This was an actual Manila tour of Tutubi he "planned" for his Muslim guests recently which took them from Makati to Quiapo, Intramuros, Luneta and capped with Manila Bay Cruise all in a span of ten hours with little planning and decisions made on-the-fly, typical of Tutubi's spur-of-the-moment traveling style. The itinerary is, however, much too compressed, covered so much ground and ideal for travelers with only one day to spare, feel free to tweak to suit your preferences or just ask Tutubi.

Note: Tutubi doesn't really prepare an travel itinerary as he likes the thrill of discoveries of unplanned travel brings. This was a Saturday which means generally lighter traffic in Metro Manila. Tutubi has a car that's why he's fast for he knows how to navigate the inner streets, where to pass by, mostly avoiding streets where jeepneys (one primary cause of traffic in Manila) don't pass. Take a taxi to exactly follow the route and for faster travel instead of the jeepney. The itinerary route is also possible via public transportation.

8am Met up at Makati Hotel (Berjaya Hotel, which serves halal buffet breakfast)

8:10 Had Breakfast and shopping at Salcedo Weekend Market in Salcedo Village, Makati. Tutubi bought his favorite budbud kabog, his guests looked for halal breakfast, settled for vegetarian samosa at a Persian/Indian restaurant plus all variants of budbud kabog and suman.

Salcedo Weekend Market in Velasquez Park, Salcedo Village, Makati offers regional and international food specialties and delicacies. Open every Saturday from 6am to 2pm

9:am Left for Quiapo, Manila. passed by Osmena Highway (formerly called South Superhighway), right Quirino Avenue, left Paz Guanzon (just before Nagtahan Bridge), right Romualdez, cross Ayala Bridge, left to Carlos Palanca (formerly Echague) then park near Quinta Market (you can find "informal" parking attendants to guard your car on the street, PhP30.00 usual parking fee). Walked to Golden Mosque (you can take padyak or kuliglig for about PhP40.00)

9:45 Arrived at Golden Mosque (Tutubi's first time to get inside the Quiapo landmark) on Globo de Oro Street corner Gunao.

The interiors of Golden Mosque with columns and the mihrab, the semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla, facing the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and where Muslims should face when praying. The wall is called "qibla wall." The mosque is usually full during Jumuah prayers on a Friday

10:00 Had brunch at a nearby halal eatery to sample mostly Maranao dishes (mostly yellow in color) fish with spicy coconut sauce and palapa and bodhi (fish roe) fulshed down with Maranao coffee. The neighboring streets of Globo de Oro, Norzagaray, Bautista, Elizondo and Gunao surrounding the Golden Mosque are lined with restaurants serving halal food for the Muslims living and doing business in the area, mostly Maranao and Tausug. You can even find Muslim "wares and wear"e.g. abaya, hijab, malong.

10:30 Took a padyak (human-powered tricycle or pedicab, fare: PhP10.00/person) to Quiapo Church after finding out the Lacson Underpass was closed for repairs).

the well-loved Quiapo Church is the center of the Black Nazarene procession annually held on January 9 and attended by millions of barefoot devotees.

Quiapo is the window to the soul of Manila and probably the Philippines. It's here where you can find Christians and Muslims living together in harmony, doing about business and daily grind. It's home to a famous Quiapo Church which is full of people on Fridays and also the Golden Mosque, where Muslims stop what they're doing to pray also on a Friday. It's also an area of ironies, where else can you find a Catholic Church surrounded by fortune tellers (manghuhula) and little stalls on the sidewalks selling herbal medicines (e.g. pito-pito, a concoction of seven herbs), amulets, anting-anting, katana (samurai swords), kris (Muslim royalty swords), balisong (butterfly knife) and the infamous pamparegla (sold in dark brown "lapad" bottles) which is a euphemism for abortifacient (abortion is illegal in the Philippines). It's also where you can find true Manila: gritty, grimy and non-pretentious.

Other places to see and visit in Quiapo include San Sebastian Church (a short jeepney ride away, take jeepneys on Hidalgo Street with signboards Balic-balic or Lealtad), San Miguel area (take San Miguel jeepneys near Quinta Market or Ilalim ng Tulay), the eyeglasses and optometrist haunt Paterno Street, the generator and power tools street of Evangelista, the fake ID/diploma/thesis/term papers/reaction paper/ street of Recto University, the iconic art deco buildings of Far Eastern University (FEU, where art works of several nationa artists can be found inside the campus), the Nakpil-Bautista house on Bautista Street (former home of Katipunan lakambini Gregoria de Jesus, and where the original painting of Juan Luna "The Parisian Life" used to hang)

