Llegamos a Manila. Bueno, no a Manila Manila, sino a Clark, que según AirAsia está “ahí mismito de Manila” (léase 2 horas de autobús).
El autobús te deja a las afueras de la ciudad. De ahí un taxi (con demostrado desprecio por la vida, como es normal en Asia) nos llevó a nosotros y a un par de japoneses a nuestro hostal. Llegamos después de parar 3 veces a preguntar, una porque el motor no funcionaba y otra porque nos metimos en dirección prohibida.
El hostal está bien por lo que pagamos y sobretodo viendo como está el patio aquí en cuanto a la limpieza y el comfort. La habitación daba a la calle, por lo que tuvimos “la banda sonora de la fantástica vida nocturna de Malate” toda la noche. Dormimos fatal.
Al día siguiente (hoy), salimos a “hacer el turista”. Decidimos empezar con Intramuros (antigua ciudad amurallada dentro de Manila, herencia de los españoles) y de ahí a Quiapo (en busca de una cámara digital, después de comprobar tristemente que la calidad de nuestras fotos ahora no da ni para una ampliación)
Sandra tuvo la fantástica idea de ir caminando a Intramuros. Así es como se conoce una ciudad no? Pues sí…así conocimos unas cuantas cosas de la ciudad.
Así conocimos a los críos que juegan con la basura, a la gente que vive debajo de un árbol, a los que viven encima del árbol, a los que buscan la comida en la basura, a los que te piden y te sonríen con un solo diente…y claro, el campo de golf al lado.
Hacía tiempo que no veíamos tanta miseria (desde Delhi). Se nos quitaron las ganas de conocer mucho más de la ciudad, pero seguimos nuestra ruta hacia Intramuros.
Para ser sinceros, lo primero que dijimos al llegar fué: ¿Es esto? No sólo no había nada espectacular que ver…Había unas cuantas cosas que nos gustaría no haber visto, como las prohibiciones de atuendo que impone la Iglesia Católica aquí en Filipinas. Nos quedó claro que el Islam lo hace porque tiene a la gente bien agarrada…y también queda claro que cuando una religión tiene poder, sea la que sea, se vuelve igual de intransigente. En España no lo hacen porque ya no va ni Dios…pero aquí que la gente pone “Creemos en Dios” en los coches, pues eso…dos tazas.
Pasamos (por casualidad) delante de la oficina de inmigración donde extienden las visas (tenemos 21 días y quizás estemos más). Preguntamos al funcionario de turno qué hacía falta, y la respuesta nos dejó a cuadros. No podíamos entrar con pantalones cortos a la oficina de inmigración (el propio funcionario se ofrecía a hacerlo por una módica suma, claro).
Es decir: las normas de atuendo para entrar en los edificios del estado son LAS MISMAS que para entrar en una iglesia. ¿Casualidad? No lo creo.
Tomamos un Jeepney (una mezcla de Jeep del ejército y autobús) hasta Quiapo. El viaje fué pintoresco…pero el aterrizaje en Quiapo terrible.
Suciedad, caos, miseria y ruido. Decidimos meternos en nuestro refugio habitual: un centro comercial.
El centro no tenía desperdicio. Parecía como si a todos los chiringuiteros de la zona les hubiesen puesto un local y un traje. Pero el ambiente era el mismo. Cutre a matar, tanto en lo que se vendía como en el ambiente (follón, música a toda leche, sonidos de videojuegos y karaokes). La gente se encierra en una cabina para cantar Karaokes ellos solitos! (el de la foto era un señor ya mayorcete en pleno concierto)
Pasamos al plan de emergencia: el cine.
Esta vez fué Indiana Jones. A pesar de haberse estrenado ayer estábamos casi solos en la sala. La única pega es que algunos usan el cine como nosotros, como refugio, y a veces se duermen y roncan toda la peli, pero en fin, es mejor que salir ahí fuera.
Al salir las calles estaban inundadas por la lluvia y los niños jugaban en las aguas estancadas (composición 99% igual a la de las cloacas) como si fuese la piscina de verano. Nos cachearon para entrar al centro comercial (donde estaba prohibido grabar con mi cámara y tocar las barandillas) y nos volvieron a cachear en la entrada del tren. Muy bonito.
