MOA Baywalk at Sunset
Carla stands by the seawall at the Mall of Asia Baywalk. The wind brushes her hair as she looks toward the horizon, watching a plane glide low in the distance. At sunset, its silhouette is a stark contrast against the orange sky. For a moment, she gazes at it silently.
When she finally does speak, her voice is confident. “Every time I see a plane take off, I imagine myself there as a flight attendant helping others feel safe and cared for,” she says.
She sounds hopeful, knowing her dream is what gives her purpose. To her, travel is a lesson in broadening your mind. “It changes you,” she adds. “You start to see the world through other people’s eyes.”
Behind her, the soundtrack of the city slowly loudens, with conversations from people walking along the Baywalk, music from a nearby outdoor restaurant, and the wind blowing from the increasingly reclaimed Manila Bay. Pasay City—calling itself the City of Travel—feels like an airport itself: full of departures, arrivals, and in-between moments.
For Carla, this trip is a practice for a profession she hopes to become someday.
A Morning at Pasay’s Bus Terminals
Earlier that day, Carla is just another passenger stepping off a bus in Pasay. It’s early morning, when the city has just awoken from a short slumber (Metro Manila is a late sleeper and an early riser) and already gearing up for the day’s frenetic buzz. Buses hiss as they position themselves in the stations. Vendors call out. The smell of exhaust mixes with freshly cooked peanuts.
For most people, the terminal is just a stopover. It’s a world in motion, a preview of the life Carla dreams of. “It’s inspiring watching people from all walks of life heading to different destinations,” she says. “Some are excited, some sad. It reminds me how big the world really is.”
She remembers tagging along as a child whenever her uncle was brought to the airport. That’s the moment when the crowd parts and emotions rise: families waving, some in tears, others smiling wide. Even then, she was fascinated by how one place could hold so many beginnings and goodbyes.
Years later, that same feeling returned when she visited the PTC Aviation Training Center in nearby Parañaque City. “Being there made me feel encouraged and motivated,” she recalls. “It strengthened my love for what I’m studying.”
To her, Pasay is a symbol of what she aspires to be. Amidst the chaos, it feels like a world where she’s meant to be.
As the morning brightens and the terminal begins to thin, she takes it all in. “This is where I belong,” she once thought. And now that she’s grown, she still believes it.
Strolling Around Cultural Center of the Philippines and Star City
Carla hails a taxi and goes to the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The rush of the terminals gives way to the calm openness of the CCP grounds. She strolls past wide lawns and a gigantic brutalist structure as the breeze brings the scent of the sea. Here, amid the mix of art, history, and open sky, she feels the familiar wonder that comes from seeing the world in motion.
A couple are taking photos by the fountain. Near the steps, a dancer is stretching before practicing a routine. A few meters away, under a tree, a group is rehearsing lines. “Travel changes a person,” she says, “because it helps you see the world from new perspectives.” Here in Pasay, that lesson unfolds in real time.
Inside the CCP complex, a poster for an upcoming show catches her eye. She doesn’t have time to watch, but she smiles anyway. The idea that art connects people, even briefly, reminds her of why she wants to fly. She wants to connect cultures. To bridge stories. To make movement meaningful.
A short walk later, the music grows louder. The calmness of the CCP’s wide spaces give way to kitschy designs and excited conversations. Star City, Pasay’s long-standing amusement park, is buzzing with energy. She thinks about joining in, maybe trying a ride or two, but decides instead to just take a stroll. For a few minutes, she’s not thinking about training centers or interviews or uniforms. Just the joy of being here.
Watching families and friends shout, laugh, and cling to each other mid-ride, she realizes that travel isn’t only about where you go, but also about what you feel along the way. Seeing joy in others reinforces her desire to bring that same feeling to people she’ll one day serve onboard.
As she steps out of Star City, she looks back at the Ferris wheel turning slowly against the blue sky. One day, her dreams will take her much, much higher than the pinnacle of that ride.
Lunch at Dampa Seaside Market
Just before lunch, Carla stops by at the Dampa Seaside Market, one of the most popular places to eat in Pasay. The smell of grilled seafood blend with the salty breeze from Manila Bay, reminding her of the scent of a school break in the beach.
She stops at one of the open-air stalls to marvel at the array of fresh seafood. The vendor calls out her daily catch, creating a lively symphony with the clatter of plates and pans in a nearby restaurant. She isn’t in the mood for a feast (nor can she finish a platter on her own), so she contents herself witnessing the proceedings around her. Customers select a few ingredients—prawns, crabs, mussels, and fish of every kind—and hand them to the cooks, who immediately begin to prepare steaming dishes. Watching them, she feels a connection with people she has never met.
“It’s fascinating how food can bring people together,” she says. “I saw this before in Binondo, and seeing it here makes me realize that food has its way of connecting people.”
When it’s time for her to eat, she enters a restaurant and orders a small plate of calamares. She takes a bite and is reminded that travel is often as much about the taste as it is about sights.
“Trying local food teaches you to understand different people and cultures,” she reflects.
By the time she finishes, the market is buzzing with a few more visitors, such as locals finishing errands and tourists exploring. She takes it all in, relishing her simple meal in a city that connects people momentarily between their separate journeys.
