Exploring The Philippines With Kids : Best Things To See and Do (Luzon)

Visiting the Philippines is very different from visiting Paris or Singapore. A week is not enough, and there’s just a lot more to do and see, and lots of people to meet. It’s our home country after all. Bringing the kids on a 14-hour plane ride can surely be tiring, but it’s of course worth it all. Letting them have a change of atmosphere, introducing them to our friends and their families and them making new friends.

There’s also nothing better than knowing one’s roots. While it may not be possible to meet all of the relatives nor remember each of their names, it’s enough for the kids to know that they have family on this side of the world.

Now, how do you go about exploring the Philippines with kids? It’s not easy going about the country, being an archipelago it will take a long time to visit each island.  On a limited time, and a few places, here are some things we did. (This post is limited to the places in Luzon, the northern main island of the Philippines.)

Meet with Friends and Their Kids 

Had we been based in the Philippines, my kids first friends would surely by my friends’ kids. No matter if we live two cities away, making time for friends, scheduling playdates is easier than coming to meet on a 14-hour plane ride.

A simple get together where the kids can play, eat, and of course sing, is more than enough.

Karaoke

Filipinos are known for their singing prowess. That’s because as early as a child learns to speak, it also starts to learn what a Karaoke is. Although the Juke-8 was considered the very first Karaoke machine built by Japanese inventor and musician Daisuke Inoue in 1971, it was never patented. Karaoke as a Japanese word says a lot about where it comes from, it is the clipped compound of Japanese kara “empty” and ōkesutora  “orchestra” – as we know today, the machine people sing along to recorded music using a microphone.

Singing is the one thing Filipinos feel connected with. It is part of everyday life in the Philippines. The very first Sing Along System was invented and  patented in 1975 by Roberto del Rosario, a Filipino.  Del Rosario’s version of a karaoke machine is much bigger and has more features than the Juke-8.

Regardless who did what, we are thankful to these inventors for bringing us the karaoke machine!

When in the Philippines, you can even sing at the appliance store to try the karaoke machines! A number of Filipino singers rose to fame through this! 😀

You can rent a karaoke machine for home use, invite friends and family over so you can bond or find out if one of you can be the next Lea Salonga.

Meet Up With Cousins

Cousins are your first friends. And when you grow up and have families of your own, no matter which degree (first, second, and so on) you can be sure your kids will have playmates too!

What do you bond over when with cousins? Karaoke of course…take turns with the microphone or hold a contest as to who can get the highest score.

Take lots of pictures too and remake those photos after some years, see just how much each kid change through the years.

Try Every Food

Filipinos love to eat. There are 3 main meals – breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks – one in the morning, and one in the afternoon. Eating is so normal that while eating, the conversation would be about what to eat for the next meal time. ^_^ It’s no wonder that eat-all-you-can restaurants/buffets are booming all over the country. There are also a lot of carinderias, kiosks, and even home-based cooks you can buy food from. Eating is a serious business in the Philippines. And you can spend 25$ on a lot of food (eating out), if you know the best places.

When you meet up with friends and family, it is most likely that you order food if you do not have the time to prepare. And that’s ok. You’re most likely to get your food in bilaos, those round and shallow basket tray made of bamboo splits. Most restaurants offer this to-go bilaos as well. The usual bilao offerings are pancit (Filipino noodles) of various types, puto (rice cake), crispy chicken, lumpia, and barbecue.

Try also street food, ask relatives and friends where is the cleanest and what’s the best to have. Usually, we recommend barbecue on stick.

Buy at The Mini-Stores

There are a lot of 7-eleven shops and other 24-hour convenience stores in the Philippines but neighborhood sari-sari stores are all a different experience.

It’s aimed for the masses, selling everyday needs by the unit or in smaller amounts. As kids, these were where we would buy a piece of chocolate or a handful of candies, or a bottle of cola. Sometimes, our parents would ask us to buy a cup of vinegar or soy sauce, a head of garlic, two eggs, half a kilo of tomato or anything that is immediately needed for cooking.

Sari-sari means variety and the bigger the store, the more there is you can buy in retail. While not all would have refrigerators, the ones that do only sells bottled drinks, ice, iced candies, or retail popsicles and pint ice creams. Some sari-sari stores also sell pastries or homemade goodies.

Enjoy The Cool Breeze

The Philippines has a fairly warm climate save for some months of rain. While it’s really nice to spend time out in the sun, cooling off with a beautiful view is what we’ve done even when we were younger.

