The first Manila Biennale, a month-long art event that starts tomorrow, will be held in different venues around Intramuros, making it a good time to revisit Old Manila and its surrounding neighborhoods.
When it comes to modern culture spaces, it is lagging behind central businesses districts like Makati and Bonifacio Global City but has been undergoing a revival thanks to artists, businesses, and young Filipinos looking for an alternative stomping ground.
If you haven’t been there since your grade school field trip, below are some activities to do, spots to visit, and food to try in good ol’ Maynila.
Tour Intramuros in a bike made of bamboo
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Bambikes is a social enterprise that partners up with poor communities to make bicycles out of bamboo. But aside from their bikes, the company also holds ecotours in different parts of Metro Manila. You can choose to rent one of their bikes (Think Citi bikes but cooler) and go off on your own or join one of their guided tours with a group of locals and tourists.
Three of their tours are in the walled city Intramuros and will let you experience colonial architecture and historic monuments in a different way.
Tours cost either PHP600 (US$11.63) or PHP1,200 (US$23.26) depending on the duration, while a bike rental is priced at PHP200 (US$3.88) for one hour.
Reserve a slot through their website.
Visit the reemerging Escolta street
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Escolta St. used to be Manila’s “Fifth Avenue” but hasn’t been able to keep up with the times — in both good and bad ways. Most of the buildings on the strip date back to the early 1900s, so just seeing them is a treat on its own, but a lot of buildings have also been abandoned. That is until a few years ago when new establishments started to occupy them.
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First-timers should not miss the First United Building, an art-deco style structure that used to house a department store. Today, it is home to a craft market, gallery, cafe, bar, barbershop, and even a co-working space.
Last year, Escolta also held quarterly block parties that hosted a series of events throughout the day and a street party at night. Follow the Escolta Block Party Facebook page to get notifications on their upcoming events.
Go to a museum of Manila’s oldest distillery
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Destileria Limtuaco, the makers of Manille calamansi liqueur, has been around since 1852 and is the oldest distillery in the country. This month, the company will finally open a museum that chronicles its history to the public, more than 30 years after it was completed.
Located in Intramuros inside a bahay na bato (house of stone), the museum will fit right into the usual itinerary of historic structures.
Stop by the National Museum of Natural History
Although you’ll have to wait until May 18 for the National Museum of Natural History to open its doors to the public, just the building itself is already a sight to see. The structure used to be the office of the Department of Agriculture and later on, the Department of Tourism, but has now been refurbished.
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Come May, you can look forward to replicas of the country’s flora and fauna and the anticipated “tree of life” structure at the center of the building.
Here’s your first look at what you can expect to see inside the museum.
Staycation in Rizal Park Hotel
The old Army and Navy Club of Manila is now a boutique hotel. Apart from the refurbished colonial structure and its close proximity to Luneta Park (which has undergone its own makeover), the place is also worth checking out for its promos this month.
They have a special Valentine’s Day dinner for PHP2,018+ (US$39+) per person and a Chinese New Year promotion that gives all those born in the year of the dog a complimentary lunch or dinner buffet.
Visit its Facebook page for more details.
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