my Secret Garden

Father Blanco’s botanical garden is located at the back of the San Agustin church’s museum inside Intramuros. I first knew of this from my brother’s gf’s multiply page. I got curious so I decided to check it out myself. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to bring my camera with me so I ended up with these photos I got using my phone instead.

The last time I went there, half of the garden had been cleared in preparation for the restoration of one of the monastery’s wings. Though I was a bit disappointed on seeing excavations and a huge mound of earth in place of a walkway and half of the beautiful garden, I still am looking forward to how it’ll turn out.

I suggest that you visit the place after the completion of its renovation project to avoid any more disappointments..

There’s an entrance fee to the museum so do prepare P75 if you ever decide to go here.

Philippine history 101 inside the walled city

I finally had the chance to join one of the much lauded oldmanilawalks‘ walking tours last Sunday. It was the Manila day’s edition of Ivan’s walls of discontent 3-hour tour which was fantabulously entertaining and educational! I was a bit hesitant about asking my friends to join me since I knew that it wasn’t really their thing so I was glad when I found out that they enjoyed it. We’re now even planning to join their Binondo walk with more friends.

I’ve been to all the places he brought us to beforehand but I didn’t mind seeing them again in a different light. It wouldn’t have been better if I was able to join a tour scheduled on an earlier date since I had been looking forward to taking more beautiful photos of Fr. Blanco’s garden, but I guess that won’t ever happen again as the place had now been demolished in preparation for the re-building of a monastery wing in its place.

Roland, Leah and I got to Intramuros early so we decided to walk around and take pictures first before heading to Bahay Tsinoy.

Plaza Roma

Manila Cathedral

its lovely wooden door

inside the Cathedral

Palacio del Gobernador

Manila Cathedral again, but at a different angle

The tour started here, where we had our early Philippine history crash course complete with interesting tidbits that you’d probably never get from any of your high school teachers.

We made a quickstop here before heading to San Agustin Church.

a memorial for the WWII victims

We then proceeded to the only establishment in Intramuros that was spared by the WWII bombings.

one of the oldest Church of the Philippines

inside the church of San Agustin

half of the garden have been cleared already…

good thing they spared her

the stairway that leads to the 2nd floor

The tour didn’t end there yet, but I’ve ran out of photos (hehe..) so I’m leaving you with this one I took of the Filipino shop we found beside the Church.

this is where the parish I go to once stood