THIS is the most awesome statue of Andres Bonifacio in existence. Not the one in Monumento (A…read moretravesty, really), and not the one in front of the National Post Office. THIS. I am totally in love with the raw energy, the fierceness, the drama of this monument. Not content to showcase Bonifacio standing, they show him charging into action, ready to fight, ready to sacrifice his life for the country as he actually did (Though not at the hands of the enemy, but this is not the time for that discussion). If you angle your shot at just the right spot, you can actually depict Bonifacio attacking Manila City Hall. It's an incredible shot that may or may not be representative of whatever.

The City of Manila and Manilenos love Andres Bonifacio, placing him on a pedestal practically at…read morepar with National Hero Jose P. Rizal. This is with good reason. Bonifacio was founder of the movement known as the Katipunan, which waged a revolution against Spain in the 1890s. It is one of Philippine history's greatest tragedies that Bonifacio became a victim of the very revolution he started, being assassinated by the men of Emilio Aguinaldo after the revolutionary forces split into two factions. Today, the nationalist and Leftist movements consider Bonifacio a national hero. He is their symbol as well as rallying point in their modern day war against oppression. Bonifacio Day is celebrated as a national holiday and the most important shrine to the revolutionary from Tondo is the Kartilya ng Katipunan shrine in Liwasang Bonifacio. No less than National Artist Ed Castrillo created this metal and wood sculpture. The plaza in front is often used for different events, from political rallies to city fairs. Above it all stands the mighty Bonifacio, wielding his bolo and rallying his men to fight the better equipped Spaniards.

I don't know whether to give this building one star or five stars. In the years that I worked in a…read morebuilding in Intramuros, I would often look at the El Hogar Building across the Pasig River. What a sight it must have been in its heyday. Today, you can only imagine what it must have looked like before whoever owns it allowed it to deteriorate to its present state. This is another historic landmark that begs to be restored, not torn down and replaced with some fancy condominium, as what has happened with other old buildings in the Binondo district of Manila. It's a sad reflection on us as a people that there is insufficient appreciation of the architecture around us. I am hoping against hope that somehow, this old structure will be restored. Its premiere location alone makes it a must see. There's no reason why it can't be restored by the present owners, then rented out to any of the country's top 1,000 corporations, any one of which should be proud to be based at such a site. I'll give it five stars and keep my fingers crossed.

Looking at the artifacts left behind by Gregoria de Jesus, the "Lakhambini" or First Lady of the…read moreKatipunan, as well as the paintings here, I am swept into a world of fierce love and courage, and the extraordinary strength of this woman. I already knew then that Gregoria de Jesus, or Oryang, as she is more fondly called, is one of the most courageous women in Philippine history. But a glimpse of her life in this old house where she once lived made my respect for her soar and made her all the real to me. It was here that I learned of some of her bad-ass moves, like how she and other women smartly fooled Spaniards while Katipuneros were having meetings. She knew how to shoot, but she also tended to the wounded. She even has some teachings of her own posted at Bahay Nakpil-Bautista ("Sampung Aral ni Oryang"), some of them bad-ass too. I also got a warm feeling reading about her love story - how she was both unabashedly her own person and at the same time wife to Andres Bonifacio. When he died, Julio Nakpil, a general and the musical composer of Katipunan, took care of her protection and fell in love with her. The two married, and thus, Oryang lived in the beautiful stone and wood house of Bahay Nakpil.

The Bahay Bautista Nakpil is a former residence of the illustrious Nakpil family who have turned…read moreit into a museum-cum-workshop. The place has kept the old world charm of late 19th century Manila. Of special interest to art collectors are the wood carved santos created by master craftsmen and artisans at the site itself. The wooden carvings are not cheap. A bust or a head of a saint goes for P2,000 and is the most affordable of the sculpted works. The larger pieces go for anywhere from a low of P25,000 to a high of P100,000. It goes without saying that churches all over the country are among the favored clients of the sculptors, who unfortunately will never be known to the owners. Skilled as they are, they will never be known as artists like Castrillo or Orlina. This is a shame, but that's how the business side of art works. Still, the life-sized wooden santos are a joy to behold, and to own for those who can afford them.

A long time ago, there was a plot of land beside the Manila City Hall where old trees proliferated…read more Known as the Mehan Garden, it was a park where city dwellers could commune with nature. Over the decades, little by little, Mehan Garden gave way to various construction projects. Today, only a small portion of the original garden remains. Still, the trees which are more than a century old are still thriving. The remnants of the Mehan Garden has not been kept properly by the city government, but the trees are still alive and well. Although there isn't much grass, the place still invites couples and families to lounge and relax, read books, listen to music, or just chat the hours away. Hopefully, the current or the next administration for the city will take better care of the site. Incidentally, on the other side of the back road is a small forested area which has more lush greenery. This was a project of former Mayor Fred Lim. Thankfully, the administration of Mayor Erap Estrada has allowed the forest park to survive.

