Travel Survival Kit

I earned this lesson while on a trip a few months ago when the airline temporarily lost my luggage: it pays to have a small, survival travel kit that packs some essentials with you, aside from the ones you put on your check-in luggage. The kit should be small and TSA-compliant so that you can bring it to the cabin, so no liquids more than 100 ml, and no Swiss-knife type implements and scissors.

Here's what I usually put on my travel survival kit: an extra pair of contacts (and a small bottle of contact lens solution, OTC medicines such as anti-diarrheal and anti-allergy tablets, wet wipes, toothbrush and a small tube of toothpaste, grooming implements such as a small comb, Q-tips, deodorant, and a sachet or two of shampoo. I also would put a few dollar bills inside, in case of an unfortunate event of losing my wallet.

I usually carry it in a small backpack when I travel, where I pack it with other essentials, such as my phone, a book, and a charger (plus my camera). A clean pair of underwear and a shirt too can do wonders when you're in a strange country and your airline misplaces your luggage.

August 21 Holiday Update

Just an update for the previously declared August 23 holiday: 

The Philippine government has rescinded its earlier pronouncement declaring August 23 a national holiday;  the Ninoy Aquino Day will be celebrated on August 21 (which, unfortunately is a Saturday). 

Ayala Tower One

Housing the Philippine Stock Exchange, the Ayala Tower One is one of the well-known skyscrapers in the Philippines. The 160-meter glass-clad building is located in Ayala Avenue in the Makati business district.

San Miguel by the Bay

The San Miguel by the Bay at Mall of Asia is one of the best locations to watch the Manila Bay sunset

August 21 and 30 are Public Holidays

 Two days in August are public holidays in the Philippines: 

August 23 - Ninoy Aquino Day (August 21, moved to nearest Monday)

August 30 - National Heroes Day (August 29, moved to nearest Monday) 

Manila Landmarks

Some more of the Manila landmarks I visited yesterday:

The Sta. Cruz church in Binondo. The Jesuits first built a church on the site in 1619.

The neo-classical Manila Central Post Office, designed by Filipino architect Juan Marcos de Guzman Arellano and built in 1926.

The art deco Metropolitan Theater, also designed by de Guzman, inaugurated in 1931 and rebuilt after the Second World War

Philippine Gothic

The Basilica of San Sebastian, located in Recto Avenue in Quiapo, Manila, is the only church in the world made from pre-fab steel. Reputed to the the first pre-fabricated building in the world, the steel parts of the building were made in Belgium. According to historian Ambeth Ocampo, Gustav Eiffel, the designer of the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty, was involved in the design of the church, which was constructed in 1888.

The church is under consideration for inclusion to World Heritage list.

How to get there: Take the LRT Line 2 (Purple Line) from Cubao to Legarda Station, then walk along the road to Recto Avenue.

Coming Back to Manila

Manila is just a stone's throw away from my place but it's one city in the metropolis (Metro Manila is composed of 16 cities) that I seldom visit. Having an extra day for my weekend, I decided to visit the city - founded in 1571 - and see the sights that we locals take for granted.

The trip is mostly on foot, and utilized public transportation. From my apartment, I took the light rail to Recto Avenue and visited the San Sebastian church - the only steel church in Asia. From there I swung by Quiapo through the historic Plaza Miranda and the Basilica of the Black Nazarene.

Going through the busy thoroughfare of Carriedo, Binondo is next. Called Parian by the Spaniards, Binondo is the location of the Chinatown - purportedly the oldest in the world.

From Binondo, I took a jeepney and went to see the pre-war neo-classical architecture in the Intramuros area, including the Manila Central Post Office, the National Museum of the Philippines, and the Manila City Hall.

I took another jeepney to a mall to rest when the sun became unbearably hot, then went back to Rizal Park. Known as Luneta to the locals, Rizal Park holds a significant place to the history of the Philippines. This is the place where the national hero, Jose Rizal, was executed by the Spaniards in 1896, and the site where the Philippines declared independence from the United States in 1946.

I originally intended to stay until sundown to catch the famous Manila Bay sunset but the weather has other plans.

pics, from top: Manila City Hall, the Rizal Monument, a balloon seller in Rizal Park, the National Museum of the Philippines, the Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, the KKK monument near Mehan Garden