Manila escapade 2009

Going to Manila for the nth time is still exciting after all the years, the main reason for going was to attend the grand debut party of my niece in Angeles City, and we have booked our tickets three months before to avail the discounted fare.

We left Mactan International Airport 6:30pm May 22, 2009 via Cebu Pacific Air, after the routine security check up, the plane departed on time and the travel was smooth , and I noticed that it was fully booked, after an hour and ten minutes, we landed in Manila through NAIA-3 at around 8:00pm after picking up our luggage, we went directly to the exit area and my sis Jean was kind enough to meet us outside the lobby  at bay 2 and we proceeded to the parking area. We went directly to Roxas Boulevard, seeing the tall and well designed buildings endowed with different colors of light that glitters the early night making the place more amazing and exciting. We made a stopover at the Bay Park, a place with rows of small restaurants for coffees, drinks and grilled food. We ordered chicken barbeque for takeout and then I roamed around the neighboring places and noticed that displaying in front is the beautiful Manila bay.

 We finally reached the place of my sister at the JRB Apartments in Tayuman, we met all my nieces and nephew, we made some pleasant greetings and we immediately ate our dinner, feeling hungry and thirsty. Later we had some conversation with Jean about the activities scheduled and after we slept for the night at around 10:00pm, feeling exhausted.

I woke up early as I used too and went directly to the CCP complex to take some pictures, it was Saturday with so many joggers around; some are doing aerobics and tai-bo. I could remember  that I used to jog here years ago together with my brothers, from Luneta to the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Although there we some changes like the lamp posts in different shapes and the tall offices and condominium buildings on the other side are awesome. I walked up to the Rizal Monument and reminiscence the good old days, it was a beautiful feeling.

I went directly to 168 Shopping Center a very popular place in Divisoria for cheap but durable clothings. The group was eagerly doing some shopping, and I was just seating in the food court eating for my breakfast /lunch at the same time. I strolled around and bought a t-shirt. We stayed a little bit longer for the reason that the girls took too much time in deciding what to buy. Then back to the Apartment.

We left Tayuman to Kabayan Hotel, a place catering for Overseas Foreign Workers to fetch my sister-in-law and her family.  We went to Manila Ocean Park, it was beautiful with a spacious lobby with so many shops and the park was amazing with an entrance of four hundred pesos.  Then we went to Manila Zoo and Botanical Garden, the place is not as beautiful and interesting as before, then at 6:00pm we went back to the Apartment.  We had a long conversation for the trip for tomorrow.  I accompanied my sister-in-law and her family back to Kabayan Hotel via Light Railway Transit, it was their first time, so they were excited and interested.

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Sunday, May 26, we attended a Holy Mass in Espiritu Santo Church in Tayuman, a very beautiful church.  Our group is going to Angeles City to attend the debut of my niece but unfortunately we are so many to the Toyota – Revo  car of my sis.  The five of us left behind decided to ride a bus,  to Dau Mabalacat part of Angeles City at around 10:00am.   Our group meets at the Shoe Mart –Clark for lunch. The kids went back to Funtana  Resort Hotel. The rest went to Duty free clark, we drop by at Oriental and Pure gold buying some shirts, sandals and chocolates.

Back at Fontuna Resort Hotel and everybody was preparing for the Grand debut party. The party was wonderful and the theme is medieval and the place is like a castle I believe it was very expensive but its worth it if you have the money. The party ended at 1:00am, the kids haven’t sleep for the night, talking and laughing of a never ending conversation at the resort. But some of our group left for Manila  after the party.

We left Clark Angeles City at around 6:00 in the morning the sun was about to shine. It was a tiring travel back to the Manila, Apartment in Tayuman .  We immediately sleep the whole morning  and after lunch  I went to Mall of Asia to buy  a book and a doughnut  at Krispy kreme , requested by my daughter.  And we went again to 168 Shopping Center for last minute shopping, some sandals and shirts. We sleep early after packing our bags for a flight early morning.

 We were send off by the driver name Bitoy of the Revo-Toyota at 4:30 in the morning to NAIA -3 for our departure,  Manila was calm with no traffic and full of glittering lights i believe somehow full mysteries and surprises  … it was almost twilight time  when we arrived at the airport.  We immediately go to the process and went to gate no.119 for our pre departure for Cebu passenger. The plane arrived Cebu ahead of time for 10 minutes and my brother in law Choy was waiting with our car.

The trip was memorable meeting all my relatives and some old friends; it was a nostalgic trip remembering the places I went through, during my college days and my first work in Makati.  I would always miss Manila  for it has been a part of my life.