#wandermanila

[kristinemaebsnapshots]

📍 Minor Basilica of San Sebastian

2.18.2023 | 📸 @kristinemaeb

[akocomyk]

4th Pin

City of Manila

Particularly the area around the National Museum and Intramuros—with an honorable mention to Quiapo.

Unintentionally, the National Museum has become one of my favorite places to visit. The first time I went there was back in college—I can’t recall if I visited it earlier during the many school field trips we had when I was younger.

Fast forward to 2024. I was there on February 10, and Seandale was with me. The day started with us attending Mass at Quiapo Church—this was when he gave me his promise ring. He also handed me a letter afterward when we were having coffee at Starbucks.

The letter was an ode to how much he loved me and served as a sort of parting gift since he was trying to let me go at the time. For context: two people were pursuing me—Doc John and Seandale. He was pushing me to pick Doc John instead of him and promised to still be there for me, even if we didn’t end up together. He told me that if Doc John ever hurt me and things didn’t work out, he’d help me rebuild myself.

I didn’t like that gift—or what he was saying. Even though I’d known Doc John longer, I enjoyed Seandale’s company far more, which was one of the reasons I leaned toward choosing him.

Anyway, we went to the National Museum of Natural History—arguably my favorite of the three museums in Manila, though the Fine Arts comes very close. It was Seandale’s first time there. I think it was my fourth? Some of the interactive exhibits didn’t work as they did back in 2022, the first time I visited.

Seandale wasn’t very enthusiastic about the displays at first, but I encouraged him to appreciate them more—I mean, duh, it’s a museum; you’re bound to learn something new. And he did. I like it when he tries new things, especially when he learns from them.

After the museum, we went to Intramuros. We walked around and visited San Agustin Church, Fort Santiago, and Manila Cathedral. We enjoyed some sorbetes while hanging out at the park in front of the cathedral.

To cap the night off, we went to the Bonifacio and the Katipunan Revolution Monument. That’s where we talked—mostly him telling me to choose Doc John, and me brushing the idea off because it was him I wanted. It was him I loved. I even stated the idea that I should just choose no one—so no one would have me and all of us will be devastated equally. I thought that was the fairest solution I had.

In the end, I told him to just wait. And on February 13, Seandale became my boyfriend.

On February 17, we—my sister and her friends from work—joined WanderManila’s One Night in Intramuros walk tour. Two of my sister's friends couldn’t make it, hence we had extra tickets—so I invited Seandale to come. I knew it was his best friend’s birthday so I doubted if he would say yes. Then he said, he’d always choose every chance to spend time with me.

That day, we originally planned to have lunch at Ying Ying Tea House in Binondo, but it was unfortunately too crowded and we’d have to wait hours to have a table, so we decided to eat at Intramuros instead. We went to Barbara’s for their unlimited lunch buffet, located just across San Agustin Church, which was the assembly area for the tour later that evening.

After lunch, we killed time at La Cathedral Café, where Seandale joined us. Then we returned to San Agustin Church for the tour.

The tour? Not what you might expect. It was a walking tour around Intramuros—the highlight being Fort Santiago, our last stop. The tour basically involved stopping at notable sites where the guide would tell stories. We weren’t hunting ghosts, if that’s what you were thinking. It was more of a dive into places where paranormal activities were recorded and historians were able to back it up with actual events to somehow explain why the place was haunted.

Then life happened.

The next time I was in Intramuros was for our Takpul volunteering activity at work on October 5. Takpul is our twist on the Swedish plogging activity—jogging while picking up trash. It’s a mix of health awareness and environmental preservation. I participated as our team’s photographer and as an active member of Team Verde supporting our initiatives.

It was a hectic day for me because we were also preparing for a dance competition—I’d joined the dance club at work. Two dancers joined Takpul as well, so I spent much of the time with them and ended up taking a lot of photos of them.

Seandale participated too, but he was grouped with another team, so I didn’t get to mingle with him that much.

As a reward for the volunteers, we were given a guided tour around Plaza Moriones and Fort Santiago. Unfortunately, it wasn’t even close to our One Night in Intramuros tour. I found it soulless and lacking in energy and depth, and probably because our guide is still inexperienced—I could feel his nerves whenever he spoke.

AND FINALLY.

On December 15, Nikki and I visited the National Museum of Fine Arts and Natural History. He had never been to any of them, so I suggested it. These museums have become some of my favorite places, even though they bring back so many memories. Maybe going there repeatedly can replace old memories with better ones?

Nikki seemed to prefer Fine Arts over Natural History. We spent more time appreciating the paintings than looking at preserved animals. Plus, he’s terrified of snakes. He literally dragged me away from DEAD snakes in glass displays.

Although he enjoyed seeing Lolong—the largest crocodile ever held in captivity, whose remains are now preserved in the museum. He literally greeted him like an old friend, one of the museum visitors even looked at him strangely. Apparently, he’d seen Lolong when he was still alive during the time he and his family visited the animal’s poorly kept enclosure in Bunawan.

And… that’s it for the City of Manila.

