Mystery Critic

Tourist Must-Dos in Philippines

So we are not talking about the most popular tourist destination here, but Philippines has plenty of things for a foreign to do, many of them actually quite interesting and memorable.   They can be excellent deals, rare adventures and sights, or simply experiences you cannot leave the country without.

Not all of these experiences are safe or pleasant though - common sense and caution are needed when you navigate around a country that has natural disasters on a regular basis and local news that locals don't want to read (else they don't even dare to get pass their door). There are a dozen guerrilas and bandits all corners of the country, many more than happy to take a foreign home for some extra cash income called ransom. OH did I mention the protests and coups??

Metro Manila

• Spanish Heritage - If you are a real history buff who'd be thrilled just looking at a ruin because it's old, you've got to check out Intramuro in Manila. Pay special attention to the fort and a tiny little church there, and drive around the wall from the inside to get a feel for the Spanish colonial days. And don't miss the churches - San Augustin is actually pretty impressive, Manila Cathederal and Binondo are also not bad. Taking the horse carriage around the intramuro are drive along the old wall are both very interesting activities.

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• Shop for CHEAP Stuff - Shop till you drop in Greenhills' V-Mall. YES it's a morally repulsive scene - complete with knock-off or factory-reject brand name stuff including LV, Gucci, Kipling, Polo, Lacoste (very, very popular here), Nike, All-Star, and the list goes on and on.... Are they real? Don't ask this question when the Lacoste shirt is $7 and Nike shoes are $13. They're cracking down on illegal DVDs, so vendors don't put them out but you can find guys with a catalog on their hand. AGAIN, I'm not recommending you to go there and be satisfied with violating intellectual property rights, BUT the truth is that no foreigner leaves the country without visiting this cheap shoppers' paradise.

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• Contemporary History Buff Only - If you are really interested in history, especially recent history, you've got to check Ayala Museum, Manila American Cemetary and Marikina Shoe Museum. These are pretty small - especially the shoe museum which is in the middle of a small but neat town. But you are interested in this country that is made up of ALL sorts of foreign influence (ie migrants and invaders), want to absorb some WWII history and see how Americans victoriously kicked out the Japanese, and witness Imelda Marcos' SHOOOOOOES, these worth trying out.

NOTE: Marikina Shoe Museum is a government institutues so it runs like one - Mon-Fri. 9am-5pm with lunch break and it'll close when there's any reason to, like a saint day or neighborhood event.

• What a Beautiful Mall! - Walk the high-end Greenbelt Shopping Center and have lunch or dinner there. Sit in an outdoor cafe (if it's not 90f out there) or witness an outdoor mass in the garden. In GB5 you will find some amazing Filipino boutiques on the upper floors, demonstrating the native artistic and fashion talents. At night parts of Greenbelt turns into a respectable bar and party scene that is, surprise, upscale and multinational.

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• Tropic Fruits - Enjoy buying and eating tropical fruits that are either not found or too expensive in North America. There's the usual mangos, bananas and pineapples which are excellent, but also try durians, mangosteen, jack fruit or rambutan. They might not be cheap because they are not from Luzon island, but they will be a lot cheaper and fresher than US or Europe! A good place to find them is Market! Market! in Fort Bonifacio, and an interesting way to see and shop for them is from the fruit stands on the way to Tagaytay - Beware of price sharks though. You can also try San Andres market or Seaside market in Manila if you don't mind a bit of mess. 

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• Wet Market - This is a MUST you are a food connoiseur who doesn't mind getting your feet WET in order to explore what the locals really love to eat.  There are lots of great wet markets around metro Manila, but the real representative ones are San Andres in Malate, Cartimar in Pasay, and Farmers Markets in Cubao.  The first is a bit like a tourist trap and the last one is the cleanest and nicest of all.  None of these are cheap, but you get to see everything you find in supermarkets plus more - all types of meats in all parts and cuts, live fish (YUP, seafood is always a highlight!) and lots of exotic seafoods (at least to foreigners), fruits and vegetables.   There are usual special stands for spices and dries foods too, very interesting but it's hard to guess what some of those things are for.  Seaside dampa also has a wet seafood market, but to some it's too stinky and WEEEET....  It's all a matter of taste! 

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• EAT EAT EAT - cheap and high-quality food can be found everywhere! I'm slowly building a collection of reviews on nice restaurants, but even some popular chains and street food (in organized marketplaces, NOT the actuall street ones unless you want to get Hepatitis C) are amazing, especially considering the little price you're paying. Besides the millions of restaurants and food courts, one must check out a dampa in Pasay near MOA or Paranaque. It's a place you purchase your own seafood in a wet market and then have a restaurant nearby cook them for you - Super fresh seafood and very good prices.