Now is the time for a girls trip to Manila. A Japanese local will guide you to the fashionable spots

Walking around Bonifacio Global City, a cutting-edge area that continues to evolve

Bonifacio Global City

Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is a cutting-edge redevelopment area that is overturning the image of old Manila.
The city is clean and filled with greenery, and there are many facilities for the wealthy, such as the five-star hotel "Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila" and the luxury condominium "Serendra." The main street of BGC is "Bonifacio High Street."

Bonifacio High Street, which is approximately 500 meters long, is a pedestrian-only street with a very wide road and open grass plazas and fountains, just like a park.
Along the road, there are a variety of local Philippine stores, including fashion brands such as BENCH/ (fast fashion) and Healthy Options, a select shop that sells health foods and body care products, making it a great place for shopping.
Bonifacio High Street is barrier-free, so you can easily move around in a wheelchair or with a stroller, and it's also a great place for children to play. You can enjoy shopping safely and leisurely.

Another attraction of BGC is the abundance of contemporary art pieces throughout the city.
A project by the Bonifacio Art Foundation, there are over 60 public art pieces scattered throughout the city.
Among them are playful works that at first glance look like graffiti, casually painted on street corners, and impressive works that cover the entire walls of buildings. You can have fun by taking a walk on a nice day and searching for your favorite works.

We also recommend "Fully Booked BGC Branch," the largest bookstore in Manila, located at the eastern end of Bonifacio High Street. The five-story store is lined with English books, including magazines and picture books, and also has English versions of Japanese manga.
You'll be amazed by the unexpected interior design, such as a huge wall designed with stacked books. There is ample space to relax, and the book cafe is perfect for a short break. It's a bookstore that's enjoyable even just to look around.

BGC also hosts occasional markets on Bonifacio High Street and in many large and small plazas throughout the area.

My Saturday Market, which is held irregularly on Saturdays in a plaza called Jesus Oval, is lined with around 15 stores selling organic cosmetics and traditional Philippine accessories made from palm wood, and is always bustling with an international crowd.

There are a wide variety of colorful tropical fruits such as sweet mangoes, pineapples, and dragon fruit, as well as rare vegetables that you won't find in Japan. We also recommend the lemonade and fruit juices made fresh from fruit on the spot.

Bonifacio High Street also hosts a variety of markets on weekends. On the day we visited, a market called "Origin Market" was being held, featuring shops selling handmade bags and accessories.
Filipinos are very good at incorporating vivid colors into their fashion. Here too, there are a variety of items in vibrant colors. Many of them suit Japanese tastes, and you can enjoy a tropical look just by incorporating one accent.

The boldly arranged Filipino cuisine is perfect for Japanese tastes

Manam Comfort Filipino

Filipino cuisine is influenced by Spanish cuisine, and is characterized by rice as the staple food, meat and seafood with strong seasonings as the main dishes, and few vegetables.
It's a favorite among local families and when dining out, and there are many Filipino restaurants in the streets of Manila, but one of the most popular is "Manam Comfort Filipino." There's always a line, even on weekdays.

This restaurant is known for its bold takes on traditional Filipino dishes, particularly its Watermelon and Beef Sinigang Soup.
Sinigang soup is a soup made with tamarind, a sour fruit found in the Philippines. The combination of the mellow sweetness of watermelon, the umami of beef, and the sour soup is popular among Japanese people, and there are even repeat customers who come just for this.

We also recommend pancit, a Filipino celebratory dish. Pancit is a stir-fried dish of noodles with vegetables and seafood, and comes in several flavors, including the fried noodle-like "canton" and "bifun" made with thin rice noodles.
At Manam Comfort Filipino, the most popular type of pancit is "Crispy Palabok," which is crispy noodles topped with seafood sauce. The hot sauce blends seamlessly with the noodles, and the seafood aroma fills your mouth.

Another dessert you can't miss on a hot day is "Halo-halo." This dessert, which means "mixed" in Filipino, is made by mixing shaved ice, ice cream, jelly, syrup, fruit, etc.

Each shop has its own unique mix, which is another fun part, but Manam's halo-halo is simple, with ube (purple yam) ice cream as the main ingredient. The servings are small, so even those who don't like sweet things can enjoy them.

Travel back in time surrounded by photogenic traditional architecture

Intramuros

Intramuros, an old town where buildings from the 16th century Spanish colonial era remain, is a representative tourist destination in the center of Metro Manila. The walled area is home to majestic churches, museums, universities, and more.

The Philippines is a rare country in Asia where Christians make up the majority of the population. In Intramuros, a church that is over 400 years old is still in use, allowing you to experience the Christian faith and culture of this country.
Among them, Manila Cathedral was founded in 1571 and is the most important church as the headquarters of Manila Catholicism.

It has collapsed and been restored many times in the past, and was rebuilt in 1958 as the current Neo-Romanesque cathedral.
The interior has a stately atmosphere, and the beautiful stained glass and the pipe organ, which is said to be one of the largest in Asia and consists of 4,500 pipes, are must-sees.

Another highlight of Intramuros is the San Agustin Church, the oldest stone church in the Philippines.

The original church, built in 1571, was made of bamboo and palm leaves called nipa, but after several reconstructions, the current stone Baroque building was completed in 1607.

The interior of the church was modeled after a Mexican temple, and highlights include the gorgeous chandeliers brought from Paris and the carved-looking ceiling decorations. You can also look down on the majestic interior of the church from the second floor.
If you visit on a weekday when there are fewer people around, you'll have the strange feeling that you've traveled back in time to that time.

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and find healing with the Philippine traditional remedy "Hilot"

Yk Spa

"Hilot," known in Japan as a type of massage, originated in the Philippines, where it is popular as a folk remedy to combat physical ailments.

There are many hilot salons in Manila, but one of the most popular among Japanese residents is "Yk Spa" in Makati.
There are Japanese therapists who are nationally qualified in Hilot by the Philippine government agency "TESDA", so even those who are worried about the language can rest assured. After a thorough consultation in Japanese, they will perform a full-fledged Hilot treatment.

Treatments include full-body treatments using coconut oil, body balance checks using banana leaves, foot massages using bamboo sticks called dag dagai, and even facial massages.

We combine these various treatments to provide full body maintenance. The facial massage is so relaxing that you may fall asleep. After the treatment, you will notice that your skin has become smoother.

The people of the Philippines are always smiling and charming

There are so many things to love about Manila, including shopping, relaxation, and afternoon tea. But perhaps the most attractive thing about Manila that I feel is the people.
Thanks to the Filipino people who are always smiling and always cheerful, the anxiety I had before moving here has disappeared and I am now having a very enjoyable time. I hope you will experience this tropical energy on your trip.

Originally posted on May 30, 2019
*Some content was updated on December 4, 2024.