While Metro Manila is made up of highly urbanized cities, each locale has something different to offer. Pasay is one of the Metro’s most dynamic cities. Aside from the jaw dropping Manila Bay sunset, over the past decade, it has blossomed into an exciting entertainment area. Pasay’s modern take on city living has made it a recognized center for recreation and culture. There are plenty of ways to entertain yourself in Pasay City. Whether it’s thrilling adventures, gaming or rest and recreation – Pasay City has all of that and more. Here is a quick list of 15 fun and unique things to do in Pasay City:

• Upside Down Museum

• Star City

• Philippine Air Force Aerospace Museum

• Newport Resorts World

• SM Mall of Asia

• Coconut Palace

• Sun Cruises Day Tour

• Amazing Show

• Manila Ocean Park

• Dampa

• Golf Course

For The Family Fun

1. Upside Down Museum

(photo via Facebook, @UpsideDownMuseum.Manila)

Experience the world from another angle. Enter a topsy-turvy world when you explore the Upside Down Museum in the metro. This interactive attraction will distort both your orientation and size as well as channel a “Stranger Things” type of afternoon. As a tip, wear comfortable clothes and make sure to bring a powerbank or extra batteries for your devices. Enjoy a unique experience by heading to this fun and quirky space that’s located in Boom Na Boom Grounds in the Cultural Center of the Philippines along Roxas Boulevard in Manila.

• Location: Boom Na Boom Grounds, CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Brgy. 76 (View Map)

• Fee(s): P450

• Operation hours: 11am-9pm (Tuesdays to Sundays)

• Highlight(s): One of the main highlights of the museum is the Upside Down House installation.

• Insider info: The museum took inspiration from countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, and USA.

• Contact details: Phone numbers: (02) 834 8997, (02) 551 5530 Website: upsidedown.com.ph Facebook: @UpsideDownMuseum.Manila

• Activity tip: In order to get the perfect shots, be ready to stretch and pose.

2. Philippine Air Force Aerospace Museum

The history of the Philippine Air Force is enshrined in the Aerospace Museum located within the PAF Headquarters at Villamor Air Base. It first opened its doors on 2007 and remains the country’s only aviation museum. It’s spacious enough to display various PAF aircrafts models and is a wonderful place to learn more about the country’s Air Force culture and history. Revel in artifacts and relics that go as far back as the Second World War along with historic weapons, medals, suits, wing badges, and unit, to name a few.

• Location: Intersection of Villamor Airbase Complex and NAIA Terminal 3, 1309 (View Map)

• Fee(s): P20

• Operation hours: 8am-5pm (Mondays to Fridays), 8am-12pm (Saturdays)

• Highlight(s): One of the many highlights is getting to sit in the cockpit of a jet fighter plane.

• Insider info: The commercial airplane that they have on display was donated by Philippine Airlines.

• Contact details: Phone numbers: (02) 832 3498, (02) 854 6729, (02) 854 6701 local 6628, 6638, and 6828 Website: PAF Museum

• Activity tip: If your kid likes helicopters and airplanes, this could be a nice place for them to learn and enjoy.

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3. SM Mall of Asia

SMs are located all over the Metro but SM MOA is a tourist attraction for many reasons. Located in Pasay City’s Bay City, it is the third largest shopping mall in the world. There are four interconnected main buildings that house hundreds of retail outlets and restaurants. More than shopping and food, SM has incorporated expansive entertainment activities around MOA. These include an Olympic-sized ice skating rink, an IMAX theater, entertainment arena, MOA Eye ferris wheel, EXPLOREUM Science Center and the SMX Convention Center.

• Location: Seaside Blvd, Pasay (View Map)

• Operation hours: 10am-10pm

• Highlight(s): Try your hand at skating at the Mall of Asia skating rink or enjoy the rides at SM Seaside’s very own theme park.

• Insider info: SM Mall of Asia has a floor area of almost four hectares.

