Things to Do in Metro Manila

Ah, Metro Manila – and at its heart, Manila, Pearl of the Orient, the city of our affections indeed. Metro Manila has always been a whirlwind of things to see, do, and find out. If you haven’t been back in a while, you’ll surely be surprised at what’s new now. Let us help you out and introduce you to a few of the newest and best things that it now has to offer.

- Lazy Saturday morning? Then check out Banchetto, a foodie’s delight and hangout only along Emerald Avenue in Ortigas. With stalls and stalls of mouthwatering food running the gamut from seafood to silog to crepes, Banchetto (from the Italian word for “feast”) is a long, leisurely, rich-with-variety meal waiting to be savored. Open from midnight till 11 am on Saturdays only. www.banchetto.multiply.com

- Hit Mogwai Cinematheque, an independent moviehouse showcasing everything from the best of Hollywood to the gems of the underground and indie film scenes. The house puts on specific themes every week and chooses movies to go along with the themes. Located in Cubao Expo in Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City, this is a must-go for the serious movie fan. mogwaifilm.multiply.com

- Love to read? Then head straight to Bookay Ukay. The punny name actually tells you straight what they’re selling: an entire stash and treasure trove of secondhand books. Make your way to 55 Maginhawa Street, UP Village, Diliman, Quezon City for your book fix.

- For a most unusual foot spa treat, you can have the calluses on your feet eaten by doctor fish at the Manila Ocean Park. These gentle creatures LOVE to eat dead skin and have been proven to be a good treatment for people with skin diseases. The fish bites won’t hurt, we promise. Only 120 PHP for a 20-minute treatment. The Manila Ocean Park is located behind the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park, Manila. www.manilaoceanpark.com

- For those of you craving for a board-game fix, there are multiple places to go now in Metro Manila. Along Katipunan Avenue fronting Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City is the Game Crab Boardgame Café (in photo) - spend an hour or two enjoying any one of their many board games and get to nibble at their food specialties at the same time. Those who frequent malls, on the other hand, only need to stop in at any Hobbes and Landes branch (except the Promenade one) to try the games they’ve got laid out in their Try Me section, for free. http://gamecrabcafe.com/, http://www.hobbesandlandes.com/

- If you want a great view of the famous Manila Bay sunset, then get right on the M/V Spirit of Manila for the Sunset Cruise. Run by Prestige Cruises and with the boarding point at the CCP’s Harbour Square (right in front of a Starbucks), you could have a romantic dinner with your special someone, complete with a four-course meal and a live band to serenade you. www.manilabay.net

There are so many more things to do in Manila! And what better time to check the metro out than during the weekend of the Hotel Intercontinental Manila, January 8-9, 2010? Come on and join the various activities that the Ruby Reunion Committee has already lined up – and see what’s new in Manila, too!