September 13-15, 22-23 Metro Manila Visual Diary

This is a really late post because this year has been one of moving around for me, travelling and also, just hardly doing anything else when I should be blogging/posting stuff everywhere. Lol. Especially on my 'gram. (I just got locked out of my personal instagram account, btw, Idk how or why or it's just instagram and META being a d*ck rn. Well, they always are so I'm not at all surprised by this.)

*****

September 2024 had seen me travelling back and forth from my home city of Cagayan de Oro to Manila and to somewhere else then back to Manila and so on...at least twice. I was in Manila a few couple of times that month for both leisure and family business (work). Something there needed to be worked on for one.

First trip out from Cagayan de Oro is from September 13 to September 23. In between September 15 to 22, I had somewhere else to be.

I flew with AirAsia from here in Cagayan de Oro City to Metro Manila on September 13 to do stuff there...in Metro Manila:

It was the 11 a.m. flight so we arrived in Ninyo Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 at around 1 p.m. 

We almost missed our flight because we had to eat something before boarding said flight. I did get a prebooked meal beforehand, when I booked this flight, and it's vegan too! so I was actually alright without taking in much but water while at the airport, right before boarding time.

Well, hi there, Metro Manila. :)

From any of the terminals in NAIA, there are P2P shuttles that move you around between them and then out of NAIA and into the city proper (Araneta City-Cubao, PITX in Paranaque, etc). NAIA terminal 2 didn't have the bus or shuttle going to the city proper (our destination was Araneta City-Cubao because it's the one that's closest to the family's new place there...and yes, this is the family biz I was and have been taking care of whenever I'm in Metro Manila...so yep) so we had to take the P2P bus/shuttle to NAIA terminal 3 and take the shuttle/bus from there to Araneta-Cubao...for only Php 200. 

You can use this link: Premium Ninyo Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Shuttle Bus Transfers for Manila to make your airport to anywhere in Metro Manila (be it in Araneta City-Cubao, Pasay, Alabang, etc) easier. You can also find this link below, at the very end of this post.

If anyone travels to Metro Manila and wants to not spend much on a Grab car to your end destination there (AirBnB rental, hotel, etc) and you don't have anyone to come get you and take you to where you're staying, your end destination, you can always take this bus/shuttle out of the airport to take you to a place, either Araneta City-Cubao, Paranaque's PITX, Robinsons Manila, and so on, (just make sure to go to the shuttle's/bus' drop off point that's the closest to your place) and you can take the Grab car from there to save on expenses for your Metro Manila trip. This is how I do it these days when I am there or anywhere else for that matter.

Anyway, so my first order of business was this:

The Metro Manila International Book Fair or MMIBF was on that week. I think it was on for the weekend so I had to check it out for...yes, #romanceclass. #romanceclass is a group of or circle of Filipina romance books/novels/stories writers I have been following for a while now. Since around last year, I think? I have 3 books from them so far. I got one from their website and it's a reprint and it came with freebies some time last year ish. I bought these two other books of theirs at this event. They had shelves displaying them at Komiket's booth.

I was actually with my aunt at Ikea the afternoon of this MMIBF day and I just stole some time away to get to the SM Convention Center next door where this event was going on. I got there towards the end of the Blush Books launch and although I bought these two from the Komiket booth there, I didn't really have any of them signed by the authors that were there and participating in the launch event. I was on stolen time from what should be more Ikea Philippines time anyway so I didn't have that long a time to linger in the MIBFF area and had to go back to my aunt in Ikea Ph next door.

I still have one more book to get from the website. I hope they can reprint one of that for me. I like the story since it's set in the city I did my Literary Studies Masters in, Dumaguete City, so yep, I'm definitely getting myself a copy of that one, one of these days.

Oh, right. This was my pre-ordered/bought lunch from AirAsia. It's not exactly the best vegan/vegetarian food I've had in an airplane but it'll do. It's the vegetable rice bowl and it's alright.

Unfortunately, this is not in their menu anymore when you book their CDO-Metro Manila and back flight anymore but it appears as a second meal option once you've ordered one for both flights. It costs Php 200 per serving now. It would be nice if they can bring this back int the pre-booked meal options again so we don't have buy it as vegetarians/vegans on a 1 hour and 40 minutes or so flight to and from Cagayan de Oro City and Metro Manila.

