March 2003
Destination: Manila
Manila's Hidden Treasure
by Roman Escano
Long have I wandered the streets of Manila in search of a place of comfort, a place of refuge, a place where I could come as me. And with the grace of God I have found it: a place that is comforting, yet stimulating; a place that is homey, yet not boring; a place where I don’t have to be someone else and yet still have a great time. Nestled inside the back alleys of Manila’s walled city is a place called Sanctum, a place that is very different from the typical club, lounge or restaurant.
Sanctum is a place wherein you can truly just relax. You do not have to be worried on how you look or what you are wearing, because the whole ambience of the place is so comforting that it will give you a feeling of being as “light as a feather,” not having a care in the world. It is not the place to be seen in, rather it is the place where you can unwind and leave life’s problems behind for but a short while.
No bright lights necessary
In spite of Sanctum not having any attractive signs or bright lights to attract attention, looking at the interior of this place from the glass door outside would mystically draw in almost anyone, because of the comforting and friendly vibe that the setup of this place gives out. Unlike many cafes, bars and restaurants in Intramuros, where the owners have all but destroyed the natural beauty of the place, Sanctum has preserved the natural look and beauty of Manila’s walled city. It has not painted any of the parts of its walls, nor has it put anything that would stay there permanently. What it has done is it has meticulously combined modern furniture and an eclectic selection of beautiful artworks with the raw beauty of the walls of Intramuros.
The ambience of comfort that is felt so strongly here has much to do with the way the place is setup--—like a big living room--—as it is with the way the place is run. The music is not too loud nor too soft. They play almost anything, from world music to homegrown music like Cynthia Alexander and Kapatid, to what we can classify as new metal. There are also tons of things to do here. First, there are a lot of interesting books that can be read and discussed by a group of friends; there is a large selection of board games and puzzles, and if you are feeling a little artistic there are unfinished artworks that you can dare to finish. In addition there is also a book wherein you can write whatever you want—be it a poem, a story or whatever—that is kept in Sanctum and is there for everyone to read.
Of open mike sessions and mini-concerts
One of the place’s highlights is the “open mike sessions” that it has every Friday. Anybody can go up to the microphone on stage either individually or as a group and do anything they want. People can recite poetry, perform a song, play an instrument, tell a story, or perhaps a joke, or just plainly vent out. Remarkably, a lot of people go on stage and perform, and being a part of this—whether you go on stage and perform or just listen—is a very interesting experience. In fact a night spent during in Sanctum during the “open mike sessions” is like a night spent learning about life. Another thing that is also really pleasant about the “open mike sessions” is that everyone is very supportive of the person performing. You will rarely here in boos or comments of displeasure. Everyone claps and appreciates what the person on stage is doing.
Another good reason to go to Sanctum is the mini-concerts that happen every so often. These concerts usually happen on Saturdays. Imagine being in a very comfortable place listening to great music, without the hype and pretentiousness. Every so often, local acts like Imago, Mojofly, and Cynthia Alexander come here to do a quaint relaxed gig. It is really enjoyable to watch these bands play here, just relax and be one with the music.
On the day of the visit, students from the nearby Colegio de San Juan de Letran were present for a field trip to Clamshell Tent I, proving the educational benefit of the Clamshell Tents and their activities as well.
Refuge
Canadian Aslie Aslanin and Filipina Triccia David own Sanctum and it was formally opened on November 29, 2000. It all started with an idea. One night Aslie and Triccia were talking, and they said that it would be nice if they could somehow find a place where they could live upstairs and turn the downstairs in to a place where they could serve drinks, have a mini-library, have poetry reading and the like. The next night, Triccia went to Intramuros to have dinner and by chance saw the place and from that moment on she said that this could be a start of something big. Although they cannot live upstairs, they found the perfect place to do their thing. From then on, they opened their doors for four nights a week and have entertained and satisfied numerous individuals, who not only consider Sanctum as just a place to be, but who consider it as a place of refuge or a haven. When I asked them if business was doing good, they replied, “It may not be doing as good if, say, we were in Makati or Malate, but for Intramuros it’s doing pretty good. Two years is a pretty long time for a place here.” They add that in addition to business, they feel fulfilled because they like what they are doing and “get to hang out with the people they would more or less want to hang out with, because we bring the people we want to hang out with here.”
Malate offers a unique blend of music and relaxation. It has evolved into a new phase: fine dining and lounging. 
If California has San Francisco as its "Art Hub", then the Philippines has Manila as its center for culture and arts. 
A long long time ago, before World War II, or urban development, two buildings stood in quiet majesty along a narrow kalye behind the University of Santo Tomas.
Before packing your bags and buying your travel tickets, though, why not consider staying in Manila for a while and checking out its own notable tourist destinations?
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