Right in the heart of Intramuros, there’s a souvenir shop
that sells everything Filipino-made. From furniture to utensils, paintings to
clothes, accessories and toiletries, name it, the store has it. The arts and
artifacts are made from native materials originating from different regions and
tribes of the archipelago.
The Silahis Center
is along Gen. Luna St.,
near the San Agustin Church. If SM has Kultura, Intramuros has Silahis.
It is a 4-gallery place that only sells Philippine products.
The ground floor is mostly furniture and other home decoration items.
Religious items are also widely sold here.
And organic products, too.
The store is indeed packed with almost everything you need for your home decorating necessities.
My cheap finds:
Tradewinds Bookshop is on the third floor. Books, magazines and other cultural publications were being sold at affordable prices.
Then there's the Galeria De Las Islas.
A massive display of paintings, sculptures and other artworks from staircase to every corner of the room...
I had fun exploring the store. Our native products are being exported and patronized by foreigners, why can't we?
I have knick-knacks of all sorts that I gathered from my travels. I like buying anything native. My way of showing support to our local industry.
Wearing my Traveling Dress for the 19th time =)
Silahis Center:
Main Branch 744 Calle Real del Palacio (Gen. Luna) Intramuros, Manila
We always go to Intramuros, especially on lazy days when
there is nothing else to do other than staying at home. I like walking on its
cobblestone streets and just look around. Architecture is totally different here,
old Manila it is.
I intend to visit every corner of Intramuros one at a time.
The place is rich in history and I’d like to savor all of it.
One weekend, we passed by Puerta
Real Gardens.
This was the first time I actually went inside the garden.
It was hardly noticeable, until it was pointed out to me.
It was windy, a perfect time to stroll.
The main entrance to the garden.
Lilies on the pond.
Stones that served as benches lined the pathway.
It was literally green inside the garden, with all its luscious plants and trees.
There's an inclined pathway, leading to a view deck...
...overlooking the golf course and Manila Hotel....
It was so serene, a good place to meditate. And date.
I don’t usually wake up early on a vacation. It’s that time
to be lazy and tuck deeper into bed, until you are called for lunch. This day
was an exception…meeting my girlfriends for a breakfast date on a Monday
morning. It’s the only time Chelin can squeeze a meet up because of work.
Dencia’s is one restaurant that survived competition with
the mushrooming of inasal, buffet and Manila
food markets. I grew up eating Dencia’s food, pancit canton con chopsuey as my
top favorite. The place is owned by a Chinese family, who oversees the place
daily. Whenever I’m in Davao,
I never fail to eat here. Hinahanap-hanap ko talaga.
The Breakfast Club: Annamae, Chelin and Bret. My 17th time to wear the Traveling Dress =)
We left a little before 11am and rushed to Abreeza to check
if the Valentino shades of Bret was left at SeafoodIsland
or the cinema. Praise God for honest people, we were able to retrieve it from
the guard of the cinema.
Annamae and I planned to go around People’s Park, but it
opens at 1:00pm. Eventually, Bret decided to cancel his trip to a nearby town.
So we have the whole day to waste! Since some friends were at work, we decided
to pay them a visit. First stop: MARINA.
Hello, Gen Lee!
We demanded coffee right away (sorry, Gen). We talked and
laughed, just like the good ol’ days. And Bret was marking a seaman, who was
processing his application across the room.
Annamae and Bret wanted to request a copy of their TOR and
diploma. The school registrar was our classmate, so processing wouldn’t be that
difficult. Unfortunately, Jett was in a meeting, and the queue was too long because
it was enrolment day, so we ended up exploring the campus instead.
How nostalgic! I haven’t set foot here for almost 10 years.
So much has changed. Entering through Jacinto gate, this statue greeted us. This wasn't built yet at the time I was a student here.
There's a new building. That place used to be the school canteen and PE room.
The green patch used to be huge as it was the soccer field.
The mini-auditorium is now being converted into a chapel.
Love the stained glass.
The trees have grown taller. The gazebos are still there.
I used to read here a lot.
The law school building!
This building housed so many fond memories.
They now have elevators. Sosyal! During my time, it was just stairs. Just imagine if you're running late for class and the assigned room is at the 5th floor. Marathon talaga!
Dan-dan was surprised to see us. I only see him via
Facebook. He is popular in the group (Singles Travelers *lol*) because of his
trips both local and international. After soooo long, I got to see him physically
finally.
We ripped him out of his office and invited him for a late
lunch. Our unanimous choice: Luz Kinilaw.
The place never changed. It’s still mabaho and poor-looking.
But mind you, the food is outstanding. It’s actually a tourist destination
because they serve the best and freshest kinilaw and panga in the city.
We had tuna panga, kinilaw and bagaybay. Ubos! All for only PHP750.00, with 4 rice and a liter of Coke.
Residents turned tourists *lol*
After dropping off Dandan, we went to Ineng’s place then to People’s Park.
Annamae and Ineng.
I wasn’t able to go around the park as my family arrived to
pick me up. Though I managed to snap some photos before bidding goodbye to my
friends.
Then family time! We had dinner at my dad's favorite Chinese restaurant, Sen Ton Wan.
Some food we ordered: Seepo, Lapu-lapu fillet, Beef with Ampalaya and Crispy Shrimps.
My mom and her favorite pamangkin, John-john.
With my cousin, Nice.
John-john and his mom, my Tita Ce.
My happy Daddy.
This was the longest Monday I ever had! I had so much fun. With friends and family here, I wouldn't trade Davao for anything else.
