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Attractions in Manila

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1) Casa Manila
If you find yourself shopping in the barrio of San Luis, make sure to stop at the Casa Manila for a fantastic make-believe flashback. This house is a re-creation of a 19th-century Spanish patrician’s three-story domicile. It will quickly make you feel as if you were living there during this period of time. Enjoy the beautiful carriage entrance, the landscaped inner courtyard, and the spacious, grand stairway seen only in movies. As you make your way upstairs, you will view a spread of well-kept furniture and accessories from the 1800s. Experience this complete treasure in the city of Manila, a city of industry and fast-pace.

2) Paco Park
Paco Park is the place to go for a relaxing afternoon away from all the “touristy” stuff. Bring a book or simply wander around. The park is circular, covered in moss and stone with a beautiful, small chapel in the center. Originally a cemetery for the Spanish aristocrats, it was converted to a park in 1966. No one has been buried here since 1912. If you are visiting on a Friday, you can enjoy a free concert at 6pm. The park is open daily from 8 to 5.

3) Coconut Palace
The Coconut Palace is a $10 million project built for Pope John Paul’s visit in 1981. The house is 70% constructed from parts of coconut trees. This structure is a phenomenon and unbelievable in size. Located in the Cultural Center of Manila, it faces the beautiful Manila Bay. It contains seven suites, each named and decorated after a different region in the country. The Pangasinan Room features pineapple fiber bedcovers and pearl table sets. When celebrities visit Manila, many will often stay in one of the grandiose suites. You must make reservations to enter, so be sure to call ahead. If you do not want to enter the Coconut Palace, you can walk through the Cultural Center and view it from the outside.

4) Butterfly House
There are over 170,000 species of butterflies around the world. Some of them have a lifespan of only a week. The Butterfly House was established to promote awareness and appreciation of these wonderful creatures of nature. The highlight of a visit here is to stand still inside the butterfly enclosure and wait for the fluttering beauties to land on your arms, hands, shoulders and hair.

5) Cultural Center of the Philippines
Built in 1969, this imposing edifice still retains some of its original austere magnificence as envisioned by the architect, Leandro Locsin. The main theater seats 1,400 and serves as a venue for performances by local and visiting artists such as the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Philippines' own world-renowned Bayanihan Dance Company. The Little Theater hosts more intimate recitals for an audience of 400, while the Huseng Batute Theater, which seats 150, is used for experimental productions by budding artists. Visual artists exhibit at various galleries within the building. Admission varies from venue to venue and depends on the performance.

6) Malate Church
The Malate Church is renowned for two points of historical interest. It is dedicated to Nuestra Senora de Remedios (Our Lady of Remedies), an image of the Virgin Mary to whom the faithful have turned in times of trouble over four centuries. The church is also historically significant as the base from which the British launched their assault on Intramuros, which then placed Manila under British rule for a two-year period. The present weathered adobe structure is actually only over 100 years old, though various predecessors have stood on the site since the end of the 16th century.

7) Manila City Hall
One is hard pressed to define the architecture of the Manila City Hall. Note, for instance, the absence of an entrance, as well as the random placement of the tower. Denigrated by critics when it was unveiled in the 1930s, the City Hall today fascinates the viewer for precisely the same reason it was vilified – its intriguing lack of symmetry and regularity. Beautifully lighted at night, it is one of Manila's most distinctive landmarks.

8) Metropolitan Theater
Completed in 1935, to the design of eminent Filipino architect Juan Arellano, this supreme example of art deco architecture was once Manila's focal venue for performances ranging from vaudeville to opera. It fell into disuse in the 1960s, was meticulously restored in the following decade, but has once again fallen into disrepair. But even in the building's present state, it is still possible to admire such art deco gems as the bronze statues of female figures placed along the top of the facade.

9) Rizal Park
Named after the Philippines' national hero, Rizal Park could be considered the symbolic seat of the nation's heart and soul. More commonly called Luneta, it is spread out over some 60 hectares of gardens, wooded areas and open spaces, drawing crowds from all walks of life. Points of interest include the Rizal Monument, the Site of Rizal's Execution, the central pool and fountains, the Chinese Garden and Japanese Garden, and a huge relief map showing the whole Philippine archipelago. The National Library and National Museum are next door.

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