La verdad es que hoy nos vamos a dormir con un 1-0 a favor de Manila. Nos ha ganado de goleada y estamos pensando que a lo mejor no renovamos la visa (y volvemos a Tailandia a ver el norte).
Al principio del día no sabíamos porqué no veíamos turistas. Ahora lo sabemos.
Vamos a darle una oportunidad a sus playas…
Hola chicos, realmente los felicito por el viaje que están haciendo, me encantan las fotos, todavía no pude leer las crónicas de viaje, pero prometo que ya lo haré.
Les mando un beso grande, y cuidense.
Barbara
If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home.-James Michener-
“Adventure is a path. Real adventure – self-determined, self-motivated, often risky – forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind – and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white.”- Mark Jenkins-
Sad to say but I think you should stay home in your own small little world.
‘But why, oh why, do the wrong people travel, when the right people stay at home?” -Noel Coward-
Oh… and this is what you didn’t want to see in Quiapo.
http://my_sarisari_store.typepad.com/my_sarisari_store/quiapo/index.html
But I guess that is not what you are looking for…
Hello, Spaniards!
I’m so sad to hear you had a miserable time in the Philippines. Trust me, just like you no one here in Manila likes the filth that resembles slummiest India (ewww), the toothless vagrants begging for garbage, or those stupid taxis running on half an engine. But looking on the bright side, at least you weren’t kidnapped, right? Yay! You’re still alive!
I’m also sorry you weren’t too impressed with Intramuros, unlike those silly Filipino indios in the 19th century who must’ve stood in awe outside the walls that were built to keep them away. Please don’t get me wrong: Of course you have every right to express your opinion! This is YOUR blog, and the viewpoint you hold is quite valid, in spite of it being shaped by your own socio-cultural confinements. (Actually, all – crud, even mine – our opinions are.)
To be honest, your blog entry on Manila fascinated me. However, I have to point out a funny thing you failed to notice, my Spanish guests. Intramuros wasn’t the only legacy the Spaniards – gasp! YOUR ANCESTORS! – left behind in my country.
In fact, Intramuros, which was the center of political, religion and military power during the Spanish colonial period, is the architectural embodiment of 400 years of cultural rape, corruption and pillage we proudly bandy about as “shared heritage”. Simply speaking, Spain bequeathed to the Philippines 1) a religion that thrived on terror (such as the forced selling of ancestral lands to Spanish priests) and abuse (i.e. Filipinos discovering frailes in their family trees); 2) a system of government built on racial segregation; and 3) the indignity of plundered natural resources which spurred the galleon trade on and lined the coffers of Spain.
Again, I hope you don’t misunderstand me. This is the shocker: I love Spain! I think the language is incredibly beautiful, the food absolutely wonderful and the people (oh, those swarthy beauties!) the friendliest in all of first-world Europe. All I really want to say is that your disheartening dismissal of Manila misses the bigger picture. Yes, we have ridiculous policies and public fountains shouldn’t be bathtubs, dammit. And just for the record, a few years ago when Claire Danes (American actress) announced that Manila smelled of cockroaches, I tittered and agreed. Manila may never be the “pearl” it had been at the turn of the 20th century, when everything else around it was poor, backwards and/or communist.
I wish you had asked yourself, upon descending into the bowels of Quiapo, the Philippines got to be so “filthy, chaotic and miserable” in the first place. Manila the city needs a LOT of work, but I believe our minds need more of it. 😉
Correction:
“I wish you had asked yourself, upon descending into the bowels of Quiapo, HOW the Philippines got to be so ‘filthy, chaotic and miserable’ in the first place.”
Manila is a very beautiful place. While it is true that there are places marked with poverty, there are also charming and unique places that you will never see anywhere else. I am sorry that you did not get to see these aspects of the city.
Madre Mia!
Escribimos sobre Manila, y escribimos lo que vimos. No se trataba de Filipinas en su totalidad ni pretendiamos hacer una sentencia contra los filipinos.
A quien se ha dedicado a poner frase tras frase sacadas de diferentes autores decirle que podria ir a buscar unas cuantas mas a la Lonely Planet. Estamos cansados de los viajeros que lo ven todo fantastico, maravilloso y romantico.
