Manila one of Asia's most romantic destinations

Manila among 5 best Asian Valentines' destinations

Aric John Sy Cua

Manila Times

14 February 2025

DIGITAL travel platform Agoda listed Manila as one of its top five most romantic destinations in Asia for couples celebrating Valentine's Day.

The list, published on Thursday, described Manila as having a "warm and welcoming" atmosphere, and pointed to sunsets in Manila Bay.

"Manila, with its warm and welcoming atmosphere, provides couples with a cozy escape. The city's rich history and cultural sites, combined with its picturesque sunsets, create an ideal setting for love to blossom," Agoda said.

Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, leads the list, with its skyline offering "a stunning backdrop for romantic evenings."

Tokyo in Japan is in second place, with its "fusion of old and new."

"Couples can stroll through serene gardens, explore historic temples, and then dive into the vibrant nightlife, making it a city that offers endless romantic possibilities," Agoda said.

Behind Manila are two cities in Thailand, its capital Bangkok and the city of Pattaya. Bangkok was mentioned for its "lively energy and serene temples," as well as its bustling markets and the romantic dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya River.

Pattaya, on the other hand, offers "stunning beaches and vibrant nightlife" for couples seeking relaxation and adventure.

Agoda's data also pointed out a 35-percent increase in accommodation searches for domestic destinations for Valentine's Day, which falls on Friday.

"At Agoda, we are dedicated to helping couples find the perfect spot to celebrate their love. Whether it's a city staycation or a beach getaway, Agoda has the best deals to set the stage for a magical weekend of romance," Agoda senior vice president for supply Andrew Smith said.

Two-time Olympic medalists from the Philippines

Nesthy Petecio joins Carlos Yulo among ranks of two-time Olympic medalists from the Philippines

JUSTIN KENNETH CARANDANG

GMA Integrated News

August 8, 2024 

Filipina boxer Nesthy Petecio just became a two-time Olympic medalist, joining a prestigious list of athletes from the Philippines to have won more than one medal in the Olympic Games.

Petecio, who already held a silver medal from the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, secured a bronze in the 2024 Paris Olympics after a semifinal finish in the women’s 57 kg division.

Over the weekend, Carlos Yulo also joined the list following his historic two-gold feat in the men’s gymnastics competition in Paris.

Here is the full list of athletes with two medals from the Summer Games:

Photos (clockwise from top left): Nesthy Petecio at the Paris 2024 Olympics, photo: REUTERS/Peter Cziborra. Carlos Yulo at the Paris 2024 Olympics, photo: REUTERS/Hannah Mckay. Teofilo Yldefonso, photo: philippineolympians.org. Hidilyn Diaz at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics: photo: REUTERS/Edgard Garrido.

Teofilo Yldefonso

Swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso is the country's first Olympic medalist as he claimed bronze in the 200m breaststroke event in the 1928 Summer Games in Netherlands. He then notched another bronze in the next edition of the Olympics in Los Angeles.

Hidilyn Diaz

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz broke the Philippines’ Olympic medal drought when she claimed the silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Prior to this, the Philippines last claimed an Olympic medal in 1996 from Mansueto ‘Onyok’ Velasco.

After her silver in Rio, Diaz eventually won the country’s historic first-ever gold medal in Tokyo.

Carlos Yulo

Gymnast Carlos Yulo carved his own place in history in Paris becoming the first male Filipino athlete to win a gold medal, the first Filipino to win two gold medals, and the first to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics.

He ruled the men’s floor exercise and the men’s vault events to claim his two golds.

Nesthy Petecio

In Tokyo 2020, the Filipino boxer claimed silver in the featherweight event.

Now in Paris, Petecio punched a ticket to the semifinals which guaranteed her at least an Olympic bronze. Despite falling short against 20-year-old Julia Szeremeta of Poland, she becomes one of the most decorated Olympians in the history of the Philippines.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News

Makati's The Curator in Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024

The Curator in Makati bags 33rd spot in Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024

Story by Ayie Licsi 

Philstar Global

17 July 2024

Makati's The Curator has again made the list of Asia's 50 Best Bars for the ninth year.

50 Best has released its full list of top choice bars across the continent after previously revealing its 51 to 100 list. Southbank Cafe + Lounge made the rankings placing at 82.

For the top 1 to 50 bars, The Curator emerged as no. 33, being the lone bar in the Philippines.

The top 1 best bar in Asia is Bar Leone in Hong Kong, with Zest in Seoul in second place, and Jigger & Pony in Singapore in third place. Hong Kong's Coa and Tokyo's Bar Benfiddich round out the top 5. Singapore had 11 bars in the 2024 list.

Established in 2016, The Curator is located in Legazpi Village in Makati and has been on the list since. It also won the accolade as The Best Bar in the Philippines for the fourth time this year.

50 Best describes the Makati bar as an "excellent hostelry" with a dedication to caffeinated beverages and mixed drinks. It also took note of the cocktails served in an intimate backroom and how The Curator hosts international bartender takeovers.

The bar's menu features drinks designed with notable figures in mind. For example, The First Refrain is inspired by Lin-Manuel Miranda and "delivers a symphonic combination of whiskey, chai-spiced red vermouth and bitters," as per the list.

Other bars that made the list include Nutmeg & Clove in Singapore, BKK Social Club in Bangkok, Penrose in Kuala Lumpur, Argo in Hong Kong, Virtù in Tokyo, Penicillin in Hong Kong, Craftroom in Osaka, Bar Mood in Taipei, Barc in Kathmandu, Alice in Seoul, and The Haflington in Hanoi.