A Quietude at Newport City and the Shrine of St. Therese
The noise of the market fades behind as Carla rides another taxi and head to Newport City just across Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. The streets feel calmer here, and the pace is mellower. She strolls past the complex’s mall, letting the energy of the afternoon settle into something more contemplative.
Outside—but still within the resort complex—stands the Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. The church rises in soft white against the afternoon sky. As soon as she steps inside, the world outside feels far away. The light coming in through the windows makes soft patterns on the pews.
The sanctity of places like this helps her stop and look around for a moment. It keeps her calm and makes her reflect in the middle of the craziness of daily life.
She closes her eyes and says a prayer for a moment. “These kinds of moments remind me why being still is important,” she says afterwards. “Going places is fun, but taking a break like this helps me better enjoy the trip itself.”
Soon, she sees people silently going by, some praying and others just sitting and pondering. She remembers vacations she took in the past and sunsets she saw from a bus. Every short moment seems important, a reminder that travel is more about seeing, feeling, and connecting than it is about getting to a certain place.
She leaves the shrine, and the noise and activity of Pasay slowly come back. But now she has a sense of serenity that helps her deal with the crazy energy surrounding her.
MOA Sky: A Glimpse of the Future
The waters of Manila Bay turn into shades of gold and amber as the sun dips lower in the horizon. Despite the ongoing reclamation blighting the view, Carla still feels a sense of serenity as she heads from the Baywalk to the MOA Sky, the rooftop park of the mall. She leans against the glass railing, armed now with a profound sense of awareness. Another plane streaks across the sky, taking off from NAIA, near where she had just been minutes earlier.
Her eyes wander over the distant waters’ soft ripple reflecting the fading light as she takes a slow breath. “When exploring a city, I’d describe my approach as observant and curious,” she says. Today had been just that: noticing the people around her, feeling the energy of the streets, and tasting the calamares, all while reflecting how they tie to her dreams of being a flight attendant.
She watches as people go about their lives around her. In each small gesture, she finds a connection that reminds her of why she loves travel. When she travels, she takes time to really watch and appreciate her surroundings.
With its mix of bus stations, airport, and bustling malls, Pasay City feels like a microcosm of the world she hopes to explore as a flight attendant. The City of Travel is all about movement and opportunity.
As the final rays of sunlight shimmer across the bay, she feels inspired. In Pasay, she sees her ambitions play out in real life. It’s a gateway to possibilities. As she stands to leave, she returns to the Baywalk to take one last look at the skies.
She looks forward to the journeys that will come.
Modeled by Carla Gabion
Pasay City Travel Basics
Access
- The best way to start any exploration of Pasay City is to go to the Mall of Asia (MOA).
- By private transportation or Grab/Taxi: Access MOA via EDSA or J.W. Diokno Boulevard. Google Maps or Waze can help find the most efficient route.
- By public transit:
- Take the LRT-1 to Gil Puyat or EDSA Station, then ride a jeepney or e-trike headed to MOA.
- UV Express vans also connect MOA from key points in the south like Alabang and Las Piñas.
- Southbound (PITX-bound) EDSA Carousel buses stop at MOA. Northbound buses bypass the mall, so you may need to walk a few meters. Confirm with the driver or conductor.
- From MOA, other Pasay destinations are easy to reach.
- Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) & Star City: 10–15 min Grab/taxi ride. Alternatively, LRT-1 to Vito Cruz Station, then a 15-minute walk along P. Ocampo Street and across Roxas Boulevard.
- Dampa Seaside Market: Along Macapagal Boulevard, accessible via jeepneys or e-trikes running between LRT Gil Puyat Station and MOA.
- Newport City & Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus: Short taxi or Grab ride via NAIA Road (about 20–30 min, depending on traffic).
Food
- New Dampa Seaside Macapagal – Choose fresh seafood and have it cooked on the spot. From prawns and crabs to mussels and fish, it’s an open-air feast that’s lively, authentic, and perfect for people-watching. Just be ready as staff can be very eager to pull you into their restaurant.
- MOA is a paradise for hungry explorers, from fast-food outlets to specialty restaurants. Sichu Malatang, a crowd favorite among MOA visitors, offers a comforting variety of malatang dishes. If you’re in the mood for Indian cuisine, R.I.C.H. (Royal Indian Curry House), which serves flavorful curries and traditional favorites in a casual setting, has a branch at the Baywalk.
- International fare, from casual Western meals to quick snacks, is plentiful at Newport Mall / Resorts World Food Hall. Convenient if you’re visiting Newport City or the Shrine of St. Therese nearby.
Accommodation
- As the City of Travel, Pasay naturally has a wide range of accommodations.
- Heritage Hotel Manila – A mid‑range, strategically located hotel on Roxas Boulevard near MOA and NAIA. Room rates start from about PHP 2,050 for a standard room, going up to around PHP 4,400 for more premium options.
- Henry Hotel – A charming, boutique-style budget hotel in Pasay. From around PHP 4,000 a night.
- Conrad Manila – A 5‑star luxury hotel along Seaside Boulevard, just a short walk from MOA and SMX. Its modern rooms, spa, pool, and multiple dining options make it a prime base for travelers seeking comfort and style. Rates typically start around PHP 14,000 per night for standard deals, with suites priced higher.
The Tourist Gaze 