celebraTINg exisTENce: Manila

0 Comments

0 Comments

Binondo Food Wok 2013 (Tasty Dumplings, Dong Bei Dumplings, Binondo Church, Wai Ying) link: here.

From somewhere in Manila, I oftentimes suggest going to Chinatown to eat. Unfortunately, two of those several times, we got stuck in intense hair-pulling, nerve-wracking, mood downer traffic ordeals. As in, buti na lang there's Ying Ying Tea House in Dasmarinas Street Corner Yuchengco. Didn't have to reach the gate of Chinatown, pwede na umikot agad para umalis na sa super ma-traffic na area especially last December. I wasn't even able to make it to a blog event for Mesa in Eastwood because I got stuck in traffic there. Sorry po. :(

ANYHOW... these pictures were taken in two different visits.

Pay attention to the different watermarks. Haha. I was in the phase of deciding which one should I use and what domain should I replace my old domain with.

Thanks Ying Ying for saving the starving us twice.

Sincerity Chicken and other restaurants inside Chinatown were all close yet soooooo far and nahihiya na ko 'cause my companions all looked irritated. Hangry mode on na. We could've eaten at the nearest fast food joint but no. hahahahaha. Too much for always being the reason why they're inconvenienced. hahahahaha. But I still am the reason why they get to taste the food at different restaurants, right????? Pwede na. The end justifies the means. hahahahahahaha.

Good thing I saw the sign of Ying Ying Tea House and I was like, "Pwede kaya tayo mag-park para dyan na lang tayo kumain?!" Our driver was like, "Oo, pwede naman." Me: "Sige, Kuya dyan na lang tayo."

I wasn't able to read online reviews about Ying Ying but we still entered because we were famished and we wanted to get away Binondo real quick. I immediately saw that the place was packed and there were a lot of Chinese Nationals, it was only then that I felt okay with our decision. Haha.

And much more okay when I was able to taste the service hot tea. LOOOOOOOOOOOVED THIS!!!! I think it was a mild wintermelon tea.

For 90.00/bowl, their serving is already huge.
This is White Chicken Mami.

Same story as above, we didn't make it to Chinatown so we ate here again. HAHAHA. I was quite disappointed when I found out that for that day, it was jasmine hot tea. The variant I prefer the least. :( Iba iba pala...

Xia Long Bao
Sarap naman.

I was a victim of food poisoning so back then, I was really cautious as to what I am stuffing my mouth with (HAHA!). Seeing that their Dimsums were placed outside, as in para siyang isawan na nasa labas tas may mga dumadaan na cars at tao pero may cover naman, I was apprehensive while ordering this. I obviously did and I'm still okay. Safe naman.

That set-up isn't something that all people would feel comfortable in because it looks unsanitary tbh.

For the overall cleanliness of Ying Ying, I can't say that it's the cleanest restaurant I've been to but it's also not too shabby. The crowd, service, price, and the taste of food compensate eh. Keri lang.

Soy Chicken Rice
Not my order though I love the dip.

I forgot what's the name of this but I had slices of Roasted Peking Duck, Asado, and Liempo.

All of these were good. Also, notice the big serving of rice. Hindi namin naubos 'yung one cup nila.

Because they have one of the best mami that I have tried so far. Just that the soup of beef mami and soy chicken mami are more flavorful than the soup of this (Dumpling Mami/Wanton Mami).

---END---

And who knows?

Ying Ying could save us again in the future so I'm looking forward to our third visit.

0 Comments

A famous quotation from Henry Miller says, "One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things."

I have done this before with a different set of friends and to be honest, I don't even remember how many times I've been to Intramuros but it's always worth coming back to so why not? Anyway, we had a challenge when we went there so this walking tour in the Old Manila was also known as the P 500.00 challenge. We wanted to tour Intramuros and Rizal Park spending less than P 500.00 each.

From the LRT Station, we just walked to the southern gate of Intramuros.
This gate is near Puerta Real and PLM.

Should you want to spend the whole day touring around Manila, go there on a Sunday because museum admissions are free on Sundays. National Museum (NAG and MFP) link: here.

Or should you opt for a WOKing tour before the walking tour, you might want to go to Chinatown first before heading to Intramuros. Binondo Food Wok link: here.

Anyway, since we're on a tight budget... :))

Here's the Plaza del Gobernador.

It used to be the home of the governor-general during the Spanish Colonization era but this 8-storey building now houses offices such as Intramuros Administration.

Here is the Manila Cathedral.

The last time I was here was during our Visita Iglesia 2014.

Across the Manila Cathedral is the Plaza de Roma.