La fotos de los ninyos jugando en aguas sucias me parecio romantica desde el punto de vista del que tomaba la foto (como seguramente le parecera a cualquier turista que vea chavales en cueros jugando y riendo en medio del caos, como si no los tocase). Sin embargo, un analisis en mas a fondo me hace pensar: porque no estan en el colegio? Porque nadie se preocupa de que jueguen ahi? Porque no tienen un parque en el que jugar?
El romanticismo esta bien para el que observa y sabe que tiene billete de vuelta. Y todas esas ideas sobre que uno debe ir por el mundo encontrando la belleza en TODAS partes es otra patranya del mismo periodo (romantico).
En el mundo existe la belleza y existe la fealdad. Existe el encanto y la miseria. Las maravillas y abominaciones, y es honesto ver estas y denunciar aquellas.
Ahora estamos en Palawan, donde la pobreza quizas no sea tan extrema, pero donde la gente cuenta con lo minimo para subsistir…y sin embargo son felices (y se nota).
Eso es bonito. Lo demas…para la Lonely Planet.
Poco tengo que anyadir a lo que ha dicho “el bicho”. El mundo es como es, en eso estoy de acuerdo, pero es como es y no vamos a inventarnos cosas porque quede politicamente correcto. Cada uno puede mirar la misma cosa de formas distintas, y quizas todos tengamos razon, asi es como vimos las cosas, sin vino ni cervezas de por medio, con ojos muy criticos, porque si en algo tenemos experiencia es en viajar. Ahora estamos en Palawan, y esto si es increible, precioso, y la gente realmente hospitalaria. Basta decir que aqui hemos hablado con filipinos nacidos en Manila, y reconocen que no volverian alli por nada del mundo. Hemos criticado a Manila, y seguimos en nuestra opinion, pero no hemos criticado Filipinas, ya que lo demas nos encanta y estamos disfrutando realmente.
Ademas, ya que este es nuestro blog y esta pensado para que nuestros amigos y familiares vean como nos esan yendo las cosas en nuestro viaje, vamos a seguir poniendo lo que nos parezca.
Y no vamos a entrar en detalles sobre herencias y religion, ahi vamos a dejar zanjado el tema.
y por favor, la proxima vez haced una traduccion del articulo que sea fidedigna
The irony is so glaring but the blind will never be able see. What makes intramuros what it is is what it it was. May I suggest the reading the Battle for Manila perhaps? Or is that too much ask for a Spanish tourist in the Orient. Bangkok es mas comodo my dear!
@history
Are you saying that, in order to find the beauty in Manila, we need to understand the past?
That seems a justification for me. Manila is what it is…despite of how it became how it is.
Bangkok was mas comodo, of course, but also more beautiful.
What I am saying is that there is nothing left of Intramuros but what it represents! It’s a ruin! It is a testament to World War II! It cannot be restored to or rebuilt upon. Manila was the second most devastated City in the world after World War 2. The Japanese hated the Filipinos more than any other Asians because they were Christians. Read the Rape of Manila and learn about the hundreds of thousands of Manilenos and Filipinos both Spanish and “indios” alike massacred in Intramuros to understand a bit of history and appreciate the importance of the place. To go to Intramuros and to say is this it? It’s not f*** spectacular! or impressive! Of course it’s not and it’s no longer meant to be! What were you expecting? The Alhambra? But what it represented was what was lost. What was once there! I find your insensitive comment as an insult to the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos who were tortured and who died there during the war! And most Spanish Filipinos moved back to Spain or migrated to the US and here in Australia after the war because of the devastation in Manila and that they will never feel safe in Asia again.
By the way I think the Alhambra is impressive and magnificent and beautiful and touristy and if this is what you were expecting to see in Intramuros then I can understand the disappointment.
Maybe Manila and Pre-spanish Intramuros would have been a more beautiful place like Bangkok if was never colonised by the West. Your ancestors should never have come. We would have been Buddhists and we be would more likely be nicer to each other!
BTW, Do the gitanos in Granada still annoy touristas selling trinkets !Es so incommodo!
As a Spaniard, your comments are especially hurtful and ignorant considering Spain’s involvement in the history of Manila.
I agree. If you can’t appreciate a place because of it’s past. Why did you even bother travelling.
I hope your visit to Manila taught you something about sensitivity.