Two cooler places that we often go to would be Tagaytay and Baguio. The latter takes about 6 hours travel from Manila, while the former is about 15 minutes from where we live. Surely, Tagaytay is the better option for a day trip. It’s been developed too so there are many things to do, even visit a zoo and aquariums with a view of the famous lake – a volcano’s crater within a lake that has lake in it too! 😀

It always looks so calm seen from above, platforms made by establishments for the purpose of viewing it. Pristine, blue waters, perfect clouds hovering above, it’s always like a postcard perfect shot.

Baguio on the other hand, offers a lot more being a bigger city. It is touted as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” for its cool climate. The city is approximately 4,810 feet (1,470 meters) above mean sea level. Its location makes it conducive to grow strawberries and pine trees that it’s also given the nickname “City of Pines.”

Fun Parks

Enjoy  a day or two at a fun park!

Ocean Adventure

Ocean Adventure is a marine park located in Subic Bay, Philippines. It offers an interactive and educational experience where visitors can get up close with various marine animals and learn about conservation efforts. The park features live shows and interactive exhibits that showcase the beauty and diversity of marine life. Visitors can witness entertaining dolphin and sea lion shows, as well as have the opportunity to swim and interact with dolphins. Ocean Adventure also offers animal encounters where visitors can touch and feed animals like sharks, rays, and sea turtles. It’s a great place for families and marine life enthusiasts to learn and have a memorable experience.

Enchanted Kingdom

Enchanted Kingdom is a popular amusement park situated in Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines. It offers a wide array of thrilling rides, attractions, and entertainment for all ages. The park is divided into themed zones, each with its own unique attractions and rides. From heart-pounding roller coasters to gentle kiddie rides, Enchanted Kingdom caters to various preferences and age groups. Some of the park’s notable attractions include the Space Shuttle, a looping roller coaster, and the Wheel of Fate, a Ferris wheel that offers panoramic views of the surrounding area. Live shows, parades, and fireworks are also part of the entertainment lineup. Enchanted Kingdom provides a fun-filled day for families and friends seeking adventure and excitement.

Mall of Asia Bay Area Amusement Park

The Mall of Asia Bay Area Amusement Park is an amusement park located in the Bay Area of Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Situated near the iconic SM Mall of Asia, it offers a range of rides and attractions for visitors of all ages. The amusement park features thrilling rides such as the Viking Ship, a swinging pendulum ride, and the Ferris wheel known as the MOA Eye, which provides breathtaking views of Manila Bay and the surrounding area. There are also kid-friendly rides, arcade games, and carnival-style attractions to cater to younger visitors. The amusement park is a popular destination for families, tourists, and locals who want to enjoy a day of entertainment and fun.

Manila Ocean Park

Manila Ocean Park is a renowned marine-themed park and oceanarium situated along Manila Bay in Manila, Philippines. It offers a captivating and immersive experience to discover the wonders of the ocean and its inhabitants. The park features a variety of marine exhibits, including a walk-through tunnel where visitors can marvel at a diverse range of fish and other sea creatures swimming above them. Visitors can also watch entertaining shows such as the Sea Lion Show and the All-Star Bird Show. Manila Ocean Park offers interactive activities like fish feeding, mermaid swimming lessons, and even the opportunity to dive with sharks for certified divers. With its educational focus and engaging exhibits, Manila Ocean Park provides an enriching experience for visitors of all ages.

Star City

Star City is a popular amusement park located in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines. It offers a mix of thrilling rides, family attractions, and live entertainment. The park features a variety of rides ranging from roller coasters to spinning rides and water attractions. Notable rides include the Star Flyer, a tower swing ride that provides panoramic views of the city, and the Viking Ship, a classic swinging pirate ship ride. Star City also has a dedicated kiddie area with rides and attractions suitable for young children. The park hosts live shows, musical performances, and seasonal events throughout the year. Star City is a favorite destination for families and thrill-seekers looking for a fun day out.

Go To The Beach

There are more than 7000 islands in the Philippines, and there’s a beautiful beach reachable by car from any point. There are beaches with white, black, gray, or pale cream sand all throughout the archipelago. If you fancy one that isn’t near your area, flying to a particular island is not so expensive.

Breathe sunrise beach air

Sea air is good for the lungs, as it contains iodine, salt, and magnesium, it promotes respiratory health and in effect can reduce the symptoms of asthma. This is one of the reasons too why we go to the beach – for son1 to get his lungs somehow better.

Observe sea creatures

Some marine creatures end up on the shore when the water wanes. It’s a good thing to see them, make the kids curious but as for any other creature, teach your kids to be kind to them. We picked up a small starfish for the to see (see photo in above gallery) and we put in water so it would not suffocate. We returned it to the sea later.

Grill

Grilled food is the best when you’re at the beach. And if it’s allowed do so! Best when eating on banana leaves and without utensils!

