YouTube hotties Island Media Asia’s 8 must-try experiences in downtown Manila

Island Media Asia (IMA) is composed of seven half-Filipino models—Michael McDonnell, Daniel Marsh, Charlie Sutcliffe, Keys Cosido, Brian Wilson, Henry Edwards, and Matthew Edwards—who each has his own unique charisma and charming personality. They wow online viewers with their wacky and crazy antics; their video features on foreigners selling buko juice and foreigners selling balut generated more than 80,000 and over 60,000 views, respectively (as of June 27, 2013 when this post was published). Foreigners can also get some tips on how to shower in public in their video that had almost 30,000 views.

Island Media Asia hotties: Henry Edwards, Michael McDonnell, Brian Wilson, Keys Cosido, and Matthew Edwards.

The seven cuties hail from Canada, Ireland, and England, but all have been living in the Philippines for at least two years. Despite their foreign blood, members of Island Media Asia prove to all that they are very Pinoy at heart. Their YouTube videos show how much they enjoy the Filipino way of life and even highlight Pinoy values that tourists from the world over have come to love.

During a recent visit to downtown Manila, the Island Media Asia boys had this in mind: When in the Philippines, do as the Filipinos do. And so here are eight things foreigners should try when they visit Manila. (And even if you're Pinoy, why don't you try them, too?)

1. Ride a pedicab.

After the IMA boys drove the pedicab, they found new respect for the drivers. “After we tried it, we realized how hard these pedicab drivers must have been working. It’s not just about constantly pedalling, but looking out for traffic, the safest route, and the passenger’s safety and convenience. As simple as pedicabs may seem, we shouldn't take them for granted,” Brian says.

The pedicab is a type of transportation in the Philippines, where the driver manually pedals the vehicle (there are also kuligligs, which are motorized pedicabs). Don’t be fooled by its size; it's small but it's bad-ass.

2. Eat street food.

Say hello to a gastronomic feast...by the side of the road. A sumptuous buffet awaits you: pork barbecue and grilled hotdog, isaw (chicken intestines), adidas (chicken feet), betamax (blood), and tokneneng(quail eggs dipped in orange batter).

“No leftovers or throwaways in the Filipino food culture, so there is no reason to be hungry!” exclaims Matthew, the only one among them who can identify all items on the street food menu.

Not only did these guys try these delights (taho, balut, and fishballs), they also sold them as well, as shown in their YouTube videos.

3. Haggle until the price is right.

Bargain hunters and shopaholics are in for a treat when they visit Divisoria Market. A shopping mecca at the heart of Manila, locals and tourists alike flock to the busy streets of Divisoria, where they can buy virtually everything they can think of.

The secret to scoring a wonderful buy is to haggle. Use your bargaining skills and you might end up with bags and bags of shopping finds. “Just because you’re a foreigner doesn’t mean you have to give in to vendors’ pricey offers. There’s wisdom in learning the art of haggling or tawad,” Michael says after haggling with a fruit vendor.

4. Drink buko juice.

Manila’s humid weather can be very draining and exhausting, especially if you decide to discover Manila on foot. A refreshing drink popular in the Philippines is buko (coconut) juice. Fresh from the coconut and served cold, buko juice is even cheaper than bottled water (at P5 for a cup) and is peddled on every busy street. One of the IMA boys tried it one time.

“It definitely takes off the heat and quenches your thirst,” says Keys. “It’s a hit any time of the day.”

5. Visit a Buddhist temple in Tondo.

IMA boys visited the Seng Guan Temple, one of the most beautiful and most visited Buddhist temples in Manila. The boys learned how the Buddhists worship inside the temple. They discovered that the number of incense sticks that you light should be an odd number if you're praying to heavenly deities or honoring the deceased.

“Manila’s not just a place for shopping and dining Filipino-style, but a home to other cultures as well. It makes everyone feel welcome,” says Henry after lighting incense sticks at Seng Guan Temple for the first time.

6. Say a prayer in Quiapo Church.

The Quiapo Church (or the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene) is one of the most visited and prominent Catholic churches in the Philippines. It is home to the Black Nazarene, which many Filipinos are a devotee of.

“You can’t end your trip without a visit to Quiapo Church to thank Him for the wonderful opportunity to experience Manila,” Michael says.

7. Have your fortune told by the local manghuhula.

In front of Quiapo Church is Plaza Miranda, where local fortune tellers (or manghuhula) are lined up, ready to predict your future. They may or may not be credible, but they sure make your visit to Quiapo more interesting.

“It’s exciting to hear what a total stranger has to say about your personality and future just from your birth date and a deck of cards. I started counting how many statements rang true. And then I lost count,” says Brian with a smile.

8. Enjoy a calesa ride.

If you’re looking to experience a unique ride, try hopping on a calesa, a horse-drawn carriage. You can enjoy this ride as you explore the old but still picturesque spots in Manila, such as Intramuros.

“It’s like I’m back in the 18th century!” says Matthew. “Can I just take this ride on my way home?”

(Published June 27, 2013, Kristn.com)