If its walls could talk, it would have told us countless stories and memories and gossips of what was once the opulent center of the ever loyal city of Manila.

Intramuros. Within the walls.

The Libingan ng mga Bayani is a national cemetery for military personnel from privates to chiefs of staff. But presidents, vice presidents, chief justices, national artists, scientists and other people of same or accorded of such stature are also interred here.

Necropolis, city of the dead. Cemeteries can be found in every town and city in the Philippines but there are just some places of repose that are above the rest. In terms of architecture and significance, these four, as listed here, are must sees.

Wow. In my entire life at airports, I’ve finally experienced being bumped off a booked flight which I paid for a few days ago. Shit happens.

In some areas in Metro Manila, spiderfights along a quite street are done by grown up men who do it not for the sake of having fun or reliving childhood memories, but more as another way to gamble and lose or win money.

In tandem with Simbahan.net, Langyaw.com presents some visita iglesia routes featuring the existing Filipino Baroque churches in each featured province that are still existing, except that of Intramuros where the lost churches are shown.

If you’re in Manila or Cebu this Holy Week, check out these downloadable PDF guides for use during the visita iglesia. Each showcases all the existing Spanish colonial era churches with photos, short history and printable maps. Manila is featured with its 8 churches while Cebu, 28.

Titillated at the Manila Ocean Park? It’s possible but that’s going ahead of the story…

I immediately confirmed my participation to visit the Manila Ocean Park upon the invitation of a friend for a media tour. Even if it has been open for sometime, I still haven’t been there since I was procrastinating time and again. When I did made the tour, I was wide eyed with wonder.

The image of the Black Nazarene, or Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, to many of its fervent devotees will be on its yearly translacion, Saturday, 9 January. This is a commemoration of the 1787 transfer from the Recollect Church in Intramuros to it its current shrine in Quiapo, the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.

Jai alai is still being played in the country. In fact, it is not only in Cebu but there is an established amateur group in Metro Manila, specifically in Project 8, Quezon City, home of the Manila Amateur Jai-alai Association (MAJA).

It’s already March and one thing is for sure: SUMMER IS HERE! It surely is a hot time and other than indulging oneself with cold halo halo or hitting the malls for the nth time, what better way to make these awaited vacation months worthwhile than a list of top 10 things to do during this time of the year.

This is Part 2.

During the holiday season, the best place to go for cheap and affordable products is no other than Divisoria in Manila. Think of this as one giant marketplace for such goods like original or bootleg, local and imported items from food, clothes to decors and other bric-a-brac that overwhelms in terms of variety. All at almost rock bottom prices. Shops and stalls can be found inside the malls like the popular 168, sidestreets, and just every space available overtaken by vendors and shoppers alike. This is MULTIMEDIA post.

You will know that Christmas is fast approaching when at the start of the “-ber” months carols are already played and the season’s decors are already on sale. Along the highways in major cities in the country especially in Metro Manila, enterprising individuals are turning dark corners and unused portions into bright places as they set up their makeshift stalls selling these dazzling Pinoy symbols: the parol or Christmas lantern.

Speak of Simbang Gabi and one thing comes to mind: FOOD of which the bibingka (rice cake) and puto bumbong are two popular fares associated with this religious activity, or with Christmas, even if its available all year round. These are usually found just outside the church gates and after mass, people stop to buy. However, while these two are true for those living in Metro Manila and probably in the Tagalog region, it is not traditional in my home province of Cebu.

Every October, the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City is filled with pilgrims and devotees for the feast of the Nuestra Senora del Rosario, La Naval de Manila. For more than three centuries this event has been celebrated by the faithful as, like most Filipino Catholics, thanksgiving, a plea for divine intervention or affirmation of faith.