A tourist's survival guide to the Manila Major

Like many of you reading this, I will be on the ground in Manila to experience the event first-hand and soak up some of the local Filipino culture. Some of you may be new to the country and not be sure how to navigate your way around the beautiful city of Manila. Never fear; GosuGamers has you covered, with our first ever e-sports guide to Manila.

Currency

The first thing you’ll obviously need to have covered is cash. The national currency of the Philippines is the Peso and you will find that budgeting for a stay in Manila is relatively easy due to the fairly low cost of the city.

For a quick reference:

$1 USD = P 47

€1 = P 52

¥1 (Yuan) = P 7

Most major businesses accept credit cards, but make sure you carry a little cash for emergencies and cabs (but not too much).

The Event

The Manila Major is being held at the Mall of Asia Arena in a suburb of Pasay, Manila. The event runs from the 7th of June through to Sunday the 12th.

The Mall of Asia is serviced by busses travelling from the major public transport hubs around the city and is roughly 40-50 minutes from Manila Central Station. Train tickets on the Manila Metro systems are less than P40 each way and this is seen as the quickest way to get around the city.

If you’d rather catch a cab, fares start at P40 and increase by P12 every Km (download the Grab app to help you hail a cab in the city).

Food

The Mall of Asia has a wide range of food available and a huge array of cuisines; whether you’re looking to try some local Filipino fare (La Fiesta comes highly recommended), or you’re looking for a taste of home, head to the Mall of Asia website to find out what’s available at the venue.

Away from the venue, Manila has a wide array of malls and markets where you can easily find every type of food you could be looking for and all the fast-food outlets you’re used to are also present in the Filipino capital

Entertainment & Attractions

Now I know what you’re thinking… I’m there for the Major, my entertainment is sorted. But hold on, as Manila has a massive array of entertainment venues and districts that simply must be checked out by those who are visiting.

First up is Star City, right next door to the Mall of Asia. Star City is a 35,000 m² amusement park with an annual attendance of over 1.5 million people. The park has an enormous number of rides and attractions to keep you busy in your downtime.

If you’re looking for a more curated tourist experience, the National Museum of the Philippines will give you an excellent glimpse into the deep history of the country.

For those of you on the hunt for that perfect selfie, hit up Intramuros, The Walled City. Intramuros is the oldest district in central Manila and was the original city of Manila during the days of the Spanish Empire. If you do visit Intramuros make sure you check out Fort Santiago. Built in the late 1500’s, the fort was built to defend the fledgling city and contains a wealth of history.

The entrance gate to Fort Santiago

And finally, for those who just want a little fun, Mystery Manila comes with a solid recommendation from the locals. Be warned though, it does require an advanced booking. This live role playing attraction transports you to various themed locations and tasks you with finding clues and objects to help you solve a range of mysteries.

Nightlife

The major nightlife area close to the event would be found in Makati City. Two main areas are found in this suburb, Glorietta and Greenbelt.

Glorietta is a large shopping mall divided into 5 sections with a wide array of restaurants, shops, cinemas, and arcades.

Greenbelt is another major mall in Makati city and has a larger focus on restaurants and bars. Keep in mind, most of these establishments will have some kind of dress code, although they are fairly mild by western standards (no flip-flops, no sleeveless shirts). Some of the well-known bars in Makati city include Absinthe, Vodka Bar, Zuni, and Café Havana.

So what are your plans for the event? Let us know in the comments below!

And if you’re going to be in Manila hit me up on Facebook and Twitter so we can catch up and talk some Dota. I’m looking for some excited fans to meet up with and get your feelings on the event as it unfolds!

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