4 Reasons Why I Like & Dislike Metro Manila

Does Metro Manila make the Philippines “More Fun”?

Accessible Chaos

From where you are, I am sure you’re near to anything you need.

Short-term buys? Check out a “sari-sari” store.

Cheap meals? Dine in a “carinderia” for a dollar.

Snacking? Go to a sidewalk and find a local dish.

Thirsty? “Palamig” in every street, “Gulaman” in every train station

Long taxi trip?  Buy cold C2 green tea over your window.

Boring bus? Nomadic vendors serve hot “mani”.

Looking for convenience? 7-eleven, Mini Stop or 24/7 Mercury Drug store.

More convenience? Pick among huge malls around.

Because everything is near and everyone is everywhere. The end result: Chaos.

Anyone can set-up their own mini businesses. So you can’t pass a single sidewalk without any struggle. Hence, unmanageable waste can be found anywhere. 

MMDA will clear the sidewalks and arrest illegal vendors today, tomorrow everyone resumes.

  

Inconvenient Variety

The Philippines has the most variety of modes of transportation which makes everything seems reachable. From trains, buses to the lightest vehicle like pedicabs.

Trains assume the speed and accuracy.

Taxis and Motorcycles are the most flexi ones.

Buses take the main roads for specific drop off points.

Jeepneys drive on both major and minor roads for more specific routes.

Tricycles and Pedicabs take the tightest streets.

While Bicycles for convenience and short-distance travel.

However, this variety generally makes road trips inconvenient.

Today, passengers outnumber trains and stations capacity.

Choosy and unsated taxi drivers are at large.

Rude bus drivers who knows no bus stops and speed limit.

Overpopulated Jeepneys stop anywhere making every road a little hell.

Tricycles and Pedicabs more often block everything.

Stubborn Motorcycle drivers add on to street stressors.

The end result: Heavy traffic! But don’t forget the air and noise pollution it creates.

Divided Region

Undoubtedly, The Philippines is an English-speaking nation. Wherever you go, there’s a Filipino who are willing to converse efficiently. Signs around the metro are also written in English. So there’s no hard time staying in the Philippines.

However, Metro Manila lacks the reliability of information, mainly because of the division of cities and municipality. Indeed, local government has the authority over its territory to the extent that it makes Metro Manila divided and disorganized.

For instance, Manila has its green-colored street signs. Quezon City made it blue. Pasay City used to apply orange in various street posts but because it has new government, it changed to green. Pasig City’s blue-and-yellow traffic enforcers are different to Makati City. Mandaluyong City makes its own traffic announcements and rules, as well as in Parañaque and Las Piñas City.

I respect their jurisdiction but I don’t think it is necessary to enforce different versions of information and the like. It is a bit confusing. Driving around the metro will confuse motorists and tourists. You think it’s appealing? No. "Payabangan lang". It just makes Metro Manila uglier.

If they want to distinguish a city from another, a simple border markers will do.

Generally, Metro Manila is perceives as the over-all capital of the Philippines that's why it is the National Capital Region, not Manila alone. I believe that standardization of information in the region will improve Metro Manila. How about a United Capital Region?

Wrong Pride

Currently, there are five major business districts in Metropolitan Manila with two under development: Makati, Ortigas, Taguig (Bonifacio Global City), Pasay-Parañaque (MOA-Coastal Area) and the soon to be QC-CBD called Triangle Park.

These produce high-rising and structurally promising architectures. Beautiful skylines comparable elsewhere. Huge malls with two makes it to World’s Largest 10. High-end complexes for highbrow demands.

Just enough to cater the need to modernity. Truly, a Filipino pride to be.

However, where’s the Filipino feel among it? Everything seems to be modern and western. One attraction that I can think of very Pinoy is the walled-city of Intramuros, nothing more. Luneta? Sounds not appealing anymore.

Where’s the real Filipino pride? Invest on Filipino-inspired attractions that will secure our identity more than anything else.

G POINT:

Metro Manila is a representation of the Philippines. It’s the model city. Whatever happens here will soon happen to the rest of the country.

But does Metro Manila make the Philippines “More Fun”? Maybe yes, maybe no but “Fun” is the shallowest we can offer. Saying "more fun" means you are doing "more" on what is already fun. What are these? Anything foreign. Something that can be done anywhere but can also be done here in the Philippines it is just its "more fun". For me, it is not very Filipino. We are not offering what and who we are – and it is a problem.

DIGGING DEEP:

In spite the development, Metro Manila lacks a certain feel and look of its culture. Colonized minds are so evident. And it makes a gap between rich and poor. Being rich is so foreign (and cool) and being poor is so Filipino. Agree?

We support “not ours” because we think it’s superior and cool to be like them (other culture). But sometimes, we tried to support “our own” but we end up being envious because we want to be more superior and cool (crab mentality).

We, Filipinos are bunch of parasites (to other cultures) who cannot survive on our own. We please and take for granted other cultures, and then we call ourselves “hospitable”? We easily ignore and disbelieve our own culture. The end result? A confused and nonprogressive Philippines.

Sadly, culture is not our priority at all. Our mindset is about how to make money (and be cool) and how to eat three times a day even it damages our identity.

G RECOMMEND:

Continue to build a genuine confidence as a nation and the rest will follow. I believe we just started.