AND HISTORY.
And the body searches aren’t about the divide between rich and poor.
It’s because of war on terror and extremist bombings by Moslem Terrorist groups which is why it has to be done.
It’s an international problem which is why we do it. Not a statement on the divide between rich and poor.
@history
Do you think that we felt annoyed by the poor people? Do you think that we don’t like them?
We don’t like poverty. We can’t stand it. And if you can’t see it, if you can ignore it, the you have a problem.
Moreover, if you expect a complete knowledge of your history from every tourist in order to be “accepted”, then you live in another world (not this one).
We read to know about the past, but we travel to see and live the present.
@manilamestizo
I’ll do it simple: if you are right, then you can expect 0 tourist every year.
Why about considering that Manila has a real problem? Impossible?
And the body searches…if you feel more safe because some guy touch my belly, ok…but I would prefer a real search if they are going to do it anyway.
If the war against terror (something that not everybody agrees on) is a global matter, why is Manila the only place in all the countries we have been that do that?
Sadly, I could only deduce the fact that you’re “visual tourist”. And, honestly, only interested in the superficial devoid of culture and intelligence.
Next time you travel to less fortunate countries, read these:Travel Lightly – You are not traveling for people to see you. Travel Expectantly – Every place you visit is like a surprise package waiting to be opened. Untie the strings with an expectation of high adventure.
Travel Humbly – Visit people and places with reverence and respect for their traditions and ways of life.
Travel Hopefully – “To travel hopefully,” wrote Robert Louis Stevenson, “is better than to arrive.”
Travel Courteously – Consideration for your fellow travelers and your hosts will smooth the way through any difficulties.
Travel Gratefully – Show appreciation for the many things that are being done by others for your enjoyment, comfort and safety.
Travel With An Open Mind – Leave your prejudices at home.
Travel With Curiosity – It is not how far your go, but how deeply you go that mines the gold of experience.
Travel With Imagination – As the old Spanish proverb goes, “He who would bring home the wealth of the Indies must carry the wealth of the Indies within him.”
Travel Fearlessly – Banish worry and timidity. The world and its people belong to you, just as you belong to the world.
Travel Relaxed – Make up your mind to have a good time. Let go, and let God take care of you.
Travel Patiently – It takes time to understand others. Stay flexible and adaptable to all situations. Travel With Good Spirit – You’ll discover that people are basically the same the world over. Be an ambassador of good will.
¿Me podrían traduzcarlos?
It makes sense that Manila gets a lot of negative reactions from visitors anywhere. The city assaults and disturbs the eye; perhaps a kind of unique shock. But that is, in many ways, part of the idea of tourism, to be jolted by something about the Other, not only be charmed by the anything exotic about the other. It sounds like Manila offered steep and sharp reactions for El Bicho, even writing – “Perla” – because it’s so hard to juxtapose the negative elements of Manila with the image of a pearl, something divine, pleasing to the eye, the soul.
I’m sure Spain has filth as filthy as those one can see in Manila. But Spain is great because it has made civilization and culture out of that filth. That’s not only grand, that’s genius…or perhaps even divine.
Just for the records: We’ve been in many countries and many cities…and we liked 99% of them.
Why is so difficult for everybody to accept that Manila is an awful place?
Today we met 4 tourist from other countries (Canada, Switzerland) and thy think the same about Manila.
Just deal with it.
We are dealing with it and it is not easy.
It just hurts when we hear it from others, it’s true. Nobody likes hearing from anyone about how others “Hate their city”. Especially people who have only been there for a short time and to only a few places.
And especially from Spaniards, who should at least understand why it is what it is considering their involvement in the history of the city.
Tratamos con ello y no somos fácil.
Acaba de doler cuando nosotros lo oímos de otros, es verdad. Nadie quiere audición de cualquiera acerca de cómo otros “Odia su ciudad”. Especialmente personas que sólo han estado allí para un tiempo corto y a sólo unos pocos lugares.
Y especialmente de españoles, que debe comprender por lo menos por qué es lo que está teniendo en cuenta su papel en la historia de la ciudad.
Just leave through Cebu. That is a possibility you know. Manila has enough troubles. They don’t need your judgements to further aggravate the difficulty.
