CHINA TOWN MANILA CITY PHILIPPINES

6. PHILIPPINE-CHINESE BUDDIST TEMPLE, Kipuja Street

With interiors ornately outlined in red and gold, the temple is one of the most frequented in the community. A shrine to Kuan Yin, goddess of mercy ans Kuan Te Ya, god of businessmen, it is visited daily by countless worshippers to light joss sticks, offer food, or simply to seek for guidance from these deities.

7. ROMAN ONGPIN STATUE, Corner Ongpin and Quintin Paredes Streets

A monumental statue standing close by the Binondo Church honoring the illustrious Filipino-Chinese merchant and the philathropist, Roman Ongpin. The first dealer of art supplies in Chinatown, he was as well said to have been the first to wear the barong tagalog, the Filipino national costume, among his compatriots. The main street called Ongpin was significantly named after him.

8. BINONDO CHURCH, (Church of our Lady of the Rosary / Shrine of San Lorenzo Ruiz), Quintin Paredes Street

Once a fine example of Spanish colonial architecture, the original Binondo church was built during the latter part of the 16th century to accommodate the Christian baptized Chinese. Especially noted for its six-storey octagonal bell tower, the church, now a minor basilica, is the shrine of the first canonized Filipino-Chinese martyr and saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz, who during his childhood served the parish as an altar boy. His larger-than-life statue nobly looks out from across the basilica.

9. CARVAJAL STREET, Carvajal Street

In the likeness of a traditional Chinese market, this narrow pathway tucked between two buildings is always fascinatingly swamped with a conumdrum of shoppers. Interspersed with trifling eateries and noodle houses, dry good stores and mini delis, the market is cramped with a potpouri of merchandise, Chinese and otherwise.

An intriguing and lively destination, Chinatown proposes a shopping ambiance that is uniquely Filipino-Chinese. A bewildering array of street shops selling everything from attractive Chinese arts and crafts, furniture and inexpensive curious, souvenirs, jewelries, exotic Chinese medicines, food preserves, fresh produce to hardware and office supplies, the street of Ongpin and its underlying alley ways are more than a charming ad graceful outlets of interesting commodities and bargain buys.

Complementing the fun and excitement of bargain hunting are infinite restaurants, eateries and food shops. The extremely appetizing Chinese cuisine will truly fascinate the palate, from the simple yet filling soups, noodles, and dimsums to the exotic and exquisitely prepared authentic dishes.

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