The monument is made in honor of a the Spanish king Carlos IV as a tribute for the introduction of the smallpox vaccine.

Thanks to Intramuros Administration that the street from the gate to Fort Santiago is now pedestrian-friendly. There are several pedicab drivers who would offer to tour you around the historical landmarks inside the Intramuros but the fun is in the walking... or ako lang natutuwa pag naglalakad? haha. Support their livelihood and hire one if you don't want to walk a lot. :)

It was written in one of the tarpaulins of IA that "Intramuros was Manila," there's so much history and heritage in that place so it's a good thing that they're reclaiming the historic streets to encourage more people to do a walking tour in the area as well.

Infairness sa announcement na 'to, gusto ko 'yung, "... not about the shortest route or time traveled. IT'S ABOUT GETTING THERE." Parang metaphor lang ng buhay, noh?

There are a lot of tombs inside the San Agustin Church and we spent several minutes looking for the tomb of the Spanish Conquistador/Founder of Manila, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. We were shy to ask around so we just looked for it on our own but to no avail. But I learned that it's located in the room beside the altar so the next time I'll go there, I'll definitely pay his tomb a closer visit. (Tama ba 'tong pinagsasabi ko? HAHAHAHA)

There are currently 8 places in the Philippines that are included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO and I'm proud to say that I've been into 3 of them. Wow, laking achievement naman!!! HAHAHAHA. Gusto mo rin? Punta ka na San Agustin Church. I mentioned this because I'll be needing a back link when I get to visit the rest some time in the future (Di ko alam kung paano, gusto ko lang. Haha!). So for the three of them that I've been into: San Agustin Church. Intramuros; Paoay Church, Ilocos Norte and Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

They preserved the cobblestone streets in this area.

On our way back to Fort Santiago from San Agustin Church, a street name caught my attention because it's one of the things that I need in this life. HAHAHAHA. Konting konti na lang maglalagay na ko ng Donate Button dito baka lang kasi may generous na tao, ganyan. :))

Yes pls. Marami. #intramuros #manila

A photo posted by Tin Gallemaso (@xtintina) on Mar 29, 2015 at 10:57pm PDT

Yan. Mga ganyan lang talaga kasiyahan ko. Tuwang-tuwa na ko nung nakita ko 'yung Anda St. Hahaha. K. Fine.

Going here has an entrance fee but I think paying is worth it since you may spend the whole day in this area.

We're so paranoid that we almost ran for our lives the moment we walked near this area. One of my friends saw the statues inside and he was like, "ANO YUNG NASA LOOB?!" Parang kami, without even looking, "HALA ANO NGA 'YUN?" Konting takbo palayo sabay nung naisip namin na nakakahiya kasi medyo maraming tao, "AH WALA. WALA PALA. WALA NA LANG PALA" Pero wala, statue lang. Kinabahan lang kami. hahahaha! Lam mo na. Pranela.

Pasig River

Just like the Fort San Pedro in Cebu which is facing the sea, Fort Santiago is strategically built near mouth of the Pasig River.

The facade of Fort Santiago.

After our Intramuros Walking Tour, we went back to Rizal Park and waited for the start of the free dancing fountain show.

It doesn't have to be extravagant to enjoy the goodness of life. Char. 😂😂😂 #rizalpark #fountain #manila #arte #damingsinabi

A video posted by Tin Gallemaso (@xtintina) on Mar 30, 2015 at 3:34am PDT

And our walk to the past ended here in Rizal Park link: here.

As for the expenses, we have managed to survive spending less than P 350.00 each. Yes, sightseeing doesn't always have to be far and expensive. There are a lot of near and affordable places for us to go to and it is never a bad idea to relive the past by visiting heritage sites like this. :)

So ano na? Magbabasa ka na lang ba? Gora na sa Intramuros! :))

0 Comments

Pilgrimage? Old churches? A glimpse of the past? Lalayo ka pa ba e marami naman tayo sa Manila. (Syempre lalayo rin naman tayo pero love your own din kasi.)

This is to conclude my Lenten Season posts. Well, come to think of it I didn't do a Lent series naman. I just gave some suggestions about the churches you may visit but nonetheless.... HAPPY EASTER!

We decided to go to Manila for our Visita Iglesia this year. Closer and cheaper compared to our last year's Visita Iglesia in Tagaytay (link: here) yet still "holy" and "fullfilling".

Last April 9, Manila Cathedral was re-opened to the public after two years of restoration.

Ganda, noh?

I wanted to post a before and after picture of the cathedral but I'm too lazy to look for the pictures I took way back 2011.