• Contact details: Phone numbers: (02) 556 0680 Website: smsupermalls.com Facebook: @smmallofasia

• Activity tip: If you plan to shop around and check out the whole mall, wear comfortable shoes because you’ll be doing a lot of walking.

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For The Active Thrill Seekers

4. Sun Cruises Day Tour

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and take a boat ride into the past. Sun Cruises offers a tour of the historical Corregidor Islands. The island is located right at the entrance of the Manila Bay and was fortified to defend Manila from attacks. It played a crucial role in WWII when Japanese forces were driven out of the Philippines. The takeoff point is at Sun Cruises’ terminal office at Esplanade Seaside Terminal, Seaside Blvd., MOA Complex.

• Location: Esplanade Seaside Terminal Seaside Boulevard SM Mall of Asia complex (View Map)

• Fee(s): Check out rates on their site.

• Operation hours: 7am-7pm

• Highlight(s): Aside from a Manila Bay Cruise, they also offer a Corregidor Day Tour.

• Insider info: You can even book either a Manila Bay Cruise online at SM Tickets.

• Contact details: Phone numbers: (02) 354 7005, (02) 834 6857 to 58, (02) 831 8140, +63 9175132625 Website: corregidorphilippines.com Facebook: @SunCruises

• Activity tip: Remember to wear sunscreen and bring an umbrella with you if you want to go on a day tour of Corregidor Island.

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5. Manila Ocean Park

(photo via Shutterstock)

Spend the day at the renowned Oceanarium – the Philippines’ first themed park gives you a chance to see wonderful sea life and gain a deeper understanding of Philippine Marine Life. The Park is filled with different attractions and encounters with packaged rates to allow you to see as much as possible at a lower rate. Depending on the activities you want, packages range from Php 500 to 900.

• Location: Behind Quirino Grandstand (View Map)

• Fee(s): P500-P900

• Operation hours: 10am-8pm

• Highlight(s): Check out their Oceanarium and Trails to Antarctica exhibits.

• Insider info: You can book an overnight staycation at the nearby Hotel H2O, which offers rooms with marine views.

• Contact details: Phone numbers: (02) 567 7777 Website: manilaoceanpark.com Facebook: @manilaoceanparkofficial

• Activity tips: Do not feed the animals as the food you give could be dangerous for them.

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6. Golf Course

The Villamor Golf Club is a 50 hectare, 18 hole par 72 course. With a total yardage of 6,681 when measured from the championship tee, the course has hosted the Philippine Masters for several years. The Fairway is gorgeous with its lines of eucalyptus and mahogany trees. The club has full amenities that include a driving range, putting practice, pro shop, swimming pool, café and restaurant and much more. T The course is open to the public and rates vary for local residents and foreigners.

• Location: Col. Jesus Villamor Air Base (View Map)

• Fee(s): P1000 (per round for locals), P1500 (per round for foreigner)

• Operation hours: 5am-10pm

• Highlight(s): Getting to play the entire 18-hole par 72 golf course would definitely be an activity off your bucket list.

• Insider info: Unlike other golf courses in Manila with angled fairways, Villamor Golf Course has pretty flat fairways that make it a perfect spot for everyday golfers.

• Contact details: Phone numbers: +63 9470872718, (02) 853 4977, (02) 853 4988 Website: golfph.com

• Activity tips: - Book in advance to get the time slot that you would prefer. - If you’re in need of golf equipment, you can head over to the nearby equipment store called Pro Shop.

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7. Star City

Have fun at the family amusement park with several attractions. Star City spans 35,000 square metres and offers kiddie rides and has an indoor playground. There’s also Winter Fun land, Dino Island, Star Theatre and many more.

