My Manila, My Hometown

When I asked about your hometown, a lot of you replied. Your responses overwhelmed me, and I thought that sharing mine would at least equal all your efforts in replying to me.

I am a Bisakol* by blood. My father is a son of Ligao, Albay and my mom is a daughter of Palompon, Leyte. But I was born and raised in Manila, the place I call home. I am proud to be a Manileño.

Manila Skyline

I already said this before but I will say it again, Manila is my hometown. Its historic streets are my playgrounds; its alleys and sidewalks are my everyday walkways; its structures, buildings, halls, walls and tombs are my regular sights.

Most likely than not, you already know the whats and wheres of my city. But Manila is more than what you already know. It is more than Intramuros, Malate, Ermita, Sta. Cruz, Quiapo and Binondo; or the malls, parks, century old churches, historical spots and old structures. My hometown is more than what you usually see.

Quiapo
Manila is more than Quiapo!

Drop by sometimes in Doroteo Jose. The site of the current Manila Grand Opera Hotel is what used to be the original site of the old Manila Grand Opera House, the heart of Philippine culture and the primary theater for plays, movies, zarzuelas and other events during the American era. Walk further until you reach Teodora Alonzo Street, where the Arellano High School, formerly Manila North High School, can be found. It used to be the largest high school in Manila with annexes in Zurbaran, Mayhaligue, Santander, O’Donnell, Teodora Alonzo, Lope de Vega, Halili and Rizal Avenue. Its Filipino Newspaper “Ang Tambuli” is the oldest school organ in the country. I should know because I served as Associate Editor of it way back in high school.

The building in front of Arellano High School used to be the original site of Ruby Tower. A six-story building collapsed by a deadly August 2, 1968 earthquake that hit Luzon. Nearby is the Arranque Market in case you need to shop for pets and animals, the Chinese restaurants of Binondo, the oldest Chinatown in the world, the centuries old Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz commonly known as Binondo Church, the jewelry stores in Ongpin, the old Tutuban train terminal and the old shopping districts of Sta. Cruz and Divisoria.

Binondo Church

On the opposite end of Doroteo Jose is the Fabella Hospital, holding the record for being the hospital with the highest live birth in Metro Manila and even in the entire country. There used to be a saying that if your mom delivered you here, chances were, you went to the wrong parents. This is because there are many babies born here at any given day, 88 live birth daily on the average, thus it is commonly called a “baby factory.” Wait, I was delivered here by the way 🙂

Fabella Hospital is just a stone thrown away from old Zurbaran district, Central Market, the University Belt, historic Mendiola and the diploma factory of Recto. If you need cheap books and printing services, this place is for you.

One LRT station away from Doroteo Jose is Bambang Street, where you will see the biggest and perhaps oldest ukay-ukay shop in Manila. It was already there when I was a kid.

Along Bambang, near Avenida Rizal is the first and oldest branch of Mercury Drug, still standing on the same spot, though renovated. On the eastern end of this street is the University of Santo Tomas (UST), the oldest university in the Philippines and Asia. Try exploring the area and eat at nearby tapsilogan that are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Lola Ely’s anyone?

Felymar’s Special Bibingka in Tayuman

Walk along Rizal Avenue from Bambang and you will pass by the stores selling cheap medical and chemical equipments, in front of Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital and Department of Health Compound, San Lazaro Hospital is also nearby, along Quiricada Street. Continue exploring and when you’re hungry, stop in Felymar’s Special Bibingka in Tayuman, a famous stopover specially during Christmas. La Tondeña Special Bibingka in front of Espiritu Santo Church used to be the famous bibingka store in the area, but Felymar’s now holds the title. The stretch of Tayuman is also popular for stores selling religious articles and statues.

The western end of Tayuman is Pritil Market, while the opposite end is the old site of San Lazaro Hippodrome and Manila Jockey Club now SM City San Lazaro, few blocks away from the UST and the flower market of Dangwa that extends from Arsenio H. Lacson to Maria Clara and Dimasalang.

