Taking a drive to Manila’s astonishing old town gem

Getting to know the folks who bring life to Binondo


At a glance

  • Though it has been subject to many changes over the centuries, the people of Binondo continue to breathe life into the district through a rich culinary scene and diverse culture


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OLD TOWN ROAD Binondo dates as far back as 1594 and is home to a large Filipino-Chinese community

 

Binondo is widely known as the first Chinatown community, having been established as far back as 1594 by Spanish colonizers as a settlement for Chinese Catholics. Though it has been subject to many changes over the centuries, the people of Binondo continue to breathe life into the district through a rich culinary scene and diverse culture. Let’s take a journey to get to know some of the folks who keep Binondo alive and well.  

 

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LEADING THE WAY Old Manila Walks founder Ivan Dy

 

Early greetings and craving for hopia

For our first stop, we were led by Old Manila Walks founder Ivan Dy to Polland Hopia. Hopia is a snack enjoyed by many for its sweet fillings, usually monggo or ube. Before enjoying a fresh serving of hopia, we took some time to learn some Hokkien greetings used for the Lunar New Year. One such greeting is Ho chia ho kuhn (May you have good appetite and sleep well every night)! We each received a special banner handwritten by calligrapher Dewey Tan. 

 

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SPECIAL GREETING Calligrapher Dewey Tan makes use of a Chinese brush pen to write a special message for celebrating the Lunar New Year

 

After receiving our banners, our craving for hopia was satisfied with a special twist. Abigail Tin, Polland’s head of marketing, took charge in showing us how to make the sweet snack from scratch. To add a bit of personality to our hopia, we designed each one with food coloring using chopsticks as our brush. It was almost impossible not to eat the entirety of the batch we prepared as it came fresh from the oven.  

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LEARN FROM THE MASTER Polland head of marketing Abigail Tin teaching hopia-making

 

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GET IT WHILE IT'S HOT Hopia fresh from the oven

 

Sightseeing and a taste of coffee

 

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GLORY DAYS Escolta's buildings brings a certain charm as it provides a glimpse of Old Manila

 

Binondo is also best known for its unique architecture and preserved buildings. For many, the go-to sight is the First United Building along Escolta Street for its magnificent Art Deco motif. There’s also a bustling art scene as many young artists join the local art markets to sell their craft. Artists also frequent the local coffee shops in the area, one of which is the Escolta Coffee Company run by Gabriel Villegas. Here, you’ll find what was once a pawnshop repurposed into a coffee roasting facility. There are several local coffee roasts you can try coming from places as far as Benguet, Bukidnon, and Batangas. What’s even better is the team is passionate about providing responsibly-produced and great-tasting coffee for the local community.  

 

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ROAST MASTER Escolta Coffee Company's Gabriel Villegas

 

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WAKE UP CALL Enjoying a taste test of different coffees from various local farms

 

Learning our fortunes

 

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RUNS IN THE FAMILY Denise Chua runs the New Victory Trading business with her family

 

After the invigorating coffee experience, we had a pleasant chat with business owner Denise Chua. Denise is a third-generation store owner of their family business New Victory Trading that has been operating since 1938. She gave us a glimpse of what to expect for the Year of the Wooden Snake and provided each of us with a special coin for good health, wealth, and stable relationships for the year. Though some of the fortunes might have felt like it wouldn’t bode too well for certain signs, there was a general excitement over what riches or challenges are expected to come this year.  

 

A filling meal to end the day

 

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A FILLING MEAL Fresh lumpia and sate beef chami
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We wrapped things over at a hole-in-a-wall type restaurant known as Quick Snak. For a long day of walking, refueling ourselves with a good meal was the cherry on top of the day’s exciting itinerary. From all the dishes served, the clear favorites were the fresh lumpia, original kikiam, and the sate beef chami. If you’re looking to add an extra kick, pair them each with the hot sauce. 

 

What made it all possible

Our journey would not have been possible without the Ford Territory acting as our ride to Binondo. Even when sitting in heavy traffic, as a passenger it was a comfortable experience due to the spacious legroom and the booming sound system. We didn’t have to worry about getting lost as the GPS worked effortlessly. Getting through the tight corners of Manila was a breeze for the driver thanks to the vehicle’s 360-degree camera, enhanced active park assist, and various driving modes. As it was early in the morning, one fun part of the trip was getting to bask in some vitamin sun as we let the panoramic moon roof let in some sunshine. Overall, the trip was a wonderful experience made even better by the pleasant drive.