The final resting place of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, a Spanish Conquistador, is located within the walls of Intramuros and is one of the area’s enduring attractions. The first governor general of the Philippines had his fair share of benevolence during the Spanish Colonial Period. Aside from introducing Roman Catholicism in the country, he was able to unify many natives and introduced a centralized form of government in the country. After conquering Manila in 1571, he immediately ordered the construction of the walled-city. After spending most of his personal fortune during the conquest, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi was left poverty-stricken and eventually died of heart failure in 1572. To honor Legazpi’s work and contribution to the country, his remains are interred right beside the altar of San Agustin Church.

With its neoclassical buildings and iconic landmarks, Escolta exudes history and Philippine heritage. Like most places in Old Manila, the best way to explore the “Queen of Streets” is by foot...or by a horse-drawn carriage locally known as “kalesa.”

Along the stretch of Escolta stands one of the few buildings that have managed to survive the onslaught of World War II. Built in 1938, The Calvo Building was designed by one of the most renowned architects in the country, Fernando Hizon Ocampo on the land owned by real estate businesswoman Doña Emiliana Mortera vda Calvo. Fernando used a Beaux-Arts architecture in his design, a classic decorative style that heavily influenced the architecture of the United States and Europe.



Aside from its stunning façade, Calvo Building houses the Calvo Museum, a quaint museum that holds interesting remnants from Calvo’s history and that of Escolta. Fascinating memorabilia collection from vintage bottles, old photographs and movie posters can be viewed. To people interested in cultural heritage, this museum is a passage back in time.

• Exact Location: 266 Escolta corner Soda Streets, Binondo, Manila.
• Operating Hours: Calvo Museum inside Calvo Building is temporarily closed.

During my teen years I made a list of all the things I wanted to do by the time I was in a certain age and what I wanted to be when I grow up. Apparently, becoming a Flight Attendant was on top of the list. Everyone close to me - family, friends and even my blog readers know how much I've always wanted to become a Flight Attendant. Like many others, it has been my childhood dream. My love for airplanes, adventure and helping others probably culminated from family members who work in airline industries, the environment I'm in (I live next to the airport by the way) and my passion for traveling.

Manila can be a daunting place to visit, but amongst the chaotic streets are hidden treasures waiting to be discovered for those who get their thrill in good finds. Dapitan Shopping Arcade is a quaint market district along Dapitan Street, hence the name.
It is a treasure trove for housewives and interior designers because of their quality but affordable items mostly overruns from prominent homeware and interior shops abroad. From wooden crates at ₱200.00- ₱600.00, to jewelry organizers of the same cost, tableware set, decorative items and ornaments, all reasonably priced compared to other retail stores.

Although, the prices are already marked down, haggling and making the right deal is still advisable in Dapitan Shopping Arcade. While you’re there, sample some Filipino street food. It could be a gastronomically delightful experience!

Can you hear it? The sleigh bells ringing! It may seem like Christmas is too far away to fully immerse yourself in the holiday spirit, but now is the best time to start shopping for our loved ones. We don't want to leave everything until the last minute, now do we? Well, even if you plan to, Karton got us covered.


Founded in the third quarter of 2016, Karton is an e-commerce platform that let users choose from a huge selection of handmade goods and specialty dishes – all ready to ship at a moment’s notice. The site features a diverse roster of sellers that range from long-time bazaar staples to aspiring home entrepreneurs, each one with its own distinct character and style.




As soon as I entered their store located at 315 B LRI Design Plaza Bel-Air II, 210 Nicanor Garcia Makati City, I was lured by everything I was seeing. From hand-made tote bags by Cheeky Olive, Pure Lambanog by Barik to Natural Pet Care Products by Fetch. It was a match made in heaven, indeed. Ms. Thea Serad, Karton's Marketing Associate, talked me through all I need to know about their shop that promotes artisan goods proudly owned by Filipino entrepreneurs. According to her, the idea of building an e-commerce website sparked when one of their partners asked when will their next bazaar be, now sellers will no longer have to wait - instead, they can sell their hand-made goods any time of the year and customers can reach their products online and have them delivered to their doorstep with just a few clicks.



