Formerly Dewey Boulevard in the American colonial times, Roxas Boulevard takes its name after the fifth President of the Philippines, Manuel Acuña Roxas, when the country gained its independence in 1946. The long stretch of Roxas Boulevard offers a scenic view of Manila Bay, which most local and foreign visitors like to capture on their cameras. Known as the sunset strip, Roxas Boulevard has six undeniable reasons why it rocks as a worthy stopover.
· Glittery Lamps on Baywalk.
At dusk, the Baywalk, a popular promenade along Roxas Boulevard, comes alive with an estimated crowd of 30,000 to 40,000, who come to enjoy the many restaurants and street performers that populate the area. One of the main attractions: colorful street lamps that illuminate the Baywalk’s paved footpaths in multicolored lights.
· Beyond the Walls of Intramuros.
A few minutes away from Roxas Boulevard is the historic Intramuros walls. The ‘Walled City’ as Intramuros is also known, was initially a hub for Asian trade under the rule of Rajah Soliman. After its expansion and completion in 1606, Intramuros fell into the hands of Spanish colonizers, eventually serving as the country’s center of political, military and religious power. Intramuros is also home to Fort Santiago, where Philippine national hero Jose Rizal was kept in seclusion before his execution at what is now Luneta.
· SM Mall of Asia: 7th Largest Mall in the World.
SM Mall of Asia is a sprawling two-storey superstructure that stands on 19.5 hectares of reclaimed land in Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City. It is owned and managed by Henry Sy, a Chinese-Filipino business magnate. The mall includes branches of all of the standard anchor stores found in most of the SM Supermalls. Main attractions include the first-ever IMAX theater in the country; the Director’s Club Theater, an intimate venue with 30 La-Z-Boy seats for unrivaled guest comfort; the digitally superior Premiere Cinema; and the CenterStage Cinema, a popular venue for live musical concerts and theatrical performances.
· Taste Filipino cuisine at Aristocrat Restaurant.
This 71-year-old popular Filipino restaurant has been on Roxas Boulevard since 1936. It has been a witness to much of Philippine history in Manila, from Presidential inaugural parades to religious rallies to film festival parades. Regular Filipino patrons, as well as overseas-based Filipinos and tourists, visit this wholly-owned Filipino enterprise for its renowned Chicken Barbecue, Kare-Kare (Beef in a Peanut Butter Sauce), Chicken Honey, Crispy Pata (Deep-fried Pork Knuckles), Pancit Canton (Saucy Rice Noodles), Dinuguan (Pork Blood Stew) and Lumpias (Fresh Spring Rolls).
· Remedios Circle, the Watering-hole of Arts.
Right across Roxas Boulevard is Remedios Circle. In the daytime, Remedios Circle is a bustling dining mecca, with restaurants like Café Adriatico, Larry’s Bar and the Korean Village attracting foodies from all over the metropolis. At nighttime, however, Remedios Circle transforms into one of Manila’s most festive party places with night clubs, bars, and discothèques along Adriatico and Remedios streets providing solid entertainment for everyone. A popular hangout for artists, poets, writers, actors, and film industry professionals, Remedios Circle is full representative of Manila’s “be yourself, express yourself “philosophy.
· The Romantic Wedding Ambience of Manila Bay.
For romance and drama, the Manila Bay sunset is virtually incomparable. Many hotels along Roxas Boulevard offer wedding packages to include a great souvenir shot of the Manila Bay, but when it comes to weddings, few else beat the Bayview Park Hotel, located in the heart of Manila’s tourist district, directly opposite the American Embassy. With five packages - Elegant, Classic, Civil, Royal, and Fiesta - to suit one’s taste, style and budget, the Bayview Park Hotel is a couple’s logical, practical, and romantic choice to start their lives together.