The Asia's 50 Best Bars list was fully unveiled on July 16 at a live awards ceremony at Rosewood Hong Kong.

Manila Placed 103rd in QS Best Student Cities 2025 Ranking

Manila Placed 103rd in QS Best Student Cities 2025 Ranking

Story by Hanna Panoringan 
Spot.ph
21 June 2024

(SPOT.ph) Manila remains the only city in the Philippines that secured a spot in the 2025 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Best Student Cities Ranking.

The Philippines' capital city, home to the University Belt or U-belt, placed 103rd in the global rankings. It scored 59.4 overall, a few notches higher than last year's score of 55.7.

Of the ten Southeast Asian cities included in the rankings, Singapore came on top with a global ranking of 15th, followed by Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (23rd), Bangkok, Thailand (59th), and then Manila.

As students from various regions of the Philippines and beyond gather in Manila, the city continues to be an appealing destination for those seeking more than just a degree.

The U-Belt area, in addition to its academic offerings, serves as a vibrant hub of student activity. It features numerous cafes, bookstores, affordable eateries, and recreational spaces to meet the needs and preferences of its youthful population.

2025 Best Student Cities Rankings

QS Top Universities, the platform behind the global ranking, annually researches and compiles the most prime locations in the world for students.

As for the methodology, each city are ranked based on the following six key categories:

University rankings, which evaluate the city's performance in the QS World University Rankings

Student mix, which refers to the proportion of students in the city’s population

Desirability, which covers the city's safety, pollution levels, and number of students who want to study in the city

Employer activity or youth employment in the city

Affordability, which looks into a university’s tuition cost and the city's cost of living

Student view, which is based on a survey of students' experiences while studying in the city

Looking at Manila's stats, it performed best in employer activity (77), followed by affordability (74.6), student view (58.8), student mix (29.1), university rankings (29), and desirability (20.4).

QS covered a total of 150 cities in this year's edition, with London, United Kingdom, as the top city for students for the sixth consecutive year, followed by Tokyo, Japan, and Seoul, South Korea.

A city is eligible for assessment by QS if it meets the following criteria: it has a population of more than 250,000, at least two universities that appeared in the recent QS World University Rankings, and is in a country marked as "insignificant to the medium" by the global medical and security services company International SOS index.

In the Philippines, Manila-based educational institutions, the University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University, landed a spot in the 2025 QS World University Rankings.

Nine PH cities made it to Top 1000 Cities by Oxford Economics

Nine Philippine cities among top 1,000 global urban economies 2024 Oxford Economics Global Cities Index

By Chino S. Layco

Manila Bulletin

May 21, 2024 

AT A GLANCE

• Manila ranks 256th globally with strengths in economics and human capital but weaknesses in quality of life.
• Cebu City is at 436th place, excelling in the environment but lacking in quality of life.
• Other Philippine cities like Cagayan de Oro, Davao City, and Angeles City are also identified.
• Bacolod shines in the environment but struggles with human capital.
• Dagupan highlights strong environmental aspects.
• Zamboanga excels in the environment but faces economic challenges.
• General Santos thrives in the environment but faces challenges with human capital.
• The 2024 Global Cities Index by Oxford Economics provides insights into urban environments worldwide, with New York, London, San Jose, Tokyo, and Paris leading the rankings.

UK-based think tank Oxford Economics has identified nine cities in the Philippines among the largest urban economies in the world.

In the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index, which ranks the 1,000 largest cities worldwide, Manila is the biggest city in the Philippines but is not considered a major player on the global scale.

Taken from Rising Philippines Facebook Page

The Oxford Economics report did not specify if "Manila" refers to just the capital city or includes the entire metropolitan area in the National Capital Region (NCR). The report did not list any other NCR cities besides Manila. 

Oxford Economics ranks based on five categories: economics, human capital, quality of life, environment, and governance.

“By analyzing these five dimensions in depth, the Global Cities Index provides a nuanced understanding of each city's strengths and areas for improvement, empowering policymakers, investors, employers, and residents to make informed decisions,” Oxford Economics said in a statement.

Among the 1,000 urban economies worldwide, Manila is ranked 256, placing it above the global average scores, although not among the top-performing cities.

Based on the report, Manila’s strength is human capital, ranking 101, followed by economics (150) and environment (238). However, its weakest points are quality of life (461) and governance (614).

Another city that has made it to the global rankings is Cebu City, which secured the 436th spot worldwide. The Queen City of the South excels in the environment (24) but lags behind in quality of life (684).

Cagayan de Oro ranked third in the Philippines, holding the 487th position globally. Similar to Cebu City, CDO’s strong suit lies in the environment (338), while its weakness is quality of life (626).

Davao City occupied the 500th position, with its main weakness being in human capital (645) and strength in the environment (229).

Angeles City has also been listed in the global rankings, securing the 502nd place. Its strength lies in the environment (191), while its weakest aspect is human capital (634).

Bacolod attained the 538th position among the 1,000 global urban economies. Its strength is in the environment (12) but shows weakness in terms of human capital (739).

Meanwhile, Dagupan ranked 604 globally, with its environment as a key advantage (220) and human capital is its weakness (701).

Zamboanga, positioned eighth in the Philippines, held the 695th global rankings. It excels in the environment (48) but faces challenges in economics (961).

General Santos, placed at 723 globally, known as the country's tuna capital, showed strength in the environment while encountering difficulties in human capital (915).

In the 2024 Global Cities Index, the first publication by Oxford Economics, New York leads the list, which also claimed the top position in the Economics category. 

London secures the second spot, followed by San Jose, Tokyo, and Paris.