On Touring The Ancient Walled City of Manila

From Cubao Araneta Center Station, Ride the LRT 2 going to Recto Station. Fare cost 14 Peso.
From Recto Station, Walk in the bridge going to the other Line,
Hop in to Doroteo Jose (D. Jose) then get off at Central Station.Fare cost is 12 Peso.

From Central Station you able to see the Buildings built during the American Period. Like the Post Office Building which spelled as BVILDING (You can buy Philippine Stamps), The City Hall with the Clock Tower, the Mural of the KKK  and The National Museum ( Open During Tues-Sun).

The Post Office Bvilding

My Korean friends beside the KKK mural and before the Manila City Hall

The National Museum With a Balangay Replica. A balangay is a boat used by ancient Filipinos to go to Philippines from South East Asia.

Just fronting the Manila City Hall, Go below the underpass and you will see be able to see entrance of　the ancient walled city of Manila, known as Intramuros

Welcome to Intramuros

Inside Intramuros are universities and churches. Inside you can find one World Heritage Site, the San Agustine Church ( Going inside the museum 100 Peso)

I recommend a walking tour of the ancient walled city. To be able to see the other old buildings built during the Spanish era. If you do not want to walk you can hire a Pedicab (three wheeled Bicycle). The drivers will call your attention and will be offering their services to tour you around the walled city.

It will be convenient because you have an instant tour guide and you would not missed the things needed to be seen inside the Wall.

But be careful with price negotiation, they will say for one hour they can tour you around. You only need to pay 100 peso per hour for his service. Instant bargain you might think. Saves you time.
But Remember the word PER HOUR.

So ride the bicycle thinking within one hour you will be able to see the whole feature of the ancient wall.
The guide is ok to have if you want to have someone take picture of you.
remember the hourly rate... it is not like a timer that stops, while you go inside some museum the clock is continuing to move.
The one hour you thought you will complete all will not be enough.
That 100 peso can boom to 600 peso in some occasion.

The wise thing to do I recommend you just walk around the walled city and be able to moved freely. And not take picture along the way just sit and look around to be able to familiarize yourself with the topology of the place.


About hiring a pedicab driver.
Do not easily say yes to the demands of the the pedicab driver.
Try to negotiate so it will be a win win situation.
Most of the pedicab drivers do not have their own pedicabs.
They are renting the pedicab, how much I forgot to ask.
The money they get from the fare, a portion of it will go to the owner of the pedicab.
The rest of the earnings will go to the pedicab driver.
It is not everyday that tourist go.
Competitions are many.

Pedicab

Together with the Guardia Civil^^

 Fort Santiago is a little bit hidden but if you see The Manila Cathedral, the church that stood the test of times it experienced series of different Disasters like Fire, Earthquake & War. Fort Santiago is easy to go. Facing the Manila Cathedral is the Fort Santiago.

The place where you likely to spend time in taking pictures.

1. Manila Cathedral. Free
2. Saint Augustine Church. P100
3. Baluarte. P50
4. Fort Santiago. P75 Regular Student P50

 

The Manila Cathedral

A story regarding the Series of Disaster met by this Cathedral

 

San Agustin Church

San Agustin Church Mural

Baluarte

Fort Santiago

Cooking Disaster

Today was a very busy day.  Woke up around 5:30 in the morning. I volunteer to help the NPO I joined in to sell the Fair Trade Goods at the Manila Japanese School. We are scheduled to meet up around 7:30 ain the morning at Ayala Station infront of KFC. My alarm clock woke me up saying " It's time to GET UP the time is  5:30"  repeatedly reminding me for 1 minute then stopped. So I ended my slumber, forgotten what I am dreaming. After ten minutes the alarm sounded again, Then I finally get up to sit ^^, and looked at my computer. and proceed to go to my morning rituals. 

I'm finally set, walked a block, I am at Ortigas Ave Extension Highway, Good Weather, and I smoothly crossed the Pedestrian Lane, not too much cars and jeepney  running. Must be my lucky day! I got to ride on a FX taxi going to Ayala the moment I crossed the street. I rode the FX my mind is drifting, I did not have any breakfast. 

I decided to order breakfast at KFC. What to eat I still do not know.  I rode the FX from Pasig around 6:30 AM, I arrived at Ayala Station around 7:15 AM still early, I saw the menu at KFC and ordered Spaghetti with Coca Cola as drink and I added Mango Cheese Scoop for dessert.

I was not the one who arrived first at the meeting place my fellow volunteer came first, He already finished eating when I am about to eat my breakfast. While eating another volunteer came, she is wearing RED, teasing her is she in-love <3. After finishing eating 2 Volunteers came, then another one and finally another one. All in all we are 5 Boys, 2 Girls, we are the magic 7 to do the selling of MAPAYA products. Among us 7, Three are Japanese volunteers.