Crossing the Dimasalang Bridge will take you to Blumentritt Market. This is where I live since birth. It is the biggest market area in Manila after Divisoria, the gateway to Chinese and Manila North Cemetery, bounded by the lechon filled street of La Loma in Quezon City on the north east.

Chinese Cemetery is the second oldest cemetery in the city, it used to be a resting place for the Chinese who were denied burial in Catholic cemeteries during the Spanish era. It is also here where you can find the the Ruby Tower Memorial and the oldest Chinese temple in Manila – the Chong Hock Tong Temple. A tour inside will reveal some of the most beautiful mausoleums and pagodas in the country.

Apartment for Rent in North Cemetery

Beside Chinese Cemetery is the biggest and one of the oldest cemeteries in the country at 54 hectares – the Manila North Cemetery, formerly known as “Paang Bundok“. Rested here are some prominent Filipino personalities including former Presidents Ramon Magsaysay, Sergio Osmeña, Manuel Quezon and Manuel Roxas; former Senators Isauro Gabaldon, Jose Fortich Ozamis, Claro M. Recto and Quintin Paredes; actors Atang dela Rama and Fernando Poe Jr.; and other celebrities, historical and political figures.

You can find everything you need in Blumentritt, all in great bargains, just do not forget to haggle. You can also go to almost anywhere in Manila from here by riding an LRT, PNR, jeepneys or trikes. If you’re hungry, look for the delicious and cheap kakanin of Aling Pining in Rufina’s Native Delicacies along Oroquieta Street or choose from a wide array of turo-turo and fastfoods in the area.

Old San Pancratius Chapel in Campo Santo de La Loma now referred as “Lumang Simbahan”

Going further north of Rizal Avenue will lead to the line of furniture shops near Abad Santos and to the northern gate of Chinese Cemetery. All the way to R. Papa Street, on the boundary of Caloocan City and Manila is where the main gate of Campo Santo de La Loma or La Loma Catholic Cemetery is located. The oldest cemetery in Manila, it opened in 1884 exclusively for Catholics. Some notable personalities buried here are former Chief  Justices Cayetano Arellano and Victorino Mapa , and Girl Scout of the Philippines founder Josefa Llanes Escoda. In the middle of La Loma Cemetery is a century old Chapel dedicated to St. Pancratius

There are many more about my hometown that I would like to share. But I do not want this post to be boringly long, so I just focused on three kilometer radius from where I live. At least you now know where I was born, spent my childhood, grew up and living up to now. Manila, my Manila, as Nick Joaquin said, is my hometown.

This is in response to the Hometown theme of Pinoy Travel Blog Carnival. Check out the hometown of other Pinoy Travel Bloggers as compiled by Mhe-Ann Ojeda.

*Bisakol – a Tagalog slang for half Bisaya and half Bikolano

Comments

  1. Dads Herrera

    Nami-miss ko na ang bibingka ng La Tondena. Noong bata ako 50 sentimos lang ang bili ko diyan. Noong uwi ko ng 2004, 50 pesos na! Paborito ko rin ang kare-kare at dinuguan at nilagang baka na napakasarap!

  2. Anak Ni Lengleng

    @Mark Kwan malamang kilala mo po ang mga Bautista sa Lope de Vega?maitanong ko lang po, yung giniba sa kanto sa hilera ng avenida na oldest pharmaceutical, ano po ba ang pangalan?natatandaan ko lang mas nauna pa po yata sa forum theater yun e?

