There's Still Beauty in Manila

by: Seven Bueno

I've seen travel blogs posted about how going out of town to spend the long weekend, or how most people go out of the country to spend the vacation... Can't there be a staycation where you find the little yet amazing beauty of the metro?

Whenever I hear December, there'd be one thing in my head - Christmas arts, lights, and sounds. First place I picture would be the outline of Rockwell skyline in Makati.

aruga.com

As soon as the 'Ber-months' kick in, expect those buildings to be lit up. Every year, it has been a Rockwell Land tradition to light up all their buildings around the Philippines in commemoration of their overwhelming Christmas celebrations they have each year. Every year is really different especially as Rockwell expands into a bigger community not only in Makati, but has ventured out to Pasig, Quezon City, and even all the way to Cebu and Davao City. From Luna, Rizal, Amorsolo, and Joya buildings, they have expanded and recently built Aruga, their first service hotel, and soon rising the Proscenium, the new frontier of Rockwell.

Copyright: Seven Bueno

Another place in Metro Manila known for the weirdest finds is at Bonifacio Global City. Here, you'd find the street arts of Manila that every Filipino artist admires.

The whole BGC is basically an art museum that has no entrance fee whatsoever.

You'd find street arts in trees, walls, buildings, sidewalks, street signs, and even on the benches outside. This is a picture I took somewhere near a famous sushi restaurant on the 32nd street. It didn't come with a title, but surely the artist really knew the effects of the lighting and color while making this artwork.

Another fun site to go to in Metro Manila is just in the heart of the Central Business District of Makati. It's the Light Show at the Ayala Triangle. This light show is something to wait for every year.

ayala.com

 

This is the one of many light shows around the metro but I believe that this is one of the best I've seen. Not only is it because it is different and improving each year, but also because of the security and the safety in the venue.

There are 7,107 islands in the Philippines, and Metro Manila is one tiny bit of the country. Even if it is the center of business and trade, I really think that there is so much beauty to find in the most unlikely corners and sidestreets of the metro.