We didn't really do much else in Metro Manila...I was supposed to run some errands for the family but I only got to do so little of it while we were there this week in September but we did get to explore some of Antipolo, Rizal:

My aunt is into churches so we attended Sunday mass, around September 15 here at a church by or next to a seminary. It's the St. Anthony de Padua Church in Inarawan. People just call it seminary/seminaryo and ask to be stopped there when taking the jeepney.

Antipolo, Rizal isn't that big a city or area so it's easy to go around there in either the grab car or their public transportation. We were staying in the new family's place in Katipunan, Quezon City, Metro Manila so this is just about two stations away from LRT 2 Katipunan (Araneta City-Cubao is just one station away from LRT Katipunan, going to Recto) going to Antipolo which is the last LRT 2 station so far, opposite of Recto. We just took the jeepney to this church after alighting Antipolo LRT 2 station and then we went around by their version of the tricycle or so, an e-trike.

We also visited, more like, checked out the Antipolo Cathedral which is very pretty, by the way, on our way to check on, visit other tourist spots in Antipolo, Rizal.

I think the one place in Antipolo, Rizal I'll be going back to is the Pinto Art Museum. Well, the art isn't exactly my favorite but I like that it's a chill and relaxing place to be:

The outdoors of this place get me. I want to just chill here for either a day or a morning or maybe an afternoon to the late evening somehow and go back to the city later on. Heh.

If I were to pick my favorites from the art works, art installations in the rooms here, however... I'd say these are what get me:

This is just sooo mood for me, I guess. This is me all the time anyways.

This is from a room with artworks for women and couples and as a (I confess that I am this,...) hopeless romantic and someone who identifies as a sexual being and with the feminist movement and its causes at the same time, I'm into this room. I'm very much into this room. 

I just like how this looks like from afar.

This is a pretty cool display and I like what it says at the back even more.

The entry fee to this museum is Php 250, btw. It's an alright price if you want to get into somewhere that's pretty, aesthetically pleasing too the eyes, the senses and somewhere that's, to me, is pretty relaxing with all the greens and stuff. Oh and I think you can lay around in the beds on its grounds if it's not raining or something at all.

The rest of this Metro Manila trip wasn't as eventful as I'd have liked it to be since I was travelling with someone much older so yep, this is the most I can share for this one.

We did go to the Quiapo Church (I dislike going there any time of day due to the crowd in the area, Quiapo is a super chaotic part of Metro Manila) to hear mass there the Sunday after our sandwiched international trip to somewhere I'll be blogging about later, after this. We also tried some Chinese food in the oldest China Town outside of China in Binondo that's next to Quiapo or very close to Quiapo but we didn't really try the ones from establishments a lot of people rave about like the xiaolongbao and more. I'll do a proper blog of the area and especially the food in the China Town in Binondo next time.

*****

In this post:

Klook's Premium Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Shuttle Bus Transfers for Manila

Click on the link above to access and (pre-) book the shuttle transfers on the Klook travel app or site. You can use the voucher to claim the rides when you make it to their designated bay (it's on the outer bay area) in NAIA terminal 3.

Until the next post!

P.S.

It's super near Christmas now. Maybe, yeah, just 4-5 more days but I think I can work on a Christmas gift guide via Shopee PH, Lazada PH, and even some SM Store and Zalora PH ones very quickly in between posting these late travel diaries of sorts. Definitely watch out for that one. It should go live in, like, two days tops. 

so I was in the Greater Metro Manila over the last weekend and..

....all I can say it is it was a blast! I was there to see Years and Years on their Manila concert date at the Kia Theater, now called the New Frontier Theater the night of the 25th but they cancelled, so...yes... It ended up being just a day and night of chilling with friends I've been meaning to meet after such a loooong time of just chit chatting with them on Twitter, Instagram, LiveJournal (way back when LJ was a thing and it was huge among Japanese entertainment stans...) and tumblr.

