Maybe it's just me, but Manila felt surprisingly ordinary…
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Maybe it's just me, but Manila felt surprisingly ordinary
As someone from a province in Southern Luzon, I grew up thinking that Manila was so glamorous. Because of the media and social media, it seemed like the place where everything happens—more exciting, more progressive, more liberated, more sophisticated.
Recently, I stayed in Manila for more than a week and tried to experience it like a local. I walked around, went to the mall, went to cafes, rode everywhere, just to see what makes Manila *the* Manila.
Honestly? I was disappointed.
Not because he was ugly. But because it was just ordinary. Social media really made it look way more glamorous than it actually is. Influencers, aesthetic videos, and attractive people can make almost any place look exciting.
Another thing that surprised me was the customer service. I thought because it was a major city, it would be more professional and accommodating. Of course there are nice people, but there are also some sales staff and service workers who seem to have the same attitude you see anywhere—a tendency to be dismissive depending on how they think of you. I'm not blaming everyone, but it's not the level of service I expected.
Another thing I noticed: everyone seems to be in a rush. People move so fast. They're always chasing someone. There's always a rush. Sometimes they look tired, stressed, and emotionally drained. Do you get the feeling that the city doesn't have a pause button?
It got me thinking: don't you get tired of this system?
And while I was there, I also noticed how normalized the things that people should probably question more—traffic, inefficiency, corruption, performative politics, and all sorts of other inconveniences that everyone seems to just accept as normal.
What surprised me the most was that almost everything that is in Manila is also available in many provinces. Malls? Yes. Cafes? Yes. Restaurants? Yes. Fast internet? Yes. Concerts? Sometimes there is. Hospitals, schools, grocery stores, coworking spaces, gyms, samgyupsal, milk tea, specialty coffee—girl, there is. It's not like before that you really have to go out to experience those things.
Maybe the only thing that is missing in the province is the other man-made attractions, luxury brands, and the concentration of opportunities. But when it comes to quality of life, community, and environment, it seems like the province has more.
And this is where I also get why many Manilans say they want to live in the province, especially in Bicol. I used to think they were just saying that for vacation vibes. Now I understand. There's a different kind of tranquility in the countryside. Time moves slower, you have more time to breathe, and you feel the community more.
Maybe this sounds cheesy, but the real luxury of the Philippines isn't another mall, another condo tower, another business district. It's the natural beauty that's literally everywhere outside the major cities—mountains, beaches, rivers, forests, fresh air, open spaces. Things that many people in Manila have to travel for hours to experience.
So after staying there, I really changed my mind. I don't know, but what I've always thought of Manila as is is a cash cow for elites, developers, influencers, and politicians. A place designed to keep people moving, working, spending, and surviving. Nothing more, nothing less.
Maybe I'm being too harsh. Maybe one week isn't enough to understand the city. But maybe I also stopped seeing Manila through the lens of movies, influencers, and advertisements.
Maybe I just woke up and saw it for what it is.
Just curious: for those who grew up in Manila, do you still genuinely enjoy living there, or have you just gotten used to it? What keeps you there despite all the stress?
#current_events #local
source
As someone from a province in Southern Luzon, I grew up thinking that Manila was so glamorous. Because of the media and social media, it seemed like the place where everything happens—more exciting, more progressive, more liberated, more sophisticated.
Recently, I stayed in Manila for more than a week and tried to experience it like a local. I walked around, went to the mall, went to cafes, rode everywhere, just to see what makes Manila *the* Manila.
Honestly? I was disappointed.
Not because he was ugly. But because it was just ordinary. Social media really made it look way more glamorous than it actually is. Influencers, aesthetic videos, and attractive people can make almost any place look exciting.
Another thing that surprised me was the customer service. I thought because it was a major city, it would be more professional and accommodating. Of course there are nice people, but there are also some sales staff and service workers who seem to have the same attitude you see anywhere—a tendency to be dismissive depending on how they think of you. I'm not blaming everyone, but it's not the level of service I expected.
Another thing I noticed: everyone seems to be in a rush. People move so fast. They're always chasing someone. There's always a rush. Sometimes they look tired, stressed, and emotionally drained. Do you get the feeling that the city doesn't have a pause button?
It got me thinking: don't you get tired of this system?
And while I was there, I also noticed how normalized the things that people should probably question more—traffic, inefficiency, corruption, performative politics, and all sorts of other inconveniences that everyone seems to just accept as normal.
What surprised me the most was that almost everything that is in Manila is also available in many provinces. Malls? Yes. Cafes? Yes. Restaurants? Yes. Fast internet? Yes. Concerts? Sometimes there is. Hospitals, schools, grocery stores, coworking spaces, gyms, samgyupsal, milk tea, specialty coffee—girl, there is. It's not like before that you really have to go out to experience those things.
Maybe the only thing that is missing in the province is the other man-made attractions, luxury brands, and the concentration of opportunities. But when it comes to quality of life, community, and environment, it seems like the province has more.
And this is where I also get why many Manilans say they want to live in the province, especially in Bicol. I used to think they were just saying that for vacation vibes. Now I understand. There's a different kind of tranquility in the countryside. Time moves slower, you have more time to breathe, and you feel the community more.
Maybe this sounds cheesy, but the real luxury of the Philippines isn't another mall, another condo tower, another business district. It's the natural beauty that's literally everywhere outside the major cities—mountains, beaches, rivers, forests, fresh air, open spaces. Things that many people in Manila have to travel for hours to experience.
So after staying there, I really changed my mind. I don't know, but what I've always thought of Manila as is is a cash cow for elites, developers, influencers, and politicians. A place designed to keep people moving, working, spending, and surviving. Nothing more, nothing less.
Maybe I'm being too harsh. Maybe one week isn't enough to understand the city. But maybe I also stopped seeing Manila through the lens of movies, influencers, and advertisements.
Maybe I just woke up and saw it for what it is.
Just curious: for those who grew up in Manila, do you still genuinely enjoy living there, or have you just gotten used to it? What keeps you there despite all the stress?
#current_events #local
source
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