Colors of Manila - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Travelers visiting Manila for holiday for the first time should take into consideration some nation specific features. This will help to easily set contacts with local people and feel comfortably at ease on a visit. Almost all local folks have a good command of English language that is why a language barrier will not cause any troubles to visitors for comfortable recreation. City residents are responsive and hospitable. They will eagerly help tourists and answer all the questions bothering travelers. The only condition of successful communication is politeness and courtesy: each favor needs to be rewarded.

Shopping in Manila - main shopping streets, outlets and boutiques

An attractive feature of Manila is a large number of jewellery stores, you can buy here wonderful high quality items at very attractive prices. The most popular is the store Silverworks, it …

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In everyday life local people keep to the comfortable style in outfit. Casual style is allowable even for visiting religious landmarks and sights. At the same time the outfit should not be extremely bright and provoking as it may cause bewilderment not only in local folks but in city guests as well. Setting off to an upscale restaurant or to a business event one should keep to the classic style in outfits.

An integral part of the ethnic culture is the fiesta. All the national fests and holidays are celebrated with much éclat. Travelers visiting Manila during one of the national holidays’ celebration will have a chance to fully embrace music, theatrical and gastronomy traditions and customs of local folks. Some of local traditions may seem to foreign tourists rather weird and odd. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Guide to Manila sightseeing - things to see and to visit

Manila is a city located on the Luzon Island. This is one of the most dynamic and modern cities in the south-east Asia. Manila has a very good infrastructure and is known as a conglomerate …

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Thus, the non plus ultra of insolence is considered to be chewing a gum. Gum chewing in the street is inexcusable as the case will definitely incur disfavor of companions and even strangers in the street. High words are also discouraged by local people. No matter how hot the dispute is one should necessarily keep to a gentle voice. Emotional outpouring as well as loud laughing in public places are considered to be mauvais ton.

The same exciting feature of Manila and Philippine Islands in general is healers. Skilled Aesculapians possessing mystique healing gift, reflected glory on the Philippines. Their skills have been hot disputed for many years. Annually more and more tourists arrive at the resort haunting the only goal – to get healers treatment. The healers carry out the hardest surgeries without any special equipment and instruments as their main tools are still gifted hands.

Family holidays with kids in Manila. How to entertain your child, things to show to children.

Manila is a great place for family holidays. The resort attracts tourists with children of various ages. The entertainment center Seri Fantasy World is oriented towards travelers with young …

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As it was already mentioned, holidays in the capital of the Philippines are celebrated on a large scale. One of the most interesting events in the city is Aliwan Fiesta, which takes place in mid-April. At this time, the coastal quarter of Pasay, its streets are the venues of the festival, is transformed, presenting a colourful spectacle. It's all because of a bright costumed parade, beautifully dressed carnival participants are riding the same beautifully decorated carts. In addition to the carnival, visitors of the fiesta take part in competitions (including the competition for the title of the most beautiful girl of the carnival), musical open-air concerts and a huge fair, where you can buy real works of art created by local artists.

Black Nazarene holiday, or Black Nazarene, is the name of one of the most honoured Christian holidays in the Philippines. During the parade, people are carrying the black statue of Christ through the streets of the city. They start at Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene Church and go throughout the Quiapo neighbourhood. Annually, about five hundred thousand people come to the capital of the Philippines to see the colourful religious procession. The relic (that is, the black statue of Christ) is sacred to Filipinos, it is also believed that attending the feast of the supplicant can cure all diseases. Of course, it is necessary to love Jesus Christ sincerely in the heart and to repent.

Cuisine of Manila for gourmet with top restaurants and cafe

Among the upscale establishments of the city the Café Bola restaurant is best worth noticing. Its culinary experts and chef create most wanted and most ordered dishes of Philippine cuisine …

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No less remarkable event in the festival calendar of the Philippines is Giant Lantern Festival, which is held in the vicinity of Manila, the city of San Fernando. In the pre-Christmas period, the central streets of the city are decorated with thousands of huge colourful lights (the festival begins in mid-December and ends early next month). These amazing bulbs are what thousands of people who want to see in San Fernando before Christmas. There are also unique bulbs among them, not similar to those that were presented last year, but there is a place for traditional light bulbs — for example, the star of Bethlehem. There were presented lights at the festivals, which were the largest in the world and were subsequently attributed to the Guinness Book of records.

Another religious event is widely celebrated here - namely Holy week, usually celebrated in mid-April. However, it is worth noting that the holiday is not such in the broadest sense of the word, and for many Europeans, it may seem blasphemous at all (well, for others, the celebration is the purpose of the tourist route). At this time, the festival participants follow the path of Jesus Christ to the place of his execution — Calvary. There is an initiate depicting Christ at the head of the procession, who carries a massive crucifix with a symbolic image of his execution. In honour of the Christ who died for the sins of people, hundreds of Filipinos beat themselves with a whip — it is believed that suffering can cleanse your soul. Moreover, some of the participants are trying to increase the pain, pouring salt on the open wound.

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Manila - guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

City tours, excursions and tickets in Manila and surroundings

Reference information

Map of all churches

Cathedrals and basilicas near Manila
♥ National Shrine of St. Jude, Manila, 1.7 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ National Shrine of St. Michael and the Archangels, Manila, 1.8 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Basilica of San Sebastián, Manila, 2.4 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ National Shrine of the Sacred Heart, Makati City, 2.7 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church), Manila, 2.8 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Church of the Immaculate Conception of San Agustin, Manila, 3.6 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Manila, 3.7 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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Map of all castles

Survived castles around Manila
♥ Castle 'Camelot Hotel' , 6.3 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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National traditions of Philippines

Filipinos are very devout and attached to their family. Not only parents but also uncles, aunts, grandparents, and cousins are considered close relatives here. The people of the country are very welcoming. They love to visit and invite guests. They are unhurried a little. This is extremely annoying for European tourists who are always in a hurry. Filipinos are also very curious and rather tactless. They can ask even a very intimate question without fear. … Open

Colors of Manila - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

City tours, excursions and tickets in Manila and surroundings

National traditions of Philippines

Colors of Manila in photos

Search for popular touristic sites on Manila map

Traditions and festivals in cities around Manila