First Impressions of Manila

It's been about a week and half since we arrived in Manila, the capital of the Philippines and it's quickly surpassed our expectations. I've heard that's fairly common. I luckily have a local friend who is aiding me with valuable context and helped us find a very comfortable accommodation in the BGC area of Manila, which is far fancier and expensive than I had thought.

Our little apartment in a high-rise, equipped with community pool, gym, and meeting rooms will cost about $750 for the month once utilities are added in. That is arguably a stellar deal for the most central metropolitan area in a capital city. From my prior Airbnb research, we wouldn't have been located so well if my friend hadn't stepped in and connected us to a homeowner within his building. The quality of our stay, cleanliness, safety and development of the area we're staying in, and the stores and shopping malls nearby are impressive.

I'm still understanding the American influence on the Philippines. Johnny Harris has a great video on the historical context, but unbeknownst to me and many Americans the Philippines was under US occupation until 1946. Perhaps that's a major reason that Manila, or more specifically the area of Manila we have been staying in, feels very American. I feel as though I know most of the brands I see across the city and even in buying mundane items from the supermarkets. As someone who spent many years in Southern California, the BGC area in Manila feels oddly familiar both in experience and costs. We are very happy with our accommodation, but it became quickly apparent that it will be very easy for us to overspend during our stay.

The area we are in is clearly very upscale. The city feels safe and controlled, with private security and police at every corner. Yet it also feels very comfortable and friendly. My goal over our next few weeks in Manila is to gain a deeper experience beyond the central BGC are we've been comfortably accustomed to.

Well wishes and happy holidays,

Naser