The Manila Collectible Co. store is one of a kind. It is unique in its history, concept, and…read morenature. Owner and manager Charisse Tugade (a Filipina who grew up mostly in the US), conceptualized and opened the store to feed her passion and personal advocacy of proliferating knowledge about Filipino pre-Hispanic culture. The Manila Collectible Co serves as an approachable museum and "culturespace" -- a very informative center for education on Philippine pre-history, Filipino indigenous people and their culture, and uniquely Filipino products -- all sourced from all over the Philippines. As a museum, TMCC offers exhibits on woven crafts, baybayin (an ancient Filipino system of writing), and manunggul jars (replicas of which she also sells), among other things. As a culturespace, she offers pottery painting classes for children, weaving workshops, and has partnered with several groups for frequent pasyals (tours), workshops, and special performances. As a store, TMCC carries food and beverages, textiles, finely-produced costumes and accessories made out of these textiles, and quality trinkets -- all amazing souvenir finds for foreign visitors, as well as locals who never really realized how talented their fellow Filipinos are. I've bought several things from TMCC. Favorites are the Tsokolate con Crema, and Dulce de Leche spreads; an authentic Ilocos towel (which are super soft, lightweight, absorbent, and beautifully woven); and Real Tan organic browning oil. My next target purchase is an exquisite ikat clutch from her Bai Riasha line.

As a fan of all things Filipino I always go out of my way to check out cultural shops and try as…read moremuch as possible to support them! Manila Collectible in Intramuros is one of those great finds! They carry a lot of handwoven bags in shapes I've never seen before, national costumes for kids (but not the usual ones!) jewellery boxes and a lot of textile. It's great to find these things in Manila especially for those who can't make a trip out of the city. Its fun inviting atmosphere makes you want to spend the whole afternoon here. They recently moved to a new location in Fort Santiago, I haven't been but their old store was amazing. They had a set of stairs lined with manunggul jars and behind it an excellent view of the cathedral. The other set of stairs led to a rooftop deck, open for events and parties. If their new location is anything like this one, I'm sure you wont be disappointed!

Viva Manila is a yearly event that just started off last year although I did miss this year because…read moreof school duties. Ugh, studies can sometimes be in the way, right? Anyway, I love attending events like this because it makes me feel better about being a Filipino because I get exposed to history and our culture that I only get to experience in books. What I also love about Viva Manila is that it is held in Intramuros--my favourite place in Manila. They also invite artists to sell their crafts and there's also a slam poetry that encourages poets to channel their works not only on paper but to tell out their thoughts through spoken words. How wonderful would that be to speak out in front of everyone and express your thoughts with the emotions that you have while writing them. In Viva Manila, not only does the old Filipino culture get celebrated but also the new.

Viva Manila is an organisation that promotes arts and culture in the old city of Manila and…read moreespecially bringing back Intramuros to live. Pasyal Sundays is a monthly, free event that is organized by Viva Manila. It is generally held in General Luna street or Maestranza and it is always car free. They have around 50 booths with local foods and drinks and crafts. And while the market is going on they have various local artist performing things such a parkour, martial arts and as the night becomes darker they have poets and musicians coming up on stage. For anybody who loves manila or wants to understand the city better, this event is an awesome place to go that will inspire you to know and care more about Manila.

I haven't really gotten inside CCP and most of my memories of it were in the middle of my childhood…read moredays. I pass by it every time I go to school and would often see a lot of people running around, uphill, and downhill. Sometimes, there's none at all. I've always seen and thought of CCP as a jogging place back then and had no idea that it would be an establishment that would cater to the development, showcasing, and preservation of Filipino culture especially in terms of media whether it be the performing arts, visual, or multimedia. I would love to someday enter its premises and witness that it's not just a place where people would go for fitness purposes. Hopefully, that kind of image would be replaced by how this establishment is one of the greatest home of the Filipino culture and a temporary home to some of the popular international live shows or musicals.