Quiapo food trip destinations include Globe Lumpia (since 1953) on Gonzalo Puyat (formerly Raon, a favorite haunt of Tutubi for electronics (he's actually an electronics engineer by profession)), Excellente Ham (opened 1963) and Kim Chong Tin Hopia Factory (1927) on Carlos Palanca (formerly Echague, where stores selling home and kitchen wares can be found), Master Hopia on Villalobos Street, various regional food peddled on Hidalgo Street (the photographer's haven lined with camera shops) besides the Muslim halal restaurants near Golden Mosque (suggestions: bodhi, chicken papar (piaparan), arab spice roasted chicken, kabsa (arabian rice), beef rendang (Maranao style of Indonesian provenance), beef balbacua, pater rice (Maranao style binalot), chili and ginger), bakas (smoked whole tuna) in sticks and the quintessential Maranao spice called palapa (ingredients of toasted coconut, shallots, sakoreb/sakurab (native scallions)

11:00am Went to Intramuros via a jeepney. At the behest of his guests who wanted to try riding the jeepney, Tutubi called up his driver to proceed directly to Manila Cathedral and wait for them there. Tutubi and guests boarded a jeepney with signboard Quiapo - Pier and alighted at the corner of Antonio Luna and Andres Soriano (formerly Calle Real del Palacio) then walked to Fort Santiago (Entrance Fee/Admission: PhP75.00)

Fort Santiago, a Spanish fort near the mouth of Pasig River where once stood the palace Rajah Sulaiman, the Muslim ruler of Manila until the arrival of the Spaniards. The fort also once served as prison of Jose Rizal (the Philippine national hero, his last steps were imprinted on the road leading to Luneta (now Rizal Park) where he was executed by firing squad. There's also a bulwark facing Pasig River and a replica of Rizal's house in Calamba, Laguna serving as a museum.

11:30 Went out of Fort Santiago, looked around at a souvenir shop just outside Fort Santiago then proceeded to Plaza Roma in front of Manila Cathedral to look for a cochero and Intramuros Calesa Tour (calesa is a horse-drawn carriage) at a price of PhP350.00 for thirty minutes.

The calesa tour passed by these Intramuros landmarks: Manila Cathedral, Bahay Tsinoy (Filipino Chinese Museum), Memorare (Monument to the massacre during the Battle for Manila at the closing stage of World War II), Beaterio, Casa Manila (an old bahay na bato and museum, there's an entrance fee but Tutubi and his guests just requested the guard to enter the patio and take pictures), an old Japanese cannon seen from the walls, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), the the budget-friendly carinderias/eateries on the walls along Muralla with student patrons, Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT), Lyceum of the Philippines, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, the ruins of Interdencia then back to Manila Cathedral.

12:00 As it's lunch time, went to Shawarma Snack Center near Robinsons Place Malate on Salas Street. (Tutubi's guests were Muslims, that's why everything must be halal i.e. allowed to eat per the teachings of Islam). It's ironic that the restaurant ran out of shawarma, the only thing Tutubi wanted to eat there probably due to lunch time and he can't wait another 25 minutes for the next batch to be cooked, he ordered chicken tikka masala sandwich.

1:30pm Went to Rizal Park (Luneta) to see the Rizal Monument (near where Jose Rizal was shot and where his remains were buried permanently) and also the Kilometer Zero Marker (reference point of all kilometer markers all over the country). Also at Rizal Park is the Chinese Garden, Japanese Garden, Lapu-lapu monument, Quirino Grandstand and near it are Manila Ocean Park (oceanarium and other activities and shows for families, especially children), Museong Pambata (Children's Museum, the US Embassy, and Manila Hotel, Philippine Normal University, LRT UN Avenue Station, Planetarium, National Museum and National Art Gallery.

2:30pm Went to Sun Cruises terminal in CCP Complex for the Manila Bay Cruise. Good thing there's still tables available as it's a reservation required. Booked the 4pm cruise. Visited and took pictures of the Coconut Palace (now the official residence of the Vice-President of the Philippines)

3:00pm Went to Harbor Square for some coffee and rest tired feet after the Manila sightseeing tour

4:00pm Boarded the Sun Cruises yacht for the Manila Bay Cruise

Manila Bay Cruise is operated by Sun Cruises, the operator of Corregidor Island Tours, cruise time is around one hour which involves going south all the way to SM Mall of Asia then back. You need to book in advance for your seats unless you're lucky like Tutubi who was able to buy tickets walk-in. Recommend the 5pm cruise time slot for the sunset or the later 6pm slot during Saturday to see the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) fireworks.

5:15pm Back at CCP Complex

6:00pm Arrived in Makati



Costs and Other details of Manila Sightseeing Tour and Food Trip:

Taxi fare from Makati to Quiapo is around PhP200.00
Golden Mosque entrance fee: none (visitors are requested to make donations)
Kuliglig ride to Golden Mosque: PhP40.00
Parking fee Quiapo: PhP30.00
Jeepney fare Quiapo to Intramuros: PhP8.00 (minimum fare, via jeepneys with signboard Pier)
Fort Santiago entrance fee: PhP75.00
Manila Bay Cruise: PhP550.00 with buffet lunch, PhP350.00 cruise only
Jeepney fare Intramuros to Rizal Park: PhP8.00 (via Quiapo jeepney)

How to Get to CCP Complex from Quiapo or Rizal Park? Just take a jeepney with signboard Vito Cruz (preferably via Taft Avenue), alight at Vito Cruz and take the orange shuttle jeepneys plying the CCP COmplex Route.

