Other sights in Manila
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Makati
The business centre of Manila has also become its nightlife centre. The towers here house the nation's major corporations and most of the major hotels. It all came about after WWII when the Ayala family seized upon the destruction of the rest of the city as a chance to start building.
Makati, the former local airport (Ayala and Makati Aves were the runways), seems to have boundless growth ahead of it. But just when you think you're someplace like Singapore, a whiff of sewage will bring you down to earth. The excellent Filipinas Heritage Library is housed in the much-restored 1930s terminal for the former airport.
On the north side of Makati is the P Burgos St area, a once-…
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Chinatown
After centuries of suppression by the Spanish, Manila's Chinese population quickly rose on the economic and social ladder under more liberal administrations. Today the centre of the vibrant Chinese community is Chinatown , which straddles Santa Cruz and Binondo.
Chinatown is demarcated by Goodwill Arches. The main street is Ongpin St; walking its length - this is recommended - will take perhaps 10 minutes, but exploring the neighbourhood can take hours. As in any other Chinese enclave around the world, here you'll find dozens of goldsmiths, herbalists, teahouses and shops selling mooncakes, incense, paper money to burn for ancestors, trinkets and all kinds of curios. Ther…
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National Museum of the Filipino People
This splendid museum houses a vast collection, including the skullcap of the Philippines’ earliest known inhabitant, Tabon Man (said by some to actually be a woman), who lived around 24,000 BC. There are extensive displays on the major Filipino indigenous groups and a vast collection of Filipino painting and sculpture. A large section of the museum is devoted to porcelain plates, coins, jewellery etc recovered from the wreck of the San Diego, a Spanish galleon that sank off the coast of Luzon in 1600. Other treasures include a large collection of pre-Hispanic artefacts and musical instruments.
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Site of Rizal’s Execution
To one side of the Rizal monument, in Rizal Park, you will find the Site of Rizal’s Execution; at the entrance is a black granite wall inscribed with Rizal’s ‘Mi Ultimo Adios’ (My Last Farewell). Eight tableaux of life-size bronze statues recreate the dramatic last moments of the hero’s life; at night these statues become part of a light-and-sound presentation entitled the Martyrdom of Dr José Rizal (admission P50; in Filipino 7pm & in English 8pm Wed-Sun).
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Museo ng Maynila
The Museo ng Maynila is in the former Army & Navy Club, a once-posh US officers’ retreat. It reopened in 2007 after being closed for several years. The museum’s ground floor has a modest photo exhibit of Manila during the American period, but the main reason for visiting is to check out the building, a classic piece of American-era architecture. The tennis courts and swimming pool at next-door Seafood Wharf were once part of the club.
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National Gallery of Art
This proud museum, which reopened in 2008 after being closed for four years of renovations, contains many of the Philippines’ signature works of art, including Juan Luna’s stunning Spoliarium, which provides harsh commentary on Spanish rule. It’s in the old Congress building designed by Daniel Burnham, across the street from its sister National Museum of the Filipino People.
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Ayala Museum
The modern and excellent Ayala Museum has ethnographic and archaeological exhibits on Filipino culture, art and history. At the heart of the collection is a brilliant exhibit consisting of 60 dioramas tracing the nation’s violent history. The museum’s rotating art exhibits tend to showcase Filipino masters like Luna and Amorsolo. Guided tours of the museum are highly recommended.
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Cultural Center of the Philippines
The Cultural Center of the Philippines is set back from Roxas Blvd and constructed in the bombastic style favoured by dictators everywhere. The building has a grand design by noted Filipino architect Leandro Locsin. Inside is an art gallery (admission free; 8am-6pm Tue-Sun), a library (8am-5pm Tue-Fri) and a museum of musical instruments (adult/child P40/20; 10am-6pm Tue-Sun).
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Greenbelt Complex
Across Makati Ave is the Greenbelt Complex, an upscale development that encircles pretty little Greenbelt Park. Amid the commerce is the Ayala Museum and the open-air Sto Niño De Paz Chapel. This is the high end of the Ayala Center and there are scores of delightful cafés and restaurants. The development is separated into four main shopping malls: Greenbelt 1, 2, 3 and 4.
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Rizal Shrine
The Rizal Shrine, in the building where Rizal was incarcerated, contains various displays of Rizal memorabilia, including a reliquary containing one of his vertebrae, the first draft of his novel Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) and the original copy of ‘Mi Ultimo Adios’ (My Last Farewell), which was smuggled out of his cell inside an oil lamp.
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Manila Ocean Park
The Manila Ocean Park is Manila’s latest and greatest kid-friendly attraction. It’s an impressive and impressively eco-conscious aquarium, but it’s a bit too popular for its own good. The place often gets mobbed, especially on weekends when there are long lines to get in. The entrance is behind the Quirino Grandstand.
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American Memorial Cemetery
This sprawling cemetery on a grassy, beautifully manicured plot near Makati in Fort Bonifacio is a must-see for WWII buffs. In addition to hundreds of rows of perfectly aligned white crosses, there are several excellent open-air galleries with murals and descriptions of key battles. It’s a poignant and peaceful spot.
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Quezon City
Quezon City has almost 500,000 residents and it sprawls over the slightly hilly terrain northeast of the centre. It is known for its vibrant nightlife along T Morato Avenue. Some of the energy comes from the University of the Philippines Manila, which has a vast campus about 1km east of Quezon City.
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Avilon Zoo
A humane zoo, if you have wheels, is the Avilon Zoo. It’s northeast of Quezon City in the town of Rodriguez, a 40- to 60-minute drive from Makati (depending on traffic). It’s damn near impossible to find so get directions on its website.
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Manila Zoo
The Manila Zoo is an appealing oasis in the middle of the city with a diverse collection of animals, although the place is a bit rough around the edges these days.
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Manila Yacht Club
Just north of the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex you’ll notice the Manila Yacht Club, where the moneyed few keep their pleasure craft.
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