Believe or not, nine out of 10 working people think about the weekend even it’s just the start of the working week. This only shows how eager most of us are when we think about Saturday and Sunday—the two most precious days of our week. I’m not really saying that we don’t give due importance to weekdays, but let’s accept the fact that the “S” days are far more exciting than any other days. These are the days when get to relax, pamper ourselves, eat whatever we like, work out for long hours at the gym, shop ’til we drop at the mall, and of course, spend quality time with our family, loved ones and even pets without our bosses bugging us for the deadlines. This week, we take a tour of the most recommended places in Metro Manila where families can hang out during weekends.
1. SM Mall of Asia
The country’s largest mall still remains to be one of the most popular weekend hangout places for families in Metro Manila. Obviously, a huge place such as this promises so many things to do for a day. Aside from shopping and dining, SM Mall of Asia (popularly known as MOA) has so much more to offer for fun and entertainment of the whole family. Let your kids learn skating at the country’s only Olympic-sized ice skating rink. You may also tour them at the SM Science Discovery Center, the country’s first technology-based, highly interactive science learning theme park. This two-level facility has nine walk-through galleries that provide kids and adult alike a fun and exciting way to learn science and technology. Don’t also forget to experience 3D movies at the country’s largest iMAX Theatre. This mall also features a 76-lane bowling alley and a spacious music hall where mall shows and concerts are usually held.
2. Eastwood
If you’re looking for a one-stop place for dining, entertainment, relaxation, wellness and simple strolls, then Eastwood City is the perfect place to hang out with your family. Over the years, Eastwood has transformed itself into a family place because of its multi-faceted atmosphere, awesome architectural themes and variety of activities to do in just one setting. At City Walk 1 and Fuente Circle, there’s a diverse pool of restaurants and bars for Al Fresco dining and chill outs. Here you can find the Central Plaza which has become a popular venue for bazaars and concerts. At the new Eastwood Mall, there’s a park and lagoon where families can enjoy watching the light and dancing fountain show that happens every 30 minutes. You have nothing to worry about if you’re bringing pets because Eastwood allows them even inside the malls. And guess what? You can even request the mall’s concierge to hold your pets while shopping inside the stores!
3 Bonifacio High Street
Talking about pets, another pet-friendly place is Bonifacio High Street. This long row of restaurants, cafes and retail shops at Fort Bonifacio Global City is a perfect escape from home. They have unique interactive playgrounds where kids usually spend time discovering the science behind what they play. “High Street”, as it is commonly called, is one of the places in the metropolis where you can find the biggest coffee shop chains. It also houses the largest multi-storey lifestyle bookstore in the country. One good thing about this place is that it closes quite late compared to malls so families can enjoy strolling, shopping and dining even until midnight. Some restaurants and coffee shops are even open way past midnight during weekends. Don’t ever be surprised to see pets enjoying the strolls at the park in the middle of the night!
4. Resorts World Manila
This new development in front of the NAIA Terminal 3 has so many surprises to offer for families. If your family is on a food trip, then choose the cuisine that you like so you’ll know where to go. Among their restaurants are Ginzadon that serves authentic Japanese and Korean dishes, Passion for modern Cantonese cuisine, Mercado for the best Filipino food buffet and Noodle Works for a unique mix of Asian flavors such as dimsum, dumplings and congee. If you’re into world-class entertainment, then head to Bar 360 located at the lobby floor of Maxims, Resorts World’s 6-star hotel. Among the popular shows are Maximus showcasing foreign acrobat acts from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine; Essence Trio performing graceful classical dance techniques to complex acrobatic dance elements; and Gvalt bringing fast-paced entertaining Broadway performances with a combination of modern jazz, pop, cabaret, swing, blues and electro-tango.
5. Manila Ocean Park
Housing the country’s first state-of-the-art Oceanarium, Manila Ocean Park is an exciting and educational place for the entire family. It is located at the back of the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park and also features an open marine water habitat, boutique mall, rows of restaurants, a bar and the Makansutra Asian Food Village that offers a hawker-type food service. This is a perfect place to experience Manila Bay’s sunset while eating barbeque or sipping some mocktails at the seaside bar. Hopefully, Manila Ocean Park will have more activities and events especially for families in the coming months to entice more visitors from other parts of the metro.
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