I noticed that a lot of the monuments here in Metro Manila tend to be placed in the weirdest of…read moreplaces. Some of them are located in places where people are unlikely to pass by. They might be visible, but that would make it difficult for people to walk up to them and see what they're like. Anyway, Gabriela Silang's monument is one of those monuments that has a sort of awkward position. It's located along the corners of Ayala and Makati Ave. It's a bit hard to get up close and personal with the lady who serves as the symbol of the country's feminist movement, but it's worth it. The only real issue that I have with this particular monument is poor maintenance. Anyone who musters the effort to get up close and personal with Gabriela will be a little bit dissapointed since the plate at the base of her monument giving info. about her has started to fade, and little to no attention has been given to it.

The rallying point of the famed "Gabriela" party (also named after the hero for which the monument…read moretakes its image), Gabriela Silang, wife of Diego Silang, and the more famous of the two for their rebellion against the Spanish is often toted as one of the female heroes of Philippine history, and the symbol of feminists everywhere (aside from, you know, Cory Aquino, the first female president in Asia, who was a Filipina). While scholars may argue about the historical accuracy of her depiction in the monument, which shows her on horseback, leading a charge with a large bolo in hand as she rallies forth into battle (and some historians would insist that she never wielded a blade nor rode a horse), her monument in the corner of the Ayala Triangle Park overlooks the areas near the grand shopping centers of Makati and an intersection where very memorable events in recent history have caused hordes of women (and men) to come together near this statue to oppose questionable actions against women in the Philippines. While the Philippines arguably enjoys more rights for its female population than other conservative Asian countries, such as in the case of how Filipinas can hold high positions in businesses and government without much incident, while in more "developed" countries like Japan, a woman, regardless of rank in the company, will always be the one charged with serving tea, the Philippines also has much to do in the way of improving the state for all women, impoverished or not. And this monument, historical accuracy or not, still serves as the place where we all come to remember the importance of women in our lives.

There were recent reports that the magnificent Post Office Building in Liwasang Bonifacio would…read moresoon be sold to a Korean conglomerate which would turn it into a five star hotel. The purchase came with the promise that the exterior would not be touched. If this report is true, then it may be acceptable. For all its beauty, there is no questioning the fact that the global postal system is in flux. The traditional post offices are all facing serious challenges brought about by modern technology. The Philippine Postal Corporation tried to put up a bank to make remittances easier. Instead of sending postal money orders by mail, it would be infinitely better to send funds bank to bank. There have also been serious attempts to speed up the delivery system. All these attempts have been in vain, and the reason cited for possibly selling the awe inspiring Post Office building is because of the heavy losses of the government agency. As long as the building itself is never destroyed, we can live with whatever it becomes in the years and decades to come. But it would be better if a Filipino rather than a foreign group were to take over the edifice with its classic Roman architecture.

I used to run a lot, and then life happened, and now I'm a bum. Luckily, I live near UP and I could…read morewalk there, which can serve as my warm up before I do a round or two around Sunken Garden. PROS: It's not a garden at all, but it is a sunken field. UP legend says it sinks a few inches every year because of the mosh pit and rocking and jumping that occurs during the UP Fair; Traffic's one way so it makes it safer for pedestrians crossing the road. Also, there's a bike lane and jogging path which people who attempt to get fit like me (and those who are legitimately fit already. WEYW.) can frequently use; Start at the Oblation in front of Quezon Hall as your inspiration to look better naked as you begin your run. Then, you see the breathtaking acacia trees lining Sunken and it does look like a leafy tunnel. CONS: Pets and skateboards are not allowed, according to the signs. But I still see the occasional pooches which I am always tempted to pet; I'M SORRY I COUNTERFLOW WHEN I RUN! Yes, I even make eye contact with those coming past me. It's just that if I run in the same direction as the cars and jeeps like everyone, the smoke from the vehicles hit me smack on the face. By the time you reach Vinzons where all the jeepneys are, it gets hard to breathe so I'd rather run against the tide of people and vehicles. If you happen to see me, and you have to run around me as I pummel towards you, I apologize in advance. TL;DR: I can exercise without having to pay anything! Also a good place with relatively clean air for general tambay and walks.