Related Posts:
How to Get to Quiapo
The Plant Where Quiapo Got Its Name
How to Get to Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila

Labels: Churches, Food Trips, Makati, Manila, Metro Manila, Mosques, Pasay City

Just a walk-by picture of the colorful sound and light show at the Ayala Triangle Garden held every night where you can see the trees at the popular Ayala Triangle park lit up with thousands of LED lights, laser lights that blink and smoke machines dancing to the tune of music (thank goodness, no Gangnam style yet)

a quick picture using iPhone, wasn't able to wait for more colorful sequence, perhaps a visit one of these days as this areas is just across Tutubi's office :P


Makati Festival of Lights:
Lights and Sounds show at the Ayala Triangle Garden
(free show, no entrance fee required)

Schedule every 30 minutes starting at 6pm til around 10pm (not sure of this)
Show will end on December 31, 2012

How to get to Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati City:

From MRT Ayala station, take a jeepney with signboard Washington, alight after passing by Ayala Triangle (the proper unloading zone) right after passing Ninoy Aquino Monument at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas

From MRT Buendia station, board buses with signboard Ayala/LRT/Leveriza, the conductor will shout Paseo/PBCOM, get off the bus then take the Ayala Avenue underpass to Ayala Triangle

From LRT Gil Puyat Station, board a bus with signboard Ayala/Rustans then alight when the conductor shouts Paseo/PBCOM, get off the bus then take the underpass to Ayala Triangle

driving directions to Ayala Triangle garden:

it's just the triangular lot/park bounded by Ayala Avenue, Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas marked by three monuments at the corners: Sultan Kudarat, Gabriela Silang and Ninoy Aquino. Priave car owners may park at Gabriela Silang carpark (no idea on parking fee.rates) with entrance on Makati Avenue in front of the Peninsula Hotel.

Christmas pasyalan in Manila similar to Policarpio Street in Mandaluyong

Labels: Christmas, Makati, Metro Manila, National Capital Region

A silent witness to numerous political rallies held at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas, the heart of the Philippines' financial capital and, unknown to many Makati people, the intersection of the two runways of the former Nielson Airport (yes, Makati CBD used to be an airport).

Ninoy Aquino was murdered as he was about to deplane on the tarmac of Manila International Airport on August 21, 1983, now named after him as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). His murder so incensed the Filipino people to intensify the fight against the sitting dictator that fueled the People Power Revolution of 1986 (EDSA bloodless revolt) and catapulted Cory Aquino to the presidency. His picture can also be seen on the five hundred peso bill (P500).

Ninoy Aquino Monument in Photos:

A dragonfly's eye view of the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de roxas, with Ninoy Aquino monument in view as well as The Enterprise Center and BPI Building at the corners.

Ninoy Aquino Monument, with Insular Life Building, Philamlife Tower, PSBank Tower, Paseo Center, BPI Card Center Building, Equitable Bank Tower and Lepanto Building providing a modern backdrop of skyscrapers.

Ninoy Aquino Monument (with people to add scale) during Makati's Caracol Festival in January.

To most people, they know the reason why Tutubi posted these pictures here on this date but for some, the oblivious and the not in-the-know, August 21 is Ninoy Aquino Day, a national holiday (that fell on a Saturday) that's a non-working holiday for people who have work on Saturdays.

people on Ayala Avenue during the funeral of Cory Aquino, Ninoy's wife, former president, and the mother of President Noynoy Aquino. The image of Ninoy Aquino is shown on the flags.

Note that the monument you see now in Makati is not the original one, the old monument can now be found in Hacienda Luisita in Concepcion, Tarlac.

Labels: Makati, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, National Heroes

Just this morning Tutubi went to Makati to cover Caracol 2010 (Caracol 2010 Schedule posted earlier) and got to take pictures of parade participants in colorful costumes and was also able to meet, albeit for such a few seconds, the blogger behind Traveler on Foot who texted him a few hours earlier to inquire about Caracol Schedule.

Herewith are some photos of Makati Caracol 2010:


a participant eating her snack encumbered by her long-nailed costume.
aren't they cute and colorful in their flower costume?

three kawaii girls resting while waiting at the Gabriela Silang carpark assembly area at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Makati Avenue in front of The Peninsula Manila
kids in black spider costumes praying in group huddle a few minutes before the parade started. On the background is the Makati Shangri-la Hotel, 6750 Ayala building

a dancer in colorful festival costume with all smiles despite the heat of the afternoon sun

Comments: Caracol Festival 2010 didn't start on time, just like earlier reported editions of the festival that always jibe with Cebu's Sinulog festival, Kalibo's Ati-atihan, or Iloilo's Dinagyang Festival. The advertised time of activities was 2pm but the actual parade started around 4pm. It was, however, a photographer's day as many shutterbugs (even a bunch of lomography enthusiasts) trooped to the deserted Ayala Avenue for colorful photo-op to the extent of blocking and interrupting the actual parade to capture the perfect shot.

