You had a fun busy trip, you should spend at least a week next time you go to see the best highlights of the strip along Roxas Boulevard. I grew up, studied and worked in Metro Manila, sometimes it was fun to live there, but you just get bored when you have to commute daily to work with all the traffic in Edsa and surroundings. There wasn't any white beach there. Before they started to reclaim lands at Roxas Blvd, it was the locals beach. Every family went there on Sundays. MOA set the pace to reclaim land and others followed.
At least you had fun visiting places there. I am sure next time it will be better. Belated Happy Birthday!
Thank you!
Manila is not for the faint of heart. People seemed to always on a hurry that I had trouble keeping up on my first day. And you're right, it should take at least a week to explore the spots there.