I realize that you live in LA and I live in the SF Bay area but I have flown to Manila about 8 times in the past two years. I have always taken 805/806 which is the SFO/HKG run, but I think 805 originates in LA. I then hop a Philippine Air flight to Manila. I like this routing for two reasons:

1. It gives me maximum mileage on UAL (6900x2 each way). I have always flown it as Premex and this year as 1K.
2. I can leave here around noon and get to Manila late the next evening and coming back I leave MNL at 8 AM and arrive in SFO in the morning the same day. There is only a 2-3 hour layover in HKG going and returning.

The only downside is that I don't care for Philippine Air, but it is only a two hour flight.

Jayhawk