Sa Makati, hindi tama sa oras. 'Wag naman sana ganyan din lagi sa buong bayan!

Labels: Festivals, Makati, Metro Manila, National Capital Region

It's time again for Makati's Mardi Gras-style fiesta called Caracol Festival with street dancing festivities similar to Cebu's Sinulog Festival, Iloilo's Dinagyang, Kalibo's Ati-atihan and Bacolod's Masskara Festival.

(Please click here for Pictures of Makati Caracol 2010)


Makati Caracol 2010 Schedule and parade route (image from Ayala Land)

January 24, 2010 at 2pm
Parade assembly area is at Gabriela Silang Carpark at the corner of Makati Avenue and Ayala Avenue (front of Peninsula Manila and beside Nielson Tower/Filipinas Heritage Library in the area called Ayala triangle)

Activity area is at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas (where the Ninoy Aquino Monument stands with corner buildings of BPI, Insular Life, The Enterprise Center and Ayala Tower One (near Makati Stock Exchange)

Map of Makati's Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas where Caracol will be held:



Traffic advisory: Note that Ayala Avenue will be closed to traffic from Makati Avenue up to Salcedo St and Dela Costa while Paseo de Roxas closed from Sedeno st to Dela Rosa St.

Should you happen to go there, you might catch the flightless Tutubi taking pictures for his trip to Dinagyang didn't push through as usual.

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How to get to Ayala Avenue, Makati:

How to commute to Ayala Avenue? It's easy via MRT Buendia Station where you can take a bus with signboard Ayala/LRT going to Baclaran or via LRT Sen. Gil Puyat Station (Buendia) where buses with signboard Ayala/Rustan's directly pass by the busy avenue (note the separate loading and unloading area designation is strictly enforced)

Street parking on Ayala Avenue is non-existent. You can park, however, on side-streets as Makati Parking Authority (MAPA) does not tow parked vehicles on weekends and holidays.

Labels: Festivals, Makati, Metro Manila, National Capital Region

It's an auspicious day for Tutubi. It was raining when he left home but on arriving in Makati, the rain clouds left and let the sun shine on Ayala Avenue.

With the transfer or Cory Aquino's funeral wake from La Salle Greenhills in San Juan to Manila Cathedral to pass by Makati, the expected shower of yellow confetti on the plain-housewife-turned-president who drove away a dictator and re-installed democracy.

It was around 11:30am when Tutubi walked from his office to the "rally" point in order to get a very good vantage point. It's just too bad that he wasn't able to bring his DSLR camera and instead settled for the Olympus Stylus 850SW (a waterproof one, but lacking in optical quality).

Herewith are photos of Cory Aquino's "funeral" on Ayala Avenue, the country's financial center, Tita Cory's last passage on the avenue where the monument of his husband is located.

The crowd of Makati: the last time they converged here was in 2001 that ushered in the reign of now President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The president, aided by bootlickers in the House of Representatives, wanted to amend the 1987 Constitution, which is a legacy of Cory Aquino.

Video of Cory Aquino's "funeral" on Ayala Avenue, Makati City

Cory Aquino's hearse stopped in front of Philippine Stock Exchange building when 3 Hail Mary's were prayed and the anthemic "Bayan Ko," was sang with hands in the familiar "L" sign (Laban) of the EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986.

Tita Cory's funeral hearse with honor guards

Cory Aquino's flag-draped wooden coffin, just about 2 meters from Tutubi

Crowd estimated at around 25,000 people, including foreigners, who came down from the skycrapers and offices before noon and converged at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo De Roxas, where the Ninoy Aquino Monument is located.

The intersection at the center of Makati Central Business District (Makati CBD) is a popular rally site for anti-government demonstrations.

Cory's yellow ribbons in front of the Philippine national flag


Note:
Cory Aquino was not a perfect president. She has her own mistakes and shortcomings but she also didn't have the lust for power and greed. She could've prolonged her stay in power as she came from a revolutionary government, but instead gifted the Filipino not just the restoration of democracy but also the 1987 Constitution that the present administration of PGMA and her minions are trying to amend to suit their own, and not the Filipino people's ends.

All photos were taken with Tutubi's hand held high, with so little room to adjust. Olympus Stylus 850SW (Imagine how it would've been if he had used his Nikon D80 to shoot this event)

Related Posts:
Cory Aquino's Home on Times St.
Cory Aquino Funeral Route
President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino

Labels: Cory Aquino, Makati, Metro Manila, National Capital Region

For people applying for business permits, real property taxes (amelyar), birth certificates (as well as marriage, death and other certifications from civil registry), even pay the hefty traffic violation fines meted out by the infamous MAPSA traffic enforcers.