You can take the probinsyana dog out of the province, but you can't take the province out of the…read moreprobinsyana dog. Born and raised in the boondocks of Misamis Oriental, I had to take my poor Storm to the big city so she can see a proper vet. She was literally fresh off the boat and was missing the green, green grass of home terribly so we decided to take her to UP Sunken Garden. After a gruelling two-hour cab ride where Storm was literally shaking in fear (so many metal beasts!), we finally got to UP, where there were free-range grass and tall trees for miles around. I could see my little doggy tear up at the sight of all the green, and she wasted no time running around and taking it all in (translation: she started peeing all over the place, claiming the entire garden as her territory). It took a lot of coaxing and passionate promises of regular trips to her new kingdom to get her into a cab and back to the concrete jungle of Makati, but at least she had her day of fun. Here's to more days of fun in her doggy future.

The Manila Metropolitan Theater (Met for short and Tanghalang Pangkalakhan ng Maynila in Tagalog)…read morefor me epitomizes one of the greatest faults in our country. The MET is another Once a gem of Manila, this theater was designed by renowned Filipino architect Juan M. Arellano. Look carefully enough and you'll spot how some of the buildings architecture transitions from Art Nouveau to Art Deco. To date, many fall in love with her looks despite being as old and withered as she is. In a way, the MET , and even perhaps the entire country, is like the MET. It was once wonderful and glorious. It served as a beacon and symbol to Filipinos celebrating their own culture by hosting Zarzuelas, Filipino opera, and so much more. It withstood the Japanese occupation for crying out loud. Unfortunately, the MET fell victim to Pinoy politics. It played the rope in a tug of war game between the local government of Manila and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), though what the GSIS plans to do with a theater is beyond me. Many attempts have been made to revive this old girl. None have succeeded in restoring the MET back into the once shining and polished gem that it once was. However there is hope. Recent stories have said that the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has been given approval by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to buy this building. The NCCA now plans to spend half a billion pesos on restoring the building in the hopes of restoring its former glory.

If you're a Metro Manila local, I'm sure you've passed by the Manila Metropolitan Theater countless…read moretimes before. In my case, I used to pass by the structure every day back in college as I took my FX to class. "The Met" as many fondly call it, had hosted countless of international artists. The National Commission on Culture and the Arts also declared it a National Culture Treasure as authorized by Republic Act No. 10066. It is however very unfortunate that such a beautiful art-deco structure is being left to rot and decay. I was fortunate enough to attend a concert in The Met a few years back. My favorite Filipino rock band, Wolfgang, decided to hold a concert there. It was indeed a brilliant and cool idea. On one end, it was a nice way to change things up and hold a rock concert at an unusual venue. On the other, it was a way to raise awareness that the structure is in desperately need of proper care and maintenance. As Wolfgang frontman Basti Artadi called it, "the old battle axe." Here's to hoping that future Manila City leadership pursues a concrete and more importantly, sustainable initiative to restore this art-deco beauty to its past glory. The 5-stars I'm giving for this rating is for all The Met's history and legacy, but on how it has been forgotten and disregarded by everyone, one star would even be too generous.

I attended my brother's two graduations here - yes, it fits all the graduates and their parents and…read moreother guests. Graduates can bring more than two guests. In my brother's Masters graduation, they were allowed to bring five guests. This pavilion is a multi-purpose gym that can seat more than 5,000 people. It was actually built to celebrate UST's 400 years - thus, the "quadricentennial" in its name. The first floor is strategically elevated in anticipation of UST's floods during the rainy season. There are balconies all around, and we sat on a balcony and the sound system carried well throughout. The seats are hard but comfortable, with backrests. And, of course, the entire pavilion is air-conditioned. Close to each exit are restrooms so you can easily leave for toilet break during events. While it is basically a gym, the venue looks grand and formal during my brothers' graduation ceremonies, save for the hard seats.

Take a good look at this building. It may not look like much, but back in the 50s and 60s, it was…read moreconsidered a high-rise. Not just any high-rise, mind you. It was also considered a landmark of sorts. The Roman Santos building in Plaza Lacson now houses a branch of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, or BPI. Previously, it was where the Monte de Piedad had its Manila headquarters. The bank, owned by the Catholic Church, is all but history now. At least BPI has kept its facade intact. Look above the BPI sign and you will notice not just a bas relief, but a full sculpture of Greco-Roman style. This alone makes the building a historical landmark, one that should be maintained and not torn down, as has happened with some classic, old buildings downtown. The building may not look like much compared to the skyscrapers that dot the metropolis, but its historical value cannot be overstated. Indeed, it is a beautiful structure for those with an eye for architectural masterworks.