10 places to visit in Manila this Independence Day

ON this 126^th Independence Day of the Philippines, there are a number of historical places that you should visit to hop on an adventure into the fruitful past of the Philippines.

Here are 10 places in Manila that you should visit to spend your Independence Day on.

Arroceros Forest Park – Ermita, Manila

In the busy city of Manila where the air pollution travels to your lungs and decides to migrate into your being—standing tall is the last natural rain forest in Manila: Arroceros Forest Park.

Just in front of the Manila Post Office, the forest park welcomes you with fresh air and dancing trees.

While there is no need for any fees to enjoy the serenity that Arroceros offers, there is a registration required in front of the gate to ensure that the forest park is protected in case of any probable damage that one could execute during their visit.

When you walk inside the beautiful park, you will be greeted by the swaying trees and the sweet aroma of nature that surrounds the space. There are benches where you can take all the peacefulness in, koi ponds, bridges above a lagoon, and more for you to enjoy as you reconnect with nature.

As Arroceros Forest Park is called the “Last Lung of Manila”, it will be your breath of fresh air amidst the busy city. 

Manila Hidden Garden – Ermita, Manila

From Arroceros, with a little walk, you will be greeted by another sanctuary: The Manila Hidden Garden. As it is literally called a hidden garden, one cannot immediately notice its existence when you ride past it.

The Manila Hidden Garden, while not as serene as Arroceros Forest Park beside it, still provides a space of beauty and peace when visited. 

It also has a Hidden Garden Café where you can enjoy a sip of coffee and beverage while basking in the sunshine with a slice of peaceful Manila (ignoring the fact that you could still hear the loud engines of Jeepneys and the chatter of barkers outside). It’s a little escapade for you to enjoy the reality of Manila but hidden from its actuality. 

National Museum of Anthropology – Ermita, Manila

On the day when we celebrate the 126^th Independence Day of the Philippines, it would only be right to visit our roots in the National Museum of Anthropology. Wherein we can embark on a journey of anthropological wonders, a way to reconnect with our past. 

The wholeness of the gigantic museum may seem small as it is overflowing with all the reminders of our identity as an individual and as a society.

We may have not been born to see the wonderful and braveness that the past Filipinos have accustomed themselves to to fight for the Philippines, but we are given the opportunity to remember not only their identity and the way they chose to live their lives but to also acknowledge and pay tribute to it.

The Art District – Calvo Building – Binondo, Manila

The Calvo Building or the Calvo Museum as it was known in Escolta, Binondo, Manila is said to be an architectural wonder on its own, its formation as a building was considered to be revolutionary on the day that it was built (rightfully so!). Until now, it stands tall with a fully functioning first-generation elevator. 

Inside the Calvo Building is The Art District, a museum that caters to indigenous art and incorporates the newly discovered art elements and methods to the old ones in order to correlate the thin line between our history and future.

The Art District presents a number of different art styles that one could enjoy not just by using their sense of sight on it but more so if they pay attention to every color scheme, every paint stroke, and every emotion that is reflected in the art that they present in their gallery.

Museo de Intramuros – Intramuros, Manila

Museo de Intramuros presents the Filipinos’ hope in the dying times of the Spanish era: Christianity. As to why the Museo de Intramuros was built by the Society of Jesus in 1878 and was filled with the most beautiful art pieces. It served as a medium for artists to share their pieces in a way that it could reach the people. 

Now in this generation, still in Intramuros, these arts are still displayed to pamana the pristine carvings that were once considered to be the hope that the Filipinos looked forward to in the 1870s, and the artists who weren’t as appreciated as they should be through the stories they tell. Visiting Museo de Intramuros is us accepting this pamana.

Casa Manila – Intramuros, Manila

Casa Manila is the perfect place to visit this Independence Day—Casa Manila gives us a taste of what it was like to be in Jose Rizal’s novels, or how a house might look in the generation of Spanish-Filipino descendants. This is a way to imagine ourselves as a Filipino princess that twirls around our salas, dancing and waving our pamaypays, exhibiting beauty and elegance in a dream that no one could wake us up to.

It’s ironic how we wish to revisit such scenes when the day is celebrated for our liberation from the era it came from, however, it is important to remember that at one point, this was our identity and it was liberated as well.

National Museum of Fine Arts – Ermita, Manila

From the National Museum of Anthropology, a peace and quiet place is required for a person to recollect their thoughts. And what better way to enjoy silence than sitting on a bench admiring art?

In front of Intramuros is the National Museum of Fine Arts which exhibits four floors of the most beautiful pieces that mirror our identities as Filipinos, holding narratives that we have never heard in our lives. 

It holds a different kind of beauty, something that does not fade away and does not need words to touch our heart, it is a connection to another group of heroes that we often forget that fought for our freedom, the artists. They mirror the pain, cries, and joys of their generation, so it is important to commemorate them as well.

Fort Santiago – Intramuros, Manila

While most of the places mentioned in this list show serenity and silence, or some that require appreciation and acknowledgment—Fort Santiago inside Intramuros holds a different sentiment. Fort Santiago in its entirety is a beautiful ruin, however, under these enchanting walls holds the bloodiest state of affairs that the Filipinos have endured. 

The chilling feeling that creeps into your bones is the reminder of the cries that could have been heard coming from the place in its prime. Your imagination might lead you to see the prisoners hanging from the walls asking for your help.

And the worst part of that visit? You cannot do anything about it.

Paco Park – Paco, Manila

Paco Park might be familiar to some people as it is often used in films, especially with the large fountain adorning the gate of the St. Pancratius Chapel. It looks straight from a fairytale movie or storybook where a princess might be wishing on a fountain for her one true love or reading a book. 

Paco Park is the perfect place to do all this alone (or with someone) as your very own fairytale princess. One can walk around and appreciate the splashes of the water fountain or simply enjoy the white noise while reading. 

Bahay Nakpil-Bautista – Quiapo, Manila

Like Fort Santiago, Bahay Nakpil-Bautista is also one of those places that will transport you to another time. But the difference is: with Bahay Nakpil-Bautista, you will feel bold and courageous, seeing proof of the world that once existed, a place full of people who were brave enough to fight against forces filled with hunger for power.

Bahay Nakpil-Bautista is a house-turned-museum that was once a house or kuta of the Katipuneros who fought in the Filipino Revolution.

With reports from Ashley Kristieanne Ignacio