How to get to Makati City Hall-- the official residence of the President of the Republic of Makati:

Makati City Hall taken on board the Pasig River Ferry

Commute to Makati City Hall is easy via the MRT Gudalupe Station (or
from Pasig River Ferry Guadalupe terminal) From the station, walk
towards McDonalds and Jollibee where you need to board a jeepney going
to LRT/Pedro Gil and request the driver to drop you off at the munisipyo
(municipal hall) on J.P. Rizal St then walk to the City Hall (right
side). Note jeepneys plying the Guadalupe-Delpan route also pass by the
city hall but they're on the other side of EDSA Guadalupe near Loyola
Memorial Chapels.

Alternatively, commuting from LRT Pedro Gil station, board jeepneys
going to Guadalupe then alight near the city hall on S. Osmena (JP Rizal
is a one-way street during the day that's why) after passing by Kalayaan
and Nicanor Garcia (formerly Reposo)

By public transport again LRT Gil Puyat Station (good for those coming
from Cavite, Taft Avenue corner Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue), ride jeepneys
going to PRC (Sta. Ana Race track or Philippine Racing Commission).
Alight at the corner of Pasong Tamo and Kalayaan then transfer to a
jeepney going to Guadalupe (either ibabaw of ilalim will do) and request
the driver to drop you off at the new City Hall.

Driving directions to Makati City Hall:

Those fortunate enough to have a car, you can get to the City Hall via
EDSA then turn right after crossing Guadalupe to J.P. Rizal, drive all
the way towards Nicanor Garcia and turn right when you see the imposing
building on your right. You can also get there via Makati-mandaluyong
Bridge where it's about a kilometer from the corner of Makati Avenue and
J.P. Rizal. (note: there's parking inside the city hall complex; color
coding/number coding in Makati, there's no 10am-3pm window and does not
suspend number coding scheme even if the MMDA suspended theirs)

Labels: Makati, Metro Manila, National Capital Region

To give way for the Makati grand Parade on May 8, 2009 (Friday) in celebration of Makati City 339th Foundation Day, parts of Ayala Avenue will be closed to traffic during the duration of the parade where various floats and street performers from Caracol Festival and other street dancers


May 8, 2009 Makati Traffic Advisory for Ayala Avenue:

Both lanes of Ayala Avenue, from Makati Avenue to Rufino Street (formerly Herrera) will be closed from noon of May 8 until the event finishes.

Lanes from Gil Puyat to Metropolitan Street will also be closed, together with Kamagong St. to Gil Puyat Avenue (Formerly Buendia) from noon to 4 p.m.

Drivers are advised to take alternate routes and to expect heavy traffic in the area. Commuters need to know the new bus and jeepney routes during the event to avoid confusion.

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Wishing to catch the Grand Parade? Here's how to get to Ayala Avenue, Makati City:

Note there are designated loading and unloading areas on Ayala Avenue where violators expect fines (you won't pass by the areas on Grand Parade day though)

1. Unloading: Rustans/Glorietta underpass between EDSA and Makati Avenue, PBCOM/Herrera between Paseo de Roxas and Herrera (Rufino)

2. Loading: Stock Exchange/SGV between Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas, between Herrera (Rufino) and Salcedo/HV Dela Costa

Commute to Ayala Avenue, Makati City:
1. From EDSA, QC, take buses with signboard LRT/AYALA (not AYALA Ibabaw for they only pass by EDSA corner Ayala Avenue) and alight on one of designated unloading areas on Ayala.
2. Via MRT, get off on Buendia Station then transfer to a Ayala/LRT bus or choose to get off at Ayala Station then transfer to a jeepney going to Washington.
3. via LRT Buendia Station, take a bus with signboard Ayala/Rustans

Driving directions to Ayala Avenue, Makati City (parking in Makati is a huge problem so not recommended for first-timers):

From Quezon City via EDSA is just a straight drive where you turn right on Ayala Avenue. Travel time is unpredictable though

Labels: Makati, Metro Manila, National Capital Region

To answer questions from people looking for accommodations and budget hotels near Manila Airport (officially Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)) to stay at for those who who have to wait for connecting flights or just to be comfortable striking distance from NAIA.

Note that the word "near" is relative and needs to be defined first for it to be used in this post and will not answer questions on "how far is this hotel" from the airport kind of thing. Tutubi will just use approximate travel time, not absolute distance from the airport terminals as reference.

Guide to Sleeping at Airports or near them?

The nearest hotel to NAIA Terminal 1 (International Airport) is located inside the airport terminal, on the fourth floor Terminal 1 beside Sampaguita lounge. Each of the twelve air-conditioned hotel rooms measures 3x3 meters, with double beds and private shower and toilet and can be had a room rate of US$19.00 (about PhP840.00) for 24 hours stay.

