Did you know that you can discover the history of the Philippines by visiting only the major landmarks that surround your accommodation in Pasay or Manila? You need just see a few to grasp how colorful and rich a life the Filipinos have had.

Reserve your hotel room in Pasay City at Shogun Suites along Roxas Boulevard, so that these destinations will just be a ride away on a taxi cab, horse-drawn calesa, or the iconic jeepney. Schedule your itinerary around these places to maximize your stay in Manila without wasting time being stuck in heavy traffic.

Intramuros
Translated from the Latin as "within the walls", Intramuros is the historical center and oldest district of Manila. Enclosed by about a 3-mile-long massive stone wall, this old fort was built by the Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi in the 1500s, mainly to protect the riverside settlement from attack. Inside Intramuros is a gridlike system of streets and a main square that features the Manila Cathedral.

Today, within the walls are a plethora of restaurants, art shops, and offices that still boast of colonial architecture, complete with capiz windows, cobblestone paths, and expansive courtyards. It is also here, in an area called Fort Santiago, where the Philippines' National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, was imprisoned before he was executed for his supposedly subversive literature against the Spaniards.

Binondo
Manila's Chinatown was the center of commerce during the American occupation from 1898 to 1946. But it was actually developed by the Spanish Governor Luis Pérez Dasmariñas as early as 1584 for Chinese immigrants who did trade with Filipinos and whom the Spanish Dominican priests wanted to convert to Catholicism. After many of Binondo's shops were destroyed during World War II, many companies moved to the neighboring hub of Makati, which eventually became the financial center of the Philippines.

Binondo is teeming with picturesque attractions that date back to the 1500s. Visit Binondo Church, one of the country's oldest, the district of Ongpin, which boasts several authentic Chinese eateries with super affordable meals, Kuang Kong Buddhist temple, and Arrangue Market, where you can buy or just sample fresh fish and exotic food like snakes, pigeons, and frogs.

CCP Complex
Called the Sentrong Pangkultura ng Pilipinas in the vernacular, the CCP is a government-owned and controlled cultural body established by the former first lady Imelda Marcos to preserve, develop, and promote arts and culture in the country. Catch a show at the CCP and you'll discover just how talented and artistic Filipinos are. The CCP houses philharmonic orchestras and premier performance groups, and plays host to prestigious film festivals like Cinemanila and Cinemalaya, and various cultural events. The CCP sits on reclaimed land along the Manila Bay, where you can witness its famous, glorious sunset.

Malate
You can call Malate the culinary center of Manila. More locals and foreigners would be inclined to call it so if not for Malate's reputation as the gay nightlife district. Indeed, nightlife here is vibrant and thrilling. Dance clubs and bars share neighborhoods with upscale restaurants and art exhibits, while world and techno music blare from down the road. Malate has become this frenzied bohemian hub because it was once the watering hole for artists, poets, actors, filmmakers, and writers, especially during the dictatorial government of Ferdinand Marcos in the 1970s and 80s.

Malate is just a few minutes from Shogun Suite Hotel or any accommodation in Pasay along Roxas Boulevard.