Formerly the guest house of deposed President Ferdinand Marcos, the Palace was built to host Pope John Paul II during his 1981 visit. The whole structure is built from native materials like narra and molave hardwoods, coconut wood and husks, and thousand oh shells for adornments.

DIVISORIA

For the best bargains, Divisoria is the place to go. With items ranging from apparel to toys at dirt cheap prices, Divisoria has become a shopping haven for the budget conscious and shopaholics both fromlocal parts and abroad.

MANILA BAY BAYWALK

Manila’s famed sunsets and the entertainment that lights up the Baywalk at night draws tourists and locals alike to the sidewalk cafes lining the boardwalk. Live music performances may also be seen on weekends.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Manila is probably the busiest city in the whole of the country. Heat and traffic are the problem that most tourists find irritating in Manila. This said, light weight clothes, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and the optional bottle of water would be advisable.

With many instances of "snatching," it is recommended that visitors to the capital hire a guide to show them around and for security purposes.

Foreign currency may be exchanged at most banks and big department stores. Credit cards are also accepted at most establishments. It is however advised that tourists carry a small amount of money when going around as card processing machines may not always be available.

Finding a place to eat in Manila is very easy. Most restaurants have menus that cater to international tastes. There are also specialty restaurants that serve up seafood or chinese food. While some establishments already include service charges on the check, tipping and the amount of tip given is entirely up to the discretion of the patron.

Manila is also full of hotels for tourists of all budgets. References for inns, apartelles (apartment-hotels,) and pension houses may be obtained at the local tourism office.

Most hotels also offer hotel service cars and tour guides/packages for the tourist’s convenience.