The nearest hotels to NAIA Terminal 3 are luxury Marriott Hotel, Maxim's Hotel, Remington Hotel and Belmont condotel and the planned Hamilton Hotel inside the spanking Newport City opposite the terminal on Andrew's Avenue. It's also very near to the other airport terminals.

The nearest hotel to NAIA Terminal 2 used to be the government-owned Philippine Village Hotel but is closed indefinitely.

UPDATED: June 2014

List of hotels in "nearness order" from the airport:

About 30 minutes or less from all NAIA Terminals (within five kilometers from the airport)

Wine Museum Hotel (Aurora Blvd (formerly Tramo St))
Nichols Airport Hotel (in front of Pearl Plaza Mall on Quirino Avenue)
RAF Mansion (Roxas Blvd)
Heritage Hotel at the corner of EDSA and Roxas Boulevard
Networld Hotel (Roxas Boulevard)
Traders Hotel Manila (Roxas Boulevard)
Radisson Hotel Manila Bay and Regent Manila Bay (under contruction) within SM Mall of Asia complex
Microtel Inns and Suites within SM Mall of Asia complex
Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza (CCP Complex, Pasay City)
Hotels and (seedy) Motels in Pasay at the corner of EDSA and F.B. Harrisson St. not recommended for tourists unless you're looking for some "action" and hassles
Kabayan Hotel Pasay on EDSA near Corner Taft Avenue, walking distance from MRT and LRT Stations (remarks: accessible by public transportation)
Solaire Resorts and Casino at the PAGCOR Entertainment City

30 minutes to an hour from Manila Airport:

Makati Avenue corner Ayala Avenue at night with view of Makati Shangri-La Hotel and The Peninsula Manila, (picture taken through dirty glass window using Canon 300D in slow shutter)

Hotels in Makati e.g. Shangri-La Makati (Ayala corner Makati Avenue), The Peninsula Manila (Ayala corner Makati Avenue), Dusit Thani Hotel (EDSA near Ayala Center), Hotel Intercontinental (Ayala Avenue near corner EDSA), The Ascott (formerly Oakwood at the Glorietta Mall complex), Holiday Inn Manila, Fairmont Hotel, Best Western Astor (Makati Avenue near Kalayaan), Great Eastern Hotel (Makati Avenue near Kalayaan), Fairmont Makati Hot, Renaissance Makati City Hotel, Sommerset Olympia Makati (Makati Avenue), Mandarin Oriental (Makati Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas), Makati Palace Hotel, Jupiter Suites,
St. Giles Hotel, Riverview Apratelle, Robelle Hotel (J.P. Rizal St),

Hotels in Fort Bonifacio (The Fort or Bonifacio Global City (BGC)), Taguig City e.g. Shangri-la at The Fort and Grand Hyatt Hotel (both under construction), Best Western Premier F1 Hotel, Seda Hotel BGC, The Fort Budget Hotel, Global City Hotel (Luxe Residences), Kukun Hotel,

Hotels in Mandaluyong City e.g. Go Hotel (EDSA beside Forum Robinsons Pioneer), Richville Hotel (EDSA near Crossing/Shaw Blvd), New Horizon Hotel (EDSA corner Boni Avenue), EDSA Shangri-la Hotel (beside SM Megamall), Lancaster Hotel (Shaw Blvd), The Legend Villas (Pioneer St.) and Nice Hotel EDSA Crossing.

Hotels in Pasig City Ortigas Center e.g. Discovery Suites, Linden Suites Hotel, Richmonde Plaza Hotel (San Miguel Avenue), Astoria Plaza (Jose Maria Escriva Drive), budget-friendly Tune Hotels on Shaw Boulevard near EDSA Crossing.

The Flower Group Motels in Pasig City on Shaw Boulevard and Kapitolyo area (again, not recommended for usual tourists and family vacations)

Budget Hotels in Manila (Malate and Ermita districts) (can be reached in less than an hour but unpredictable) e.g. Century Park Hotel (P. Ocampo near Harrison Plaza and SM), Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila (Pedro Gil Corner MH Del Pilar), Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel (UN Avenue), Bayview Park Hotel (across US Embassy on Roxas Boulevard), G Hotel (boutique hotel on Roxas Boulevard), Midland Plaza Hotel, Manila Diamond Hotel (with Free Internet Access in all rooms, Roxas Boulevard), Palm Plaza Hotel (Pedro Gil corner M Adriatico St), Pan Pacific Manila (M. Adriatico corner Gen. Malvar Streets , Malate), Manila Hotel (Roxas Boulevard), Hotel Intramuros de Manila (Cabildo corner Urdaneta, Intramuros), Manila Grand Opera House Hotel (Sta. Cruz, Manila)

An hour or two from Manila Airport:

Hotels in Quezon City (it's a big city north of the airport so be forewarned) e.g. Eurotel Araneta Center, Sulo Hotel, Great Eastern Hotel (Quezon Avenue), Hotel Rembrandt (Tomas Morato), Imperial Palace Suites Hotel (Timog corner Tomas Morato), Tri-Place Hotel, Nice Hotel, Astrotel (Cubao), Gran Prix Hotel

Notes:
List mostly on five star, four star or three star hotel accommodations, even budget hotels
No information on the cheapest room rates available.
Please visit official websites for inquiries and reservations.
Travel time is based on taxi travel from the airport and will be much less on lean times i.e. late night, dawn and early mornings.

