Manila Walk: From The National Museum to Soup Number Five and Frog Legs

Manila is like a lady with a sophisticated and a timeless beauty despite of the odd that people  see her ugly. She has evolved for centuries but still maintaining the classic look of uniqueness. Being the uno primera capital city of the Philippines, this place has a lot to offer to both foreigners and locals residing or just touring the place in a day of two.

With a new-found friend/blogger, female counterpart, Katerina Bianca (katerinabianca.blogspot.com), we chose Manila to be our destination. This place is somewhat a shopping district too but we're not actually up into this. Today, it's going to be a very short travel aiming to appreciate the place better. It's a trip of history and cultural story telling.

The National Museum

I would consider this place a haven of all people who love to see the Philippines closer in a different perspective. Seeing hundred pieces of Philippine cultural art and bio-diversity collections here, I better understood  and appreciated who I really am and what I am as a Filipino.

Here are the things we loved seeing here:

Spoliarium is a painting by National Artist Juan Luna submitted to the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes in 1884 in Madrid where it won the first gold medal award. 

The Old Senate Hall

With its over powering beauty, this old Senate Hall inside the museum holds unforgettable stories of the past Philippine government from 1926 to 1996. Through PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation), it was said that P20 million has been funded to completely restore the hall. 

I guess these millions of pesos is all worth in bringing back this timeless masterpiece of Neo-Renaissance art back into life.

Galleon Trade: Getting Back on Track

The Galleon Trade was dated to be active 250 years ago. These were the huge ships that traveled across the world once or twice per year using the route discovered by a well-known circumnavigator named Fray Andres de Urdaneta. Aside from carrying thousands of people, these ships also carry gold, jars, spices, silk, porcelain, ivory and some other valuable commodities.

According to Nick Joaquin, the Galleon trade is "the first medium to reduce the world to a village". Well true enough, the Philippines has become like a sponge for centuries--collecting all the treasures of the world from these navigating Galleons.

Side Trip, Food Trip

So after the afternoon fun at the National Museum, Bianca and I decided to track our way down to Binondo. A little bit of a food adventure seeker, we decided to drop by here to try some "soft core" exotic food.

First in line is the rumored Soup Number 5:

Rating: ★★★★

We dropped by at one of my favorite restaurant here, Four Season Restaurant, just to taste this unique exotic soup. Just so you know, Soup Number 5 is a stewed cow's balls (part of the male's reproductive system). You don't have to close your eyes before tasting it  because the soup is so good and the texture of the meat is cartilaginously tender!

Picture on the right: Miss Lily, Bianca and I

We also had a short chat with the owner of the restaurant, Miss Lily. She's very bubbly and full of fun. She even offered us to try their turtle soup, eel soup and the black chicken dish. Thanks Miss Lily for this wonderful experience. For sure, we'll come back again to try more of your enticing dishes there!

Frog Legs, Oh La La!

After the soup tasting at Four Season,  Bianca and I immediately proceeded to Kainan sa Estero. Literally a restaurant located near the estero, this place offers a wide array of seafood (always served in bunch orders)--Chinese and Filipino food--in cheap and reasonable price.

Aside from ordering adobong pusit, we also ordered one delectable dish here one might find it a little exotic-- the fried frog legs:

Rating: ★★★★★

I already expected that Bianca will love this. As what she said after taking a small bite: "It tastes like chicken!" Well, I agree and that is true. I wonder why frog legs tasted this way. But it tastes even better than chicken for me.

Wrapping Things Up

View from the Jones Bridge

It's been a day. A long one. We planned to visit Fort Santiago too, but due to time constraint, we have not made it. But I strongly believe that this won't be the end of this tour yet. I'll go with what everybody believes--"It's just the beginning."

Manila has a lot more things to offer and I know that. One should just learn to appreciate these big and little things so he or she can appreciate this place better. Manila is not just about malls and jeepneys. It's not just about Manila Bay and Luneta. There are small details out there that we might have not discovered yet about this city. It's mysterious but it has no secrets at all. One only needs time and an open eyes to see how beautiful this place is.

More fun here in Manila, Philippines!