Appreciating China at Fo Guang Shan Mabuhay Temple

With all the issues surrounding the sovereignty of our country, Philippines, against China, I can't blame if there are Filipinos out there who are starting to hate Chinese and their culture now. But if you'll ask a traveler like me, well, it's kinda sad to know that we all have to go through all this hate and fight, instead of just appreciating what we both have. And I personally think that with just a little understanding, we can both in one-stroke of peaceful world, something that I believe both countries would want to have.

Last week, I had a very unusual weekend. Despite of the unconditional weather that we have here in Manila, I managed to spent a peaceful and full-of-learning day with the volunteers and monks of Fo Guang Shan Mabuhay Temple in Malate, Manila.

Being born and raise here in Manila, I seldom have a chance to peek into those sky-scraping and truly magnificent temples. Actually, I cannot recall a moment where I've been in a Buddhist temple here in Manila, so this is kinda my first-ever Buddhist Temple visit here in my beloved city.

Anyway, on my visit here, I was welcomed by the serenity and peacefulness of the whole temple, which is a common thing about Buddhist Temple. It huge doors are a great symbolism of welcoming attitude that I truly love about these temples.

Paradise + Zoo = Paradizoo

Seeing my most favorite zoo in the country will always be a pleasure to me. With its whole lot more picturesque and attractive to explore now, I'm simply speechless to be at this place again. Indeed, Paradizoo is a paradise and zoo in one that I will never get tired of visiting.

On my visit here again, I'm in a luck to see all of those flowers in bloom and all those plants bearing fruits and vegetables - something that is so amazing for a boy from Manila don't usually see. The breath of fresh air is what will welcome you once you stepped inside the wide receiving area of this place.

The well-maintained lawn and the wonderful division of the the animals to the plants in this paradise-zoo themed park is really what made me love this place. I admit it, I'm not a huge animal lover, mainly because of their smell, but every time that I'm here, the place made me like these domestic animals that I find well-taken cared off.

Tagaytay City: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church

To some, Tagaytay City is just a one-stop shop for coffee drinking while overlooking the beautiful Taal Volcano, while to some, it is one market heaven where you could buy the freshest meat, fruits and vegetables. But for me, if there's one more reason why going to Tagaytay City is such a pleasure, well, that is because of their very humble yet so lovely church that I love to see over and over again - the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church. 

Located at the very heart of this cool city in the south, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church can be seen at your right after passing the Rotonda, that is if you are coming from Metro Manila. With its humble facade depicting a modern architecture, which is actually basically covered by tall trees, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church is also a place of healing and pilgrimage to some who are seeking some peace of mind out of the busy life of the metropolis.

Livin' a Marriott Hotel Manila Dream

They say once is not enough to know the true color of a person or a place, but in this one-night stay of mine here at Marriott Hotel Manila, the moment that I checked-in, I already knew that I'm gonna have a blasting stay and that I'm gonna be back soon, to experience that world-class accommodation again.

Marriott Hotel Manila is one of the luxury hotels that you could find in the vicinity of Resorts World Manila. With a brand and name that's been hailed all over the world for it prestigious and truly comfortable accommodation, there's no doubt that a lot are dreaming of a stay here.

As for those who haven't been in Resorts World Manila yet, well, just think of the ever famous Las Vegas in Nevada, U.S. of A. With the bright lights dancing along the ever jubilant and wonderful casino songs, I'm sure that you'll enjoy every minute of your stay here. Well, you'll actually forget about time once your inside the complex because everything here just keeps on moving and staying alive. From the amazing state-of-the-art facilities to the very accommodating and beautiful staff, Resorts World Manila, is indeed the gaming center in now in the metropolis just like the Las Vegas of America. Wee! And now that it offers complete entertainment and luxurious amenities that individuals and families could enjoy, the only thing that I can say is just make sure that your pockets are ready because once you are inside, you'll have a hard time leaving this fun place. A dream anyone would love to have in real life....

Luckily, I had my dream come true recently as I experienced, first-hand, all of those Resorts World Manila-Marriott Hotel hospitality.

Checking in at Marriott Hotel Manila is so easy. You can even avail of their Marriott Rewards for free, which will entitle you to gain some points that you could use on your future stay here and even free access to other amenities, such as the super reliable and fast Wi-Fi. 

The Freshest Beef from Tagaytay's Mahogany Market

Any Tagaytay trip wouldn't be complete without a sip of their hottest and most delicious Bulalo soup, and I know you would agree with me on this one. But do you know where you can buy the best meat in town for you to take home and cook your own Bulalo soup? Let me take you to Tagaytay's Mahogany Market - the place to hunt for your meat hunting!

It was after our stay in Nurture Spa that my mom asked me to take her to Mahogany Market. Our family is a huge beef lover, so making a stopover here before heading home and buying some tender and fresh meat is really a must-do.

Mahogany Market is located along Mahogany Avenue, Tagaytay City. Most buses from Manila passes here, so it is really to spot.