Philippines 1993: Manila - Where Asia wears a smile...

"Happiness makes you smile, sorrow can crush you..."

Manila, Philippines

(18 - 21 May1993)

I was in Manila for nearly two months attending a Leadership Development Program at Asian Institute of Management. Hubby came after the program and we spent a few days in Manila and later flew to Seoul, Korea for a week of relaxing holiday.

Manila, the capital of the Philippines is as different to the delicate white flower after which it was named as you can get. A sprawling metropolis, covering nearly 250,000 sq miles and home to approximately 10 million people, it is almost the antithesis of the rest of this laid back often breathtakingly beautiful archipelago country.

(Manila Hotel)

That's not to say Manila doesn't have its charm. A cultural melting pot where East meets West, where Spanish colonial churches stand side by side with Oriental mosques, where horse drawn carriages vie for road space with jeepneys and homes with no running water or electricity stand in the shadow of steel and glass uber-towers. The largest city in Southeast Asia, Manila is not for the feint hearted, its relentless bustle and notorious nightlife are both enthralling and draining, but if it's action you're looking for, prepare yourself to be spoilt rotten.

(Rizal Memorial)

Philippines 7000 islands that comprise the Philippines are the forgotten islands of South-East Asia. Off the main overland route and with a recent history of martial law and endemic corruption, the country has struggled to attract tourists in the numbers many of its southeast Asian neighbours have. Since the demise of the authoritarian Marcos regime, the Philippines has fared better; however, the last few years have sent the country's fortunes tumbling once again. The Philippines is the most disaster-prone country on earth. It named typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, garbage landslides and military action against Muslim insurgents as just some of the problems both locals and tourists have had to deal with.

(Rizal Memorial)

Despite these difficulties, most of the Philippines is laid back, stable and relatively safe. The country likes to promote itself as the place where 'Asia wears a smile' and the locals are, by and large, an exceptionally friendly and helpful bunch. On top of this, transport is cheap, the food is good, accommodation is plentiful and English is widely spoken.

(One of the beautiful beaches)

👈 1993: Seoul, Korea

1992: Makkah, Saudi Arabia 👉