Manila Invasion Day 2: Revisiting the Past

On our second day in Manila, we got up early and made sure that we can go out early as we are headed to the biggest shopping center in town- Divisoria!

Now here’s the fun thing, as it was a Sunday, we expect that there will be A LOT of people who will be coming so we chose to just commute. Adventure you say?

Achievement Unlocked: Commuting in Manila.

Divisoria is heaven for those who want to buy stuff for a much lower price. Clothes, bags, shoes, household items, Christmas trees and fruits… name it and they surely have it there.

The only regret I had was never buying a kilo of the cherry apples. I should have… I should have. For the sake of curiosity, I should have.

After Divisoria we boarded a jeepney to get to Luneta Park. I don’t know why I never really got the chance to visit Luneta on my first time in Manila… way back when there was still no photobomber. But anyway, we liked the thought of strolling around, despite the heat.

Here is part of the giant Relief Map of the Philippines. That’s Cebu behind us. We wanted to go home! LOL

These are really colorful heart arches on the pathway.

We then headed to the National Museum for Natural History but since we got in the wrong side, we were instructed to walk around to the other side. We ended up at the National Museum of the Filipino People were I saw what I was targeting- The Spoliarium!

The Spoliarium was painted by Juan Luna in the year 1884 when he joined the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes where he won a gold medal. It has a dimension of 166 in X 302.2 in… larger than life indeed!

 I remembered that this is the most popular painting in our history and arts books back in elementary. Although it is gruesome, a painting about how gladiators are tortured, killed and dragged like animals, I could not help but gape at its beauty. Truly mystifying when you see something like this in real life.

It was typically a date with Jose Rizal, too!

We saw several other paintings in the exhibits like Carlos Francisco's and Jose Joya's (yes, the Joya Awards of my UP Cebu days).

There is also a piece made by Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, El Asasinato del Governador Bustamante y su Hijo.

We fell in love with the structure where the fine arts treasures are kept. I figured it was the old legislative building of the country. no wonder why it looks so grandiose.

The National Historical marker.

Here is the hall/ballroom… how can you not fall in love with a place like that?

One of the long hallways typical of American Buildings.

And here are pillars in the reception area…

And an Angel too..

And the façade is just lovely!

When we got out of the fine arts museum to get to the artifacts on the other building, we met this kotsero with his horse, Dingdong. Harvey instantly wanted to ride it and since it was his day, I obliged even if I was terribly bleeding for the horse drawing the cart.

Next stop, the walled city of Intramuros!

Here is the entrance… thick walls to protect the government, the rich and the famous of Spanish-era Philippines.

Here is the grandiose Manila Cathedral where several celebrities and politicians tied the knot. Ask the kotseros and they can tell you who married who there…

We were in a hurry so we didn’t reach the other side of Intramuros. I have been there before on my first Manila Trip and too bad Harvey can’t see the San Agustin Church, Casa de Manila and the University of Santo Tomas.

However, here is the Palacio del Gobernador, where the present-day Commission on Election holds office.

We headed back to Luneta and took the photo with Rizal. And the photobomb Torre de Manila….

I swear, I tried to get Harvey a decent shot of Rizal's Monument without the photobomb but he insisted so...

I thought before that the honor guards of Rizal were not members of the AFP, just ordinary guards trained for the function or so I thought. When we went to Manila Ocean Park, I saw the big Philippine Navy bus and surprise! (No, not the surprise you are thinking)…. I saw the post where the honor guards stay during their shift (they stay still guarding the statue housing Rizal’s remains for one hour) and then… they are members of the Philippine Marines! Yes! The elite members of the Philippine Navy! SURPRISE! Ikaw na jud ang pinagpala Rizal!

To cap the tour, my supportive aunt and uncle toured us around… here are some of the places we went to (for the photo):

Manila Ocean Park

Manila Bay where a dragon boat competition is held

After that, we headed back to Paranaque and prepared our things. After resting a bit, we found ourselves in the airport terminal where our adventure began....

With a heavy heart, we had to leave… two days would never be enough to explore all historical places in Manila… but hopefully we can come back… until the next laag!