Manila
Entertainment

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In the free and open atmosphere of Manila, entertainment takes myriad forms. Sometimes you just need a little food for the soul, and here are some places to get your fill.

The Cultural Scene

Manila is distinguished by a strong theatrical tradition, possibly the most active and varied in East Asia after Tokyo. Because of the city’s early westernization, Manilans have been exposed to English plays, Italian opera, American musicals and other forms of theater to a far greater degree than their regional neighbors.

Manila's cultural scene is mainly represented by venues like the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Meralco Theater, and William J. Shaw Theater. In addition, there are auditoriums in practically all of the city’s schools and universities, and these are regularly used for a broad range of theatrical productions. Even shopping malls—for example, SM Megamall and Shangri-La Plaza Mall—lend themselves to concerts and cultural shows.

Each of the city's diverse drama companies mounts a season every year, with Tanghalang Pilipino, the Cultural Center’s resident company, setting the pace with productions that blend the best of traditional and avant-garde theater. Repertory Philippines specializes in English-language productions and is devoted to fostering a love of the theater among the younger generation.

Ballet Philippines, also attached to the Cultural Center, leads the world of dance, though there are several dance companies and studios scattered throughout the city. Classical music finds an eminent interpreter in the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, again complemented by different symphonic orchestras and chamber music ensembles. Both companies have regular seasons every year.

Three long-running series which bring the classical arts to mass audiences are worthy of mention here: Intramuros Evenings, Paco Park Presents and Concert at the Park. The first takes place at historic venues in Intramuros, the second in equally evocative Paco Park and the third at Rizal Park.

In addition to the aforementioned homegrown dramatic and musical groups, Manilans are also regularly treated to shows by visiting companies. Sometimes these imports showcase local talent, as in the case of Miss Saigon, the Asian Debut. Several foreign cultural organizations, such as the British Council, Goethe Institut, Alliance Francaise, Instituto Cervantes and the Japan Foundation are regular sources of art shows and other cultural activities.

Live Music and Dance

Filipinos are known throughout the world for their musical flair. Expectedly, the whole of Manila is alive with the sound of music, though it sometimes borders on noise due to its high volume. Live music and entertainment is offered at most hotels, as well as in bars and cocktail lounges all over the city. Hard Rock Cafe and the Watering Hole Brewery are just some of the many places that mix live music with drinking and dining. Restaurants like Café Adriatico 1900 and Mario's Kitchen Tiendesitas employ the services of live musicians to enhance the mood of the restaurant. Other places such as Strumm’s, Virgin Café, and the Music Museum operate almost like theaters and feature a constantly changing marquee of performers.

Music lovers that they are, Filipinos rarely suffer from stage fright and need not be coaxed or prevailed on to burst into song. Not surprisingly, that Japanese-originated global phenomenon called karaoke (later upgraded to videoke) has been wholeheartedly embraced by Manilans. The Library features stand-up comedy acts, but it is mainly for the chance to warble a melody that patrons pack its dark, smoky interiors. At times, the passionate nature of Filipinos comes into play: one reads and hears of brawls erupting over a song at the hundreds of karaoke bars (which are usually also beer gardens) found throughout the city.

Filipinos are equally adept at dancing and take to the dance floor at the drop of a hat. At one end of the spectrum are nightclubs set up for formal ballroom dancing, such as In The Mood, and at the other end are bar-cafés which often turn into scenes of wild, spontaneous parties. In between, you can find clubs such as Alchemy to dance until the wee hours of the morning. Even in public places like Rizal Park and the Quezon Memorial Circle, men and women of all ages can be seen doing the latest ballroom steps, often attended by suave DIs (Dance Instructors).

Billiards and Bingo

Billiard bars and halls are sweeping Manila like a hot new craze, fired no doubt by the Filipinos' undisputed dominance in international billiard championships. Many bars and cafes lure patrons with the added attraction of a billiard table or a billiard room. There are also a growing number of billiard halls, each equipped with a fully licensed bar, which stay open 24 hours and employ a tactical cut-price Happy Hour to entice their clientele.

If you are a bingo fan, you will, without doubt, find Manila your kind of town. In most of the shopping malls, there is a bingo hall where you can immerse yourself in the game from morning to night. You may even play bingo in the comfort of your hotel room by simply tuning in to the online bingo channel on TV.

But if you prefer a more upmarket form of gambling, Casino Filipino, which has outlets at Holiday Inn and The Heritage Hotel, is the place to be.

Daytime Leisure Activities

Resorts, spas, amusement centers and theme parks abound in and around Manila, offering a broad diversity of options. Splash Island, the country's biggest marine park, and The Enchanted Kingdom, the local answer to Disneyland, are situated close to each other and can be reached in an hour’s drive toward the southern outskirts of the city. While in the area, you might want to drive further south for a relaxing soak in the hot springs of Pansol and Los Banos, a thrilling ride down the rapids in Pagsanjan, a leisurely picnic at Villa Escudero Plantation and Resort, a day of relaxation in the cool climate of Tagaytay or some energetic outdoor adventures around Taal Volcano and Lake. Another option is to combine your outing with a visit to the historic town of Calamba or to check in at Caylabne Bay Resort, a Mediterranean-style beach complex on the South China Sea.

On the northern fringes of the metropolis, the town of Malolos, Bulacan, offers a rich selection of historical and natural sites such as Barasoain Church, Barasoain Museum and Biak-na-Bato. The cathedral was where the Philippines'—and Asia's—first democratic constitution was drafted; the museum delights visitors with a light-and-sound presentation depicting key events in the Philippine Revolution. Trekkers and holiday-makers will discover numerous points of interest in Biak-na-Bato, a national park known for its caves and mountain streams. Conversely, a man-made network of pools and sports/leisure facilities awaits the visitor at Jed's Island Resort.

Within the city itself, the visitor faces the delectable dilemma of choosing from a plethora of cinemas, amusement centers and other interesting places such as the Ripley's Believe it or not Museum. Both Exploratorium 2000 and Missing Links Alive utilize sophisticated robotics in their informative and entertaining displays. Visitors from temperate zones will feel at home on the SM Ice Skating Rink. Culture buffs can sate their appetite for enlightened entertainment in diverse museums and galleries such as the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Quest Center for Earth & Science Discovery, Lopez Memorial Museum, GSIS Museo ng Sining, Coconut Palace and Museo ng Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Needless to say, all these places provide fun and entertainment for adults and children alike.

For Adults Only

Compared to Bangkok, Manila may strike the visitor as rather tame and disappointing in terms of adult entertainment. This is perhaps because Filipinos, though unfettered by rigid rules and regulations imposed by government or religion, follow Christian morals and make an effort to maintain a show of respectability. But throughout Manila there is an abundance of bars and cocktail lounges where comely hostesses, often euphemistically designated as GROs (Guest Relations Officers), enrapture customers with their looks and charm (Filipinas are counted among the world's most beautiful women). Since these places are entered at your own risk (or pleasure), recommendations shall not be made here. So as not to spoil your fun, here are three areas where you encounter heavy concentrations of strip joints and girlie bars: the western tip of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Pasay City, the side streets and alleys around Makati Avenue and Jupiter Street in Makati City, and the district around Quezon Avenue and West Avenue in Quezon City.