Poblacion is the kind of place that doesn’t make sense until you’re in the middle of it with a taco in one hand, a cocktail in the other, and music coming from five different directions. We started our night not really knowing where we’d end up. That’s the magic of Poblacion you just go, and the city takes care of the rest.
Our first stop was a hole-in-the-wall ramen bar, because nothing fuels a night out like slurping spicy miso ramen while arguing over which K-drama has the best plot. From there, we walked aimlessly until we found a bar that looked like a sari-sari store. When we walked in, surprise—it opened into a speakeasy with vinyl records and velvet couches. We laughed way too loudly, tried drinks with names like "Walk of Shame" and "Third World Margarita," and made friends with the bartender who gave us free popcorn.
Tip: Always ask the bartender for their off-menu specials you’ll be surprised.
We hopped from bar to bar, from one with neon walls and karaoke to another with a rooftop overlooking Makati's skyline. Somewhere in between, we tried isaw from a street vendor while singing to an Eraserheads song playing from a nearby jeepney. One friend dropped her isaw, and the vendor just handed her another for free Filipino hospitality at its finest. We kept joking, “Let’s retire here and open a grilled food stand!”
What stood out most was the energy. Poblacion doesn’t just serve drinks it serves memories. Each bar had its own story, its own playlist, and a crowd that felt like they’d welcome anyone. We met fellow travelers, artists, even a French couple who had been living in Manila for three months and swore Poblacion was better than Paris.
We ended our night with halo-halo from a roadside carinderia, and we swear, it tasted like victory. Poblacion reminded us that life doesn’t always need a plan sometimes, you just need music, good food, and friends to dance with under neon lights.
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