Manila for a weekend

1 ) Intramuros Area - Old Spanish Fort Town with FT. Santiago, Manila Cathedral
2 ) Nearby Chinatown across the river -cheapest shopping of anything, electronics, cameras & nearby Muslim handicraft under Quiapo Bridge
3) then take LRT ( elevated light rail transit ) 6 stops to Chinese Cemetery including air-conditioned houses and shrines as big as suburb
4 ) OR in opposite direction RIZAL / Luneta PARK maybe Asia's largest park and 5PM Manila Bay 45 minute Sunset cruise in local Colorful Banca
5 ) Mall of Asia - BEST MALL in the WORLD on Manila Bay- 6 Cinema Theatres & one of the bigger IMAX Theartres in the world
6 ) Or the laid back approach as most Manilans do, have an hour long foot massage, followed by either a manicure / pedicure / hot oil hscalp treatment / facial OR by an hour long full body massage, watch a film in the middle, or take a break for an incredible fresh seafood meal or any number of fantastic multi-ethnic restaurant meals - Saisaki's ALL you can EAT buffet in MegaMall or MAkati or Kalye Ni Juan local favorites - Mall of Asia or The French Baker's for a snack or take home goodies.
7 ) As you meander around don't worry , BE HAPPY, SMILE and who knows you may meet / hook up with a pleasant companion to share your remaining time in Manila with enjoying life.
8 ) If you play golf, there's a golf course surrounding the old Spanish Wall of Intramuros
9 ) Catch some Live Music at several Great Venues since you ARE visiting the Music Capital of Asia ( I'll let the other members tell you where )
10 ) Check out a local DJ spinning the latest dance and party music ( again the younger members can fill you in or email me for websites )

My #1 pick for Manila: Carlos Celdran's walking tours, especially his tour of Intramuros. He is vibrant, catty, subversive, funny and smart all rolled into one. You'll learn a lot about Manila's history, but you'll also be very entertained in the experience.

Here's also Carlos's Manila recommends.

My 2nd fav pick was the drag show at Club Mwah. You have to like cheesy entertainment if you go, but if you like kitsch it's totally fun. Think 14 drag queens performing Broadway numbers or Thai dance lypsynch to Madonna's "Vogue". Lots of costume changes. Way over the top. Totally fun. It's a mainstream club -- certainly gay friendly but it's not a gay club -- lots of straight couples even families go. Even Imelda Marcos has gone. Not that that should be a recommendation.

I personally like Malate the best to hang out in. The beautiful people prefer Makati's bars, but Malate's is a little more bohemian.

The music in Manila is excellent. Check out the Penguin Cafe on 604 Remedios St. (in Malate). Here's some videos of performances there -- Pinoy stuff but a range of other music too. My friends were their one night there was some Afro-Brazilian music jamming in that little space, everyone dancing.

Lots of good music also at Saguijo Cafe in Makati. Talented young groups like Radioactive Sago Project, Drip + Up Dharma Down all perform there (do try to catch Up Dharma Down if they perform in Manila while you're there -- they have a neo-soul rock fusion style, frontwoman has a gorgeous voice + they're promoting a new album just now).

[quote]this is a place where patrons and performers alike can (quite literally) let their hair down. No judgment. No pretentiousness. No social bigotry. SaGuijo is about genuine fun and good conversation. And if, along the way, you happen to make a new friend, enjoy a few beverages and listen to some really good tunes, you can rest easy knowing that you’re always welcome to come back.[/quote]

If you're into clubbing, Embassy at The Fort is supposed to be good. Also Big Fish Manila throws great parties.

I also recommend getting a nice massage at The Spa or Sanctuario. The Spa is more elegant, Sanctuario is a little cuter. They're both great.

For good Filipino food I'm partial to Bistro Remedios or Cafe Adriatico, both in Malate, close to each other, or Cabalan (buffet-style, but good). Don't bother with Kamayan, it's gone downhill.

Other places I really liked for food: Dampa Seafood Market (lots of fun, great inexpensive seafood) on Macapagal Ave off Roxas Blvd, Ziggurat (pan Middle-Eastern/African/Indian), Fig + Olive for excellent Spanish/Mediterranean type food in Makati (a bit pricey, open late). Galileo Enoteca has AWESOME Italian food -- authentic hard cheeses + Italian cured meats. The Oarhouse is good for pub food, cheap + generous portions -- they have good schnitzel -- at 1803 Mabini St., Malate. It's also an old journalist's hangout. A small, unpretentious bar, but I liked the ambiance.

For more eat out ideas, check out Anton's blog, he profiles lots of different eating adventures + reviews different places: Our Awesome Planet

Also, Market Manila doesn't do so many food reviews, but he blogs obsessively and opinionatedly about food. Some of it Filipino, some international. It's mostly a fun read informative if you don't know about Filipino food.

I know Manila can be overwhelming at first, but it's also a lot of fun, have a great time.

I almost forgot M Cafe at the Ayala Museum! EXCELLENT food, lovely space. Some of my friends say it's a little snooty -- see+be seen type place -- but I didn't get that sense from it. I don't care what the table next to me is doing anyway, so long as my dinner kicks a**.

Hey "brooklynchristina" Thanks for the cool, up to date "what's happenin in Manila" content; I appreciate it.

Will definately use some of these ideas when i hit PH next year.

Thanks for all the awesome advice guys.

Will be sure to use your tips.

Happy to oblige peeps.

One more thing, don't waste your time buying tacky souvenir tshirts when you can buy from the designers at Team Manila.. They sell their funky tshirts at Kultura in the various malls, but for the best collection of their stuff go to 148B Jupiter St, in Bel-Air. Checkit here.

Some more music videos of the groups I mentioned, just for fun. Buy their albums when you're in Manila! Support local musicians!

Up Dharma Down: "Oo"
Up Dharma Down: "Pag-Agos"

Drip: live at Saguijo
Filipino trip-hop band. Beng Calma has one helluva voice.

Radioactive Sago Project: "Astro!"
Wahahaha. This is a jazz-punk band laced with massive irony and deadpan lyrics. The video is a riff on Pinoy b-movies. Love all the manangs doing the cha-cha at the end.

brooklynchristina - thanks for sharing about the t-shirts, will definitely check the place out they have some cool designs on their web site.

OP, if you are a single male you may like to check out P. Burgos in Makati and EDSA complex in Pasay.