Manila by night
By MONET M. RIVERA
“Manila, I keep coming back to Manila. Simply no place like Manila. Manila I’m coming home…â€
- are the lines from the hit song of the band Hotdog entitled “Manila.” This was the first thing that came to my mind when I’m about to start my feature article on the city. A few minutes later, I found myself singing that part of the song, the only lyrics I could remember. Maybe because I was so young when it became a hit some years back. I asked my Mom about it and as she was singing it, I heard it and realized one thing – Manila, the city where I am living, has an everchanging and vibrant spirit which I couldn’t find somewhere else. I told myself that this song will inspire me to write beautiful things about Manila despite the pollution, crime, overpopulation and traffic congestion.
Manila is the starting point of visitors and tourists. We can find here some of the major offices, attractions, and accommodation facilities. Local as well as foreign visitors are fascinated to both the natural and man-made attractions of the city. Not to mention the luxury hotels, standard and economy class motels, pensions, and inns which will warmly welcome these guests. But did you know that the beauty of Manila is not only seen in daytime? There’s a lot more of it when only the moon and the stars lit the sky.
Manila by night starts with the so-called rush hour. Its busy streets are filled with people who are coming out from their schools and offices. But with the eye-friendly views and lights from the newly-renovated Mehan Garden, the clock of the city in Manila City Hall, the Club Intramuros golf course, and the “wow” features of the old walls of Intramuros, all the headaches brought by the traffic jam are seem like eased.
The city offers many places of interests not only to the Manileños but most especially to tourists. On top of the list is the breathtaking and internationallyrenowned Manila Bay sunset. The next one, also within that area is the favorite hang-out of teenagers and young adults, the Roxas Boulevard Baywalk. There are many things to do here. One is to take a walk in the promenade fronting the bay, with its bright lights lining up the pavement. Another is to take a break from tons of work in school and office by listening to the singers and bands performing at Baywalk, and trying the delicious food and drinks offered here.
From the Baywalk, there is also the Manila Boardwalk. This is the ideal place to relax and just see the calmness of Manila Bay. Most of the first class hotels, coffee shops, nightclubs, specialty restaurants, and bars are can be seen along Roxas Boulevard.
Ermita and Malate districts are the places meant for party people like me. It is much more affordable to go on a “gimik” here than in other places like Timog or Quezon Avenue. To prove more that Manila is a tourist belt, also in the list is the new Muelle del Rio located along the Pasig River’s south bank from the back of the Philippine Post Office, which is now a favorite leisure and recreation destination.
Manila by night is alive and colorful. I, myself, couldn’t think of any other place like it. The Garcia brothers, who wrote the song “Manila” are undoubtedly right with their famous line, “Simply there’s no place like Manila.”
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