Things To Do in Manila in Holy Week Beyond Malls

In the days of yore, Metro Manila used to be a ghost town during Holy Week, all malls were closed and TV stations, if not broadcasting, showed movie/series marathons of Ten Commandments, The Passion of the Christ, Seventh Heaven or anything pre-programmed yet without or very few advertisements except the required station IDs by NTC

This post lists down what's closed and what's not during Holy Week in Metro Manila and places within three hours of travel time for city dwellers stuck in Manila.

Holy Week Scenario in Manila

SM Malls are closed in Holy Week (on Holy Thursday and Good Friday and open on Black Saturday and Easter Sunday, March 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 2013) except the restaurants around SM Mall of Asia. Same situation with Trinoma, Greenbelt, Glorietta, Eastwood Mall, Walter Mart, Power Plant Mall, UP-Ayala Technohub, Shangri-la Mall, Greenhills Shopping Center, Robinsons Malls, Serendra, Market! Market! Alabang Town Center, Tiendesitas, Ali Mall, 168 Mall, Lucky China Town Mall, Gateway Mall, Shangri-la Plaza, The Podium, Ever Gotesco

The only shopping mall open on Maundy Thursday is Newport Mall in Resorts Manila Manila in front of NAIA Terminal 3

LRT, LRT2 and MRT shuts down on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, Black Saturday and Easter Sunday, resumes operation on Monday, April 1, 2013


List of Recommended Things to do in Metro Manila/Places to Visit Within the City

Visit Rizal Park and Intramuros (both of which are open whole year round, can't close them, that's why)

On Holy Thursday, do a Manila Visita Iglesia

Visit Manila Ocean Park, open all day during Holy Week

On Easter Sunday, come with the whole family to Star City open only a day in holy week.

For the curious, pay a visit to Quiapo Church to look for newly-blessed talismans, amulets, charms, and agimat sold in the church vicinity on Good Friday



Suggested Things to Do and Places to Visit Within Three Hours Travel Time from Manila:

Participate in the Alay Lakad to Antipolo Church by walking on Ortigas Avenue all the way towards the popular Catholic pilgrimage site (and car blessings)

Bring family with kids to Enchanted Kingdom (only on Black Saturday and Easter Sunday).

Enchanted Kingdom is open on March 30 and March 31 only from 11am to 9pm

Go Wakeboard in Nuvali in Sta. Rosa then cool down later in Tagaytay (Sky Ranch is an option though not recommended place at this time, there may be too many people with very limited parking spaces and heavy traffic)

Go on a roadtrip around Rizal and Laguna

Witness live crucifixion in Cutud, Pampanga

Visit the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Marilao, Bulacao

Do a Visita Iglesia in Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite or Batangas

Make a pilgrimage trip to the Giant Mother Mary statue in Tanay, Rizal or the giant Jesus statue at
Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban Quezon.

the giant statue of Mama Mary at Regina RICA in Tanay, Rizal

If you can't stand the heat of summer, particularly on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, just stay at home, take a bath from time to time, turn on the electric fan/aircon and the TV.

Just don't forget the true meaning of Lent and you'll be fine :P

Holy Week Travel Tip: withdraw money from ATM as early as possible to avoid long lines or offline ATM out of cash. All banks are closed from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday and banking services will resume only on April 1. Banks in malls (e.g. BDO, Chinabank, Bank of the Philippine Islands(BPI), Metrobank, PNB, RCBC, Landbank, Robinsons Bank, East West Bank, Unionbank, Security Bank, UCPB) possibly have only ATM online. Expect lots of off-line ATMs due to out of cash scenarios.


Related Holy Week Posts/lent/semana santa/lenten season:

Enchanted Kingdom Holy Week Schedule
MMDA Number Coding in Holy Week