Ten Interesting Places to visit in South of Manila

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

The Philippines is filled with tourist destinations that are hailed all over the world. Most people get the impression that to find the finest places to visit in the country, you have to travel and spend more. However, this is not the case especially if you will just explore the most interesting places to visit without getting out of the Metro.

                                                                                                                                          

The South of Metro Manila alone already offers a range of options for travelers, adventure seekers, and even for fun-loving locals. 

Have you really taken the time to know how the majestic Bamboo organ of Las Pinas sounds like? Or have you even thought of discovering the wonders that you are sure to experience at the Mind Museum in Taguig City? These are just some of the amazing places to visit in the South of Metro Manila and there is more to explore!

Here’s an infographic from Paseo Verde at Real, a condominiumin Las Piñas, about the Top 10 Interesting Places to visit in the South.

Click the photo to enlarge

Seeing Asia in a glance at Lego Let's go Asia exhibit

Most probably most of us got hooked with Lego blocks when we were young or perhaps until now?  I admit that sometimes I do play Lego blocks with my kids.  I still enjoy assembling those pieces of blocks and find joy and satisfaction that I was able to build a complicated piece just by looking at the sample on the Lego box. 

When me and my hubby went out on a date last Sunday for his birthday treat for me, we happen to pass by a Lego display exhibit at The Block, SM City North EDSA.  I would have not have the interest to get close to the display because we have not brought the kids with us, but when I had a glimpse of what was being exhibited in the barricaded area, my enthusiasm ignited and more so my wanderlust striked me.

What we saw are replicas of iconic landmarks and structures from different countries in Asia.  I was impressed by those structures at how they were intricately formed from pieces of Lego blocks.  I just couldn’t imagine how much time and effort they spent in order to finish one replica.

Here are the eight iconic landmarks in Asia on display:

Himeji Castle of Japan, regarded as the finest surviving Japanese architecture 

Taj Mahal of India, regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world due to its unsurpassed architectural beauty

Rizal Monument of the Philippines

Wat Mahathat of Thailand.  Regarded as one of the ten royal temples of the highest class in Bangkok.

Merlion of Singapore.  A landmark which personifies Singapore.

Taipei 101, skyscraper of Taiwan which is one of the tallest building in the world.

I couldn’t help myself being amazed and at the same time entertained, just by looking at each structure.  I was happy to be brought back again to some of those places that I was able to see in real life, likewise, I also enjoy looking at and admiring the others, and somehow imagining that someday I will also be able to visit those iconic landmarks that I haven’t seen yet such as Taj Mahal, Taipei 101, Great Wall of China, Himeji Castle of Japan and Wat Mahathat of Thailand.

You can watch these Lego structures on exhibit free, tagged as “Let’s Go Asia” until June 7 at The Block, SM City North EDSA, 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. mall hours.

24-Hour Sports Club and Bar

Mayweather and Pacquiao event

I was lucky to have been invited last Sunday, May 3, at Sparks Club Sports bar, located at the 2nd floor of Guilly’s Island restaurant in Tomas Morato, Quezon City to watch the live Pay Per View of Mayweather and Pacquiao Battle for Greatness fight, and not only that, it comes with a free buffet breakfast. Who wouldn’t refuse such an offer? It’s a rare opportunity so I grabbed the chance immediately when they sent me an invite. Although I had to wake up early last Sunday to make it to the call time, an extra effort for me is a gesture to reciprocate their generosity.


It was my first time to visit the place, but I did not have a hard time locating their establishment near the intersection of Tomas Morato and Eugenio Lopez Drive. I was greeted by Ms. Mikaela at the entrance door and led me to the second floor with some other invitees who were already seated at the high bar chairs reserved exclusively for invited guests.

Dining

The room was dimly lighted and cool which makes cozy ambiance, a perfect atmosphere while sipping the cup of coffee offered to me by their crew. The room is equipped with 5 large televisions mounted on the wall strategically located so that a guest can have a view of the show on TV. The sound system is good also. Aside from high bar chairs they also have high back dining sofa, so if you wanted your conversation to be a little bit private you can opt to be seated there. I tried sitting on both and I prefer the high back sofa because I can slouch or lean to relax my back on the padded backrest.

heavy breakfast 

The breakfast buffet was offered when almost all the seats are occupied by invitees and guests. We lined up at the bar area where the sumptuous Filipino breakfast menu was being served. First on the array of food is an option of plain or fried rice, seconded by different egg menu – omelet and sunny side up egg, thirdly meat menu – Tocino, Longaniza, Beef Tapa, and Arozcaldo with hard boiled egg. Also included is the Pandesal.

