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Visit the American Cemetery in Taguig City
The Tablets of Missing, with 36,286 names of soldiers missing in action
There are 3660 headstones here
The American cemetery is beautifully located
The cemetery is beautifully located with impressive views over the lowlands to Laguna de Bay and towards the distant mountains. The area is so quiet and you can wander around and contemplate over the soldiers who lost their lives in the World War II. When you see all the headstones and the names it really calls for reflection over the madness of war.
Overview
The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines occupies 152 acres on a prominent plateau, visible at a distance from the east, south and west. It contains the largest number of graves of the US military dead of World War II, a total of 17,191, most of whom lost their lives in operations in New Guinea and the Philippines. Among them are 570 Philippine Nationals who were serving alongside with the US Forces.
The chapel
The chapel, a white masonry building enriched with sculpture and mosaic, stands near the center of the cemetery. In front of it on a wide terrace are two large hemicycles. Twenty-five mosaic maps recall the achievements of the American armed forces in the Pacific, China, India and Burma. On rectangular Trani limestone piers within the hemicycles, are inscribed the Tablets of the Missing containing 36,286 names.
The chapel
View over the entrance head north
The remains of about 61 percent have been returned to the US at the request of the next of kin
The American cemetery is organized and minimalistic
Compared to the Manila Chinese Cemetery which was like a maze of different styles and colors this cemetery is strictly organized and minimalistic with the headstones in perfect order. They are aligned in 11 plots forming a generally circular pattern, set among masses of a wide variety of tropical trees and shrubbery.
When you are overlooking 3660 headstones it really calls for reflection over the madness of war...
Behind me, it's one of these two massive hemicycles with the Tablets of Missing
Among these 36,286 names, there were two seamen with the name Henry Lord, same family name as me. And let's not forget the 3762 Philippine Nationals whose remains were never recovered are also inscribed on the Walls of the Missing.
The maintenance of the cemetery is meticulous
In the background you see a residential complex at McKinley Pkwy towards Makati
Related links:
Visit Intramuros in Manila
Visit the Manila Chinese Cemetery
Review of Jatujak Thai Restaurant, Manila
Review of hotel Isabelle Royale in Makati, Manila
Review of Kyochon restaurant in Mall of Asia
Review of Arya Persian Restaurant in Pasay
Hiking trip to Mt Pinatubo
Review of Casa Verde Boutique Hotel and Gardens, Imus, Manila
Review of Chili's Restaurant in Mall of Asia
Review of Burgoo, American Bar and Restaurant in Mall of Asia
Review of Pinoy Pamilya Hotel in Pasay
Review of 88 Courtyard Hotel in Pasay
Video clips Manila Ocean Park
Visit Intramuros in Manila
Visit the Manila Chinese Cemetery
Review of Jatujak Thai Restaurant, Manila
Review of hotel Isabelle Royale in Makati, Manila
Review of Kyochon restaurant in Mall of Asia
Review of Arya Persian Restaurant in Pasay
Hiking trip to Mt Pinatubo
Review of Casa Verde Boutique Hotel and Gardens, Imus, Manila
Review of Chili's Restaurant in Mall of Asia
Review of Burgoo, American Bar and Restaurant in Mall of Asia
Review of Pinoy Pamilya Hotel in Pasay
Review of 88 Courtyard Hotel in Pasay
Video clips Manila Ocean Park
Manila American Cemetery
McKinley Road, Fort Bonifacio,
1634 Taguig City, Philippines
Phone: 011-632-844-0212
McKinley Road, Fort Bonifacio,
1634 Taguig City, Philippines
Phone: 011-632-844-0212
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Visit the Manila Chinese Cemetery!
The Millionaire's Row
The south entrance
The Manila Chinese Cemetery, popularly known as “Millionaire's Row” and ”The Beverly Hills of the dead”. The Manila Chinese Cemetery was built in the late 19:th century and was designated as the resting place for the Chinese citizens who were denied burial in Catholic cemeteries during the Spanish colonial period. A plot in the Manila Chinese Cemetery can easily cost up to 50 million PHP for a 25 year lease, after which another leasing fee must be paid or the body will have to be moved to another place.
I was overwhelmed!
