Nothin' Vanilla About Manila!

Katie Johnson
Mar 28, 2023
7 min read

Bryan's been gone since January 8th and I have seen him twice so far during this deployment. Once in Okinawa (where I selfishly wanted some sunshine and to see his smile) and then in Osaka (where I wanted some good BBQ, another day in Universal Studios Japan and to see his smile again.)

While those two port calls were great to see B, I was happy to hear that the final port call would take us internationally: Manila, Philippines! We didn't think we would have enough time left in Japan to visit the Philippines, but the ship decided to squeeze it in for us! Plus, only having to pay for one person to fly was an added benefit!

Saturday, March 18

I caught a ride with Kerri and Leona to the bus station, where we met up with Alli and then endured the 2-hour bus ride to Fukuoka Airport! Our evening flight took off around 8 pm and landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila at 11:10 pm local time.

After showing our eTravel QR code, we made our way through customs and immigration before an adventurous Grab ride to our hotel, where we spotted our first Jeepney! Jeepneys are famous Filipino public transportation that came about following WW II when American military Jeeps were sold to locals at the end of the war. Locals converted these jeeps into colorful mini buses!

We arrived at the Manila Hotel around 1:30 am, and were welcomed at check-in with the news that their pool repairs were completed early and the pool would be open starting "tomorrow morning," aka in a few hours! With a room key in hand, I quickly headed to my room for a shower before diving into the giant bed. Just a few hours until I get to hug Bryan's neck!

Sunday, March 19

As the sun rose, the USS America sighted Filipino land! Just look at their view:

While the ship dropped anchor, Alli and I met in the hotel lobby for a delicious breakfast of mimosas and omelets. I felt like I was on a Disney cruise with the awesome service and my beloved hashbrowns!

We spotted the ship! Just a short 10-minute walk from our hotel's front doors, the guys prepared to join us. While we waited, we enjoyed a dip in the pool and a celebratory Marg, and Bryan even FaceTimed me from the top deck! Can you spot him waving his arms in the pic below?

Eventually, the guys were released and joined us for an afternoon poolside! Life is good!

After an afternoon in the sun together, we weren't ready for the fun to end so we grabbed dinner together at Ilang Ilang, where we devoured the international buffet among great company!

Monday, March 20

With our first full day together in Manila just beginning, we wanted to get out of our amazing hotel for some time exploring! Manila isn't known for great safety, so the liberty zone was pretty small; we made the most of the allowed areas by visiting the Mall of Asia, the largest mall in Southeast Asia!

Filled with many popular American stores, the Mall of Asia was a great place to pass several hours in the AC. Bryan and I enjoyed exploring the Filipino shops, where Bryan got a $4 t-shirt and I chose a lunch spot based solely on the long line of locals waiting to place their orders. Por Que didn't disappoint- while we don't know exactly what we ordered, the food was AMAZING.

After an afternoon of shopping, we were happy to make it back to our hotel for Happy Hour by the poolside!

After showering off our afternoon swim, we enjoyed a pre-dinner drink at The Tap Room, styled after the original bar that stood in the Manila Hotel. For dinner, we joined some of the guys at The Red Jade, where we enjoyed a Chinese family-style meal!

Tuesday, March 21

Another morning in Manila, another morning by the pool! This time around we got breakfast served at the swim-up bar! French toast and more hashbrowns taste better when enjoyed in a pool! Alli, James, and Isaiah, the general medical officer (GMO) who works alongside Bryan in medical!

Then it was time for the guys to head back to the ship. We learned that this port call was more than just a new country for our travel checklist and a little more political. All officers were required to attend a banquet on the flight deck to show ambassadors, Filipino senators, and other high-ranking political representatives around for a night of fun.

Bryan explained that the military treaty with Japan expires in 20 years, meaning Japan could choose to close down all US military bases in the country. The US has shifted its sights on the Philippines with the hopes of strengthening this relationship for future bases so we can keep a foothold in Asia.

I would have rather Bryan spent this evening with me, but the man does look good in uniform!

So while Bryan was busy touring important people around his ship, I toured the Intramuros area with the girls! Only a 10-minute walk from our hotel, this historic walled area wasn't in the liberty area so it was a perfect place to explore without the guys!

