One of my closest Filipina friends from Berlin is in town, visiting with her daughters, all intelligent, confident, and beautiful young ladies who I have the pleasure of claiming as my nieces—not by blood but through friendship. Let’s be honest here: sometimes, that’s even better since it’s something you sign up for because you like the kids. Francesca is 19 and the twins Patrizia and Sophia are 15. Teenagers are great to hang out with but I guess I’m coming from the perspective of the lucky aunt who’s there for the fun and not the tough times of raising kids. 

In all honesty, I think Lesley and her husband should be the resource for parenting since they were able to raise truly wonderful girls. After spending time in Lesley’s hometown of Dumaguete, they’re now in Manila for a few days and she was insistent that they do more than the usual errands while waiting for their flight back to Germany. “I want them to experience something cultural,” she said, and I was more than willing to oblige.

After reading about Manila’s new Hop-On, Hop-Off tours, I thought it would be the perfect way for us to help the girls get to know the capital better. So at 10 a.m., we were at Robinson’s Place Manila to catch our bus and make our way to our first stop. These colorful buses are being marketed as a more convenient way to explore the city. Access to an air conditioner on a hot day like today and the promise of a timely departure and arrival are definitely attractive.

Exploring made easy
We passed the Rajah Sulayman Park before making our way to Luneta. One can decide to go on a DIY tour or hire a tour guide accredited by the Department of Tourism. We were lucky that our bus had one but even if you’re going the DIY route, you’ll still get information on the stops and tourist attractions through the screens and speakers inside the bus. 

A quick walk through Luneta and a brief introduction on the life of our hero Jose Rizal offered the girls a perspective on what it was like living under Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. From there, we made our way to Malacañang where two of the three recently renovated mansions in the complex have been turned into public museums. Bahay Ugnayan has been designated as a gallery that would focus on the sitting president’s life and road to the country’s highest office. Currently, it holds information and memorabilia from the campaign of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The nearby Teus Mansion, meanwhile, houses exhibits on and memorabilia of past presidents. I personally enjoyed seeing some of the clothes worn by leaders, like President Fidel Ramos’ neo-gothic barong worn during the centennial celebration of our independence in 1998. 

From there, we went back to the bus to head to Binondo. I love going to the world’s oldest Chinatown but seeing the girls’ first visit as they really enjoyed themselves was such a treat. We had lunch at Great Buddha. Prior to the meal, the girls declared they wouldn’t be having that much rice but we ended up getting more anyway. The beef broccoli and the fish tofu made sure we all went for seconds. 

Next, we made our way to Intramuros and Fort Santiago, learning so many things along the way. The guide pointed out the site of an old panciteria, which Jose Rizal used to frequent. I often visit these areas and think I know quite a bit about the city’s history but the guide had some interesting information on certain buildings that were new to me. That’s the thing about Manila. You think you know it well but it always has something new to offer.

We ended our tour by 3 p.m., with enough time to make it back to Makati without getting stuck in traffic. Exhausted but happy, it was evident that the girls enjoyed their day. Two of them said their favorite bit was Binondo while one said that learning about the Presidents was hers.

Making the most out of the tour
There’s no denying that Manila is also known for its traffic. So it’s best to plan out your tours away from rush hour. Thankfully, the bus operates from 10 a.m., allowing you to avoid the morning rush, but its service ends at 7 p.m. There are four trips per day in the Manila route and five trips for the one in Makati. There’s a timetable but it’s best to download the app to see where the buses are exactly and so that you can manage your stay in each stop.

For the Manila route, I suggest making your way to your final stop before 5 p.m., maybe enjoy the sunset at Fort Santiago and have dinner within Intramuros? Ilustrado is one of our favorites for classic, Filipino-Spanish dishes. I’m not just saying this because I had my wedding reception there but you can never go wrong with them. Ristorante delle Mitre, a stone’s throw away from the Manila Cathedral, serves the favorite dishes of Filipino bishops. It might be a bit weird if you’re not that religious but trust me—the food is worth it. You can also end your day with drinks at Bayleaf Hotel’s rooftop bar. Intramuros at night and from above is really something else. 

Be prepared for the heat. It’s the tropics but the warmth and humidity are often underestimated by visitors. Hydrate and make sure to use the time on the bus to rest in between your stops. All in all, I’d say it’s a great way to explore for first timers and those who want to get a reintroduction to the capital.