I'm lucky to have been able to call the Cultural Center of the Philippines my second home. Dancing…read morewith Ballet Philippines required me to be at the CCP every day and so I got to experience a lot of the events in the hub of the performing arts in Manila. From art exhibits to stage plays, full-length ballets to musicals, film festivals to the Aliwan festival, CCP plays host to several large scale events within the year, and there's always something happening on its grounds. In the first quarter of the year, you'll have most overseas productions come to the Main Theater and the closing gala of most of the resident CCP companies like the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Tanghalang Pilipino, and Ballet Philippines, to name a few. The best time to go is in February when Arts Month is in full swing, because the complex will be at its busiest, especially during Pasinaya - the CCP Open House weekend where all the resident performing companies put on mini-showcases in various locations around the complex. Food stalls are found all around the streets of the complex like one big fiesta. Best of all is its pay-what-you-can entrance fee! The summer season also brings along summer workshops, so if you've ever wanted to try acting, singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument, or writing a play, you can enroll in one of the many workshops that the companies at the CCP have to offer. This will also be when the major companies hold auditions and begin preparations for their next seasons. (They've got a bulletin board by the Artist's Entrance that holds all the audition announcements.) More festivals like Cinemalaya (an independent film fest) and Virgin Labfest (theater), and competitions like the National Music Competition for Young Artists are held in the latter quarters, as well as the onset of the regular performing season at the CCP. Even during its most quiet days, the CCP always has something to offer. During my free time in between rehearsals, I would walk around and always find something new to discover, whether it's in the galleries on the upper floors, or the archives of Philippine theater in the CCP library, the beautiful architecture inside, or seeing rehearsals of the various performing companies. It's where the best of the best in the performing arts come to create, and it's also one of the foremost places that makes Manila what it is.

Called to inquire about the venue rental. Sales agent not so entertaining. Would appreciate it if…read morethis agent would be more courteous.

Green Sun is basically a multi-purpose mecca of all things hip. It refers to itself as a "New Arts"…read moreCenter, dedicated to providing local creative talent with a platform where they can shine. Its aim is actually really interesting: to immediately interest tourists (and of course locals) in the local arts scene, which is why aside from having floors upon floors of huge galleries and event spaces with LED screen walls where you can bring basically any kind of show to life, it's also a boutique hotel, and houses a progressive fashion bazaar area called SOMA Stores. SOMA Stores is Green Sun's fashion, design and retail oriented section, and it's my personal favorite part of Green Sun because it houses fresh and dynamic independent local fashion labels. Unlike your standard bazaar format, the SOMA Stores' individual stalls are geometric, industrial, architectural and clean looking. This highlights each individual store's distinctness while at the same time making the entire place look... Really dang harmoniously hip, for lack of a better description. The merchants at SOMA change monthly, but regardless of who you catch there, you're bound to find a unique, well-crafted, and locally designed new wardrobe staple. A lot of fashion events are held in this area as well, and the DJs I've seen on deck in these fashion events have always been rad. Green Sun also has a dining area on the ground floor, next to the SOMA stores. During a meeting that was held at the café area, I was served a matcha pastry with mango filling inside, and it hit my sweet tooth hard. Their burgers and truffle tries are worth a chomp as well. I think that Green Sun is pretty much one of the coolest joints you can check out in the Pasong Tamo area, if not for its uber scenester (I mean this very endearingly) events, then for the beautiful design of the building alone. Green Sun is where local culture is as hip as it gets.

Okay, first off, we need to get something straight: the PICC is different from the CCP. The…read moreCultural Center of the Philippines is the one with the big fountain outside and is usually where they have Broadway musicals. The Philippine International Convention Center is the one BEHIND it, past the Forum, where college kids usually have their graduation ceremonies because they're too cheap to build their own auditorium. So yeah, I had my graduation here (a long, long time ago). I've also attended a whole lot of events here, like the Economic Briefing by the DOF, Bo Sanchez' seminars, and a bunch more, and I've never had anything bad to say about the place. It's cold, it's expansive, there's always a free seat, and their exclusive caterer, Via Mare, serves good food. What's not to like?

The Philippine International Convention Center is, well, basically a convention center. Really…read more It's also one of the buildings in the complex of the Cultural Center of the Philippines that was designed by National Artist Leandro Locsin (the other being the Cultural Canter building itself). Much like the CCP main building, the structure itself has a simple, almost boxy appearance, yet it is so sophisticated in it's timelessness. National Artist Leandro Locsin once again did a phenomenal job for this structure, which has hosted the Miss Universe Pageant, international and local conferences, concerts by local and international acts, and even graduations. I saw the Tower of Power and Janet Jackson concerts at the Plenary Hall. I know, my range of appreciation for music is astounding. I event went once to attend a seminar in one of it's well-equipped function rooms. I have been to PICC several times and every time I go there, I am still (and will probably always be) at awe with its beauty. It is modest without being unsure, grand without being opulent, proud without being boastful.

