Wednesday, August 3, 2011

10 Pieces of Something in Manila

Tourists from other parts of the world often skip the City of Manila. Little do they know that there's a piece of something in this forgotten city.



Tourists look for the big clock in London, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.

Located in the center of Manila, Manila City Hall is one of the city's most famous landmarks, it is one of the few buildings in Manila that survived World War 2


Tourists look for notorious festival in Japan, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.

The Feast of the Black Nazarene, celebrated every 9th of January, is one of the biggest festivals in the country. Like Japan's Danjiri Festival, devotees have to pull the the carriage of the Black Nazarene around the streets of Quiapo, Manila without any equipped engine, purely man power. Both the Danjiri Festival and Feast of the Black Nazarene bring casualties yearly. Read more about Fiesta Nazareno here.   


Tourists look for Gothic church in France, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.

The only Gothic church in Asia can be found in the City of Manila. Built by Belgian engineers, this all-steel church of San Sebastian is one of its kind in Asia. Others even believe that Gustave Eiffel, himself, designed this masterpiece.


Tourists look for the obelisk in Vatican, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.

An obelisk found in the historical plaza Miranda. The plaza is a witness to an event that shaped the course of the Philippine History. It's the Plaza Miranda Bombing of 1971 that occurred before the announcement of Martial Law by President Marcos.


Tourists look for the old stone church in Mexico, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.

 A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest stone church in the Philippines. It is the only surviving building inside the walled city after the liberation of Manila.


Tourists look for merlion in Singapore, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.

"Talk about effective branding---the Singapore merlion is an internationally recognized icon created in 1964 and made into a statue in 1972. How come nobody remembers the merlion with a sword that has been in the coat of arms of Manila since 1596" - Ambeth Ocampo


Tourists look for the pyramids in Egypt, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.

There's a pyramid and sphinx in Manila. Owned by the luxurious Tuazon-Arroyo clan, this tomb located at the end of the Main Avenue is one of the most renowned tombs of Manila North Cemetery. Read more about Manila North Cemetery here.


Tourists look for the guardian dog in Shanghai, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.

The Chinese culture in Manila is not new to many. They came to Manila even before the arrival of the Spaniards. Binondo's Fu Dogs, like the ones in Shanghai, guard the entrance to Manila's China Town. Read more about Manila's China Town here.


Tourists look for old Spanish fort in Puerto Rico, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.     

Being the center of Spanish Empire in the far-east, the Walled City of Manila aka Intramuros was very well fortified. Before the liberation of Manila, these walls were made into prison cells by the Japanese during the World War 2. Nothing of the past glorious walled city had remained after the bombings of 1945. Read more about the Walled City here.


Tourists look for the old university in Cambridge, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.     

Though it's not as old as the University of Cambridge, Manila's University of Santo Tomas is the oldest existing university in Asia. It was founded in 1611 by Manila's third Archbishop Miguel de Benevides.


You know, Manila used to be the most beautiful city in the east, until it was leveled into the ground by the Americans during the 1945 Liberation of Manila, a sad reality we can no longer revert. Manila now maybe negligible when it comes to first class beauty, but for me, the City of Manila is still and forever will be the Pearl of the Orient. It has an incomparable greatness, you'll just have to have a good eye for history to see it. 

Photo Sources:
Big Ben 
Danjiri
Chartres Cathedral
Vatican Obelisk 
Guadalupe Church
Singapore Merlion
Pyramid
Fu Dog
Fort San Cristobal
Cambridge University
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 This is my entry to this month's PTB Blog carnival hosted by Angel Juarez of Lakwatsero with the topic: "Manila In Focus"
   
Click here to read other entries for this month's blog carnival.

Click on the logo to view the previous PTB Blog Carnivals.



___________________________________________________________________________

Manila Landmarks Trilogy

10 Pieces of Something in Manila
6 Misplaced Landmarks in Manila - A guest post on Journeying James

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61 comments:

  1. Galing galing galing!!! Effortfull!!!
    LAglag panga ko when you have that fort in San Juan --- wala akong photos nun eh - pero ang ganda ganda ganda nun!
    (clap clap clap!)

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  2. haha.. kinuha ko lang sa net.. hala.. naklimutan ko mag cite ng souces.. haha.. bahala na.

