I'm an urban girl, having grown up in Quezon City and spending most of my working and recreational time in Ortigas and Makati. I'm used to tight traffic, overcrowded elevators and breathing smog. But somehow, going to Manila is like meeting a different urban monster.
Whenever I'm in Manila, I feel like I've stepped into a time warp. It's a place where the old and new exist in a common time and place. And as the law of matter goes, no two things can occupy the same space. But Manila defies that. Old building and narrow street for kalesa's co-exist (not quite so peacefully) with urban traffic and Made-in-China cheap goods. Vehicular and pedestrian traffic also occupy the same space. So it's best to keep an eye on pedestrians suddenly crossing the road even on a green light. Pop culture commodities such as DVDs and "branded" rubber shoes are sold right next to traditional folklore medicine. And Manila is the only place where 'pamparegla' (folk abortion medicine) or fake diplomas are sold openly.
Least to say, Manila is an 'interesting' city --a place of contradiction, a city that probably best represents our country's culture. The Philippines, afterall, is a big melting pot of indiginous, Spanish, American, Chinese, and heck, even Japanese culture. To liberally paraphrase a cliche, there's no place like Manila.
*Note: Picture above was just emailed by a friend. If anyone knows who I should give credit to, give me a shout.
Categories: Travel Bug, Musings
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