It was a HUGE shame Years and Years had to cancel their remaining South East Asian concert tour dates after a gig in Indonesia because well, many people were anticipating this tour including me and the good friend I met up with in the National Capital Region. It's even more so a shame because they were even slated for LaLaLaFest which, I think, is kind of cool to attend next time. I read about this one in the in-flight magazine the Air Asia flight, I'd taken on the way to NCR, had. Maybe if I were richer... LOL, whenever that will be...I'd've gone to the one in Japan since they didn't cancel this one. I was sooo looking forward to a night of dancing and singing along with Olly Alexander on the mic all night of the 25th...but alas, it didn't happen. On the bright side, we didn't spend for the tickets in advance at all because we didn't buy it in advance, online on Ticketnet. We didn't have to go through the hassles of getting our money refunded for a cancelled concert.

Anyway, yes, all we did the whole time I was there was hang out and just chill. The first night was for walking around Mall of Asia after checking in at Kabayan Hotel. My dad suggested this to me as it's his favorite as well. Turns out, a close friend of mine in Davao City frequents this OFW budget-friendly hotel as well. Kabayan Hotel is situated in Pasay City where everything, especially transportation, is highly accessible from. You have the MRT 3 across the side of the hotel and there's also LRT Line 1 if you walk further along from there. Public transportation is highly abundant in the area, just make sure you have a map or, well...google maps help a ton, according to said Davao City-based bff/super close friend. February 25 was a holiday, EDSA or People Power Anniversary. I don't remember how many years has it been since...now. So this was perfectly timed on a long weekend and I just took a work leave for Tuesday, the next day, so I could make it home fine and get enough rest before work the next day, Wednesday.

Mall of Asia chilling and walking around was fine except there were a ton of people there. There seems to have been an event at the Mall of Asia Arena and we were caught in the rush of people coming out of it around 6-7 at Sunday night. It was also a weekend so, like, the amount of people there being more than overwhelming (especially for those with social anxiety and such) is quite understandable, I think. After walking around aimlessly and just catching up in personal on the most random of things, we just had a quick dinner at Yoshinoya after and hopped onto Kabayan's hourly or so shuttle. Yes, the hotel is very, VERY convenient to stay at if you're there for a concert like I was for Years and Years. It's also convenient for those who want to be there for other events and maybe, just running an errand around the great big...metropolitan region.

The next day, February 25, was a trip to Maginhawa in Quezon City via North EDSA/Trinoma MRT 3 station. The beep card I got from the dad prior to leaving for Manila the day before---he handed it to me when he came in from Manila in the Laguindingan Airport because it was timed to my leaving as well---came into good such good use that I had to get one for my own should I take another trip there one day soon (and I do plan to do so as well~). 

Maginhawa is a street in Quezon Avenue that's lined with dainty milk tea shops, cafes and about a handful of vegetarian, vegan and mixed restaurants that aren't at all as heavy on the pockets as I expected. The milk teas we had at Moonleaf however, were quite expensive however. In our local Chingkeetea here in Cagayan de Oro City, a Php 90 regular-sized milk tea at Moonleaf is already a large drink of any thing except maybe specials in their menu. This makes me thankful to be based in Cagayan de Oro City. Quite the comparison, I know but such things are infinitely more affordable outside of Manila or NCR. And yes, the above are polaroids friends and I took at Moonleaf before Kat had to leave for a family emergency.

After a quick chill out at Maginhawa---we ate a quick lunch of pasta at Trinoma's food court before proceeding here---with milk tea on hand, Pat and I headed to Pino's to meet with my little brother who's attending college at the Ateneo nearby. Ateneo de Manila, the University of the Philippines Dilliman Campus and the all girls' college, Miriam College have easy access to Maginhawa. This is why you'll see a ton of students here, studying and just hanging around...

Pino's is a bit pricey but they offer really good vegetarian and vegan food. The second floor, Pipino, is for vegans only. I'd go there with Pat next time I'm around the metro on my own again. I've been meaning to go vegan/vegetarian for a while again. Anyway, price-wise, Pino's okay. Then the second night there ends in Pino's. By the way, I had the vegetarian soba which was good. It comes with mango bits so...it was filling. Ugh, I want to try other things in their menu. :(

I wasn't able to shop much during this trip because we were hellbent on just chilling and food tripping so all I really got out of this trip was my cat's shiny new grey garterized ribbon collar with a tiny golden bell and a feather toy for her. Also, a couple of really cute notebooks from Landmark that only cost Php 19.something each. 