I returned to the Philippines after sometime bringing both my adult daughters visiting the…read morePhilippines for the first time. My lovely family decided to bring us to Las Casas de Acuzar. The journey to this place is abt a 3hr drive from Manila. We had advance reservations made and when we arrived we were greeted very warmly with amazing hospitality from the staff. The surroundings is beautiful and breathtaking. The property itself is massive. I love how it is rich in history, culture and architectures that has been preserved through the years and very well maintained. They have put so much thought and planning to this place and it is impressive. We enjoyed our tour, stay and dinning to the fullest! I cannot even explain how wonderful our experience here enough. Please see my attached photos. I highly recommend for everyone to visit. You won't regret it!

Tourist spot in Luzon located in Bataan Philippines. A place…read morewhere you can find a lot of ancestral house around the Philippines bought by the owner named Mr Acuzar and put them all in one place some were as it was and some were renovated. Inside transpo are jeepneys,horses,carjuaje,boats,,atv,tramvia etc by night when sun is out a lot of expectators walk around to see the grandeour of the place. Entrance is about $75Cnd per head on week ends and a bit cheaper for week days for a day tour that includes your meal for lunch,the meal is just okay dont expect a lot.The fee also includes unlimited used of all the transpo.overnight and more stay is different rates. 4 or 5 selected houses are included in the tour,group tour with tourist guide with knowledge of history and all those house better than an encyclopedia. Surrounded by ocean,manmade lake and near mountains this place is indeed breath taking. Day tour and overnight stay is available those old houses some of them were converted to a hotel. Most ground floor of most houses are air conditioned and you never run out of things to do,billiard etc body masaage is available as well. Washroom were all immaculately clean. There's souvenir shops,bar etc . Designated smoking area as well,pet friendly except some spots.Catholic church can be found inside the premises. Highly recommended to all Filipinos and tourist this is a pride to showcase history,culture and everthing about the Philippines/ A one stop history class to all: Kidos and mabuhay

You've probably seen this chapel in movies, most notably in that Aga Muhlach-Regine Velasquez…read morestarrer from long ago. If you've been wondering where it is, you're in luck 'cause I'm about to tell you. Nestled in Mount Makiling, Los Banos, Laguna, about a 15-minute drive up the mountain from the University of the Philippines Los Banos, is Saint Marc's Chapel a.k.a. the National Arts Center Chapel, an open air beauty that would blow your breath away. Made primarily of stone and concrete, the altar, pews, and the ceiling/roof (if you could call it that) with an unconventional (read: artistic) giant cross designed by no less than National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin, the chapel is surrounded by forest. Words are not adequate to capture the tranquility and magic of the place so, no worries, I'll throw in a few photos. Regular Masses are not held here, though, but the Chapel may be booked (through the Cultural Center of the Philippines, if I'm not mistaken) for Masses or weddings. This is the perfect wedding venue for the lover of nature and art. If you're lucky, the nearby fire trees may be in full bloom during your special day and you could get to march to your beloved on a carpet of red and yellow.

How many cities in the Philippines have their own theater? Marikina is one…read more I once attended a summer art workshop organized by the Marikina City Government. All recitals and exhibits were held in Teatro Marikina. Though it was not as big as CCP's Main Theatre or Ateneo's Henry Lee Irwin Theatre, it was quite spacious. I couldn't remember exactly how big it was because the recital happened a long time ago, but, it was surely bigger than CCP's Tanghalang Huseng Batute or even Ateneo's Rizal Mini Theater. If I am not mistaken, it could be the same size as a regular movie house. Not bad for a community theater. Unfortunately, Marikina does not have a resident theater group so this establishment is not really used for its main purpose quite often. Yes, Marikina organizes a summer art camp almost yearly and the recitals are held here. But, I hope that sometime in the future we can regularly stage plays and have cultural shows here too.

If you're even a little bit into good furniture, you might know about Manila FAME, the country's…read morepremier furniture exhibition featuring designers ranging from such industry pillars as Kenneth Cobonpue and Ann Pamintuan, to smaller SMEs trying to get on their feet and show the world what they're capable of. Sadly, this is only held twice a year, so if you need your gorgeous furniture fix outside of its dates, you should head on over to Hall One, where they hold semi-permanent exhibits of designs from all over the country. This is mostly made up of Manila FAME exhibitors who wish their work to be shown year-round, but sometimes Hall One has themed exhibitions to spice things up. This is a must-see for investors, so I always take them on a quick tour here, since it's a perfect showcase of Filipino talent and creativity.

