Yesterday, my friend Vin and I went on a photo walk in Manila to have what we like to call a “secular Visita Iglesia.” It’s like the Catholic tradition of visiting seven churches during Lent, only we visit places of historic importance.
We started the day with a late breakfast at McDonald’s UN Avenue in Ermita. From there, we walked to Kalaw Street, where we found the first Protestant church in Manila.
My maternal grandmother married her second husband here in the ’60s.
We walked across Luneta and visited the monument of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippines’ national hero, to pay our respects and to be annoyed with the infamous Torre de Manila.
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From there, we walked a couple of kilometers more to South Pier, where I took a photo of the beautiful Philbanking Building, an important cultural property designed by National Artist Jose Ma. Zaragoza.
Of course, we had to take photos of the most beautiful cathedral in the country: the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros.
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To the north of the church is the Bureau of the Treasury, which was recently reopened to the public.
Next, we visited the marker built by the government to commemorate the Manila-Acapulco Trade in the 16th century.
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A photowalk in Manila will not be complete without a shot of my favorite building, El Hogar in Escolta, Manila’s Queen of Streets.
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Not in the picture: our super affordable lunch in Binondo: beef noodles for two (P160) from Lan Zhou La Mien; two glasses of hot milk tea, kuchay, hakaw, and beef curry siomai from Wa Ying (P340); toasted siopao (P20 per piece). We weren’t that hungry, but we just *had* to get noodles and dumplings since we were in Binondo anyway. This is a must-do when you’re in Manila.
After getting lost for a bit (because of me hehe), we found our way back to Sta. Cruz. Here’s one of the buildings I loved in Ongpin, Binondo, near the fountain in Sta. Cruz.
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Here’s Plaza Lacson, which is right across the LRT station in Carriedo.
I made my way through Calle Hidalgo to get to the bus stop across Quiapo Church.
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Do you want to join me in my next photowalk? Let me know! 🙂
Love the shots 💕
Thank you!
Your shot of the Rizal monument seems the only way to not get a glimpse of the giant photo-bomber torre De manila. Congrats on your photo walk.
Yes, unfortunately, our unobstructed shots of the Rizal monument are limited now. Thanks for visiting my blog! 🙂
Oh, how i miss manila!! I’m very familiar with those places you visited since i’m a born and raised manila girl.. haha. I love your shots too!
Thank you! Manila misses you too! 🙂
I love the Manila Cathedral shot.. it looked so creepy and dramatic at the same time.
Thank you! And thanks for dropping by! 🙂
I love the idea of photo walks. If I lived in Manilla I’d definitely join you 😊
Sounds fun! Let me know if you ever visit Manila! 🙂
Oh dear!
The photo of el Jogar is simply amazing until now. I remember way back in 2010, I went photowalk all by myself at 1am an I took a photo of it from the other side of the river and I won $300 hehe. The building is thrilled with old charm beauty, so lovely.
Hey I like your tip where to eat in Binondo because I need that next week. 😉
Wow! Thanks for the compliment. I sure would like to see your shot!
Nice photo walking… I did too photo walk
the nice old side of Manila, I wish to do a photo-walk too. Nice shot of Jose Rizal without the photo-bomber.
Thank you!
I liked the whole blog post along with lovely pictures. Only one query (on a lighter note) ‘Why Loyal and Noble?”