Reviving the Old Manila One Step at a Time: The #VivaManila Walking Tour

On the cloudy afternoon of the first Sunday of September, an estimated tour participants of almost two hundred flocked to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Children's Road Safety Park in front of the Manila Zoo along Quirino Avenue in Manila. The participants gathered up to attend the #VivaManila free walking tour facilitated by the new Tourism Consultant of Manila, Mr. Carlos Celdran.

#VivaManila is the tourism campaign of the City Hall of Manila which aims to revive the luster of the Old Manila by highlighting the tourist belt of Manila and reintroduce to Manilenos, and fellow Filipinos, these glimmering gems of Manila.

#VivaManila button pins for the volunteers

The #VivaManila free walking tour on that cloudy Sunday was the second (first one was sometime in July) and all about Malate, the cultural remnants of the old and vibrant Malate. Though it was a pseudo-rainy Sunday, the ever curious tour participants still followed the way Carlos walked.

Sharing with you a map I made for the volunteers.
Take note: this is NOT the official itinerary. 

1st stop. MMDA Park.
MMDA Children's Road Safety Park is like a mini-city of its own. It has its own mini-footbridge, mini-tunnel,etc.

Photo courtesy of thehoppymommybunny.wordpress.com

After the tranquil experience at the little park, the big group took batches of Jeepney along Mabini cor. Quirino Avenue. A group of my FEU Tourism Management students assisted in securing jeepneys that would bring the tour participants at the next stop: Padre Faura.

2nd stop: Tesoro Building and Lotus Garden Hotel (Mabini cor. Padre Faura)

In Casa Tesoro, 1335 Mabini is found. As the signage below suggests, it houses antiques, tribal art and contemporary art. It showcases art exhibits also of local artists.

Here are some photos taken from the interior of Lotus Garden Hotel.

3rd stop: La Solidaridad Bookstore. (Padre Faura near the corner of J Bocobo)

La Solidaridad Bookstore is owned by the famous Filipino novelist/write, F.Sionil Jose. This bookstore houses a lot of Filipiniana collections. Unfortunately, it was closed that Sunday.

La Solidaridad Bookstore facade. Yes, it's closed.

4th stop: Hizon's Bakeshop (J Bocobo corner Arquiza Street)

Hizon's Bakeshop used to be the favorite hangout place of Dolphy in the 70s if I'm not mistaken.

5th stop: Hiraya Gallery (UN Avenue near J Bocobo)

Hiraya Gallery houses some interesting work of arts.

6th stop: Jade Vine Inn (UN Avenue cor. J Bocobo, across Hiraya Gallery)

Jade Vine Inn (if I remember it correctly from Carlos' spiels) is where the Manila drag scene began. It used to be the venue of performances by drag queens and cross dressers. The complimentary refreshments and canapes were sponsored by this humble inn.

Jade Vine Inn Facade *with the kalesa shot*

The function hall of Jade Vine Inn.

7th stop: Miramar Hotel (Roxas Boulevard cor. Padre Faura)

The cozy bar at Miramar Hotel. 

The ever kind hearted people from Gawad Kalinga sponsored the native iced tea at the second to the last stop. According to the GK representatives, Bayani Brew is an authentic Filipino iced tea on which the produces were harvested from GK's enchanted gardens. The red/maroon one is Sweet Potato flavor while the brownish/yellowish one is lemongrass (tanglad) with pandan flavor.

You have to try one!

The last and final stop: Rizal Monument at Rizal Park (Roxas Boulevard, across Kilometer Zero)

Second batch of #VivaManila free walking tour class picture

Me and my FEU tourism students with Sir Carlos

Another shot with the tour guide in bunny ears. 

I have to admit that I have very few stuff to say about the stops. I would really love to add more details about the stops though, but then I, together with the rest of the volunteers, am too busy making sure everybody is well-informed of the the next stops (that I only have a very few chance to actually listen to the glittery bits of information that Carlos narrated.) Yes, it was my first time (and my students) to join the tour and our knowledge about Malate is not as extensive as that of a local resident in the area, but we want to get involved and do our part as future tourism stakeholders.

Nevertheless, the voluntourism experience has never been this fun. Seeing the enormous crowd of tour participants excited and patiently walking the streets of Malate despite a not-so-fair weather. Truly, tourism is so empowering that it makes people appreciate and value natural beauty and cultural resources around us that was once disregarded and unrecognized. :)

Until the next #VivaManila! Reviving the Old Manila One Step at a Time.

I challenge all the tourism students out there to practice voluntourism and get involved in their local tourism initiatives!

Voluntourism at its finest! Get involved!

xx

Eena :)