If you want to see something that'll change your life, catch a show by the Quezon City Performing…read moreArts. You have dance performances and music as well, but here's the clincher - these kids are street children. QCPA gets them off the street and grants them a scholarship that puts them in the theater or in the dance studio. Funded by the Quezon City government in hopes they'll pursue careers in the arts, most of these kids come from families that can't afford to send them to school, buy a house, or even feed them regularly. They could have been drug dealers, slaves to physical or sexual abuse, or worse, but this foundation transforms their lives and instead teaches them to play the guitar, to sing, and to pirouette. Through the QCPA Development Foundation, the scholars have led better lives. They have had the chance to travel, study, and earn money to support themselves and their families. Dancing, singing, making music, and creating art becomes their way out of all their hardships. To see them perform onstage and smiling, knowing the past they have, is beautiful. It really shows what a difference art can make to save this country.

From ballet lessons, watching plays, and hanging out during breaks, to graduating high school,…read moreAssumpta Theatre will always have a special place in my heart. We have performed numerous times on stage before. I made a quick Google search and found this on Yelp. Oh, my childhood, how it flew by. I hope the next coming students find a way to love our home and find that it is their home, too.

This theater is an official satellite venue of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, which is why…read moreit's called the "CCP of the East." It was built and inaugurated in the early 2000s and has since put on many shows and performances both by the local school community and the neighboring communities. I personally have fond memories of playing an Annie orphan, a King & I princess, a stone-faced Singkil fan-dancer, and doing countless chorale shows and ballet recitals in the past, heehee! It's a beautiful theater and visiting theater companies, musical artists, and touring shows have performed here, wonderfully bringing cultural education and exposure over to the folks at the East side of Manila. No need to go all the way downtown! The massive Assumpta is a fully functional performance venue with modern light & sound equipment, a large stage with stage wings and a docking area at the back; there's an orchestra pit, air-conditioned dressing rooms with their own bathrooms, a nice big lobby, and guest comfort rooms. The theater seats over 2,000 guests! It's pretty novel to have this kind of venue on this side of town, so a lot of schools and organizations from around the area have taken it up on its facilities for graduations, their own productions, and other events. You can just call the school to inquire about renting because they're very open for that.

One of the perks of working with kids is that you have an excuse to never really grow up into a…read moreboring adult. (Yes mom, I am playing with this totally awesome Legos, but I'm just doing it to internalize my role as a facilitator of a highly sophisticated inter-locking brick system in my place of work. *rolls eyes*) So yay for college friends! And yay for understanding that sometimes, all we need is a field trip WITHOUT STUDENTS! Extra yay for Philippine Science Centrum! PROS: Cheap entrance fees; Close to other establishments like restaurants and shoe stores; Interesting displays and experiments! My favorites were the optical illusions, kinetic machines, and the seesaws and swings. I also liked knowing that on the grand scheme of things, I weigh like 20 pounds if I'm on the moon. Better start getting that NASA training. CONS: Not all displays are available, and some parts are closed for renovation. TL;DR: It is a museum and educational playground all in one. A recommended experience for kids and kids in adult bodies.

I live near the Philippine Science Centrum pero nakakaloka kasi after 2_ years (ayaw umamin sa…read moreedad) ko lang nalaman na may ganito pala sa amin! Huli na naman ako sa balita! Kaya ko lang siya napuntahan kasi I volunteered sa isang foundation tapos dito yung venue ng field trip with the kids! For P130.00/adult, sulit na siyang libutin around 1 1/2 hours! Maraming areas para makadiscover ng mga bagay-bagay tapos feeling mo ikaw si Dexter sa Dexter's Laboratory dito! Nakakatalino! Nakakabata! (Mas gusto ko yung nakakabata kesa sa nakakatalino talaga eh hahaha) Hindi lang air-con yung centrum girl pero choosy ka pa ba sa halagang isang daan sulit pa rin yan! (BAKIT AKO GALIT HAHAHA) Aamin na ako na ito yung isa sa mga trip kong dates eh. Yung enjoy lang, nagpapaka-isip bata tapos may ka-holding hands at kaakbay ka lang. PUNTA AKONG CENTRUM PARA LUMANDI. Choz! Hahaha! Pero date or not, pang-pamilya, pang-field trip o kaya pwede rin dito ka magmuni-muni kung bakit loveless ka pa rin ate. You can't buy happiness sabi nila pero dito sa halagang P130, parang nabili mo na rin yung happiness mo kaya love ko ang Philippine Science Centrum! MAY DRAMA SA ENDING TALAGA