The original cathedral was built in 1579. Alam mo 'yung dati nag-aaral ka lang ng history tas maririnig mo 'yung pangalang Miguel Lopez de Legazpi na sinasabing Founder ng Manila? Then, malalaman mo na siya pala 'yung namili ng location kung saan itinayo 'tong cathedral.

The street to the next church was filled with vendors that day.

San Agustin Church

San Agustin Church is one of the Baroque Churches in the Philippines and it is also a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE. At si Miguel na binanggit ko kanina (close lang. hahaha) ay dito inilibing. I don't know if our history teacher failed to mention that before or I was just not paying attention but I had no idea he was buried there until now. Balik na lang ako para sa'yo, Sir Miguel.

The thing with century old places is that they reconnect us with the past and somehow make us realize that our stay here on Earth is also temporary. 'Yung existence ko ba ngayon, kagaya ng kay Miguel, ay magbibigay ng curiosity sa isang tao hundred of years from now? May chance. Sana may chance.

Everyday, the world makes us realize that there is a lot to learn. Sabi nga, life is a continuous learning process.

At na-markahan ko na 'yan, God-willing din syempre, gaganapin ang 25th Wedding Anniversary ko either sa Manila Cathedral o sa San Agustin Church. Dahil dyan, invited ka mga 35-40 years from now. Please po, God. hihihi. :))) Baka ikasal. hahahaha.

Ate lunch before leaving the walled city.
Isa 'to sa mga binibenta doon, grilled corn.

Be thankful for the small things.

Left Intramuros and went to Quiapo for our third church that day.

Quiapo Church is also known as the Shrine of the Black Nazarene.

Sabi ko, isa na siguro ang Quiapo church sa pinakabanal na sardinas sa buong mundo. Tipong hindi ka na makahinga sa sobrang dami ng tao na sinabayan pa ng napakainit na panahon. We listened to the 7 Last Words here from 12 NN to 3 PM. It was both a challenge and a sacrifice to stand that long. Buti na lang maganda ang sound system kaya rinig na rinig.
Life is also a series of struggles. Sarap sumuko, sarap tumakbo, sarap tanungin kung bakit sa'yo nangyayari ang isang bagay pero sa kabila ng lahat, mas masarap isipin na kahit anong mangyari Siya na ang Bahala at kahit kailan di ka Niya pababayaan.

"God, Kayo na po ang bahala."

Santa Cruz Church

It is also a historic church built in 1916.

Veneration of the Cross

Across the church is this fountain and behind it is one of the gates to Binondo where the next church is located.

Binondo Church also known as Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary built in 1762.

I've been here once last year during our Binondo Food Walk link: here.

Ulit, ang sarap balikan ng nakaraan (minsan)

Si San Lorenzo Ruiz, the First Filipino Saint, trained here before going to Japan as a missionary where he was executed for not renouncing his religion.

This Visita Iglesia was more than church visits since it has allowed me/us to look back into the past. Ang sarap lang ng aside from fulfillment dahil nakagawa or nakapagsacrifice ka, busog pa 'yung utak mo from the informations na makukuha mo upon visiting these places.

Sabi nila, mahirap mamasyal kasi mahal pero if we only try to research more and be more appreciative of what's closer to us. Okay na sa Manila. If you're into history or just want to explore, why not try visiting the Old Manila? Babalik ako to tour the Walled City again and for another food trip in Binondo. Hihihi. Di na naubusan ng gustong puntahan. :)))

ANYWAY, dahil ang Visita Iglesia na ito ay medyo Walking Tour din:

Manila Cathedral is near Plaza del Gobernador (gate ng Intramuros na malapit sa pier) and from there San Agustin Church is a few blocks away.

Lipat ng Quiapo (Carriedo Station kung sasakay kayo ng LRT), ang Santa Cruz Church ay walking distance lang din. Sa likod ng SM ang daan, tapos sa harap ng Santa Cruz Church ay may fountain (sinabi ko na kanina) at 'yung gate ng Chinatown ay nasa Ongpin Street, dire-diretso lang at sa dulo ng street ay Binondo Church na.

Galing sa Santa Cruz papuntang Binondo church ay pwede naman lakarin (nilakad lang din namin) pero baka malayuan 'yung iba kaya pwede rin mag tricycle. :)

Other Churches:

Baclaran Church (Our Lady of Perpetual Help)
Malate Church
Sto. Domingo Church
Saint Pancratius Chapel in Paco Park link: here.

0 Comments

Translate

Binondo–Intramuros Bridge

Search This Blog

Featured Post

All The Places I've Visited in Japan (three trips so far)

Popular Posts This Week

Blog Archive

Labels

Follow Us

Report Abuse

instagram