Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, is known as the “Pearl of the Orient”, due to its rich offering of history, culture and its lush greenery gracing the grey cityscape. For visitors to this lustrous locale, many a fine hotel in Manila serves up an exquisite array of experiences to make a visit here truly unforgettable. Consider a visit to a quality Manila hotel at the Heritage Hotel Manila whose elegantly-appointed rooms and stylish amenities will pamper guests in the true spirit of Southeast Asian hospitality. Despite being a thriving metropolis, Manila is home to a choice selection of parks and gardens that offer visitors a welcome slice of serenity in the midst of urbanity. One of the most verdant and historic green spaces in Manila is Father (or Padre) Blanco’s Garden, a lush courtyard set behind the San Augustin church. The original site was a beautiful garden that was planted by the famed Augustinian botanist Manuel Blanco in 1837, and he is considered the father of Philippine botany. The priest also authored the richly-illustrated text on gardening titled “Flora de Filipinas” and his seminal project set the stage for modern gardening in the city. The garden suffered damage during the bombing of the city in WW2; however, it was completely restored to its original condition in 1991. Father Blanco’s garden used to be a popular spot for catered weddings, although it has closed its doors for these gathering since 2008. The picturesque site is now a fully-fledged seminarian site for Augustinians and historians, and visitors may still wander through the lovely inner courtyard and soak in the tranquility of the verdure and the historicity of the locale.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.