Play in the sand

Build sand castles, dig some, get under the sand. Enjoy the sand, not as much as an exfoliant, but it really does you good walking barefoot on it.

Take Underwater Photos and Videos 

It’s fun to take silly pictures of faces underwater, but it’s also cool to see what creatures you can find under the sea.

Pool

 

If you can’t go to the beach, swim in a pool. As a tropical country, pools are a must during summers in the Philippines. There are private resorts to rent in whichever town you are. Or you can ask a family friend or a cousin to let you swim for the day.

Remember to bring your own swimming gears and floaters too.

Best Beaches and Resorts

Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines, is known for its stunning beaches and picturesque coastal destinations. Here are some that are also easy to travel to:

• Laiya, Batangas: Located in the province of Batangas, Laiya is a popular beach destination known for its clear waters and fine white sand. It’s a great place for swimming, snorkeling, and other water activities. Laiya offers various resorts and accommodations for visitors.

• Subic Bay: Once a major U.S. naval base, Subic Bay in Zambales is now a popular beach destination. It offers a wide range of water activities, such as jet skiing, parasailing, and scuba diving. The Subic Bay Freeport Zone also has several resorts and recreational facilities.

• Pagudpud: Located in the province of Ilocos Norte, Pagudpud is known for its long stretches of white sand beaches and clear blue waters.

Stay in the  Province

As city kids, staying in the province was a very different experience for them. I grew up in the province and hubby grew up in Quezon city. We would split our time in both places during our vacation. Most of the time though, the kids would ask us to go back to Cavite because they have no one to play with and there’s no garden to run around in.

When in the province, there’s also a lot to do that you can’t in the city. Here’s some:

Ride a Horse

There’s a lot of benefits to riding a horse. These gentle giants are also calming, they help reduce the anxiety a child feels. It also give them confidence, seeing things from a higher standpoint and getting than assurance from such a bigger animal that they would be ok while on it.

Take Care of Animals

Being city kids, I’ve noticed how excited the kids get seeing animals up close. The closest we can see animals is at the zoo or in a farm which is not very near us. We try to visit the Schönbrunn zoo twice a year and see if there are new babies born in captivity. We also try to see animals at the zoo when in a different city.

When in the province, the kids get to care for dogs, chicks, and even stray cats. We do hope the cats that we feed would be tamed soon.

Being around animals teaches them empathy, that even though they could care for them for only a short time, they would have that feeling of being able to do something for other creatures, and the feeling of being needed.

That said, we probably would get a cat sooner or later.

Pick Fruits and Try Them All

If you get the chance, let the kids pick fruits in season. They would appreciate our creator more, knowing where fruits come from. Aside from the experience of picking their own food, it gives them the opportunity to teach them agriculture and science too.

It’s also the best time to make them try tropical fruits. Mangoes, coconut, dragon fruits, papaya, pineapples, jackfruit, guavas, rambutan, and lanzones are some on our list. These are hard to come by in Vienna or can be bought in cans,  and/or are very expensive.

Experience Public Transportation

Public transportation in the Philippines is unique. There’s the tricycle, the jeepney, vans, and buses that are big enough to seat around 40 people. But it’s not uncommon to see people standing in it too, especially during rush hours. Tricycles on the other hand are for smaller streets that can carry at least 3 people in the sidecar attached to it. Jeepneys are distinctly Filipino, vehicles that are smaller than a bus but bigger than the usual van and made with the purpose of public use.

Climb a Tree

Climbing a tree will help a child develop physical strength.

If there’s no safe way to climb a tree, at least appreciate them. Visit an Ecopark, and enjoy walking around the greenery. You might find a frog or two, so just enjoy observing them.

Enjoy a cone of dirty ice cream too. Dirty ice cream in the Philippines or formally called sorbetes, is ice cream in a small wafer or sugar cone peddled in colorful wooden pushcarts by street vendors called “sorbeteros“. It is served in various flavors with our favourites being ube (purple yam) and cheese. It’s called dirty ice cream as it’s being sold in the streets, standard-wise, it’s clean.

Malling

Malls in the Philippines are huge! They house clothing shops, restaurants, toy stores, little play areas, arcades, and sometimes exhibits too. Some even have a food court where different regional cuisines are offered. Others also allocate a venue for small concerts and events, and skating rinks.

Buying klumpert when in the Philippines is inevitable. There are really cheap stuff. We took the kids to Greenhills last year and they enjoyed looking at stuff, and buying toys for less.

Of course, never forget to dine at Jollibee, the McDonald’s of the Philippines. Our favorite Jollihotdog still tops the list, although we now live in the Land of the sausages, we still miss this childhood comfort food!