Taco Bell's newest menu: Meaty Grillers

Taco Bell Gateway Mall Express Outlet

After the two events that I had attended, this time I tried attending a food tasting event, and it was a foodie meet-up organized by Zomato and Taco Bell wherein I am one of the lucky thirty bloggers who got invited to taste and review Taco Bell’s newest addition to their famous burritos – TACO BELL MEATY GRILLERS, it has layers of meat and other flavorful ingredients all wrapped in a tortilla and grilled which is good enough for lunch or dinner as it is heavy in the stomach.

A night to remember - Metro Blogger First Night Out!

It was a night of fun and excitement last October 22^nd, 2014 at the Gramercy Skypark, Century City Makati during the first Metro Blogger night out attended by few selected invited Bloggers in the Metro, Metro Blogger organizers and Sponsors from different companies in Southeast Asia.

The event started at 6:00 p.m. with meet and greet and introduction of Metro Blogger organizers headed by Mr. Jess C, Ana Regala and Choi Suarez.  After that, each sponsor had their chance to introduce their company and what could clients expect from them in the business in the next years to come. 

A contract signing of two sponsors was also held that night, and we were all witness to their start of business partnership – Rapid Cloud Singapore and iTWorks Global Solutions.

My first Blogger event experience – Blogapalooza 2014

Blogapalooza 2014

I have been blogging for two years and haven’t attended any blogger event or meet-up, but this year I was lucky enough to attend the biggest bloggers event in the Philippines hosted by Blogapalooza.When-in-Manila.com.  It is a blogger event spearheaded by the two renowned and influential bloggers behind WheninManila.com and OurAwesomeplanet.com namely Vince Golangco and Anton Diaz respectively.

Started 2014 with a visit to a historic site in Manila

Fort Santiago

     I started New year 2014 by visiting one of the historic sites of Manila which is Intramuros.  Together with my family on January 1, 2014 we explored the old Spanish streets and buildings that are mostly closed for the holiday.  We sought for the two oldest churches in San Augustine and Manila Cathedral in the assumptions that they may be open for Catholic patrons to pray and tourists who want to witness the grandiose structure inside but we were sorry that they too were closed, but we couldn’t hide away from admiring the massive structure that are stoned art and heavily carved on its walls and pillars.   So we moved on forward to the nearest tourist destination inside Intramuros which is Fort Santiago.

Afternoon Sweet Delights at Starbucks E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue

Inside Starbucks photo capture from mezzanine

    After our afternoon walk in Bonifacio High Streets we should supposed to go to the newly opened SM Aura inside Bonifacio Global City, but the heavy traffic caused by vehicles and people going there made us decide not to proceed and re-schedule our malling, so instead of turning right from the intersection of 26^th Street and McKinley Parkway we headed straight to Carlos P. Garcia Avenue (C5) until we reached the E. Rodriguez  Jr. Avenue (Libis area).  Prior to approaching E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue my daughter is insisting on going to Starbucks, as always, whenever we go out she never forgets to persuade us to go to Starbucks and order her favourite drink – Coffee Jelly.  I allowed her clamour this time because most often I despised her begging.

A stroll in Bonifacio High Street at Global City

     It was a lazy sunny Sunday afternoon, there's nothing much to do at home and we wanted to relax and unwind within the Metro where we can have a walk so we have decided to go to Bonifacio High Street in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.  

Countdown to 2013 at Eastwood Mall

Eastwood mall

          We celebrated New Year at Eastwood to witness the countdown to 2013 fireworks, and we are all excited because it was our first time as family to celebrate New Year not in our house.  Every year we have fireworks and fire crackers at our house minutes before the eve of New Year, but this year we decided not to buy one and instead go to Eastwood to celebrate and watch fireworks.

Food trip at Qizia Cafe restaurant in Marikina

Enjoying our food at Qizia Cafe

        Every December on a holiday season we always schedule a visit to my in-laws at their house to have a moment of bonding, since this is the only time that majority of us are already on a Christmas vacation.  And last December 30 we had a simple family get together at Qizia Cafe, Marikina.  We’ve invited them over to have lunch at this restaurant to have a different ambiance and we also want them to taste the food at this restaurant in Marikina which has became one of our favorite restaurant to eat whenever were craving for  Italian food like pizza, pasta, cakes and pastries located near our place and which is budget friendly.