Salga justo por Cebu. Eso es una posibilidad que usted sabe. Manila tiene suficientes problemas. Ellos no necesitan sus juicios para agravar aún más la dificultad.
O mejor todavía, sale justo. Comprendí lo que usted dijo muy bien y fue malo.
Su tono sarcástico acerca de las marcas Manila mí avergonzado ser la parte español.
Or better yet, just leave. I understood what you said very well and it was mean.
Your sarcastic tone about Manila makes me ashamed to be part Spanish.
Como Esta?
I know Manila is a slum but you forgot to visit Metro Manila like Makati or Mandaluyong.
I guess Manila is the Capital of the Philippines and of course that is the first place that you will visit.
I don’t speak spanish but I am sure the pain of looking at those people living in the streets are a sore eye to tourist like you. Believe me if you haven’t been to America the scene is a little the same like in Boston and New York (Hobos). The 25 years in Marcos regime will make the Philippines a different country.
The sad part is That Your Country Forgot about the Philippines after colonizing it for 300 years and another sad part is that the Filipinos never learned tp speak Spanish.
One thing that the Filipinos will offer you that you will never forget.
“Our Never Ending Smile”
Bangkok poor was hidden by the government moved to another place so the tourist won’t see them
Remember the Philippines is a mixture of Malay, Madrid and Madison Avenue.
Some of my fellow Filipinos cannot accept the negative reaction of a tourist in Manila. the slums,kids bathing on flooded streets,street vendors,street crime, poverty,history, economics etc etc.
An affect of Dictatorship.
I hope you return not only to explore the scenery of Manila but the explore and to know the Culture and Tradition of the Filipino people who live in Manila that your country colonized for 300 years.
Mabuhay ang Espana at Mabuhay din ang Pilipinas!!!
Terrorism and the Philippines
The Philippines and United States of America are friends and Allies.
The Philippines is 85% Roman Catholic
The Filipino Muslims or the Moors fought in Afghanistan and now they are back in the Philippines. We are the only Catholic and Democratic country in Asia just like the Government of America Congress and Senate we have it too.
The Filipino Muslims has been fighting the Philippine Government since Ferdinand Magellan landed in Cebu.
Terrorist wanted to kille Pope Paul 2 when he last visited the Philippines.
Terrorist wanted to blow 12 airplanes over the pacific but was arrested by Filipino Police.
The Philippine Government warned America about 9/11
The list goes on…
The ugliest things in Manila do stand out, and those things do say a lot about the country. Even Manilans themselves see that and want that changed. But what about your other experiences in other parts of the Philippines? Did you have other experiences in the Philippines besides Manila or Palawan? And what kind of perceptions did you get about the country from those other places?
It’s not easy to move from one place to another in the Philippines, because it’s an archipelago. There are inter-island flights, yes. But after that you have to take a boat or two to get access to some of the archipelago’s better places. Boracay seems to be a destination to many. There are also other places, such as Cebu, Baguio, the other smaller islands.
I think Manila is a more conducive destination to a different sort of tourist, a tourist that isn’t necessarily experienced, well-traveled, or even curious about exotic places, but rather someone in pursuit of something academic, someone who has read something about it and ready to confront what he/she has read about Manila; these are visitors who’re maybe on a grant to finish a dissertation or something.
So you’re on sabbatical, on a 14-month travel itinerary. That’s a luxury for most people; your plastic-card must be loaded. Unless a publisher is funding your…
You only saw one side of the city. Manila is bigger and has more facets than that.
Sheesh!! You are judging it after only staying and seeing ONE side. There is Makati, there is Ortigas center, there is Alabang, and Quezon City and Cubao.
See it all before you give a blanket judgement.
Hola! There have been mixed reviews about Manila. I am from Quezon City, just next to Manila.
Honestly, there have been times, Manila isn’t tourist friendly because of the beggars in the streets and all those eye sore. However, after Mr. Carlos Celdran gave us a glimpse of Intramuros, our views of Manila became different. It has gone through a lot of tough times but it has stood to be a seat of culture and history.
There are other places you can go to, aside from Manila. Makati, Cebu, Bohol, or Palawan. Besides, Manila is not Philippines in general. There are 7,101 islands you can choose from. 🙂
Maybe you could do some more research before visiting. As a traveler, you should always be prepared, right? There are a lot of safe places and more beautiful spots here.
