Experience Boracay in Manila: Valentine’s, Lenten destinations to check out

MANILA, Philippines — Every special occasion like Valentine’s Day and Lent, Boracay has been a popular destination for local and foreign tourists alike.

But for those who cannot fly yet to the island paradise in Visayas, just staying in Manila to spend the holidays would not be so bad. 

Here is a new itinerary to try for your next “eat, pray, love” adventure in the Philippine capital:

For Roman Catholics celebrating both Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday on the same day today, stopping by the church is a must.

The Malate Church along Roxas Boulevard in Manila is not only there for those looking for a church to get an ash cross on the forehead.

Since the church is among the city’s main landmarks that played a key role during the Battle of Manila, it is among those designated by the city with a special marker commemorating the Battle of Manila’s 79th anniversary.

The Battle of Manila, which happened from February 3 to March 3, 1945, was waged by the United States of America to liberate the Philippines from three years of Imperial Japanese occupancy.

Apart from the marker, by the altar of Malate Church is a panel exhibition showing archive photos from the war.

Just behind the church is Korea Town, where one can enjoy Samgyeopsal and other Korean dishes from the authentic Korean restaurants in the area, where Filipino heritage restaurants like Café Adriatico and Bistro Remedios are also located.

From Malate, you can ride an electronic pedicab, which are all the rage now in Manila, for a 10-to15-minute trip to Manila City Hall, which itself is a historical landmark that was also ravaged during the Battle of Manila.

Inside is the relatively new Manila Clock Tower Museum, which is open by appointment via the museum’s Facebook page. 

The seven-storey museum houses dioramas about the Battle of Manila on its first floor. The second floor contains a changing exhibition by Filipino artists. Around this time, among those in exhibition for the ongoing National Arts Month are works by glass sculptor Ramon Orlina and National Artist for Visual Arts Abdulmari Imao.

The upper floors, meanwhile, contain exhibitions on indigenous arts and clothing, a replica of the Manila Mayor’s