A typical dawn trip of Tutubi from Quezon City to the airport takes about an hour via EDSA and costs PhP300.00 on the taxi meter fare. Metered taxi fare from the airport to Makati CBD is just around PhP150.00 (a little over US$3)

This site does not offer online booking nor promo room rates, it's just a rough guide to hotels near Manila airport for your reference so as not to be misled by other websites on the distance of your chosen hotel from your airport disregarding practical travel times and normal traffic situations.

Related Posts
Manila Airport Guide
How to get to NAIA Terminal 3
Airport Terminal Fees
Overnight Parking at NAIA Terminal 2

Hotel Near NAIA Terminal 1, Hotel Near NAIA Terminal 2, Hotel Near NAIA Terminal 3, Hotel Near NAIA Terminal 4, Hotel near old Manila Domestic Airport Terminal

Labels: Airports, Hotels, Makati, Mandaluyong City, Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Paranaque City, Pasay City, Pasig City, Quezon City

For quite some time, this weekend market at Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village Makati City was a secret, known only to the rich people and citizens of the posh Salcedo Village, where food from an eclectic mix of sources, sometimes hard to find, made by the residents themselves, are peddled.

Working near the park, Tutubi frequents this place when he gets the chance to be in Makati on a Saturday morning but never got to take pictures. This time's different since he was able to hit two birds with one click: Art in the Park and the Salcedo Weekend Market. Tutubi made a quick visit to the "tiangge" to buy lunch and some suman and budbud kabog (a Dumaguete "pasalubong" similar to suman but made of millet seeds)

SALCEDO WEEKEND MARKET

the dela Rosa's Deli Challenge requires eating a giant burger, about 8 inches in diameter, for the treat to be free. there were no takers of it so Tutubi wasn't able to take a snapshot
Suman Biko from a gourmet suman vendor. recommend their budbud kabog from Dumaguete for P25 each (quite pricey but worth it)

The Salcedo Weekend Market is held every Saturday from 7am to 2pm (or later). There you'll see Ineng's Special Barbeque, Cebu Lechon, Salcedo Chicken Inasal, DGM Organic Farm produce, Inihaw ni Ogie, an array of French cuisine prepared by a French resident of the place, Italian pizza made by an Italian, Budbud Kabog (gourmet suman from Dumaguete), burger challenge, fresh flowers, buro from Pampanga, and whole lot more.

ART IN THE PARK

Inspired by the weekly Art Fair at The Rocks in Sydney, Australia, Art in the Park occupies the Velasquez Park's children's playground and features affordable art works with P20000 as the most expensive. It's a project of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines.

Orange Gallery

Galleries of FEATI and UST students
Sample artworks from Nineveh Art Space manned by the affable Louie Sevilla

Participating Galleries: Art for Space, Art Inday, Artwalk Gallery, Blanc Art Space, Boston Art Gallery, Galeria de las Islas, Hiraya Gallery, L’Arc en Ciel, Nineveh Art Space, One Workshop, Silverlens Gallery and Tin-Aw/Slash Art,Ilustrador ng Kabataan, KASIBULAN, and Kulay Marikina. Students from the the University of Sto. Tomas, DLS-College of St. Benilde, Far Eastern University, and FEATI.

Salcedo Weekend Market at Velasquez Park taken by the flying Tutubi

How to get to Velasquez Park, Salcedo Village, Makati

Commute: From MRT Buendia, board the Washington or LRT/Taft jeepney then alight at the corner of Buendia and Malugay. Cross Buendia then walk along Tordesillas St where the park is located. (Riding the Bel-air jeepneys at the corner of Washington and Buendia or the Guadalupe-bound jeepneys at LRT/Buendia will also get your there)

Driving directions to Salcedo Village by car from EDSA Guadalupe, turn right Buendia (Gil Puyat), then left Paseo de Roxas, cross Makati Avenue (Mandarin Oriental Hotel) then right turn Villar St (Citibank Building). Turn left at the end of Villar St to reach L.P. Leviste (one-way street) where the weekend market is also located. (note there are too many parked vehicles there causing heavy traffic since the place really became popular now)

From LRT/Taft Avenue, traverse Gil Puyat St then right turn at Tordesillas St (Ministop/Philtrust Bank). Salcedo park is just a few meters from by Makati Sports Club and is hard to miss due to the noticeable fiesta atmosphere.

