Sunday, September 11, 2011

Keep Coming Back in Manila's Best (lakbay rizal 1st leg)

binondo - intramuros budget diy day trip
july 09, 2011 saturday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly.
additional task: to acknowledge change of new adventure, somewhere nearby for day-trip only

important note (manila):
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities comprising Metro Manila. The city is divided into six legislative districts and consists of sixteen geographical districts. Within their precincts can be found areas of bustling commerce and some of the most historically and culturally significant iconic landmarks in the country as well as the seat of the executive and judicial branches of the government.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila

the planning;
july 05, tuesday, while I was in the middle of my routine work burn-out of the deadlines to finish within that week, I posted some quiries and thoughts in an online travel forum for another but not new travel adventure. asking about all possible landmarks around metro manila and metro provinces that can be roam for 1-day only. since there were lots of travelers got interested, joiners have formed and a date has set.

sta. cruz church

originally planned as pasig river cruising - binondo food trip - intramuros loop but when i inquired last july 7 about the ferry schedule, i sadly found-out that the ferry was not in operations since last january 2011. i immediately postponed this event. but when i saw the joiners on how they were willing to continue the journey by posting alternative plans with strong convictions. on afternoon of july 8, i resumed the event and recreated the loop as binondo food trip - intramuros. so there it goes, we have set the meet-up time of 0930H in mcdo mrt pasay station though the rain was continuously pouring the night before and even on this day.

from binondo;

we started the tour in sta. cruz church (Nuestra Señora del Pilar) by alighting 1st in lrt carriedo station. visited this 392nd years old and astonished on its remarkable architecture. then we headed-off to ongpin street to have a lunch and start the itinerary as what it was. we ended up in delicious restaurant which is also 2 blocks away from ongpin street. we ordered their specialt meal of 1 large size special pansit guisado, 1 beef meal and 5 cups of rice for a total of php600, we were 5 so only php120 for each. after that, went our way to binondo church (Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz) which has a 415 years old of catholic service and best church i've ever visited in manila. later, we rode a jeepney bound to intramuros for another set of day tripping.

binondo lunch trip at delicious resto

binondo church

binondo church

to intramuros:

we started our journey in puerta del isabel then going to aduana customs house. afterwards to fort santiago with an entrance fee of php75. when we reached this rizal shrine inside and saw this DOT's cool promotional ad of jose Rizal @ 150 Heritage Trail Project, we immediately thought of having that lakbay passport which can be acquired at the DOT Tourist Information Center inside fort santiago. Lakbay Jose Rizal @150 which aims to encourage both local and foreign tourists to visit Rizaliana sites all over the country, from Luzon, Visayas to Mindanao to rediscover and visit the sites and attractions which became part of our national hero’s life, is DOT's project in celebration of Dr. Jose Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary. thenceforward, after getting back and asking for that passport, we had our 2 stamps inside the fort. the itinerary has changed in a new dimension, rizal tour in manila and finishing it all on this afternoon only. to be able to confirm that this tourist spot is included on rizal's trail, there must a DOT's tarpouline outside like an amazing race flaglet markers and all directions are indicated in the passport. here were the 9 spots we have visited and completed in manila leg (in order of visit);

01. PRISON CELL AND RIZAL SHRINE (intramuros) - This was where Rizal was incarcerated during his trial from November 3 to December 29, 1896
02. CHAPEL CELL OF RIZAL (intramuros) - In 1896, this room was converted into a chapel-cell where Rizal spent the night prior to his execution in Bagumbayan.
03. SITE OF THE ATENEO MUNICIPAL DE MANILA  (intramuros) - Rizal was a student of the Ateneo Municipal de Manila from 1872 to 1877. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1932
04. SITE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (intramuros) - Rizal was a student of the University of Santo Tomas in Intramuros from 1877 to 1882. A historical marker is located in the UST Campus in Espana, Sampaloc, Manila
05. SITE OF TRIAL OF RIZAL (intramuros) - This was where Rizal’s trial was held at the Cuartel de España which used to stand in the area. IA installed a historical marker located along Muralla Street
06. RIZAL PARK (luneta) - Also known as Bagumbayan or Luneta, this was the place of execution of Rizal on December 30, 1896
07. RIZAL MONUMENT (luneta) - A National Monument, it houses the remains of Rizal. It was designed by Richard Kissling of Switzerland. It was inaugurated on December 30, 1913.
08. RIZAL EXECUTION SITE (luneta) - Exact location where Dr. Rizal was executed in Bagumbayan. A Rizal Light and Sound Show is now located at the site.
09. PACO PARK (paco) - Rizal's remains were secretly interred in the Paco Cemetery. They were guarded for fifteen days by the Guardia Civil Veterana. His remains were exhumed on August 17, 1898, placed in an urn and deposited in the Rizal Residence in Estraude Street.

oldest fortification in the philippines, fort santiago

Dr. Jose Rizal statue inside fort santiago

manila cathedral

DOT's marker for rizal's trail project

of course we still visited other intramuros attractions such as 430 years old manila cathedral and the 440 years old san agustin church (though there was 2 weddings ongoing). we did it all only by walking, sneaking also the famous cirque de soleil in quirino grandstand before heading-off to the last part which was the paco park. then, made our dinner in kfc taft and finally separated at 1900H on a fully accomplished rainy day of saturday.

the following was the final itinerary after the event;
0930H assembly mcdo mrt taft stn (php15)
1030H ETD pasay bound to lrt carriedo station
binondo tour
sta. cruz church
ongpin food trip (php120)
binondo church
1300H ETD binondo (php8)
intramuros tour
aduana customs house
fort santiago (php50)
manila cathedral
san agustin church
lakbay rizal (9 spots)
1800H dinner (php100)
1900H ETD manila (php15)

total expenses: php308

the output at 9 stamps


lakbay rizal update:
9 of 26 done... NCR finished.


3 comments:

  1. cool! ang layo ng narating ng P292 mo. :D

    by the way, i have the same pic as your background taken from the plane's window. difference is, sunset yung sakin. sayo naman blue skies. :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. mabuhay ang mga kalakbay ni rizal. goodluck to your quest..

    ReplyDelete
  3. wow ! you have travelled so much ! GReat ! nice photos... brilliant...actually. will visit surely often.

    AJ
    http://ajstates.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

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