A Glimpse of Korean Heritage

Hundreds of Koreans gathered recently at the Cultural Center of the Philippines to witness Philippine-Korean Cultural Exchange Festival last month. While it has become normal to see Koreans on the street here in the metro, I've never seen an abundance of them gathered for this special occasion. It was also my first time to set foot on this cultural landmark - I was lucky to have known someone in KCC (Korean Cultural Center), allowing me to take snapshots of this memorable event.

Korean Traditional Guitar

 I loved the performances, especially the ones where they mixed traditional Korean instruments with an accompanying orchestra. The where cover songs from Filipino pop groups, and the finale was done by the rising K-Pop group, The King.

K-Pop Cover Group

Derrick Monasterio

Yohan Hwang taking selfies with a fan

Filipino girl singing Korean songs

Park Min Jung (soprano) and Sung Min Lee (bass baritone) with ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra

The King Finale Performance

The festival was a success, having different venues all around the Philippines. I just hope that this event will become an annual gathering of both Filipinos and Koreans, celebrating the exchange of rich cultures from both countries. 

The Venice Piazza

The Christmas holiday is just around the corner and most people in the city would be going home to their provinces until the year ends. Since the season is the busiest time on and off the road, lots of families nowadays prefer to spend their holidays in the city. If you're on the lookout for a great place to hang out, the Venice Piazza is a great option.

It's a great place for a different kind of dining experience, thanks to its Italian-Mediterranean inspired ambiance. Just inside the establishment, there is a man-made river surrounded by restaurants and cafes. You can take selfies on its arc bridge, but it's going to be a challenge since it's usually filled with hordes of selfieholics.

Concerts and other holiday-inspired events are often held here. This upcoming holiday season, you can expect lots f events that you can enjoy while you dine and spend quality time with your family and friends.

There are many access points to this place, but the best one is at a bus station bound to Market Market near Ayala MRT stations. For private vehicle owners, you can get there through Lawton Road from South Super Highway, or C5 flyover from Buendia.