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  3. wow.. really really nice.. paano mo nakuha yan lahat? galing.. sana naisip ko din yan hoho

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  4. got the foreign sites photos online.. lol :) all local photos are mine :)

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  5. ivan, u certainly have the talent! this is such an enjoyable read, and puts many of us to shame for admiring some of those sites abroad while not visiting like spots right here in Manila! bow ako sa iyo, ivan. clap clap clap

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  6. ibang klase ka talaga ivan! hayaan mo, pag manalo ako sa lotto, libre kita one way ticket to Cebu! LOL

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  7. Love this post! :) The photo comparisons look great. I never knew we had a Merlion and a Sphinx here. You really put a lot of effort to get similar looking photos. Great work! Galing.

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  8. Hats Off! Laglag karsonsilyo ko! Great comparisson Ivan! Saludo ako sa yo bro!

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  9. @doi, oi doi, haha aasahan ko yan.. gawin mo nang RT ticket :)
    @kara, thanks a lot
    @angel, lol.. inisip at ginoogle ko pa ang ibig sabihin ng karsonsilyo. hahaha. salamat kuya Angel =)

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  10. Ganda ng entry na 'to! Simple yet punong-puno ng laman. Unkabogable! Go Manila! :D

    Na-miss ko bigla ang Big Ben dahil sa Tower Clock Pic comparison. Pupunta na lang muna ako ng Manila City Hall hehe

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  11. asteeg! dame kong nalaman frm Batang lakwatsero. Ikaw na tlga ang best in research! mana ka na ke Doi! =) nice job Ivan! =)

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  12. Ivan, I'm really a fan. I'm impressed and stunned! :)

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  13. You nailed it again Ivan! Keep the creativity flowing :)

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  14. ang galeng. hehe. yung ibang spots alam ko na nasa manila sila pero di ko pinagtutuunan ng pansin.. nice post.

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  15. gosh, thanks everyone for the positive feedback. nafa-flatter ako..

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  16. Love the post! Didn't know the merlion was part of Manila's coat of arms. Interesting... =)

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  17. astig! ang sipag naman. kakatuwa yung sphinx. di ko alam yun.

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  18. Impressive research! The juxtaposition is so interesting lalo na dahil ang layo layo ng mga ito from Manila.

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  19. ang ganda nito ivan!!! good job

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  20. I never liked Manila. 'Pag nandiyan ako, I'm always raped by pollution, stuck in a horrendous traffic in EDSA and being snatched by hooligans. But despite the bad image that Manila's been branded over the past years, I've realized that there are so many beautiful places in Manila.

    Really enjoyed this post, Ivan! Kudos to that!

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  21. Interesting post Ivan. Like you I have a special liking for the City of Manila for it is my day home when I attend school along Taft Avenue. The comparisons are great but Manila has something that is very distinct and unique, only Manila's. It is said that Manila is more known than the Philippines itself. I am an eager reader of your blog. Kudos Ivan!

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  22. very nice post Ivan.i actually have never thought Manila has all these "touristy stuff" foreign countries have to offer until i read your post. nakakainspired sumali sa Blog Carnival this month.i hope i can write something since Manila is also my home! thanks

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  23. Hats off to this post Ivan. Reading over it really made me proud that we have a capital city which is at par with her contemporaries. Admittedly, it takes a history buff to admire Manila's glorious past.

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  24. Intramuros will be the most memorable part of Manila for me. That is where I had my college years. On the walls, I spent some of my alone time looking at the big clock of the City Hall. It's been years since the last time I went there. Hopefully I can go back there again.

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  25. natuwa naman ako sa comparison--at yung una medyo nahiya ako ng kaunti kasi halatang cheap version yung relo natin.hahaha

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  26. Two thumbs up for this blog post, Ivan.

    Tama nga 'yung sinabi nung ibang naunang nag-comment: na it goes to show that there are still people who would opt to go abroad to do what they believe is "real travel" whereas they can do it here in the Philippines.

    Hopefully, magalugad din naming mga taga-Laguna ang buong Kamaynilaan (Manila only, not Metro Manila). As for Manileños like you who are aware of the worth of the city despite its flaws (the ever-present pollution, flood, traffic, among others) sana dumami pa kayo!