Kerri and Leona met us at our hotel to walk over, where we stumbled upon the Church of San Agustin, which is historically remarkable being the oldest stone church in the Philippines. Built in 1607, the Church of San Agustin has survived numerous catastrophic earthquakes as well as the invasion of the British in 1762, the Spanish-American War in 1898, and then the Japanese invasion in 1942.

The next stop on our Intramuros tour was the Catholic Cathedral of Manila. Originally built in 1581, this cathedral has been rebuilt seven times after various earthquakes, fires, and wars led to its destruction. The current standing structure was built in 1958.

During our visit, the Cathedral hosted a wedding! Alli and I stepped in and watched part of the stunning ceremony before heading out for our final tour stop: Fort Santiago!

As the evening began to set in, we enjoyed the cooler temps while exploring Fort Santiago! Fort Santiago was built by the Spanish in 1571 as their premier defense fortress during their rule of the Philippines. Later this fort was used by the Spanish during the Spanish-American War and then again by the Americans during WWII as a point to protect the city!

After photos in front of the famous gate, we explored the historical site before heading back to the hotel.

On our walk back to the hotel, I was sure to snap a few pictures of the Intramuros walled city. This area has a clear Spanish influence with cobblestone streets and colorful buildings! Of course, I snapped pics of the horse-drawn carriages and another Jeepney sighting!

Eventually, the guys met us back at our hotel for an evening drink in The Tap Room, where we were serenaded by an awesome duo!

Wednesday, March 22

Our last day together in Manila began with room service! While the view is pretty, that big looming ship is just another reminder that this trip is coming to a close.

We weren't going to waste our time though! I mean, just look at this stunning hotel! The Manila Hotel was built in 1912 and is famous for hosting General Douglas MacArthur and his family during WWII. General MacArthur ran the United States Pacific War from this hotel, where he also took on the role of General Manager of the hotel. So he ran a war AND a hotel throughout the 1930s-40s!

I can easily say this was by far the nicest hotel we have stayed in!

I also snuck Bryan to a nearby antique shop, where he let me pick out several hand-woven Filipino baskets! I say "let me" because Bryan was nice enough to offer his little storage space on the ship for my purchases! It's not often I get to do shopping that doesn't have to fit in a suitcase. I ended up getting 4 baskets for our home and I can't wait to add these to our international home decor!

With my baskets purchased, we met up with Alli and James for dinner. Or well, our wishful dinner. What was supposed to be a 20-minute ride to a local Filipino restaurant, turned into an hour-long traffic fiasco that ruined our double-date dinner. While I got some good city pictures during our drive, Alli and I didn't have time for dinner any longer. We had to rush off to the theater.

The smiles above are looks of relief after Bryan successfully booked us girls a Grab to the theater! It was an awfully stressful goodbye to the guys who had to be back on the ship before our show ended. Goodbye, guys! See you back in Sasebo!

Alli and I made it to the Samsung Performing Arts Theater with 15 minutes til showtime! Whew!

This show was amazing! While The Sound of Music hasn't been on my theater must-see list, it was great sitting in a theater and seeing an English-speaking Musical! Unfortunately, this theater was also out of the guy's liberty area, but Bryan was happy I got my theater fix!

Thursday, March 23

Well, it's time to go home. Alli and I enjoyed one final breakfast in the hotel before checking out and making our way to the international airport! Just look at how stunning the hotel staff dress- I mean the woman has a train at the checkout desk!!

While I may not have enjoyed a Filipino dinner last night, I was sure to end my trip with a traditional Filipino breakfast. I didn't expect pork tocino to come out looking like raw meat....bright red chunks adorned my plate and I had to take a few deep breaths for encouragement for my first bite. Luckily for me, this pork tocino was, in fact, cooked; it just got its deep red color from the marinade! It was actually delicious!

The rest of the day is a bit of a blur. Airline check-in, finding our gate, and enjoying an early dinner before our flight back to Fukuoka made the day pass quickly.

We landed back in good 'ole Japan, where we rushed through customs and more COVID clearance booths before hurrying to buy our bus tickets back to Sasebo.

I made it home by 11:30 pm, where two happy puppies were ready for a night of cuddles! Tomorrow morning is going to come early, but thank goodness it's a Teacher Workday!

'til next time!

-Katie