The Beat Manila’s Weekender Guide: Best Things to See, Do, Eat, & Drink on Aug. 5-7, 2022

Ahh, another weekend is upon us and you’re looking for cool things to get up to in the city! We’ve saved you the hassle with The Beat Manila’s rundown of the best places to hit up and things to do this weekend—from blink-and-you'll-miss-it pop-up sights and new restaurant openings, to the hottest activities that you shouldn’t miss.To keep your finger on the pulse of the city, follow The Beat Manila to see what’s best in store for the weekend. 

1. Cinemalaya 18 Philippine Independent Film Festival

Beloved indie film fest Cinemalaya is gracing the halls of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) with its first on-site screening since the onset of the pandemic. Eleven full-length and 12 short films will be shown from Aug. 5 to 14 at the CCP, and from Aug. 10 to 16 in select cinemas nationwide. From a Marawi war hero battling with trauma, a deaf couple struggling to keep their marriage afloat, to a single mother on the brink of losing her child to a cursed impostor, this celebration of Pinoy independent cinema is bound to delight. Click here for the full on-site schedule. for the full on-site schedule.

Still iffy to step into the theater? You can watch the entries online in October!

When: Aug. 5-14

Where: Tanghalang Huseng Batute, Manuel Conde, and Nicanor Abelardo, CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd, Pasay, 1300 Metro Manila / SM and Ayala Cinemas

How much: P230-P250 (individual tickets), P2,500 (Festival Pass, covering 11 full-length and two shorts)

2. Sunday Brunchday at Diamond Hotel

Gather your family and fill your bellies with sumptuous brunch staples at Diamond Hotel’s Corniche Restaurant. Their Sunday Brunchday has been extended until the end of the month, giving guests and diners a taste of being a VIP with chef-prepared spreads and platters. The buffet comes with one round of mimosa, prosecco, or sangria. Click here to book a table in advance. You may also call 09757921473 or shoot an email for advanced reservations.

When: 11 AM-2:30 PM

Where: Corniche Restaurant, Diamond Hotel, Corner Roxas Boulevard & J Quintos Street 1000 Manila

How much: P1,980 per person

3. Gootopia

Slide into the weekend with drizzles of fun and buckets of slime (literally) at Gootopia, Manila’s first-ever slime fun house. The venue houses all forms of slime that one can enjoy: design your own slime at the Slime Lab, dip in the slime pool, and go crazy at the Goolactic Arena where you can play with the balloon blaster, boom boxer, “goonado,” and our personal fave, the human bowling ball. Funky bright colors plaster Gootopia’s interiors so make sure to get ready for a snap and document your adventure!

Click here to buy your tickets.

When: Opens on Aug. 5

Where: SM Central Business Park, SM Mall of Asia, 123 Seaside Blvd, Pasay, 1300 Pasay City

How much: Starts at P699

4. ‘Joseph the Dreamer’

Professional Christina theater company Trumpets will return to the stage with their longest-running musical “Joseph the Dreamer.” Singer Sam Concepcion holds the titular role in the musical written by Freddie Santos. Paolo Valenciano produced it with Myke Salomon as musical director. The play tackles the timeless themes of forgiveness, love, and faith with lyrics, melodies, and performances that are bound to pull at your heartstrings. Get your tickets here.

When: 3 PM and 8 PM, Aug. 5-7

Where: Globe Auditorium, Maybank Performing Arts Theater, Manila

How much: Starts at P2,575

5. Comedy Husbands

Stand-up comedians Red Ollero and Victor Anastacio are here to bring the house down with punch lines and jokes that will make you slap the shoulder of your companion. If this is your first time watching Red and Victor, ready your hanky as their brand of humor will leave you in tears of joy.

Go here to buy your tickets.

When: 8 PM, Aug. 6

Where: Music Museum, Service Rd, San Juan, Metro Manila

6. Drawing Room Exhibit

In the mood for an intriguing weekend? Catch Jeona Zoleta’s first solo exhibit at The Drawing Room until this Saturday and get ready to feast on creative works that captivate, shock, and sometimes provoke. On the surface, Zoleta’s creations offer sparkles, rainbows, and bright colors. But underneath, this funkiness is masking a theme that is often unexplored and stifled and is waiting to be unraveled.

Visiting the exhibit is by appointment only. Click here to book your slot.

When: Until Aug. 6

Where: GF, Building C, Karrivin Plaza 2316 Chino Roces Ave Ext. 1231 Makati

How much: Free

7. Coffee All-You-Can at Novotel

What's better than coffee? An unlimited supply of it. Catch Novotel's promo of free-flowing brewed coffee that's perfect if you're in a client meeting, catching up with a friend, or enjoying your me time. One voucher also includes one fresh loose tea and one signature ensaymada to complement that unlimited supply of java. This is available at Gourmet Bar by Novotel. 

When: 3 PM-6:30 PM, now until Oct. 15

Where: Novotel Manila Araneta City, General Aguinaldo Avenue Araneta City, Quezon City, Metro Manila

How much: P399

8. New Exhibits at Ayala Museum

After its grand renovation, Ayala Museum isn’t resting on its laurel just yet with three new exhibits now open to the public. The exhibits — Gold of Ancestors: Pre-Colonial Treasures in the Philippines, Skeins of Knowledge, Threads of Wisdom, and Ceramics and Cultural Currency: Exchanges of Pottery and Prestige — narrate “how the country’s identity, imagery, and ingenuity were shaped by a millennium of interactions within the flourishing networks of exchange within Asia and beyond.” If you need any reminder that history is important, let this be it.

Go to their website to book your visit.

When: 10 AM-6 PM, Wednesdays to Sundays

Where: Ayala Museum, Greenbelt Park, Makati Avenue corner Dela Rosa Street, Ayala Center, Makati City

How much: P650 (regular price; discounts apply)

9. Make Your Own Laksa at Spiral

You don’t have to travel for miles to have a taste of Singapore as Sofitel is bringing the Lion City’s signature dish to Manila. The luxury hotel is celebrating Singaporean cuisine in the entire month of August, treating guests with classic dishes such as chili crab, sambal prawn, and Hokkien mee. For a family bonding, Sofitel’s Spiral has prepared a make-your-own-laksa kit that everyone can bring home. Your first kit entitles you to a 50% discount on your second purchase. Sounds like a great deal, isn’t it? Go here to inquire.

When: Until Aug. 31

Where: Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel, CCP Complex 1300, Roxas Blvd, Pasay, Metro Manila