• City of Manila,  Roamer's Roundup

    Sarah G Sings About Manila

    At the recent Miss Manila 2014 beauty pageant coronation night last Araw ng Maynila, (congratulations by the way to the winner, Krischelle Halili) a number by Sarah Geronimo, one of the Philippines’ most popular artists created as much buzz as the event itself. Partly I suppose was due to her sheer professionalism that she showed despite the technical glitches that occurred during that number. But I’d like to think that the song she sang played a big factor as well, a song entitled “Dito sa Manila.”

  • City of Manila

    Araw ng Maynila 2014: Return of the Carnival (sort of)

    Today, the City of Manila celebrates the 443rd anniversary of its founding, a day more popularly known as “Araw ng Maynila” or “Manila Day.” This would also mark the first Araw ng Maynila celebration that its mayor, the former Philippine president Joseph Estrada, will spearhead. To his credit, his administration is bent on making this year’s Araw ng Maynila a bit different and memorable than previous celebrations. And what better way to do that by getting some inspiration from one of the city’s most colorful events of the old: none other than the Manila Carnival.

  • City of Manila

    From Bank to BPO: The Tale of Juan Luna E-Services Building

    At a time and place when heritage conservation is the last thing on the minds of many people, it uplifts one’s heritage-loving spirit whenever there is a story of heritage that has been preserved and restored for a new generation’s appreciation. It is also good to know that we are hearing some more of these stories thanks to a growing awareness on the need to presere our colorful past. Today, the Urban Roamer is happy to present another such story here. Known before as the First National City Bank Building, it has been given a new lease of life ready for the future with a new name to reflect its…

  • Checked Out,  City of Manila

    Checked Out: the Sunday Intramuros Pasyal

    Traditionally, Sunday is day to unwind. For families, Sunday is also family day when families do some bonding together somewhere, especially after attending a Sunday religious service. These days, the venue of choice for these moments would be a modern, air-conditioned shopping mall which offers many amenities and sights to see. While I have nothing against shopping malls, it;s just that they have become so much ingrained in our culture and lifestyle that we tend to forget to look beyond the mall, so to speak. There are many things to discover outside the confines of the mall that may surprise and perhaps enamor you if one takes the time to…