I did some scouting for potential TARPHDME Starting and Finish Lines! Lol Actually, my family decided to go to UST, the University of Santo Tomas. It is the oldest university in Asia and its main building is iconic architecture in the country.
Definitely a perfect Starting Line location! Hehe. In reality, it was the very first ever Pit Stop on the real Amazing Race Philippines.
It was a bit of a challenge getting in though. They don’t usually let the public in unless going to the museum or the church, if I’m not mistaken.
Just our luck, the day we went was also the day of three Baccalaureate Mass in the evening. So the guard at the gate didn’t want to let us in at first. But I showed him my Messenger exchange with the museum itself who said they were open and welcoming visitors on this day. He begrudgingly let us in lol
After pictures in front of the iconic facade, we went into the museum.
It is a small museum, but lots of interesting things. I think hundreds, if not more, taxidermied animals, especially those native to the Philippines. Then lots of ethnographic artifacts, especially of native Filipinos as well. Also a small collection of paintings from famous Filipino artists and a room of religious art too.
Afterwards, people were already arriving for the bacc mass and students were getting ready to. We stopped by the chapel on campus before then heading out on the street to try and book a Grab. Which is easier said than done in this crazy, high traffic area.
Nonetheless, it was a fun little visit of a historic location!