I love the Philippines, but I hate Manila
There's so much I love about the Philippines. The beautiful beaches with great snorkeling, the Gothic-style churches, the delicious food, the friendly people, the absence of the culture wars and identity politics that plague the US, the tricycles, and on and on.
But Manila is truly the worst. Most of it is dirty and run-down. When I'm in Manila and step outside, my skin itches and burns. The roads are way too congested. It doesn't feel safe either.
What makes it more frustrating is that most of what I need or want is in Manila. I'm on SSDI (US disability benefits). I have to travel 10 hours to Manila for a mental health exam so SSI can decide whether I still qualify for disability. My cat is sick, and while the vets where I live are okay, all the best animal clinics are in Manila. I'm an artist, and I can't find figure drawing groups in the northern provinces because nudity, even non-sexual, is a scandal. But Manila has figure drawing groups. If I want to visit lots of art museums, history museums, natural history museums or zoos, I don't have many options where I live. They're all in Manila.
Still, having all of this doesn't make me like the city more. If anything, it makes me hate it more. Why does everything have to be crammed into this polluted, run-down, crime-ridden, gridlocked city? Why can't other cities have more of these facilities and essentials?
Does anyone else feel the way I do?
New Yorker here, living in the Philippines for 2.5 years now. I get how you feel about the art and museum side. I actually like Manila quite a bit, though I'm in Leyte right now. But I'm not so sure there'd be drawing classes with nude models in, say, Tennessee.. I'd think you kind of have to go to the cities for that. If you're not a city person, I guess you have to make do with what the provinces offer, whether it's culture, vets or anything else. Life is just full of trade-offs.
Too big a city for me, with too much going on. I much prefer Iloilo, the quiet life here and my sea kayaking and island-hopping trips. I go out on the ocean for 3 to 4 hours, come back to the beach, have a San Mig, and have my local driver take me back to where I'm staying. If it weren't for the roosters, I'd probably call it perfect.
I live in Antipolo, in a gated subdivision that's decent (by Philippine standards) up in the flood-free hills. No question the traffic sucks, the rain sucks and the air pollution sucks. I lived in Dumaguete for 2 years but moved here so my partner could be closer to her adult children. We bought a lot and I'm about ready to send out bid packages to contractors. I'm just going to build my own happy bubble here with solar power and PLDT fiber internet.
> the absence of the culture wars and identity politics that plague the US So you're just ignorant of their politics and burying your head in the sand? Duterte vs. Marcos is an all-out war. > I have to travel 10 hours to Manila for a mental health exam so SSI can decide whether I still qualify for disability. Why is it the Philippines' job to help you scam the American SSDI system? > I can't find figure drawing groups in the northern provinces because nudity, even non-sexual, is a scandal. How dare the locals not let you paint them naked.
Manila was once one of the most beautiful cities in Asia, but 90 percent of it was destroyed at the end of WWII, and that wrecked the whole economy too. The financial aid from its ally wasn't enough, so the old master plan was dropped in favor of commercial expansion. Things got worse four decades ago when the country followed the wrong economic policies, which led to massive urban migration and congestion.
I love Manila, but I grew up a city kid. If I spend too long outside a city, I start getting uncomfortable!
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