I was invited to the opening of an exhibit at Hall One, an exhibition venue where local…read moremanufacturers showcase Philippine made products for export or local consumption. Basically, it's a showroom for high-quality Filipino goods that are made available for export, while also serving as inspiration for other local manufacturers to up their ante to entice local and global stakeholders to patronize their products. When I went, I almost went gaga over the ottomans and throws in batik prints and T'boli weaves, plus the assortment of accessories and jewelry made of semi precious stones and pearls sourced and handcrafted in the Philippines. There were also woodworks, and even a few art installations that tickled my interest. It's very uplifting to see so much beauty and talent, a wide array of products from all over the Philippines in such a small space. I left Hall One with a refreshed passion to support local products and I'm hoping more can visit Hall One to get a glimpse of what we can offer, too.

Spending an afternoon at the National Museum of the Philippines turned out to be one of the most…read morefascinating ways I could have learned more about my husband's country of birth. And honestly, I was not fully prepared for just how vast and layered Philippine history actually is. The National Museum complex is enormous and covers multiple museums and collections ranging from natural history, anthropology, archaeology, fine arts, indigenous cultures, colonial history, biodiversity, and the many different regions and peoples that make up the Philippines. Walking through the exhibits, you quickly realize the Philippines is not just "one culture," but a massive tapestry of languages, traditions, histories, and influences shaped by centuries of trade, migration, colonization, resistance, and survival. One of the most famous highlights inside the museum system is Juan Luna's *Spoliarium*, an enormous and emotionally powerful painting considered one of the greatest treasures of Filipino art and nationalism. Even tourists unfamiliar with Philippine history usually stop in awe when they see the sheer scale of it in person. Outside the museum, I was especially fascinated by the massive "Tree of Life" structure inside the National Museum of Natural History. It stretches dramatically upward through the center of the building and symbolizes the incredible biodiversity and interconnected ecosystems found throughout the Philippine islands. It is honestly one of the most visually striking museum interiors I've seen anywhere. Now, fair warning: If you visit during school hours, prepare yourself for children. Children everywhere. Apparently Filipino schools absolutely love bringing students here for field trips, and during our visit there were enormous groups of excited students moving through nearly every section of the museum. Honestly though, it was actually kind of heartwarming seeing so many kids actively engaged and learning about their own country's history. The museum itself is very large, and once you start walking, you are going to be walking quite awhile. One small complaint I did have was the lack of seating areas throughout some sections. At a certain point my husband and I found ourselves quietly scanning corners for open benches like exhausted archaeological explorers searching for buried treasure. Still, the experience was absolutely worth it. I loved wandering through the exhibits with my husband, listening to him explain little pieces of Filipino culture and history to me while I absorbed it all through fresh eyes. It felt less like simply visiting a museum and more like gaining a deeper understanding of a country and people I have grown to love deeply myself. The Philippines truly is a beautiful country -- not just in scenery, but in history, resilience, culture, and spirit. And this museum does a wonderful job reminding visitors of that.

During our travels in the Philippines, we made the most of our time visiting the cultural gems…read moreManila has to offer with the National Museum being one of them. My non-Filipino husband was interested in learning about my heritage which inspired my cousin to put together a day trip to the museum. The National Museum is comprised of multiple buildings which are: *The National Museum of Fine Arts *The National Museum of Anthropology *The National Museum of Natural History All are within the same compound but if you plan to visit all 3 buildings be prepared to wear comfortable shoes fit for a day's worth of walking. I also recommend bringing a bottle of water if you can. The museums are free to the public and we managed to visit two out of the three buildings (Fine Arts and Anthropology). We briefly visited the Fine Arts building and were impressed by the massive murals steps within entering. The most moving and impressive works come from one of the country's renowned painters, Juan Luna. His masterpiece, Spoilarium, is one not to miss. It was also interesting to read up on his life which oddly had a dark and ill-fated twist. The Anthropology building has fascinating curated material with discovered relics spanning the country. Some of the oldest material on exhibit dates from 5 BC. Currently artifacts continue to be uncovered/donated and the collection perpetually grows. Overall, the Anthropology museum was our favorite. We left very impressed with the exhibits. Aside from the common touristy things to do, don't discount the National Museum. The information and history behind each piece will leave you culturally enriched.