When it comes to cemeteries I had never seen something like this before! In Sweden, a cemetery is basically a designated area for the dead, where you put up a headstone with some flowers or other plants to honor the dead. But here! The Manila Chinese Cemetery is like a community of spectacular mansion-like tombs that are equipped with everything from kitchens to air-conditioning and bedrooms to running water! The reason is so relatives can be near to their deceased at all times. They would often visit the dead in their homes during weekends, and offer food and light incense sticks.
Yeah that's me with an umbrella
Many of these tombs are as large as a regular house - some even bigger!
I recommend to hire a guide when visiting the cemetery.
Who needs a guide?
Normally I used to deny the services of a guide. Who needs a guide when you have a smartphone and Google? But sometimes however, I have to admit that hiring a guide can be really useful. The Manila Chinese Cemetery is roughly 5.4 hectare. So it's a big area and it's like a maze in there so in order to find the highlights you might need some help. I was lucky to meet a guide who was nice and knowledgable and told me many good anecdotes about the cemetery. He charged me 600 PHP for one-hour walking tour. As an option you can also hire a bicycle (per hour P100) to get around the area.
You might think you are visiting a residential suburb but these are actually mausoleums with tombs inside. That's not all, they are fully functional homes fitted with modern conveniences.
Not all buried here can afford grand houses. The cemetery has a poorer section with regular-sized tombs and mausoleums.
Notice the bible on top of the tomb.
A tomb in the form of a turtle shell.
Here is everything made of stainless steel.
The creator of mami and siopa
Ma Mon Luk, the creator of mami and siopao!
Ma Mon Luk, was a Chinese immigrant best known in the Philippines for his eponymous restaurant and the creator of mami (a noodle soup) and siopao (a steamed bun based on the cha siu bao). Arriving penniless in Binondo, Manila, Ma decided to peddle his own version of chicken noodle soup. He would soon open his first restaurant with the name “Ma Mon Luk Mami King”. He would promote his restaurant by giving away free samples of siopao. After Ma’s death, his children would continue the restaurant expanding to as many as six branches during the 1980s. Today two restaurants remain and are operated under the family owned Ma Mon Luk International Corporation.
The kids tombs
According to my guide the kids were always buried separately from their parents
The vegetation slowly takes over here
The squatters climbed the fences...
Before the squatters climbed the fences to get in. Until the 1960:s, many families employed grave watchmen to stay at the mausoleums around the clock. But when the guards started bringing their families to live on the grounds, the practice was banned. Although the squatters no longer spend the nights at the cemetery, the caretakers and their families find it a nice place for a picnic, and even a nap. They stretch out on the cool marble floors or even on top of the crypts.
My guide is patiently waiting for me.
Someone did not renew the lease of the tombs...
Yeah the umbrella was to protect myself from the heat...
Ruby Tower Memorial
At the end of the street you see the Ruby Tower Memorial. This memorial is dedicated to Chinese-Filipinos who were among the 260 people who perished in the collapse of the six-storey Ruby Tower building in the Manila suburb of Binondo during the deadly "Casiguran" earthquake that hit the capital city on 2 August 1968. The memorial is located just in the rear of the famous Lee See Tong Martyr's Hall.
Weird anecdotes
According to my guide, if the children died before their parents, they were not going to be buried together with the parents but separately at another place in the cemetery. But there were some cases of married men who happened to have had a mistress who was buried together with him and his wife in the same mausoleum! My guide showed me an even weirder example, where a married man and his mistress were dead and consequently they had been buried together. But the husband's wife was still alive and the wife had already got her designated resting place set up beside her husband and his mistress when the time was ready for her!
There are also ultra modern mausoleums as this one built by the Lim Family.
The Manila Chinese Cemetery
Santa Cruz, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
Phone: +63 2 253 4202
Santa Cruz, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
Phone: +63 2 253 4202
How to get there
Take the metro LRT to Abad Santos then walk or take a tricycle (P25) to the south entrance.
Take the metro LRT to Abad Santos then walk or take a tricycle (P25) to the south entrance.
Related links:
UCC Good Coffee Smile in Manila
Where to eat the fiery style in Manila?