Labels: Art, Makati, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Shopping

I was thinking of taking pictures around Makati with a DSLR in tow but I know fully well that overzealous security guards with their "old school" security mindset will prohibit me from doing what I like best.

I might as well try to be friends with our building administrator so that I can apply for a permit to shoot at the rooftop :)

Wish me luck!


Makati Avenue corner Ayala Avenue at night with view of Makati Shangrila Hotel, The Peninsula Manila, 6750 and Intercontinental. Nearby are SM, Glorietta and Landmark. (picture taken from dirty glass window using my reliable superkitlens)

Labels: Hotels, Hotels and Resorts, Makati, Metro Manila, National Capital Region

Back in the early 1900s, during the time of the American eagle period in our nation's history, there emerged the grand neo-classical and art deco style buildings in Manila; the Americans even brought in renowned architect and urban planner, Daniel Burnham, famous for shaping city plans of Washington, DC, Chicago, and Baguio, to plan the nation's capital.

While the United States' economy traversed the economic downward spiral due to the Great Depression, the Philippine economy rode high with unprecedented growth. Along with this came economic prosperity that made many foreigners coming to our shores dubbed then as the Pearl of the Orient.
One of those who came to the Philippines was Laurie Reuben Nielson, by way of New Zealand, quickly made successes in businesses. He later became involved in building an airport and aviation school in Manila, badly needed at that time, due to the booming needs of the economy. He was able to convince several investors in the airport project and secured a lease from Ayala y Cia for several hectares of land carved out of the vast Hacienda San Pedro de Makati.

The new airport, baptized Nielson Airport, was completed in 1937 and touted as the largest and most modern airport in Asia. It became the home of the country's first airline: Philippine Air Taxi Company (PATCO) and where Philippine Airlines made her maiden flight on March 15, 1941 to Baguio. (Philippine Airlines is the oldest operating airline in Asia, established by a group of businessmen led by Andres Soriano in February 1941)

When war spilled into the country in December 1941 and soldiers of the Land of the Rising Sun overran the archipelago, Laurie Nielson, due to his British citizenship, was taken to Hong Kong while his family brought to the University of Sto. Tomas then converted into an internment camp.

Laurie was never seen nor heard from again and his family moved to the United States after the war.

When airport subsequently transferred to a new location in Paranaque in 1948, Ayala y Cia, reborn Ayala Corporation in 1968, developed Makati into the present modern city while Nielson Tower, with its art deco-inspired architecture that resemble an airplane if viewed from above, was saved from demolition, converted into a library called Filipinas Heritage Library in 1996.



In 2001, UNESCO, recognizing the Nielson Tower for the impressive conversion from airport tower to library, renovation and adaptive reuse, conferred to it the prestigious annual UNESCO Asia-Pacific Cultural Heritage Award,

The same award was given to Gota de Leche building in 2003 and Far Eastern University campus in 2005.

Nielson Tower still stands in an area known as Ayala Triangle while the airport's two major runways are the present day Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas.


bird's eyeview of Ayala avenue corner Makati avenue taken through dirty glasswindow of my new office with Nielson Tower in view

I happened to organize a seminar for my company, the freelance events organizer that I am, shopped around Makati for a suitable venue to accommodate about a hundred seminar participants and this nearby building came to mind: Filipinas Heritage Library and gave me the chance to take pictures of the structure using my reliable point-and-shoot camera. The seminar turned out success to the enjoyment of the attendees and satisfaction of my various sponsors. Maybe I should change career into events management! :)

Labels: Architecture, History, Makati, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, UNESCO

On the day of the first anniversary of the Palawan incident, I invited Armi and Oliver plus a few close friends of Rolan to his favorite restaurant: Dong Won Garden on Jupiter St in Makati near corner of Makati Avenue. (If you know Quick Stomach, it's easy to find it)



The fiery hot soup mixed with Lucky Me noodles shown on the left. (just joking here)

For every three persons, they'll serve a combination of eleven dishes cum appetizers, that's essentially free, bannered by the Kimchi: Korea's national food.

We ordered Chicken (tak/dak) and Pork (Dweaji) galbi barbecued in front of us eaten with a dollop of a brown gravy.

Fresh lettuce with a heap of appetizers, rolled and eaten like taco sandwich; more like Korean Lettuce Wraps.

Spicy squid in oyster sauce and chapche: korean vermicelli akin to pinoy pancit although slightly sweet completed the meal.

(click on an image to enlarge)

It was my Korean friends in my "past life" who introduced me to Korean gastronomic delights particularly Dong Won as well as a few words and phrases.

I then introduced Korean food to Rolan, then engrossed in everything Korean and even planned on enrolling in a Korean language class.

One thing my Korean friends weren't able to know whas what's meant by my parting words to them: Ewansayo!

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Note I was constrained to use ISO1600 and large aperture to take pictures owing to low light conditions of the room. Turned out alright :)

Labels: Makati, Makati Restaurant