I enjoyed my stay in Spain despite the dog poop scattered everywhere. Oh, I also saw a couple of mountains of rubbish on the streets. I know it’s unsanitary but it didn’t bother me. Perhaps, I was already used to seeing it. There were also beggars on the streets and a few gypsies.
The children you saw playing with the sewage water? Well, they’re children! they’re happy and they don’t care what other people tell them. They love their way of playing with the water.
Traveling is an adventure. One may have bad experiences but these are lessons learned. Whether good or bad, they’re all lessons learned. Just look at the brighter side. You were still safe.
Thanks for visiting Manila. If you plan to go back to the Philippines, try to consider other cities too. 🙂
Please do not be offended with my fellow Filipinos reaction to your Blog. It is better to write it than do nothing about it. For short do not be Plastic with your reaction about Manila
If Lonely Planet warned tourist walking in Manila to be careful I think that is a good gesture not to prevent tourist from coming to Manila.
I hope you visit the Philippine again soon. visit one of the biggest mall in Asia learn the culture that the conquistadores learned in 1521.
An American once said that the Philippines is the land of many culture and the melting pot of Asia. my vietnamese friend told me that he rather live in Manila than in Boston. Because in Manila he can relate to the Asian culture than a very western culture of Boston.
Please come back to the Philippines it is a great adventure to young people like you.
Como conocerme?
Don’t come back to the Philippines, as part of your current itinerary, if you do decide to give the islands another try or chance. Why? Your comments about Manila have ignited some kind of animosity (in Manila) for both of you.
And you’d be easy to spot, because you have pictures of yourselves all over this blog. You may already be famous in Manila, because of that one blog you have about Manila. You’ll never know how some people will react to you in-person, even though, without a doubt, you will be saturated with warm Filipino hospitality.
If you do go back, return in another itinerary, maybe two or three years from now.
Just a suggestion.
I agree that we remain responsible for the poverty that exists in Manila. However, it also a fact that a significant part of the problems you mentioned were also brought about by 300 years of Spanish colonization. Your ancestors were responsible for creating this feudalistic society, espousing colonial mentality, teaching a religion that abhors artificial family planning despite gargantuan population problem, degrading our natural resources, etc. We are still feeling the ill effects of 300 years of Spanish indoctrination that Filipinos (or Indios as they used to call us) are never good enough. We know that Manila is not exactly picture perfect. As a Spaniard, you should have been more sensitive and respectful. It’s the least you could have done.
Don’t be too offended by the blog reactions. This is a free country and we like to speak our minds and A LOT of Filipinos are online because it is part of our culture (and in many times, part of our career), Ignore Jean. Many Filipinos actually agree with you.
We should make Manila nicer for others and ourselves.
Thank you.
I say you should end your itinerary in the Philippines. Let’s say: organize a party with the Walk This Way blog owner. A street party! Let out what you think about Manila, in person, not in this blog. Make it a forum. And then after that eat, dance, and laugh! It will be a sort of despedida to the bad feelings you have about Manila. It will be grand.
To Alfredo
It will be absolutely great because we love filipinos and their food!!
[…] no hacemos un "juicio" ni una valoración de un país, pero la cantidad de comentarios que hemos recibido (de muchos filipinos, llegados desde celdrantours) a nuestras impresiones sobre Manila hacen que […]
So this blog is really only for people you know personally? If this is so, isn’t there a feature in this blog (in the administration page) that makes you publish only those comments from your friends and co-workers? But then I guess you’ve screened the comments but still prefer to publish them all.
Yes. I could filter the comments…but as long as they are not spam, everyone gets posted…
So far, I was not expecting anybody wanting to comment on this blog appart from my relatives…
I still belive in Internet as a source of controversy and dialog, so I´ll keep it that way.
