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There are some interesting things to see while spending time in Manila Philippines. There are a few museums and cathedrals that may capture your attention. The National Museum of the Philippines has quite a few exhibits of interest. The National Art Gallery has a splendid entrance with sculptures of Manuel Quezon, who was the former Senate President and Sergio Osmena, who was the former Speaker of the House. These sculptures were created by the amazing Guillermo Tolentino who is a Nationally recognized artist.  

The museum building itself was originally supposed to be a public library, but ended up being built as a home for the Legislature and was opened in 1926. The first floor did in fact become a library and the second, third and fourth floor became the meeting place for the Senate and House of Representatives. The Constitutional Convention took place in this building in 1934. Many other historical events happened here such as the swearing in the President of Commonwealth, Manuel L. Quezon, on the steps out front. It was converted into the Museum in the mid 1990s after the Senate of the Philippines moved out in 1996. It has become a nice museum with a focus on the Filipino people and it has a splendid planetarium inside as well.  

Not far from your hotel accommodations in Manila you will find some Cathedrals and churches that you may find interesting. The Manila Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica has some amazing history that dates back to the late 1500s. This is when the city of Manila was established by the Spanish conqueror, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. There were a number of cathedrals that were built on this site and the present form is the eighth cathedral built after the bombing of the previous building during the Battle of Liberation which happened in 1945. The Manila Cathedral opened its doors again in 1958 and quickly became a strong symbolic for the Catholic Church.

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