    (P.S. You could still update the post and include your sources. Mabuti nang magsigurado, mahirap na, hehe.)

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  27. @pransis, salamat.. in case na gusto nyo mag-lakwatsa sa Manila, just buzz me.. I'm more than willing to give you a tour :)

    sige na nga, ilalagay ko na yung sources.. i-sesearch ko na lang uli sila :)

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  28. Wow naman, Ivan, how did you come up with this? I'd never know how to research all these! Ganda rin ng own pics mo!

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  29. Galeng! very creative post. andyan na pala lahat sa manila eh, umalis pa ko =)

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  30. @ms Tin, yeah.. matagal na talaga sya sa Manila, ewan ko nga ba kung bakit hndi sya masyadong naging sikat..
    @sir dong, hehe.. salamat po.. actualy dalawang sphinx yan.. magkatapat :)
    @nomadic pinoy, thank you sir..
    @jerome, hehe.. salamat
    @Renz, salamat, you must love manila now!
    @sir Carlo, salamat po sir.. you're right.. manila is mefinitely more than the philippines..
    @atty Mhe-an, salamat po. sulat na para sa carnival :)
    @sir Edelito, thank you sir..
    @sir Dee, cheers to our school community.. nung loner pa ako, I was also staying on top of the walls, it's where I discovered my love for travel..hehe
    @sir Anton, hehe cheap yet beautiful and rich
    @ms Aleah, ewan ko din.. matagal ko na 'to plano i-post naiisip ko na to everytime na nadadaan ko sila. salamt po
    @ms Grace, thank you po :) balik na uli sa Pinas

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  31. this is such an informative, fun read! great idea in presenting Manila :D

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  32. You already the bad ass Ivan! Uber interesting read.

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  33. Galing naman...
    Sarap basahin... :)

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  34. ay ang galing! Information overload ako. Super interesting post. Magandang pambungad sa first timer sa site mo.. Ako yun. ^_^

    Dahil diyan, I'll visit more often.

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  35. love this post ivan! impressive and nag effort ka talaga.. sharing this!

    just love this..

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  36. oh wow! i've seen most of them. interesting post. :)

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  37. ang galing naman ng post mo!!! talagang nafeature ang manila!! astig!!

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  38. galing mo ivan salamat sa effort mo kabayan saludo ako ako sa iyo.

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  39. I'm all hands down at your posts. I enjoyed it. You might want to see my paper on tacky, kitschy, and campy architecture in and around Intramuros:

    http://www.greggthebully.com/site/Academic/Entries/2011/8/20_Jane_%26_Jenny’s_Birthday_Trip.html

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  40. Visit the Abbey Church of the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat in San Beda College. It is a miniature rendition of the famous Catalan shrine and national treasure in Spain, the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat. You will find the exterior unassuming but the interior will surely take your breath away. If you have the chance to enter the Abbey, you will find yourself inside some European Gothic cloister. You will ask if you are still in the Philippines. To give you an idea, the mess hall of the monastery resembles that of Harry Potter's.

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  41. Very interesting facts and comparisons you have gathered there. Galing!:)

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  42. UST is older than Harvard.. and the Only Pontifical University in Asia (2nd of its kind, granted by the Pope)

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  43. eto ang gusto ko ke Ivan, eto ang pinagkaiba mo sa iba!!

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  44. La nako talaga masabe. Ikaw na ang batang historian/tour guide. Tinalo mo pa si Carlos Celdran sa post na ito. Gudjab pareng Ivan!

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  45. kakaiba.. i super like it...sobrang galing....

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  46. I'm taking my hat off to you on this one, Ivan. This is really a clever idea. I hope you'll get the award.

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  47. I'm taking my hat off to you on this one, Ivan. I hope you get the coveted award.

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  48. wooooooh. ang ganda. ang galing!! more more more :))

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  49. a welcome effort but I don't subscribe to this form of comparison when it comes to tourist promotion. Let's take out this pa 'world class' mentality and appreciate these places within their own local context. And, no, San Sebastian is NOT the only Gothic church in Asia. They have one in Saigon, Shanghai, Singapore and even Beijing

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