It would of course be nicer if others or those from the countries you’ve visited also make comments about your blog. But yeah, about the Internet, the controversy is there, certainly. But controversies only happen now and then, they kind of spice up the ordinary. The controversy in the Internet is, in many ways, much more pervasive that it almost becomes a way of being…or perhaps that’s an exaggeration. People permit themselves to say what might otherwise not be said in-person; and so the question of freedom of expression becomes an issue there. I mean the backstabbing and blackmailing in the Internet is a deadly thing. People just sort of say what they want to say. There’s a different kind of threshold you have to accept when people can say anything they want to say; sometimes you’re forced to say all this is just virtual. You hope for a dialog. But the dialog is lost when people’s feelings are hurt, because of some of the hurtful things people say. The keyboard now becomes a tool for screaming; not a good thing; and it’s worse if you’re drinking coffee, while mad about somebody on-line: you’re bound to have a caffeine heart attack and hope somebody is responsible enough to call the paramedics…:). And on top of that, there are different layers and brands of openness among cultures. Sure, the media and forms of colonialism may have helped sensibilities become uniform, but that may only be on the surface. I think there’s a different kind of responsibility and accountability that people must be aware of on-line, if people desire to have a dialog.
I can’t help but react to my fellow residents’ reaction to a couple of travelers’ frank opinion about Manila. I am ashamed.
Cmon guys. Are we denying that what they are saying is true?
I am a Filipino and proud to be one. I have lived and traveled in all continents except Australia and Antartica. I could have lived anywhere but I chose to live in Manila. I guess the benefits for me far outweigh the costs.
Having said that, I do wish that our streets will be as clean, our buildings as grandly architected and built, our drivers as law abiding, our politicians as conscious about public service as ideal. Having lived abroad provided a reference for improvement. Yet there are also things I want to keep: the smile, the joie de vivre, the laughter.
We should take people’s opinion not as insults but simply as their view.
If you want to put meaning to it by feeling insulted, you are also entitled to that right, but at the end of the day who has wasted energy and time getting pissed off? You.
If you want to be constructive then do something about it. The problems in Manila are a lot but if we do our little part then we help improve it. Manila’s never going to be perfect and there will always be something to complain about, whether it would come from us residents or visitors. Give me a perfect city and I will give you boringville.
We love Manila that’s why we chose to stay here. If you are already doing your part to improve it then all I can say is keep it up for it’s not gonna be easy.
Gio, of course, many are pissed and they’d love to waste their energy to be pissed. But they’re only pissed for a while…and none taken personally. They’re sensible enough. But what would be one constructive way of improving Manila, at this point? Some say that maybe the rich in Manila can help do something about improving Manila. A grand idea, indeed. But it sounds like you have some constructive ideas you can share,about improving Manila.
And a perfect city doesn’t have to be boring. You never know, to a number of people, Manila may already be the perfect city.
First Idea (imported from Japan)
In Japan there are some volunteers (is something managed by the goverment) that can take you to know Tokyo for almost nothing (you have to pay their transport, and little more).
They are just normal people willing to show the city to foreigners…and the goverment has organized the thing quite well.
If you guys are willing to change the way we see Manila, may be you should show us hand by hand.
Jooooder ! Quin pollastre que s’ha muntat no ? Paseu de la penya, ben fet. Felicitats pels posts, em fa riure com expliqueu certes coses, molt bo.
Una abraçada i cuideu-vos.
Jajaja
Si, va ser divertit la que es va muntar…de fet, encara hi ha gent que ens llegeix des de Filipines.
Gracies pels anims. Espero que la cosa millorin una mica de la vostra banda. Anim!
bichos la que habeis montado jajaj, que bueno, yo tmb pasaria de todos ellos,la pagina es vuestra justamente para escrubir lo que pensais, vuestro puento de vista de las cosas y el que quiera poner su punto de vista que viaje y se pague un site, hay muchos comentarios ingles que no he entendido bien peor me ha parecido que gente de otras partes que no eran filipinos, que simplemente han pasado por ahi tmabien han saltado como el vidrio… me pare<e mentira que gente con la cabeza cuadradesté pululando por el mundo… en fin, muchos animos, me encanta como lo relatais todo y como lo describis, es asi como uno puede imaginarse un lugar sin haber estado, escuchando la realidad¡¡¡ besos
Hoooola, yo de nuevo,:) es que despues de publicarlo he visto la cantidad de fallos que tiene mi comentario y es que 2 cosas; o mi teclado anda mal o me faltan algunos dedos, en fin, espero que se entienda lo que escribo o ahi quedará solo para mentes privilegiadas.. i´m so sorry… 😉