10 Pieces of Something in Manila

Tourists from other parts of the world often skip the City of Manila. Little do they know that there's a piece of something in this forgotten city.

Tourists look for the big clock in London, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.

Located in the center of Manila, Manila City Hall is one of the city's most famous landmarks, it is one of the few buildings in Manila that survived World War 2

Tourists look for notorious festival in Japan, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.

The Feast of the Black Nazarene, celebrated every 9th of January, is one of the biggest festivals in the country. Like Japan's Danjiri Festival, devotees have to pull the the carriage of the Black Nazarene around the streets of Quiapo, Manila without any equipped engine, purely man power. Both the Danjiri Festival and Feast of the Black Nazarene bring casualties yearly. Read more about Fiesta Nazareno here.   

Tourists look for Gothic church in France, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.

The only Gothic church in Asia can be found in the City of Manila. Built by Belgian engineers, this all-steel church of San Sebastian is one of its kind in Asia. Others even believe that Gustave Eiffel, himself, designed this masterpiece.

Tourists look for the obelisk in Vatican, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.

An obelisk found in the historical plaza Miranda. The plaza is a witness to an event that shaped the course of the Philippine History. It's the Plaza Miranda Bombing of 1971 that occurred before the announcement of Martial Law by President Marcos.

Tourists look for the old stone church in Mexico, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.

 A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest stone church in the Philippines. It is the only surviving building inside the walled city after the liberation of Manila.

Tourists look for merlion in Singapore, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.

"Talk about effective branding---the Singapore merlion is an internationally recognized icon created in 1964 and made into a statue in 1972. How come nobody remembers the merlion with a sword that has been in the coat of arms of Manila since 1596" - Ambeth Ocampo

Tourists look for the pyramids in Egypt, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.

There's a pyramid and sphinx in Manila. Owned by the luxurious Tuazon-Arroyo clan, this tomb located at the end of the Main Avenue is one of the most renowned tombs of Manila North Cemetery. Read more about Manila North Cemetery here.

Tourists look for the guardian dog in Shanghai, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.

The Chinese culture in Manila is not new to many. They came to Manila even before the arrival of the Spaniards. Binondo's Fu Dogs, like the ones in Shanghai, guard the entrance to Manila's China Town. Read more about Manila's China Town here.

Tourists look for old Spanish fort in Puerto Rico, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.     

Being the center of Spanish Empire in the far-east, the Walled City of Manila aka Intramuros was very well fortified. Before the liberation of Manila, these walls were made into prison cells by the Japanese during the World War 2. Nothing of the past glorious walled city had remained after the bombings of 1945. Read more about the Walled City here.

Tourists look for the old university in Cambridge, but little do they know that we have one here in Manila.     

Though it's not as old as the University of Cambridge, Manila's University of Santo Tomas is the oldest existing university in Asia. It was founded in 1611 by Manila's third Archbishop Miguel de Benevides.

You know, Manila used to be the most beautiful city in the east, until it was leveled into the ground by the Americans during the 1945 Liberation of Manila, a sad reality we can no longer revert. Manila now maybe negligible when it comes to first class beauty, but for me, the City of Manila is still and forever will be the Pearl of the Orient. It has an incomparable greatness, you'll just have to have a good eye for history to see it. 

Photo Sources:
Big Ben 
Danjiri
Chartres Cathedral
Vatican Obelisk 
Guadalupe Church
Singapore Merlion
Pyramid
Fu Dog
Fort San Cristobal
Cambridge University

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 This is my entry to this month's PTB Blog carnival hosted by Angel Juarez of Lakwatsero with the topic: "Manila In Focus"
   
Click here to read other entries for this month's blog carnival.

Click on the logo to view the previous PTB Blog Carnivals.

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Manila Landmarks Trilogy

10 Pieces of Something in Manila

Manila Then and Now

6 Misplaced Landmarks in Manila - A guest post on Journeying James

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