Even if you're on a shoestring budget it doesn't mean you should settle for less, Karton's selection of Christmas Baskets filled with artisan goods will surely make your loved ones feel special this Yuletide. With their delivery fee of Php 150.00, you can easily order your chosen product/s and have them delivered to your address. However, if you want to send it directly to your recipient, Karton has an "Add as a Gift" option for that. Now that's what we call a hassle-free solution to our gift giving woes! It is especially convenient for us gift-givers who have non-negotiable schedules but also for commuters who just couldn't take the Manila traffic. For easy reference and more options, check out their updated list of gift boxes through this link.

I always find hanging out in Cafés a more inviting option than going to the mall. There is just something about it that makes my heart flutter - and no, I don't mean palpitations from having too much caffeine. I'm talking about the ambient music, the refreshing environment and even the whir of a coffee machine. It's true what they say, finding the perfect place for work or meeting with friends is one of the simple pleasures of life. Last Saturday, my boyfriend and I discovered a lovely café nestled in the small neighborhood of Banawe, hence the name; Neighborhood Game Café.

They are located close to one of the busiest streets in the Metro so whether you're commuting or driving, Neighborhood Game Cafe isn't really hard to spot. Prior to our visit, I made my research because knowing my boyfriend he dislikes going to places with no parking. So just imagine my relief when I found out they offer free parking space for their customers. We haven't even gotten to the place but I'm already loving it. Hooray for that!



As soon as we arrived, we were welcomed by a warm and inviting atmosphere (thank you to the kind security guard for guiding us into the parking lot!) but even more so when we got inside. Everyone had beaming smiles, myself included, especially after seeing their wide array of board games. Mrs. Jenn Tan, one of the owners of the shop, was kind enough to guide us to our seats and offer the menu card. I must say, they serve budget-friendly food without compromising the taste and quality. My personal favorite was the Sweet and Spicy Flavored Wings then matched with their S'mores coffee-based drink - a winner combination!


After placing our orders, my boyfriend and I went straight to the shelf where all the board games are. We were ecstatic like kids in a candy shop! Their selection are top-notch in my opinion, and most of the board games I used to play when I was younger were there such as Monopoly, Snakes and Ladder, Uno and more. It was also nice to see other familiar games like Exploding Kittens, Resistance, Cards Against Humanity and Taboo.


Since my boyfriend and I wanted a bit of a challenge, we agreed on trying out a board game we've never played before. Mrs. Jenn suggested us to try Melissa and Doug's Suspend Family Game. If you're not familiar with the game, basically, the objective is to balance metal rods onto an elevated base. It may sound easy but don't be deceived because unlike Jenga, this Suspend Game is harder to complete. After playing the Suspend Game, we tried a more complex strategic board game called Splendor. It took us about 20 minutes to read and completely understand the rules on our own but once we get the hang of it, we had a blast! It was so fun my boyfriend recently purchased his own board.


While some board-game cafés cater to kids - Neighborhood Game Cafe is also for anyone looking for a place to hunker down to study and work or people who simply wants to do something out of the ordinary. As for my boyfriend and I, we wanted a place where we can ditch our phones and have a face-to-face conversation - board games encourages us to do just that.

After filling up our tummies, we had the chance to have a chit chat with Mrs. Jen who turned her hobbies with friends into a successful business. What really struck me the most from our conversation was when she said to; "THINK A MILLION TIMES" before venturing entrepreneurship and I believe this can also be applied to anything in general. One choice could either make or break us. So it is important to think, think, think before we decide because once it's done, we can't undo even the littlest of things.

Neighborhood Game Cafè is located at 48 Ubay St, Banawe, Quezon City and they are open daily from 10AM to 10PM. To know more, visit their website here.

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