Visit Intramuros in Manila
Manila American Cemetery & Memorial
Visit the Manila Chinese Cemetery
Review of Jatujak Thai Restaurant, Manila
Review of hotel Isabelle Royale in Makati, Manila
Review of Kyochon restaurant in Mall of Asia
Review of Arya Persian Restaurant in Pasay
Hiking trip to Mt Pinatubo
Review of Casa Verde Boutique Hotel and Gardens, Imus, Manila
Review of Chili's Restaurant in Mall of Asia
Review of Burgoo, American Bar and Restaurant in Mall of Asia
Review of Pinoy Pamilya Hotel in Pasay
Review of 88 Courtyard Hotel in Pasay
Video clips Manila Ocean Park
UCC Good Coffee Smile in Manila
Where to eat the fiery style in Manila?
Visit Intramuros in Manila
Manila American Cemetery & Memorial
Visit the Manila Chinese Cemetery
Review of Jatujak Thai Restaurant, Manila
Review of hotel Isabelle Royale in Makati, Manila
Review of Kyochon restaurant in Mall of Asia
Review of Arya Persian Restaurant in Pasay
Hiking trip to Mt Pinatubo
Review of Casa Verde Boutique Hotel and Gardens, Imus, Manila
Review of Chili's Restaurant in Mall of Asia
Review of Burgoo, American Bar and Restaurant in Mall of Asia
Review of Pinoy Pamilya Hotel in Pasay
Review of 88 Courtyard Hotel in Pasay
Video clips Manila Ocean Park
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Review of JJ's Dimsum and Restaurant
A budget Chinese in Tagbilaran
Where to have a good meal for reasonable prices in Tagbilaran city? Try the JJ's Dimsum and Restaurant along the Carlos P. Garcia Ave. It's a Chinese style restaurant 5 min walking distance from BQ mall. They have many dishes on the menu and some of them would be suitable for vegetarians. But as always in the Philippines, ask specifically if it's meat in the vegetarian dish you plan to order. I noticed too many times there can be meat in so called vegetarian dishes.
JJ's Dimsum and Restaurant in Tagbilaran city
They have a separate menu for their delicious rice toppings.
Spicy pork steamed rice topping.
Rice toppings
Around lunch time they serve these delicious small rice toppings for just 50 PHP each. There are different toppings with rice beneath. If you are hungry like me, just order two or more and you will be set for the day!
They have a regular menu also
The menu is extensive and you can choose between chicken, beef, pork, fish, vegetables etc all in Chinese style. As the name of the restaurant indicates, they also have a variety of dim sum. For example the Siopao which is common everywhere in the Philippines as street food. Siopao literally means "steamed bun" and is the Philippine version of the Cantonese steamed bun called cha siu bao. Siopao does not require utensils to eat and therefore perfect to be consumed on-the-go.
The main menu
Chicken with cashew nuts and vegetables.
Sometimes it was very quiet here.
Fish with oyster sauce and sautéed mixed vegetables.
Rating:
1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
4 Food
4 Service
5 Value
4 Atmosphere
1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
4 Food
4 Service
5 Value
4 Atmosphere
JJ's Dimsum and Restaurant
135 Carlos P. Garcia Ave, Tagbilaran City, 6300 Bohol, Philippines
Phone: +63 38 411 3306
135 Carlos P. Garcia Ave, Tagbilaran City, 6300 Bohol, Philippines
Phone: +63 38 411 3306
Related links:
Find a house for rent in Panglao
Review of the Food Court in Island City Mall (Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines)
Bohol and Panglao Islands, Philippines
Isola de Francesco or Virgin Island, Panglao, Philippines
Review of Swiss Zurigo Restaurant (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of Bojol Grill Restaurant (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of A's Chicken Nuggets & Grill Haus (Bohol, Philippines)
The giant Arogo and the smallest primate, what do they have in common?
Review of Panglao Island Nature Resort & Spa (Panglao, Philippines)
Review of Henann Resort Alona Beach (Panglao, Philippines)
Review of Shang Palace Seafood Restaurant (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of Bo's Coffee (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of The Buzzz Café (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of Golden Cowrie (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of Staylite Park Bed and Breakfast (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of Arabelle Suites (Bohol, Philippines)
Find a house for rent in Panglao
Review of the Food Court in Island City Mall (Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines)
Bohol and Panglao Islands, Philippines
Isola de Francesco or Virgin Island, Panglao, Philippines
Review of Swiss Zurigo Restaurant (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of Bojol Grill Restaurant (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of A's Chicken Nuggets & Grill Haus (Bohol, Philippines)
The giant Arogo and the smallest primate, what do they have in common?
