Day 63 - Sunday, March 17,2024, Manila, Philippines

Arrival: 07:00 All Aboard: 16:30 Departure: 17:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day

The port of Manila is the major port for the Philippines and home to the Philippines Coast Guard. Many container ships can be seen anchored outside the port. As we dock two tugboats maneuver the ship into its berth. Across the Cunard Queen Victoria (capacity 2,000 passengers) is docked.

A welcome band greeted us.

Has anyone heard of Quezon City? I have not but it is a landlocked city. The city has a higher population if you compare the city proper to Manila (Quezon 2.7 million to Manila 1.6 million). However, the metropolitan area of Manila is estimated at 14.9 million. The country itself is nearing 107 million.

Geographically speaking Philippines is made up of 7,600 islands of which 11 islands account for 90% of the land mass. There is somewhere between 145-170 languages spoken. This bit of trivia was provided by our guide, Avito from our ship tour - "Charms of Old Manila". I may need to know this trivia, but our cruise director likes to question us on collective nous and phobias.

The first stop was to Rizal Park. It is considered one the largest urban parks in the Philippines and is named after Dr. Jose Rizal (died December 30,1896 at age 35). His monument can be found inside the park. Today we would call him a political activist who championed reforms. However, during the late 1890s he was thought to be leading a revolution thus was arrested and tried for treason. A guilty verdict led to his execution by the Spanish military who governed the Philippines during this time.

The Rizal Monument can also be found in the park and is guarded continuously guarded Philippine Marine Corps' Marine Security and Escort Group.

The second stop was to the Manila Hotel and its Easter Egg exposition. Various eggs were designed and placed in the lobby for Easter.

The final stop was to Fort Santiago, the old wall fort inside Manila. This was the final place for Dr. Jose Rizal prior to his execution.

In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, a pub sing along was held in Horizons Lounge. The lounge was decorated with green and white balloons.

Insignia left at 17:00 for its final stop in the Philippines, Ilocos (Salomagne) 273 nautical miles away.