| Manila Philippines |
Tour includes all entry fees and Lunch
We will be greeated at the cruise terminal by our guides and coach to begin our full day tour.
We begin with Rizal also known as Luneta Park or simply Luneta. It is a historic urban park located in Ermita, Manila. It is considered one of the largest urban parks in the Philippines, covering an area of 58 hectares.
After a quick view of the park we proceed to the World War II Memorial (American Cemetery). This World War II Cemetery in the Philippines contains the graves of nearly 17,100 war dead, and nearly 36,300 names on the Walls of the Missing. It is the largest of all American overseas military cemeteries, occupying over 150 acres on a prominent plateau with a breathtaking view of the Manila skyline.
The American servicemen and women, most of them lost their lives in the Philippines and New Guinea during World War II, but over a dozen campaigns across the Pacific are represented here. Among the war dead are twenty-nine Medal of Honor recipients. In twenty instances, two brothers lie side by side.
The cemetery is made up of identical rectangular white stone tombstones, regardless of military rank or rank, race, or religious belief. They are aligned in four groups and arranged in meticulous order. In the background of the entrance, there is a small chapel, where the book with the signatures of the visitors and a document with the salient information of the cemetery is kept. Only one woman is buried in the cemetery, a physiotherapist of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in the service of the 64th British General Hospital, who died at 28 while serving in Italy in the allied medical unit.
After the cemetery we will do a Panoramic tour of Makati where we will see the following:
Nielsen Tower home of the Filipinas Heritage Library before its transfer to the Ayala Museum. Nielson Field in Makati City was the location of the Far East Air Force headquarters. We will pass through the Business Commercial District along Ayala Avenue. It is one of the busiest roads in Metro Manila, crossing through the heart of the Makati Central Business District. Because of the many businesses located along the avenue, Ayala Avenue is nicknamed the "Wall Street of the Philippines
LUNCH:
Now its time for lunch. We will enjoy an authentic Chinese lunch Lariat Style. ( Table of 10 to 12 people sharing numerous platters of food) Using a one of a kind cooking tradition, carefully selected skillful and niventive Hong Kong trained chefs will prepare every dish, transforming each dish into an art form basking in authenticity. Choices may include various dishes of duck, chicken either bbq,steamed, baked or fried, pig and pork variations, chinese vegatable dishes, scallops, oysters, seafood salad, other fish dishes, hot pots, spareribs, dumplings and various dimsum, rices, noodles and more.
After lunch we do a panoramic tour of the area passing by Folk Arts Theater Coconut Palace Philippine International Convention Center Aliw theater The Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Now its time to make our way to Intramuros - "The Walled City," which is the oldest district in Manila. This is what remains of the fortified city, which was the seat of power during Spanish Colonial times (1521-1898).
Here we will travel through old cobbled streets and see the ancient walls, church ruins and other relics of the Spanish Conquistadors.
We will visit San Agustin Church The Church of Saint Augustine, also known as the Archdiocesan Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation and Cincture or the Immaculate Conception Parish. It is the oldest stone church in the country, a Roman Catholic church located inside the historic walled city of Intramuros.
Completed in 1607, it is the oldest stone church in the country. In 1993, San Agustin Church was one of four Philippine churches constructed during the Spanish colonial period to be designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, under the collective title Baroque Churches of the Philippines. It was named a National Historical Landmark by the Philippine government in 1976. Pope John Paul II granted a canonical coronation towards its enshrined Marian image of "Our Lady of Consolation" on September 4, 2000.
Then its on to Manila Cathedral The Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, also known as the Manila Cathedral. The present Manila Cathedral rose phoenix-like from the desolate ruins of the old cathedral, which was bombed mercilessly along with the rest of the Walled City during the Battle of Liberation in 1945.
For many years after the war, the shell of the Manila Cathedral stood before the gaze of the statue of Carlos IV in Plaza Roma. The ruins of its famous façade remained until inch by inch a new and modern cathedral with an appearance similar to its predecessor but with a more functional use of space was constructed. The Cathedral covers an area of almost 3000 square meters. (32,000 sq feet)
Next up its Fort Santiago. Fort Santiago is at the core of the origins of the city of Manila. You can visualize the early site of the fort as it guards the entry into the Pasig River. Spanish colonial history shaped the fort as it is today. It has a part in the story of the Spanish-American War and the Filipino Rebellion against American rule. Built in 1571, is a citadel built by Spanish navigator and governor Miguel López de Legazpi for the newly established city of Manila in the Philippines. The fort is one of the most important historical sites in Manila, with many areas of interest to visit including:
Plaza Moriones - The traditional open grounds for military review, drill, and parades.
Reducto de San Francisco Javier - Crescent-shaped high wall built in 1773 to reinforce the Baluartillo de San Francisco Javier.
Guadalupe Chapel - Built in 1981 within the Reducto de San Francisco Javier using traditional building methods and dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Martyr's Wall - Wall with plaque dedicated to all who were tortured and incarcerated in Fort Santiago by the Japanese military during World War II.
Moat and Bridge - This man-made canal joined the Pasig River and Manila Bay, making Fort Santiago a formidable fortress-island.
Fort Santiago Gate - Featured are the arms of Castile and Leon, and a wooden relief of the Fort’s patron, Santiago Matamoros.
Baluarte de San Miguel - This rampart was built to fortify the defenses of Fort Santiago from attack from the river and land.
Plaza Armas - The traditional open grounds for military drills and parades within Fort Santiago.
Rizal Shrine - Formerly a military barracks, it was partially reconstructed and now houses a shrine to Jose Rizal.
Dungeons -Originally a storage facility for gunpower and arms before it was converted into a prison cell during the 17th Century.
White Cross - The 600 who died in the dungeons were put in a mass grave now marked with a white marble cross.
Baluarte de Santa Barbara - Historically guarded the mouth of the Pasig River, and served as the most strategic rampart of the Fort Santiago.
Make History Fortress Learning Center - The creative facility is a LEGO Education Center that aims to promote innovation, creativity, and love for Philippine heritage.
Falsabraga Media Naranja -Falsabraga means false wall, while Media Naranja refers to its half orange shape as seen from above.
Falsabraga Santa Barbara - This rampart served as an additional layer of wall protecting the strategic tip of the Baluarte de Santa Barbara.
Soon time to end the day, but before doing say its time to stop at another restaurant for a taste of the famous Sampaguita (Jasmin) ice cream and ensaimada, a unique sensory and flavorful experience. Sampaguita (Jasmine) is an evergreen shrub that is popular across Southeast Asia and is cultivated especially for its small but very fragrant white flowers. Delicious Ice Cream.
We then return to the port in lots of time to make our cruise ship.