  3. Mark Kwan

    Greetings! I love this site. Pinanganak ako sa Maynila at Lumaki sa Makata St. cor. Lope De Vega St. Sta. Cruz, Manila. Sa likod lang namin ang Zurbaran st. papuntang Central Market. Kahilera namin ang Fabella Hospital. Dati rin akong takatak (yosi boy) na sumasabit sa jeep at dating bus na dumadaan ng Avenida (Rizal Ave.). Kalye namin mula Zurbaran hanggang CM Recto. Malapit kami sa Regidor School at Arellano kung saan kilala sa student / fraternity rumble. Yung kalye namin ay pinamumugaran dati ng Tau Gamma Phil at Upsilon Phi Sigma. Namimiss ko na ang dating Good Earth Emporium. Cheers

    1. Wow! I am very much familiar with that place 🙂 Magkalapit lang tayo 🙂

  4. I’m a true blue Manilenya pero ito na yata anh pinaka comprehensive guide to Manila na nakita ko.

    The Grand opera unfortunately has been transformed into a hotel/casino. So i don’t know if that’s still worth visiting.

  5. woohoo.. ang bibingka ng tayuman.

    1. Hehe, mukhang magkapitbahay tayo Ivan 🙂

      1. yan ang nagligtas sa akin sa matinding kagutuman sa ilalim ng araw habang nilalakad ang kahabaan ng Rizal Ave kakahanap ng Lab instrument na nabasag ko.

        hihi.. sta mesa ako e.

  6. Your site is among my favorites and I do make regular visits, if you must know. I have in fact referred many of my foreigner friends to your site, to tempt them to stay longer in Manila or at the very least not to skip Manila. Yes, we all do love Manila , don’t we? Thanks for sharing your musings. And I so love that photo of the chapel. Reminds me again how my photography sucks. 🙁 You write and take photos beautifully.

  7. Mark

    What a fantastic article . I have been in love with Manila since my first visit way back in 1980! lol.With each visit I try to explore more of this city …a city that tantalises and annoys all at the same time.Like a grand old dame she lifts her skirts a little to show you the glories of her past. But she is seductive!On my next visit I will explore the places you have written about here. Thank you .

  8. i missed manila! 6 years na rin ako hindi nakapunta dyan. 😀

    1. Balik lang 🙂
      Daming seat sale oh 🙂

  9. I really hate this city… Metro Manila as a whole! But your article made it look like an interesting place! 🙂 nice blog!

    1. Thanks Faith! We should rediscover Manila and appreciate its beauty!

  10. I enjoy visiting Cemeteries… been wanting to see Manila North and Chinese Cemeteries… Sana soon makapunta ako… will also consider La Loma Cemetery… Thanks for sharing your beloved hometown..

    1. Thanks! La Loma and Manila North are two beautiful cemeteries. Add Chinese cemetery to your itinerary when you visit the area, the three are interconnected.

  11. ayi

    Miss ko na din yang bibingka na lagi namin kinakain bago umuwi ng bahay galing sa paglalakad mula quiapo. Pati na din yung libreng tea na kahit makailang tasa ok lang. Buti na lang all year round sila may tindang bibingka, araw-araw parang Pasko! After ng bibingka BBQ naman sa kabilang kalsada lampas ng simbahan!

    Sabi ng iba masarap daw yung Ferino’s pero ng matikman ko sabi ko iba pa din yung bibingka sa Tayuman! Mura pa!

    1. Wow! We are probably neighbors ayi 🙂

  12. That San Pancratius Chapel in La Loma looks so interesting! Will try and check that out

    1. It is really interesting. Though it is not being used now. A new San Pancratius Church was built near the gate of the cemetery, and this old and beautiful structure stands neglected amid the cemetery and now referred as “Lumang Simbahan”

  13. toni protacio

    i love Felymar’s Bibingka.. sarap talaga.. even the puto bumbong.. not only yummy, super mura pa!

    1. Yep Toni. Kakakain ko nga lang ng puto bumbong with cheese kahapon. Magkapitbahay lang pala tayo 🙂

    2. Exactly Toni 🙂 Di na kailangan maghintay sa Christmas season 🙂 We can have bibingka ang puto bumbong anytime we want 🙂

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