Marikina is known as the shoe capital of the Philippines, and the Shoe Museum pays homage to that…read more This place showcases shoes from different parts of the country and world, the shoe making process, different shoes from past presidents and celebrities, and one gigantic leather shoe. A novel and niche stop if you want a fun thing to do to quickly pass the time.

P50 admission fee. Strong air conditioning. Shoes donated by celebrities. Cheap souvenirs…read more(handmade and less than P100 for most items). What's not to like? We spent 30-60 mins here looking at both floors.

It feels kind of cool that we have a museum in my school, though I rarely visited it during my…read morecollege days. It was only after graduation that I became more interested in art and culture, especially culture. It was the temporary, one-time exhibits I was after, not so much the permanent ones. One interesting exhibit I attended was on the goddesses in Philippine mythology, mostly paintings of the artists' interpretation on the appearance of the goddesses. Another one I heard of was on okkir and other art and architecture in Mindanao. Thus, visiting Vargas Museum every few months or so will never be a boring experience as there is usually always a new exhibit you can check out. For the sights you see, the price is quite cheap, at P20 for students and P30 for those who are not. There is also a cafe at the side of the museum which you can chill in before or after your visit.

Vargas Museum is one my favorite places in UP Diliman. I go here to think, to hide from the rest of…read morethe world, and of course, to soak up all the enlightened good vibes that only an art-meets-history collection can give. It houses a lot of artwork, coins, stamps, historical papers, and other memorabilia owned by Jorge B. Vargas, a fellow Isko. He is this awesome guy who declined presidency during the Second Philippine Republic (why, Jorge, why). Anyway, the museum also showcases works by renowned Pinoy artists such as Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo, and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo. Awesome, right? My favorite piece is Wings by Alfredo Juan Aquilizan. I absolutely love it. I love the way it moves me. Wanna know a secret? In my many daydreams, it's the spot where I'm supposed to meet my soulmate. He'd be there, staring in awe at those wings. Then, he'll turn his head to the right and see me smiling. Hello, stranger.

Beautiful place perfect for students and adults to learn and unwind. I recommend for anyone to…read morecheck out with good photo opportunities and experience something new

Art in Island is a beautiful museum. Featuring an assortment of interactive art and an exhibition…read morearea, there is something for every age and every art lover. Some optical illusions of famous work, shadow walls, a state of the art 360 viewing room, and 3D pieces make this place a phenomenal way to spend a few hours. They have nursing rooms and a lovely cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. Oh yeah, wear sox or you will have to buy some; there are no shoes allowed.

The Black Box Theater at Ateneo de Manila is literally as the name states. It's a black box. This…read moretheater is uniquely designed in the shape of the box with the walls, floors, and ceiling painted black. This is an interesting set-up that allows for viewers to have an enriching and exciting experience. The design of this theater makes everything more interactive. The space is quite tiny and can only seat at most 100 people (not so comfortably) but this way you really get to see everything up close. This makes you way more engaged in the play itself. This tiny space makes the audience focus on the actors and the story and less on the set and theatrics of it all (which I love). The set itself is usually done simply, the actors play more with the space itself and in their movements versus using props and stands as their main objects for expression. I truly enjoyed my experience watching at The Black Box Theater and I can't wait for the next.