What’s on MNL: Best Things to See, Do, Eat, Drink on April 20-26, 2023

Ahh, another week is upon us, and you’re looking for cool things to get up to in Manila! We’ve saved you the hassle with The Beat Manila’s rundown of the best places to hit up and things to do right now—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 week ahead. 

1. Heroes Toys & Cosplay Festival 2023

Calling all cosplayers! Prepare for an unforgettable convention experience this weekend. The Heroes Toys & Cosplay Festival is a three-day pop culture event with a cause for and by the fans.

There will be various artists present at the festival, including the anime cover band Re:ANIMUS, JP Cuison & Co., and more. Get your wallets ready, as merchants will also attend the cosplay festival selling anime, DC, and Marvel collectibles, as well as gaming stickers, shirts, and anything pop culture-related.

When: 10 AM-10 PM, April 21-23

Where: Robinsons Las Pinas, Alabang-Zapote Road

How much: Free

2. Into the Summer: Art Comes in Waves

Are you summer ready?

Apart from going to the beach, delving into the world of art is yet another enjoyable activity this summer. This event will showcase BGCArtMart artists for April, the creative minds behind unique works of art. Guests can also witness live performances and munch on their favorite treats.

Some of the merchants that will be at the event are Whatchamacallit Thingamajig, Besty&Coco, Pawa Studio, Vid’s Beads, Dreams to Catch/It’smecrochet, Two Boutique by Liyan, Ubots/Periwinkle Days/XAX Urbn, Lagguillotine, Nerine.Avi, Vernice, Bag’ito, and Project Lemons, among others.

When: 3 PM-9 PM, April 21 and 23

Where: Alveo Central Plaza, BGC Arts Center, Taguig City

How much: Free entry

3. All-You-Can Weekend at Pancake House

Probably one of everyone’s favorite things to do during the summer is to dine out at our favorite restaurants.

Pancake House is offering a new combo deal in which customers may eat as much chicken and pancakes as they want for a discounted price. We swear, this weekend indulgence is guaranteed to be worth every single bite you take of it.

The Chicken & Pancake Plate All-You-Can comes with one drink offered on 13 selected weekends. Diners will be given two hours to consume as much food as they want, but sharing and leftovers are strictly not allowed. The offer is valid for April 21-23 and 28-30.

The meal will include a chicken fillet, a pancake, and your choice of sides (egg or French fries). For drinks, customers may choose between one serving of house blend brewed coffee, iced tea, Minute Maid orange juice, or bottled water.

When: April 21-23

Where: All Pancake House stores (except NAIA 3, Camaya Coast, and Congressional)

How much: P399

4. Komikon Homecoming

Do you love Filipino comics and artists? Komikon Homecoming is here!

Komikon’s first-ever event also took place in UP Diliman at the UP Bahay ng Alumni in October 2005. It is a celebration dedicated to local comic creators and aims to promote reading among Filipinos. 

Interested comic creators may register through this link. For frequently asked questions about Komikon, click here.

When: 10 AM-8 PM, April 22

Where: Parola, UP Fine Arts Gallery, UP Diliman, Quezon City

How much: P150 (UP ID holders are eligible for a 20% discount)

5. ONLive Con – A Vtuber Convention

Get ready to connect! ONLive Con, organized by Pygmalia, brings together Virtual YouTubers and Vtuber fans for a Saturday packed with fun activities like a cosplay competition, an artist alley, Vtuber-related panels, games, and more.

Some of the much-anticipated guests of the event are Shirayuri Pro, Shouta Ren, Akuma Azashi, Virgil and Elaine (from KoMETA), Akira Kitsui aka Kiichan, and Pan The Bread, to name a few.

When: 10 AM, April 22

Where: UPPER BOX, 2nd Floor of Promenade Mall, Greenhills, San Juan City

How much: P369 (walk-in ticket)

6. ‘Ang Huling El Bimbo The Musical’

The hit musical “Ang Huling El Bimbo” will relive the nostalgia as it announced its stage comeback on April 21. The story focuses on four friends Joy, Hector, Anthony, and Emman as they try to figure out life together.

There are new and familiar faces among the cast, including Gian Magdangal, Gab Pangilinan, and Topper Fabregas, who will perform again as the lead characters. New cast members who joined the musical are GMA-7’s “The Clash” grand finalist Anthony Rosaldo as young Hector, Gawad Buhay award-winning theater actor Paw Castillo as young Emman, and voice teacher Katrine Sunga as Joy.

If you would rather watch the musical during the day, there is a show set for April 22, 23, 29, and 30 that you can attend. To check out the full performance schedule, go here.

When: 3 PM, April 22-23

Where: Newport Performing Arts Theater, Newport Mall, Newport Blvd, Newport City, Pasay City

How much: P1,942-P3,766

7. #SMSuperKidsZone in Roblox

This one’s for the young'uns! The all-new and improved #SMSuperKidsZone in Roblox is now open, thanks to a collaboration between SM Cyberzone, SM Malls Online, and Power Mac Center.

Here, kids can try out the metaverse, relax in the comfortable lobby, play thrilling games, and compete for prizes in a mini tournament. What’s more, they can make new friends while honing their skills in the newly opened Cyberzone spot.

The online game platform Roblox has become popular among kids because it allows them to create, play, and publish their own games, as well as socialize with other players while earning a virtual currency called Robux. Pre-registration for the SM SuperKids Zone is required, click here.

When: April 22-23

Where: SM Aura Premier, McKinley Parkway, Taguig City

How much: N/A

8. Project Hulmahan Exhibit

Are you fond of shoes and have hundreds of pairs at home? These uniquely artistic shoes are finding their new home. 

This is the first-ever Shoe Mold exhibit that uses rescued shoes and turns them into a work of art. All proceeds from the exhibit will be used to raise funds for local livelihood and art programs. 

Don’t miss the final day of Project Hulmahan! To purchase an item, click here.

When: April 23

Where: Ponte De Amore Lobby, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill Drive, Taguig City 

How much: P8,000-P250,000 via Newport Catalogue  

9. Pets in the City: Summer PAWfect

Beat the heat and have a memorable summer with your pets at the Summer PAWfect event this weekend. All healthy pets older than six months who have not been pregnant, are not in heat, and have not been diagnosed with a communicable disease are welcome to join Pets in the City.

The main highlight of the event is the fashion show, in which pet participants wear their most glamorous look, complete with props, headpieces, and a mask. The furry candidate who will pawfectly slay the runway can win a cash prize worth P7,000 plus a trophy. For more information, you may call 09171226990 or 09171220594. To register your pets, click here.

When: 2 PM, April 23

Where: Activity Center, Level 2, Ayala Malls Feliz, Amang Rodriguez corner, J.P. Rizal, Barangay Dela Paz, Pasig City

How much: Free; Open to all healthy pets

10. Hamilton Ticket Selling

The multi-award-winning Broadway production "Hamilton" will visit Manila in September. In anticipation of this event, Broadway fans should not miss the public sale of tickets on April 24 via the TicketWorld website.

The “Hamilton” run in Manila marks its first premiere in Asia. It conveys the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton mashed up with hip-hop, jazz, and R&B music. The show will run for approximately two hours and 50 minutes, including intermission. For ticketing tips, go here.

When: 11 AM, April 24

Where: Online

How much: P2,645-P8,464

Promote your upcoming event now! Click here to submit your event and have it considered for inclusion in our upcoming coverage and newsletters.