The next day, the last day of my long weekend there, was a quick trip to Cubao before going home. Luckily, they have a lounge and airport shuttle there called Ube Express so it was easy for me to get to the airport from there after half a day or so spent wandering around the area. This one started with a quick-ish breakfast at a McDonald's there of pancakes and hot chocolate. I missed eating that one since I hardly breakfast out here nowadays. Like, seriously? I really hardly do unless I have a trip to go out for again.

So I checked out super early from the hotel at around 15 minutes to 5 in the morning and promptly caught the first 5:30 a.m. MRT 3 train out to Araneta-Cubao station. 

The only city scape-ish photo I took that's a tad bit scenic is probably this one from the Araneta-Cubao MRT 3 station. I was waiting for Kat there and thought that the sunrise was pretty so this was the result of my phone photo adventure at the time. My phone's camera isn't exactly the best as it's just a J2 Prime but it works really well if the area is well lit like this one.

Cubao was all sorts of fun. We finally located the New Frontier Theater (formerly known as the Kia Theater) and we also time-hopped at the quaint little area around Cubao Expo. It's time travelling on there as they have everything weird and fun at the same time like collectibles of sorts from really old and rare books, records and more. I found a Pablo Neruda fresh from outside the country at the first shop we visited there and really wanted it but at 600 Php for such a tiny, soft-bound book, I decided otherwise. I'll just get some of his books from Amazon along with the Kate Moss ones that I really like. (insert me crying inside here as we left the shop to look around some more...)

After another stop at a shop of collectibles this time, we settled to eat at Bellini's. Their menu is pricey. LIKE SERIOUSLY PRICEY. It's an Italian restaurant and a very, very fancy one and the cheapest pasta on their menu is 300 Php. Yes, so those are the pastas we had here. It's easy to get orders veganized at this restaurant. Like, seriously easy despite the pricey-ness of most things on the menu. On the upside, despite the amount per person we'd racked up through individual orders, we were given dessert wine for free so it was all good. 


But yes, although expensive however, I WOULD DEFINITELY eat here again. YES!

Random insert #1: I don't know why the photos on here are upside down...I don't think I have time to fix them either but these are the pastas we had.

Random insert #2: Of course, I lost the Bench sunglasses with case I'd bought last year for a Camiguin trip in transit from Manila to Cagayan de Oro City at the end of the trip. Yay me. Something always gets lost when it comes to me transiting one airport to another. It happened in the US way back 2015 and 2016 with my prized scarf cum blanket made from the softest, prettiest cashmere my mum got me on their trip to Italy and France, err...around Europe so it's happened again this time with something I'd bought...this time. I hardly lose my passport and other important things on trips but I lose a lot of treasures I get for myself and other people get for me from all over the world so... Yeah, I'm not all too sure how to deal with disasters like this anymore so I just get used to it considering I am often jet setting or riding the ship and buses to somewhere within a year's time. I'll have to buy myself a new one and I've been eyeing the wayfarers from Sunnies that are only about 399 Php in the SM Store in SM Downtown. Hmn...

Despite not shopping or looking around and just eating and eating and drinking this whole weekend off around last week, it was sooooo much fun. I got to have long talks with friends I rarely meet in real life and I also got to meet with the brother while there. 

This is something I would do all over again and maybe, even just take a trip to the Greater Manila metro for the randomest things I have no idea what they are...it might come to me one day. By the time I got home, I was feeling the brunt of separation anxiety from friends there. Sad, I know. But I'm sure to meet them again one day soon.

For now, I'll get ready for my Davao trip! It's this coming August 9 because I'll be there for a very good friend from Dumaguete City's wedding. Her husband-to-be is also such a good friend so yes, this'll be another fun trip. I'll be meeting with another friend as well from Silliman University to catch up with stuff with. Yay! Also, Olive/@caramelmori on twitter. <3 Yep, another adventure! Now, if only I were able to take more outfit shots but I was hardly able to this time around. Not sure about the Davao trip however...

My calendar's pretty full this year. I hope to travel more next year on wards as well as I have some pretty big changes in life coming up soon. Hint: I'll be working seriously on actually moving abroad. Australia and/or New Zealand are my main targets. There'll be hiccups along the way but I hope everything will be fine. I expect those hiccups to happen anyway. Nothing in life is ever smooth either way.

Until the next post then!