngs of families in the place. Big? Massive? Humongous? I can't think of a bigger word to describe it.

See my hand in the last picture? I got some photos from Atsi Hanna

My friend has been here way back and as you can see, construction is still on-going and I believe will be for quite some time as only donations are used for its construction (?).

The Monastery of the Holy Eucharist or as the locals call it, Birhen ng Simala, is run by Marian Monks (Marist here!). Devout Catholics often go on a pilgrimage here (non-catholics are also welcome).

Replica of the Virgin Mary on top of the altar

The inside of the monastery is so solemn. You have to actually take off your shoes in order to get in to some parts of the area especially when you want to see the miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary. I did not take a picture of the Virgin Mary as I felt like it was too intrusive and disrespectful for the place.

They have this hallway full of big cabinets that hold letters and other things testifying the greatness of the Lady. There's also a wall for the history of the shrine which is pretty interesting especially since you get to read the miracles and the prophesies the Virgin Mary has done.

They also have this hallway which showcases Mary's statues dressed according to her title (there was even a statue dressed in qipao).

You could offer prayers (candle colors based on what you are praying for) or have anything religious blessed. I got my grandma a rosary bracelet in her birth month color.

The makers have certainly outdone themselves. The place itself is architecturally impressive but the faith of those who go there are much more. You could truly see the sincerity of the devout.

//I was struggling with the settings in low light so most of the pictures inside and outside (We arrived around 5:30pm) the Shrine is blurry. Please forgive this noob photo taker.