Review of Panglao Island Nature Resort & Spa (Panglao, Philippines)
Review of Henann Resort Alona Beach (Panglao, Philippines)
Review of Shang Palace Seafood Restaurant (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of Bo's Coffee (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of The Buzzz Café (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of Golden Cowrie (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of Staylite Park Bed and Breakfast (Bohol, Philippines)
Review of Arabelle Suites (Bohol, Philippines)
- Published on
Review of Charisma Beach Resort
Charisma Beach Resort a good deal
San Juan is in the western side of Siquijor. Many resorts, restaurants, bars and shops are located here in this particular area. Here you will also find Charisma Beach Resort quietly located near the beach. I ended up here, stranded for a couple of days due to the rough weather. The location is very nice less than 50 m from the sea with a nice beach. If you don't want to swim in the sea they have a fairly large swimming pool as an option.
Resto with sea view
It was wonderful to eat my lunch here!
The restaurant is with a nice sea view. They serve a wide variety of meals ranging from breakfast to dinner. My favorite quickly became the Baby Squid Adobo. So, so yummy! The breakfast was also delicious with everything a hungry person can wish for.
My favorite meal, Baby Squid Adobo.
A standard bamboo cottage
Charisma Beach Resort have rooms from 450 PHP up to 2650 PHP. I was lucky to get the Standard Bamboo Cottage, the one and only cottage for just 1000 PHP without breakfast. There was no sea view but still it was a very good deal. The cottage was clean and spacious with a porch facing the pool. However there was no AC in the cottage but for me, that is not a deal breaker. On the contrary I prefer a fan room. I am a believer of adjusting myself to the heat rather than fighting it.
The Standard Bamboo Cottage, located behind the bush.
A fairly large pool good for swimming.
The resto and reception area.
Summary
The location is good. The surroundings around the resort is quiet but still in the area of San Juan so it is near other establishments as restaurants, bars and shops. The room was nice and clean with a bed I can sleep in. No AC, just a fan. Private toilet and shower with cold water. But a private cottage for 1000 PHP and just 100 m from the beach, what could you expect?
The super friendly hotel dog waiting for a snack
Charisma Beach Resort
Solangon, San Juan, Siquijor, Philippines
Phone nr +63 908 861 9689
Rating for the resto:
1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
5 Food
4 Service
4 Value
5 Atmosphere
Rating for the accommodation:
1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
5 Location
4 Sleep Quality
4 Rooms
4 Service
5 Value for the money
4 Cleanliness
Related links:
Review of Joel's Lechon Manok
Siquijor Island, Philippines
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Review of Joel's Lechon Manok
Lechon Manok, roasted chicken
Lechon Manok is Tagalog and the meaning in English is roasted chicken. It is said that the Filipino people consumes more chicken meat than any other meat. I believe that is true because you find Lechon Manok basically everywhere in the Philippines. One of the top 5 chicken franchises in the Philippines is Sr. Pedro which have more than 300 branches scattered allover the country. But I didn't find Sr. Pedro in Siquijor. But if someone knows if there is a Sr. Pedro in Siquijor, please feel free to update me.
Lechon Manok, roasted or grilled chicken.
Stranded at Siquijor
I really didn't mind to be stranded on this wonderful island!
Due to strong winds and rough sea I was stranded in Siquijor for several days more than planned. It was difficult to get updates from the ferry company if they were going to resume the schedule or not. So I decided to stay at the Belleview hotel near the pier and the ticketing office. In that way it was more easy for me to inquire about the schedule. Just across the street of The Bellevue hotel I found Joel's Lechon Manok. Every evening it was a bustling activity outside the place which made me curious. To my humble opinon, if the locals go and eat there, the food must be good!
Juicy with crispy skin...
Joel's Lechon Manok looked small from the outside but was far bigger inside than I expected. The atmosphere was noisy and full of guests. Even though there were many guests in line I didn't need to wait long for my Lechon Manok. And yes... oh my gosh it was so delicious! Juicy with crispy skin and seasoned to perfection with a slight taste of lemon grass. Can it be better? No wonder it was so crowded inside! Even if you stay at San Juan where most of the tourists are staying, it is well worth taking the scooter to come here and enjoy this delicious Lechon Manok.
Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
5 Food
4 Service
5 Value
3 Atmosphere
5 Food
4 Service
5 Value
3 Atmosphere