Drive 60km south of Metro Manila to cool Tagaytay City. Perched 640m above sea level on Tagaytay Ridge you can enjoy a dazzling view of Taal Volcano and Taal Lake from the Casino Filipino which is open all day, and various first-class restaurants along the ridge.

Also in Tagaytay is top gourmet restaurant Antonio's, which is set amid spectacularly landscaped grounds, and Sonya's Secret Garden, a bed-and-breakfast establishment which offers relaxing shiatsu massages to guests and luxurious cottages for rent.

On Boracay Island, take a walk along fine white sands and swim in clear, aquamarine water in one of the best beaches in Southeast Asia. The small, bone-shaped island (7.5km by 2km) is northwest of the island of Panay. It is 200km south of Manila and can be reached in less than one hour by air. With more than 100 resorts, bars and restaurants serving a variety of local and international cuisine, the island caters for most palates.

Oceana Dive Resort operates one of the most professional dive tours in the world-class diving site Puerto Galera Island, Oriental Mindoro, a three-hour trip from Manila. Dive enthusiasts should also check out the beautiful Balicasag Marine Sanctuary in Bohol, an easy one-hour flight from Manila.

Right in the heart of old Manila is the walled city of Intramuros, built in 1571, which until 1898 was the seat of Spanish colonial rule in Southeast Asia. There are parks within the walls while chambers along the wall gates have been turned into art galleries and restaurants.

Look out for Fort Santiago, the grand Manila Cathedral and the World Heritage baroque San Agustin Church.

Don't miss the new Ayala Museum in Makati, where you can view Philippine history and rare coins and paintings by Filipino masters in the building set amid a lush garden oasis in the middle of busy Greenbelt Mall.

Just north of the Makati Central Business District is bargain mecca, Greenhills Shopping Center, a 16-hectare complex which has a huge bazaar with 1,400 stalls. Find antique vases, quality handicrafts and Mindanao pearls. For the more breathtaking variety, go to the Jewelmer shop at Glorietta IV in Makati for the finest cultured South Sea pearls.

Other Makati upmarket malls include Rustan's, Greenbelt and Power Plant at the Rockwell Center. Balikbayan Handicrafts and Tesoro's along Arnaiz Avenue, also in Makati, offer a vast selection of fine products and are the best places to shop for Philippine-made gifts.

Mandarin Oriental's reputation for superb dining in Manila is hard to match. Guests can savour international and Asian dishes from all-day dining at Paseo Uno (+63 (2) 750 8888).

Meanwhile, casually elegant Tivoli (+63 (2) 750 8888), Mandarin Oriental's premier restaurant, offers gourmet-set menus nightly, while the multi-awarded Tin Hau is famous for its authentic Northern and Southern Chinese cuisine, ranging from a variety of dim sums to Peking duck.

The Captain's Bar on the ground floor offers international dishes for snacks and cocktails as patrons listen to live entertainment.

Adjacent is Kipling's, Manila's most luxurious single malt whisky and cigar bar.

Elsewhere in the city, find wonderfully presented French-Mediterranean dining at Lolo Dad's (+63 (2) 2295) in Malate or go to Tsukiji, on Arnaiz Avenue for authentic Japanese cuisine.

Starting at 7am, the Saturday Salcedo Market in Makati is a colourful scene with vendors displaying fresh flowers and organically grown produce along with tasty eats.

In the evening, head to Greenbelts 2 and 3 – the hub of Makati's night-life. Drink at Greenbelt 2's Nuvo or feast on tapas in Mezze next door and dance to DJ music at Temple Bar or in Greenbelt 3's Havana which sizzles with the hottest Latin bands.