A wholesome walking tour of Malate

Malate in the City of Manila can be a lot of things depending on who you ask: there’s the college and university belt where schools like De La Salle University (DLSU), DLSU-College of St. Benilde, St. Scholastica’s College, Philippine Women’s University (PWU), and Philippine Christian University (PCU) are located; a red-light district along A. Mabini Street between Quirino Avenue and Pedro Gil Street; or as I have experienced, a melting pot of historical, cultural, and gastronomical delight.

You don’t need one whole day to accomplish the following, nor do you need to spend an arm and a leg. Armed with a bit of information, a good enthusiasm for walking, and a smartphone for directions, here’s what you can experience in Malate for P500 or less.

Starting budget: P500

Start your morning or early afternoon at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Money Museum.

Admission to the Money Museum inside the BSP complex is free, but it is only open from Monday to Friday. All photos: Stanley Baldwin See

The entrance to the BSP complex is located on F.B. Harrison Street (across Harrison Plaza). Security inside the nation’s main bank is tight with x-ray machines, security protocols, and numerous armed personnel manning the visitor’s center and surrounding buildings.

Once you get a visitor’s pass and pass through the turnstiles, the Money Museum is less 100 meters away.

There are six galleries in the four-decades old museum: pre-Spanish, Spanish, Revolutionary, American/Japanese, the Republic, and one for special or temporary exhibitions. Gold, coins, and bills as well as interesting artifacts like Japanese-time “Mickey Mouse” money, P100,000 Centennial Commemorative Note, and busts of former and current BSP governors are on display.

Note: Entrance to the BSP complex and admission to the museum is free. Operating hours: Mondays to Fridays, 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 4 p.m.

From the BSP complex, ride a jeepney bound for Divisoria, Sta. Cruz, or Quiapo and go down when it reaches San Andres or Remedios Streets.

You can choose to save the P8 fare by going to The Aristocrat Restaurant on foot since this establishment is just a kilometer away.

This Filipino institution was started by Engracia Cruz-Reyes in the mid-1930’s and is still a favorite dining option by generations of Pinoys. Whether dining casually or celebrating important life events, ordering The Aristocrat’s signature dish, chicken barbecue, is a no-brainer. The only other choice you need to make is whether to have the three-piece variety (P210) or the boneless one (P190, breast or thigh part).

The Aristocrat’s signature dish is chicken barbecue. Available in 3-piece or boneless (pictured) variety, it is served with a cup of Java rice, Java sauce, and a side of achara.

Growing up eating at one of the Philippines’ oldest restaurants, I really didn’t need to see the menu and quickly order the Boneless Chicken Barbecue with orange-colored Java rice, Java sauce (peanut-based), and a side of achara. The taste and flavors of the juicy chicken meat remained consistent throughout the years, I just wished that they served more Java sauce and put it in a shallow dipping bowl instead of the aluminum foil-packed variety.

Remaining balance: After ordering an extra serving of Java rice (P45), remaining budget was P265.

Filling my stomach to brim, I decided to walk a bit to help jumpstart my digestive system. Just outside The Aristocrat is Rajah Sulayman Park, while the 429-year old Malate Church is also nearby.

A towering sculpture by Eduardo Castrillo of Rajah Sulayman (1976) and a grand water fountain are the main draws of the Rajah Sulayman Plaza and the recently restored facade of the Malate Church add to the day’s historical theme of Malate as well as make for interesting snapshots.

The 16th century Malate Church recently had its facade renovated in 2015.

As the clock hit the early afternoon hours, I decided to have some coffee at Blocleaf Café, a small oasis located at the ground floor of the Hop Inn Hotel on M.H. del Pilar. After finishing my cup of latté (P130), I had a small chat regarding the origin of Blocleaf’s name and concept with Berylle Kaye Hong, one of the partners of this month-old coffee shop.

Aside from coffee drinks made from beans supplied by their partner, Kalsada Coffee, Blocleaf also serves tea concoctions, sandwiches, pasta, and a variety of cakes. Ube, carrot, and cheesecake (P150/each) were available that afternoon, unfortunately, ordering a slice would mean that I will go over my P500 budget.

Ending balance: P135

If you really need to bring something home, The Aristocrat has a bakery shop and even an authentic bibingka and puto bumbong corner for buying pasalubong. Never a big fan of sweets or rice-based delicacies left me with more than a hundred pesos in my wallet to save up for future expenses or additional funds for the next P500 challenge.

Binondo for P500 or less? It's so doable! — LA, GMA News