• Location: Vicente Sotto Street, CCP Complex (View Map)

• Fee(s): P70 (Admisson Fee), P450 (Ride-All-You-Can)

• Operation hours: 2pm-11pm (Fridays to Sundays), 4pm-11pm (Mondays & Tuesdays) 3pm-11pm (Wednesdays & Thursdays)

• Insider info: Star City was originally a toys and gifts fair by thee Cultural Center of the Philippines.

• Contact details: Phone numbers: (02) 832 3248 Website: starcity.com.ph Facebook: @StarCityPH

• Activity tips: - Always ask the ride assistant to make sure you are fastened properly in your ride. - If you want to avoid really long lines at the rides, try to get here early.

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8. Newport Resorts World

(photo via Commons)

Resorts World Manila (RWM) is Pasay’s one stop shop for entertainment and beyond. Within this development, located across NAIA 3, enjoy world-class integrated entertainment. RWM has the tourist-friendly Newport Mall with high-end shops, over 50 dining outlets, and a 24-hour movie theater. The Mall also features the modern Newport Performing Arts Theater.

• Location: Newport Boulevard, Newport City (View Map)

• Operation hours: 24 hours

• Highlight(s): Catch a theater show at the Newport Performing Arts Theater

• Contact details: Phone numbers: (02) 908 8888 Website: rwmanila.com Facebook: @rwmanila

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For Arts and Culture Enthusiasts

9. Coconut Palace

The Coconut Palace, aka “Tahanang Pilipino”, was built in 1981 for Pope John Paul’s visit but what makes this structure so impressive is the fact that it is built of 100% Philippine materials. It’s located in the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex and celebrates Philippine architecture and the coconut palm tree. Other native materials used include coconut shells, banana fiber, and Philippine hardwood.

• Location: F. Ma. Guerrero cor. Vicente Sotto Streets, Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex (View Map)

• Fee(s): P100

• Operation hours: Open for tours on Tuesdays to Thursdays (9am, 10:30am, 2pm)

• Insider info: The coconut palace was originally commissioned by the former first lady Imelda Marcos as a guest house and is made out of numerous coconut tree by-products.

• Contact details: Phone numbers: (02) 832 6791 to 99 local 125

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10. Amazing Show

(photo via Facebook, @amazingshowph)

The Amazing Show is a world-class Las Vegas caliber show in the heart of the Metro. It features live traditional and classical dances, live musicals and comedy acts by some of the Philippines’ veteran performers. The Amazing Show is held at the historic Manila Film Center within the CCP Complex.

• Location: Manila Film Center, Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex (View Map)

• Fee(s): P600

• Operation hours: 8pm-9pm (Mondays to Saturdays)

• Insider info: Amazing Show was founded in August 2001 at the Aloha Hotel and moved to its resident theater in Manila Film Center in December 2001.

• Contact details: Phone numbers: (02) 834 8870 Website: amazingshow.net

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For The Foodies

11. Dampa

If you’re in the mood for fresh seafood, Manila’s Dampa scene is something you surely can’t pass up. Beside a variety of casual restaurants is a market where you can purchase kilos upon kilos of seafood. Once you have all the fresh seafood you want, head over to a nearby restaurant and have them cook everything to your liking. Choice dishes include cheesy mussels, chili crabs, stir fried prawns and seafood barbeque.

• Location: Diosdado Macapagal Blvd. (View Map)

• Operation hours: 5am-3am

• Insider info: Dampa in Tagalog means hut. But when used with seafood in mind, the context becomes different. It usually entails a bunch of restaurants that will cook fresh seafood, which are sold at nearby stalls, at your request.

• Contact details: Phone numbers: (02) 556 1778 - 1779, +63 9209704481, +63 9178271450, +63 9228434069 Website: seasidemanila.com Facebook: @SeasidePhilippines

• Activity tips: - The large food servings are best enjoyed with a big group so bring your family or friends with you. - Try checking Balikbayan Handicrafts, which is a large souvenir place selling native goods.

Source: https://www.traveloka.com/en-ph/explore/destination/pasay-things-to-do/63907