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My Manila: The City Through A Brownman's Eyes

There is this place that never fails to inspires me. It is where I run whenever I feel I need to rest my soul.

I call it Manila

This is where the Sun sets perfectly each and every single day,
Sun set at Manila bay

Where a whole country comes together in celebration of their culture,
Aliwan Festival


and where we can turn back the hands of time by walking along its streets

Fort Santiago


This is where we honor our heroes,
Rizal Park


where we strengthen our faith
Quiapo Church

and where we can marvel at its rich architecture

Manila Cathedral


I also get to be entertained specially when I've got no money for a movie (just an excuse... I'm just really lazy to go to movie houses =D )




This is also where you can find someone's mail being routed to its destination halfway across the world.

Most specially Manila is where I dream.
Manila Yatch Club

Manila gives me a certain high that allows me to go into this state where I can dream about its past and how we could bring it back in the future. It inspires me to love beautiful things as I remember its grandeur when it used to be known as the Paris of the east.

Capitol Theater at Escolta Manila

Many backpackers or tourists talks about Manila as a place that you would have just to skip on your trip in the Philippines, however as for me this is a must see. This is my country's soul that makes it unique from the rest of the world and gives it distinctly different from the rest of its south east asian neighbors. It's nothing like its neighbors.

China Town
It's just incomparable, this is where you can truly see the west fusion with the east. not because of its fast development just like advance Asian countries but because it is the way people have learned to live their everyday lives. So go on book that ticket and experience a whole new Asia in Manila!


his is my contribution to the “MANILA IN FOCUS” Blog Carnival hosted by Angel Juarez of Lakwatsero.com for the Pinoy Travel Bloggers.
You can read the past topics by clicking the Blog Carnival logo

51 comments:

  1. darwin3:52 PM

    naks! ang gaganda ng mga photos!

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  2. aylabet! hang poetic!love the photos as well. awt! wala pa akong entry. tsk tsk

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  3. wow! i love this post! simple yet from the heart :)

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  4. Naantig ako dito. May drama ka pala sa katawan, Ian. Tagos sa puso kasi hindi ako fan ng Maynila. Pero sa ganda ng mga litrato mo at sa maikli ngunit madamdamin na paggunita, keri na rin ang Maynila. :)

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  5. ian_delapena4:44 PM

    Manager.... bilib ka na ba hindi lang pang comedy pwede mo rin akong imarket sa drama... hehehe....

    Thank you sa iyong pagaabala at pag kokomentaryo sa aking maikling salaysayin... =)

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  6. ian_delapena4:44 PM

    thank you ms tina... in love lang talaga..... sa Manila.... hehehe

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  7. ian_delapena4:45 PM

    Thanks Ms. Gael.... I'm sure my poetry is being edited by my manager AJ Poliquit at the back of his head.... hahahaha... peace po manager!

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  8. ian_delapena4:46 PM

    Thank you el presidente! abangan ko yung entry mo sa ramadan photo contest! =)

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  9. Beautifully written. Ang lupit, natamaan ako. Great post! :)

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  10. Franghie_255:41 PM

    cuz, naantig naman ako sa pinost mo...ikaw ba yan...m so proud of you....cousin ko yata to...ahahah

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  11. ian_delapena5:51 PM

    thanks cuz.... hope to see you soon.. may be there in Baguio??? hehe....

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  12. ian_delapena5:52 PM

    Salamat Kara.... I appreciate it a lot! =)

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  13. Supertikoy6:09 PM

    bakit parang nakakaiyak? hahaha nice post!

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  14. naks naman.. word + photos = great post.. cheers to Manila!

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  15. Jpbrandanophoto9:28 PM

    Great post read it from Magnificent Monday page. You can just feel the love you have for Manila and your pride in it!!! Really well written!!!

    http://jpweddingphotograpy.blogspot.com/2011/08/photographing-love-for-magnificent.html

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  16. ian_delapena9:51 PM

    thanks so much sir for dropping by.... I dream of becoming like you one day.... =) I really love taking photos specially at weddings... =) BTW I looooooove your landscape photographs....

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  17. ian_delapena9:53 PM

    Salamat Ivan! Cheers! then tagay pa.... now that's when you get to legal age muna hehehehe...

