Museo Pambata (Roxas Boulevard corner South Drive, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila) — Museo Pambata is the first children’s interactive museum in the Philippines. Opened to the public in 1994, Museo Pambata has distinguished itself for its educational programs and its innovative “hands-on” exhibits enjoyed by children from all over the country. Committed to provide […]
Manila Cathedral (Cabildo corner Beaterio, Intramuros, Manila, Metro Manila) – this citadel was built by the Spanish in 1571 and was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The size of this house of worship (64 hectares) virtually qualifies it as a fort in its own right, and was built to last (withstanding wars, earthquakes, and occasional […]
Metropolitan Museum of Manila (BSP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila, Metro Manila) – this museum brings art to all levels of the local and international community. The museum situates arts within the context of Philippines history and society as a premier museum of modern and contemporary art in the Philippines, specialized in Visual Arts. As […]
Malacañang Palace (1000 Jose P Laurel Sr, San Miguel, Manila, Metro Manila) – the official residence of the Philippine president as well as the seat of the government, the Malacanang Palace is a major national landmark. Set on the banks of the Pasig River, the palace complex is presently divided into sections which include the […]
Fort Santiago (Intramuros, Manila, Metro Manila) – this fort marks its entrance on the northwestern entrance to Intramuros, whose construction began in 1571 and was completed nearly 150 years later by Filipino forced labor. The pre-Spanish settlement of Rajah Sulayman was a wooden fort on the ashes of which was built the Spanish fortress (Spain’s […]
Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Magdalena Jalandoni, Malate, Pasay, 1300 Metro Manila) – this government organization (started by President Marcos in 1966) is dedicated to promoting the country’s culture & arts. The Cultural Center (CCP) provides performance and exhibition venues for various local and international productions at its eponymous 62-hectare (150-acre) […]
Coconut Palace (Roxas Blvd., Cultural Center Complex, Pasay City, Manila) – overlooking Manila Bay is the Coconut Palace — a unique work of architecture that is built of 100% Philippines materials, of which 70% are derived from the coconut palm tree. Also known as Tahanang Pilipino (Tagalog for “Filipino Home”), the Palace is part of […]
Jetavanaramaya – located 4 hours (202 km.) northeast of Colombo, this ancient stupa in the Sri Lankan jungle, built with approximately 93 million baked bricks, was one of the tallest structures in antiquity. The Mahavamsa, a chronicle kept by Sri Lankan kings between 543 BC and 361 AD describes how the foundation of this monumental […]
Golden Temple of Dambulla (Dambulla) — dating back to the First Century BC, the Golden Temple of Dambulla (located 4 hours via car northeast of Colombo) has been the center of pilgrimage for Buddhists and Hindus alike for 22 centuries. It is Sri Lanka’s most popular historic site. The Cave monastery, home to Buddhist monks […]
Gangaramaya Temple (61 Sri Jinarathana Road, Colombo) — What was once a swamp adjoining the famous Beira Lake, a landmark in the capital city, is today a vibrant complex comprising the Gangaramaya temple, the ‘seema malaka’ – an assembly hall for monks – in the picturesque Beira Lake and a vocational training institute. The temple […]