It has been nearly 20 years since we were last in Manila. We loved coming here and spent a lot of time in the Makati District. On this cruise, we decided to splurge and booked a suite in the historic and memorable Manila Hotel. Located near both old town and the cruise port, this was extremely convenient! We had a great time!
As often happens, the local band, along with dancers, welcomed our arrival in Manila. We exited the terminal and found our car & driver who took us to the Manila Hotel.Driving to the hotel, we spotted this horse and carriage going through the GAS STATION!….….And another one right behind! Go figure!Ahhh, arriving at the Manila Hotel!The Manila Hotel, built in 1912, was remodeled in the 1930s for Gen. MacArthur and his family. The General was made the honorary general manager to facilitate his residency there from 1935-1941. His day job was U.S.Military Advisor to the Philippines.The lobby of the Manila Hotel. The Tap Room is ahead, reception and check in behind us, the restaurant, elevators, and conference rooms are to the right. This is a charming Colonial Era structure full of history but no longer authentic. Rebuilt!The famous Tap Room in the Manila HotelThe Manila Hotel gave us a tour of the MacArthur Suite. This is not the apartment he built in 1935 when he was in residency there. The entire hotel was devestatingly damaged during WWII and everything was rebuilt starting in 1946. Dining room.Today, the MacArthur Suite is rented out. We are sitting in the office.The Heritage Museum of the Manila Hotel is contained in a single room. But there is a lot of memorabilia accumulated there. Rog would have loved to spend more time reading the plaques and placards.We stayed in the Sunset Suite overlooking the bay.That’s the MS Amsterdam seen from our bedroom window near sunset.View of the MS Amsterdam, at night, from room 1323 in the Manila Hotel.And then the MS Amsterdam at Sunrise.Three times a day, The Manila Hotel runs a shuttle to the Mall of Asia. This is the 3rd largest mall in the World!As we see everywhere–lots of construction going on!View of modern ManilaAt 9:00am of day 2, the Manila Hotel provided a shuttle to take us to Ft. Santiago in the Intramuros area–the old Walled City. This appears to be an execution platform depicting the fate of Jose Rizal, the martyred rebel for Philippine Independence.The old gate.The moatStatue of Jose RizalGravesite of the more than 600 people imprisoned and then executed by the Japanese during the last days of the war in February 1945.Inside the The Fort Santiago Dungeon. Dank & cold!Jose Rizal’s last day depicted in the Fort. Brass footseps lead from here to the execution platform.Jose Rizal’s last day depicted in the Fort. Brass footseps lead from here to the execution platform.Plaza de Roma where the Cathedral of Manila is located.The new governor’s residence is across the street.The old governor’s esidence across the other side.Roman Catholic Cathedral of Manila built in 1581; destroyed by fire; rebuilt; destroyed by earthquake; rebuilt only to be destroyed again by earthquake. Rebuilt in 1870 the cathedral lasted til 1945’s Battle of Manila. Current structure built 1954.At one time, this was apparently the seafront. During the American period, Gen MacArthur used the Ballartillo de San Jose as headquarters for the U.S.Military Advisor to the Philippines. This site became popularly known as No. 1 Victoria Street.We stopped for refreshment at the Mitre Cafe. Established as a place for bishops to dine in the evening, and as an outreach program for the workers at lunchtime.The Restaurante delle Mitre motto on the back of a uniform.Lots of good things to eat and drink and we saw several nuns come in to partake of the goodies! There was a separate room occupied by workers having a hearty lunch.And then it was time to leave…..with a band and dancers to see us off.As we sailed out of Manila Bay, we passed the USS BonHomme Richard anchored there. Keeping up the presence!
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