[jofycreams]

Baluarte De San Diego Gardens 💯 The grounds outside the tower of Baluarte de San Diego is turned into a lovely garden in the 90's. Aside from being a good place to hangout in the morning and afternoon, It also serves as an event place for different occasions. There are pergola and gazebos installed around and grass areas ideal for picnic. However, please take note that pets and smoking are strictly not allowed in the area. A good place to stay at when you visit Intramuros, Philippines! 🇵🇭 #Pilipinas #Philippines #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines #ChoosePhilippines #WanderManila #Photography #mobilephotography #MobilePhoto #Garden #Intramuros #Manila #WakeUpInManila #WakeUpInPH #Tourism #PhilippineTourism #Travel #Tourism #Traveller #backpacking #Asia https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce3XoBxB1mh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[gerilya]

Manila Storytellers Episode 6: Gerilya WanderManila / Blender Media 2020   Gerilya's street art speaks volumes about their skill and passion. Over the past few years, they have transformed the streets of Manila with their engaging and beautiful street art. Their artwork has sparked new life in places such as Nagtahan Bridge, Intramuros, Luneta, and the Shaw Flyover, just to name a few. And from the looks of things, they're just getting warmed up. WanderManila's B Canapi and Gerilya's Jano Gonzales and Mar Rios to learn more about what Gerilya is all about.

[jofycreams]

CHINATOWN - 🇵🇭 #oneshotstory #TripneyJof #Philippines #Manila #itsmorefuninthephilippines #WakeUpInPH #WakeUpInManila #Travel #Travels #Tour #Tourism #Asia #Asian #History #WanderManila #Photography #photo #MobilePhoto #MobilePhotography #Horse #Arch #jonesbridge #Chinatown #Binondo #FilipinoChinese @br.ian5851 📷 (at China Town Binondo, Manila) https://www.instagram.com/p/CezxcXWJDqA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jofycreams]

ARCH OF FRIENDSHIP - 🇵🇭 #oneshotstory #TripneyJof #Philippines #Manila #itsmorefuninthephilippines #WakeUpInPH #WakeUpInManila #Travel #Travels #Tour #Tourism #Asia #Asian #History #WanderManila #Photography #photo #MobilePhoto #MobilePhotography #Horse #Arch #Friendship #Chinatown #Binondo #FilipinoChinese @br.ian5851 📷 (at China Town Binondo, Manila) https://www.instagram.com/p/CexijqzpGLU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jofycreams]

GALA SA MANILA 🇵🇭 A Trip to the old walled city of Manila! 😊 VLOG 66 My sister, her fiancé, and made a DIY tour in the city of Manila! 😄 TARA! Join us as I share to you a glimpse of our trip around the old city of INTRAMUROS and the oldest chinatown in the world, BINONDO experience! 😁💯 LINK BELOW 😄🤙 https://youtu.be/bMOfJEU0pWE https://youtu.be/bMOfJEU0pWE https://youtu.be/bMOfJEU0pWE TripneyJof #Hisyory #Philippines #Intramuros #FortSantiago #JoseRizal #Hero #WakeUpInPH #itsmorefuninthephilippines #Travel #Traveller #Travels #Tourist #Tourism #WanderManila #WhenInManila #Manila #Asia #Asian #Heritage #Onfoot #Wanderer #Fort #ChinaTown #Binondo #DIY #DIYTour 🇵🇭 (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/CemX86OBJ0n/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jofycreams]

𝓜𝓪𝓰𝓱𝓲𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓪𝔂 - #onewordstory #oneshotstory #TripneyJof #Philippines #Manila #itsmorefuninthephilippines #WakeUpInPH #WakeUpInManila #Travel #Travels #Tour #Tourism #Asia #Asian #History #WanderManila #Photography #photo #MobilePhoto #MobilePhotography #Horse #Transportation (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeX3Z9Wpm1q/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jofycreams]

A Nation's Hero: Dr. Jose Rizal's Prison Cell This structure where I'm sitting at on this photo was an old chapel in Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila which was converted into a prison cell where Rizal spent his last 24 hours before going to Bagumbayan or now known as Luneta Park for his execution. Rizal would only learn of the verdict on December 29, 1896, of which he made no protest. He was then transferred to this chapel. During these last 24 hours, there have been rumors that he issued a retraction of his Masonic, anti-Catholic pronouncements, that he married Josephine Bracken. One thing is certain that happened during that time was that he gave his sister Trinidad an alcohol burner of sorts when she, her mother Teodora, and other family members visited him in the cell. This alcohol burner had “something in there” as Jose told her sister in English. This “something” would turn out to be Rizal’s priceless gift not only to his family but to his motherland as well. It was a beautiful, yet untitled poem which we have come to know now as “Mi Ultimo Adios,” the last farewell. 🇵🇭 #TripneyJof #Hisyory #Philippines #Intramuros #FortSantiago #JoseRizal #Hero #WakeUpInPH #itsmorefuninthephilippines #Travel #Traveller #Travels #Tourist #Tourism #WanderManila #WhenInManila #Manila #Asia #Asian #Heritage #Onfoot #Wanderer #Fort (at Intramuros, Manila) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeVNyyohd10/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=