Originally Posted by RustyC

I've been to the Philippines 20 or so times (though not since the start of the Duterte presidency). Manila is not the easiest place to like, as the negatives hit you right away and it takes time for the positives to build up. Touristy Manila is centered around Intramuros, Rizal Park and maybe Binondo and the Baywalk, so a hotel like Manila Hotel (where The Beatles stayed in 1966, I think) is in the center of the area and the Malate hotels are nearby. Manila traffic is really, really bad. Many here prefer the Makati hotels because you've got the biggest names and most luxury, but Makati itself has mostly bank buildings and malls, like some U.S. exurb. It can take the better part of an hour to get between Makati and Malate if there's much traffic.

I had the great privilege of getting to Boracay in 1995 and 1996 and it was really nice then, but it's likely way overbuilt now...I'd do the research. Would head instead to either El Nido or the islands north of that. Sometimes the transit links are a challenge or a bit overpriced, but the Philippines isn't overbuilt like Thailand (except maybe for Boracay).

I still haven't made it to Vigan but would say to expect a more raw and lived-in version of a historical place. In the U.S. they tend to get turned into gingerbread villages with gift shops and fudge shops and all that, whereas in the Philippines the historic structures may not have even been renovated yet. The plus is that it hasn't been overrun by tourism, whereas the minus is that it could be a little boring and you might want a nicer restaurant than exists in the whole town.

The Banaue rice terraces are really something to see, though you can't just drop in and drop out.

Cebu and Mactan have some acceptable beaches and resorts. Though beaches aren't at the same level as some of the islands, Cebu has restaurants, malls, the Magellan site and a lot of big-city things but more manageable than Manila. There's also Bohol, which has Alona Beach and a chance to see the Chocolate Hills.