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  18. ian_delapena9:54 PM

    hahahaha salamat sir... hehehe btw.... nice meeting you last saturday...

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  19. Great photos and an equally revolting write up that shouts for Manila's place in every backpacker's travel destinations. A must see indeed!

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  20. Aylavet! Pinaganda mo ng husto ang Manila (and it is!)

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  21. beautiful post, loved
    the photos and feel blessed at the sharing. Chances are I will never leave my country, but I would now love to visit Manila.

    http://jovanesphotos.blogspot.com/2011/08/magnificent-monday-love.html

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  22. I found you through Magnificent Monday. Your photography is stunning and your post is very interesting. I would love to visit Manila after seeing your blog.

    I'm now following you.

    http://www.mariscamera.blogspot.com/

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  23. This is my new favorite now among all your posts, very personal and creatively written. :)

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  24. ian_delapena2:01 PM

    thank you Ms. Claire.... **Blush*** hehe.... wala lang natuwa talaga ako sa comment mo... hihi....

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  25. ian_delapena2:09 PM

    thank you for dropping by my page Mari.... and thank you for the nice words.... I appreciate it a lot coming from a photographer of our caliber... thanks again! =)

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  26. ian_delapena2:12 PM

    Salamat Nina! ayan nina nalang ha... hehehehe.... naalala ko lang bigla we were talking about Manila on our way home from the bloggers congress sa la salle hehe =)

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  27. ian_delapena2:14 PM

    thanks sir.... really hope that Manilenos and Metro Manilans woud start caring more about our cities.... and change the way we look at our city... so that the world will change the way see Manila as well....

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  28. Donabelbautista4:04 PM

    nice shots,keep it up!:)

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  29. ian_delapena10:58 PM

    Thank you so much Ma'am!

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  30. ian_delapena11:00 PM

    Thank you Jan.... I'd love to show you around my city too....

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  31. It looks like Manila has stolen your heart! Love the photos and thank you for sharing this great post.

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  32. Wow, wonderful write-up about Manila, Ian. So poetic!!!

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  33. ian_delapena12:22 PM

    Yes.... Nelieta.... I am in love with the city... =)

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  34. ian_delapena12:23 PM

    Salamat Aleah.... =) hehe...

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  35. I have been to read this before. Has my comment been in the spam?
    Hey beautiful post, wonderful pics, and you really excite me about Manila!

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  36. ian_delapena4:53 PM

    Hi Jim! so you did leave a message... hmmm... i thought I was just imagining hahaha.... I thinking.. I think I saw jim leave a message but when I was to answer I couldn't find it anymore... anyways here you are now... and thank you for dropping by again... Manila is indeed an exciting place in so many aspect.. =)

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  37. I love Manila... :)

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  38. ian_delapena1:52 PM

    thank you zen!

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  39. roman leo reyman2:22 PM

    One of my favorite Manila entries. Simple yet enlivening.

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  40. ian_delapena1:53 PM

    thanks sir.... hope to see you again soon sa ptb meetups =)

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  41. DingFuellos4:54 PM

    Manila has so many facets that one cannot just ignore. Interesting place, I should also say.

    http://ding-explore.blogspot.com/

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  42. ian_delapena12:04 PM

    indeed! Manila has so many things to discover.... =)

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  43. ian_delapena12:04 PM

    salamat po ms pinaytravelista....

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  44. true on this. there's so much more to see in Manila. The little quirks of the city are enough to make you fall in love with it. Good post! Astig!

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  45. love the 1st photo! sana makakita din ako ng ganyang sunset sa Manila. Inggit lang. :)

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  46. theBPchronicles2:27 PM

    I live in manila and even though we are always suffering from flood whenever it rains, still I can't help but love it. Manila is manila..

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  47. ian_delapena8:29 PM

    true ma'am ang sarap nga makakita ng ganyan very relaxing....

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  48. ian_delapena8:30 PM

    salamat sir... i agree and some of the best things you can discover about Manila are in the small alleys hiding like treasures...

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  49. ian_delapena8:31 PM

    thanks po.... Manila is my default galaan... hehehe pero sana nga the flooding gets lessened....

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  50. I lavet. How come i missed this ? hahaha galing galing! Gusto ko ang timpla=)

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