The Backpack Adventures

Located inside the historic walled city of Intramuros in Manila, San Agustin Church was built in 1589 making it the oldest stone church in the Philippines. In 1993, San Agustin Church together with three other Baroque churches in the country was declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Check the carvings on the door quite detailed huh? Looking for Chinese influence? Is that a puppy biting its mom? Unknown to many, the present structure is actually the third Augustinian church to be constructed on the site. The first San Agustin Church, built in 1571 was destroyed by fire in 1574 during the raid of the Chinese pirates led by Limahong. The oldest church in the country The second church, also made of wood was constructed soon after but was destroyed in 1583 when it was gutted y fire during the funeral of a Spanish Governor General. Another place worth checking out, Will blog this next time... The third and present church was constru

The month of May is known in the Philippines as the month of Festivals. Most Filipinos travel to their provinces to join their town's annual fiestas. However, going against the flow, my wife and I traveled to the biggest city in the National Capital Region -Quezon City, to attend a different kind of fiesta. ASAP 18  What kind of fiesta is that? It was the Fierce De Mayo in ASAP 18 , Yup! You read that right! The floor director briefing the audience Filipina actress Kim Chiu doing a "fierce" dance number ASAP, which stands for All-Star Sunday Afternoon Party is a musical variety show that aired live in ABS-CBN Channel 2 every Sunday from 12NN to 3PM. The Sesionistas serenaded the audience Modern English got the audience hooked up with their song from the 80s ASAP is the longest running musical variety show in the Philippines. On January 6, 2013, the show was renamed ASAP 18 to commemorate the show's 18th anniversary. A fierce d

Probably the most famous street food in the Philippines, balot or balut is a fertilized duck egg that is boiled and eaten in the shell. What's unusual with this food is that you eat the duck embryo that's waiting for you inside the egg. (Imagine it as a glorified Happy Meal.) Balot Balot  is also found and eaten in some countries in Southeast Asia, such as Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. It was said that Chinese traders brought the idea of eating balot to the Philippines. The Filipinos on the other hand localized the craft of balot-making. Balot from Pateros are well known for their superb quality and taste because the balot-makers there have mastered the art of selecting and incubating the eggs. Let's try out the balot Slowly open the balot Put your favorite seasoning for maximum flavor Then sip.  Balot-making literally takes time. Filipinos prefer the traditional production by hand thus a duck egg takes 17 to 21 incubation days before it is final

Located along General Luna Street in Paco district in the City of Manila, Paco Park and Cemetery is a recreational garden area which was once Manila's municipal cemetery during the Spanish colonial period. Inside Paco Park Paco Park Paco Park was originally a municipal cemetery for the well-off and established aristocratic Spanish families. The cemetery was built in the late 18th century but was completed several decades later in 1822. Paco Park = Former Paco Cemetery Paco Park entrance Entrance to the inner circular fort The cemetery has a circular shape, with an inner circular fort that was the original cemetery. As the population continued to grow, a second outer wall was built. A Roman Catholic chapel was built inside the walls of the park and it was dedicated to St. Pancratius. Here lies the three martyred priests -GOMBURZA Jose P. Rizal's original burial ground Can you guess what RPJ stands for?  The park was famously kno