Last year's 10-day trip was the longest I'd spent at home since I moved away 10 years ago. I made a decent effort to plan the trip, so finally got around to receiving an education in Pampangueno cuisine.

Coming home to Manila means working down a list of comfort foods that are simply impossible to get abroad, and wouldn't taste the same anyway. (Although, Cafe Calle Real on East Coast Road does a good job with the crispy pata and brazo de mercedes, but who eats that everyday? Don't answer that.) The food is listed in no particular order, but all items must be crossed off by the end of each visit. 1. Ripe mango shake: Made with Philippine. Mangoes. Only. Heaven in every drop. 2. Green mango shake 3. Jollibee Chicken Joy: Preferably delivered in the red plastic bucket and eaten at home so that Jollibee's mug smiles back at you each time you open the fridge

Ripe mango shake

Jollibee Chicken Joy Takeaway Bucket

4. Longsilog: Longganisa (Philippine-style sausage) + sinangag (fried rice) + pritong itlog (fried eggs) 5. Anything with garlic fried rice

Longsilog at Antonio's

Garlic. Fried. Rice.

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I'll admit that I'm not the best guide to my own city, but I think it gets a bad rap, so it is with both nervousness and antici...pation that I'm figuring out how my friends can spend a weekend in my hometown without spending most of it in a mall or sitting in traffic. Luckily, I have clued-in friends and spend way too much time reading travel blogs. In fact, it seems like there may be some parts left over for a longer visit.

The clump of pins you see on the western side of the city, along Manila Bay, is the Old Walled City of Intramuros. They represent Ivan Man Dy's Old Manila Walks, for which I've signed us up. Next weekend we may have time to join Carlos Celdran's Imelda Tour.

The Manila Cathedral dominates the skyline above Intramuros

As I've dragged my trusting friends out of bed way too early on a Saturday, they'll be cranky and hungry, which will give me the best excuse to p op into Casa Armas (the original branch near Remedios Circle in Malate) for some gambas and San Miguel. For lunch, yes.

After 3 servings of paella, the tour guide (moi) will be most ready for a siesta, but there is no rest for the wicked. Southwest of Manila is Makati City, the business district, where I've tagged the Ayala Museum and M Cafe in Greenbelt and a couple of places on the fringe: Saguijo Cafe and Bar, and one of my favorite art galleries, Silverlens Gallery. This combo should give my friends a good impression of the nice and shiny business district, then before they start to think, "I could be anywhere," I'll whisk them away to a more edgy venue.

For good measure, I've earmarked Abe's in Serendra, Greenhills Shopping Center and places to eat closer to my neighborhood. Cubao X is also on the map. The Salcedo Weekend Market should really be on there too. I'm guessing we won't have time for all of this, because a flight to Panglao awaits, but they'll be there for the next visit.

Vintage Pop at Cubao X

In preparation for an upcoming trip to Manila, I've been dusting off notes and photos from previous homecomings. There's a bit of pressure on this trip (all self-inflicted) because I've convinced three well-travelled friends to visit the Philippines, with I as their guide. This came about from a resolution to see more of my own country. I've been to a significant bit of Luzon, but can count my Visayas experiences on one hand (Boracay, Cebu, Guimaras, Iloilo, Ormoc) and have none to speak of in Mindanao. My mediocre Lakbayan grade (lakbayan means to travel in Tagalog) attests to this. Really, as I have a month off in July, I could go anywhere, but I've turned down opportunities to go to Tuscany (I know, I know), Tokyo on dirt-cheap airfares, and Eastern Malaysia. I'm not sure what's come over me, but I just have this need to stay close to home. This urge may very well pass, so I might as well take advantage of it now.

Current grade is a C. Embarrassing. My Lakbayan grade is C! How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan! Created by Eugene Villar.