Lady in RED <3

We are bound to go to the Manila Japanese School, which is located at Bonifacio Global City, Also Known as THE FORT. I know how to get there by using a regular taxi or riding from the FX terminal from Ayala. I was surprised we crossed the Bridge, I thought we will ride a taxi, well  we are7 if we divide by two, 3 people in one taxi and 4 in  the other taxi. I was wrong we are about to ride only a single vehicle all of us. Not a FX taxi but a Bus, then I suddenly thought, Oh there are buses going to the Fort!, and all along I thought on riding only a taxi :)

Ticket Window

There is a Bus Terminal infront of the Ayala MRT station. Ticket Cost is 12 Peso. The Bus is called the Fort Bus. It is route to go directly to the Fort.

Ticket 12 Peso

The Fort Bus

Inside the Fort Bus

En route to MJS  we were standing. When we rode on the bus, all blue seats were already occupied. So we traveled standing. Everytime the Bus Stops we are moved by the force called Inertia , good thing we are standing on rubber,  what a friction. Good thing we were able to sit down on the blue seats before alighting :P.

Market Market

MJS

So we get off in-front of  Market Market, then walked for maybe 10 minutes under the sun, It was a good weather by the way. Inside the Manila Japanese School, we were given one long table to display the Mapaya pa goods.

Please do not look the camera, look natural :P

The Mapaya Fair Trade Goods

Coco Soap Dish: Everything Sold :)

As we are preparing the table, one buyer gave us a good start we made our first sale. It was a coco soap dish. That gave us a nice impression. We continue to display all the Fair Trade products. Tuna key holder, spoon and fork, bowl, coco dish, pendant, rosary.  We VOA (Volunteers of ACCE)  divided our selves into three groups to  manage the store. This is for us to have the opportunity to roam around and participate with the school festival. One volunteer was able to go to the  Book Sale room, He was able to buy many buys 1 book for 10 Peso each. I was able to buy two Japanese books for 20 peso. Ate in the school Cafeteria, served by students, I miss-read the PRUNE tarts, it was written in Katakana, I thought it was Furin Tarto, but nonetheless it was a delicious tart, I love Prunes and I love tarts.  

Prune not Furin ^^ Tart

One Piece,, Just a poster too bad no One Piece Manga on sale at the Book Sale room.

The Tart was my dessert, before going to the cafeteria ,together with one volunteer we roamed around the campus. I wanted to eat fish, thinking I might some find fish dishes, we went to the the Food Bazaar. Too bad no fish. I ended up eating Yakisoba, and drinking one cup of ice coffee which I thought to be the Philippine Sago't Gulaman, because of its black color.  So still hungry we went to the cafeteria and ordered the the delicious Prune Tart for 30 peso only. After eating my friend and I decided to try the Horror House made by the students. I thought I am already old for that....to be ....hmmm....maybe because I got distracted because my friend keep clinging on my shirt. She distracted me so I was not able to give my concentration not to be caught on surprised by the student frighteners (>.<)

I enjoyed the School festival, enjoyed volunteering and meeting familiar and new faces. I was able to see One friend from ICAN, which is a different NPO. One writer from Manila Shimbum whom I met already for three times, Once in Bataan last April 2010, then again last July 2010 for a Bazaar and again this time. I was able to see my office's President and his family, and meet new person from  UNIQUEASE and from the Department of Science and Technology, which studied about coconut products.

My ID taken at my office's cubicle

I participated in the event for half day then I went back to Eastwood City by taxi, to work. I finished working  around 5:30 PM then went home still wanting to eat fish. There is a Fish Seller near my house, craving for fish I bought 3 pieces of Pink Fishes and 1/4 kilo of tomatoes, the fish name is called I do not have any Idea :P . Just bought the fishes  and doesn't have any idea what to do with them. I wash the fish ,remove the scales then washed again. I cook rice on the rice cooker place the steamer on top and place the Fish inside  the steamer together with the  4 pieces of whole tomatoes. The fish were cooked I poured in Calamansi juice and tasted. Just tasted. So I ended  cooking another rice and eating canned tuna. I ate fish for today :P

Lesson learned:
In cooking fish Remove the fish intestines and gills :p.

Our sales for today was a record high according to one volunteer.  Lesson learned  display everything and do not be afraid to talk with all people whether they are child or oldies, all of them are potential customers.


Another Info, At the FORT, the American cemetery is located, so you can ride on the Fort Bus to go there and ask for directions to ride the right bus, There are two bus route going to the fort, we rode on the bus going to Market, the other one I did not noticed where it is going.