July 23, 2008, Wednesday, I walked more than 7 kilometers! It was a great day! So fulfilling! Though I got lost on my way to my first destination Chinatown, Binondo I ended up in Divisoria-Sto. Niño Parish, Tondo. From there I walked some streets then proceeded to National Museum in P. Burgos St.

Cameras and bags are not allowed inside the museum, I left my bag at the bag counter but the staff made me bring my wallet and cellphone, which has a camera (evil plan looming in my head). I was led to The Masters' Hall which contains Hidalgo and Luna's paintings. Hidalgo and Luna are truly gifted, bilib ako! I took a picture of a small painting by Juan Luna entitled Lady in Red, painted in a canvas smaller than the size of my palm. I passed several paintings and then I viewed the Spoliarium. It's true that there are things that words can't describe, I got mixed feelings seeing the Spoliarium. I got teary-eyed and proud and happy and sentimental and more! It's so grand! It's so huge! It's priceless! Ang lupet! I took some huge steps backward to take a picture of the Spoliarium. Letters and Luna's jacket were also displayed. Judging from the size of his jacket, I think we have the same body built or maybe length of shoulder. Then I checked the other rooms with more paintings and sculptures. I felt creepy when I was in the room of burial jars and wooden coffins, I can't concentrate reading the tags. After a couple of hours I'm off to my next destination, UST, just hoping to visit a friend, unfortunately she has no classes there that day so I went to Luneta. Luneta was not in my itenerary but I had to pass through the park going to Quirino Grandstand then to Manila Ocean Park. I took some pictures of the country's famous obelisk (turista talaga ang dating!). Then, it's time for the Ocean Park!

The facade of the Ocean Park looks like a mall, you'll see a foodcourt-inspired lobby with just a few chairs and tables when you enter. Mabagal lang ang lakad ko dito, nagpapalamig na hehe! ThenI took more pictures of the sea's creatures (you may check out the Ocean park album to see more pictures).

And of course, my Explore Manila! must come to an end, I had dinner at Jammaican at Mall of Asia, Pasay. While having dinner and still on my muni-muni mode, I remember Amorsolo's painting displayed at the museum, Sunset at Manila Bay which shows some mountains of Bataan, I think it was painted when he was sitting at the place where one of the back parking lots of Mall of Asia stood today.