Mabuhay!
Mario, New York, NY
Friendly people, congestion nightmare: that is how I described Manila of 12 years ago. From what I saw, it is still the same thing. I'm happy that the Teams did experience riding in a jeepney. I would be doing that when I'm around with my family there. If you need to go somewhere that is more Americanized, hit the Makati area. It's like downtown New York. Otherwise, once you're in the outskirts, you'll experience the true Filipino hospitality. Mabuhay!
hospitality…
Angela, Manila, Philippines
Manila is a melting pot of different cultures and personalities. As with any other city, it has its share of pros and cons. Traffic is a huge problem, but once you get over that, you'll be greeted with the locals' hospitality, good shopping and food haunts, and best of all, it's also a launching pad to other wonderful tourist spots in the country.
7,000 islands…
Melissa, Manila
7,000 islands! If you're going to the Philippines, be sure to check out the beaches in the islands outside Manila: Boracay, Bohol, Palawan, Davao. Eat the mangoes, ride the jeepneys, go shopping, learn scuba diving. Diving in the Philippines is great!
Choice of adventures from mountain climbing to scuba diving…
Carla C., Manila
Admittedly, traffic is always a problem in Manila. Taxi drivers are indispensable, so it's a pretty good idea to be courteous with them. Manila is also the country's center of the arts. The Coconut Palace, this episode's Pit Stop, is located in the grounds of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, which is a good place to visit. Intramuros, the walled city that used to be old Manila in the Spanish times, offers good tourist sites. Anybody who visits Manila, or the Philippines in general, will definitely be offered their choice of adventures from mountain climbing to scuba diving to the appreciation of church architecture and local arts and crafts. A definite must for nature trippers is El Nido, Palawan. I envy the teams who are on their way there!
Challenges one's stereotypes of what an Asian country is…
Lara, NY
In our brief stay in Manila, we found out that it's a tough city to negotiate, but once you familiarize yourself with the city's idiosyncrasies, it's a delight, especially because the people are very helpful to strangers. The language is not a problem: everybody speaks and understands English. The entire country challenges one's stereotypes of what an Asian country is because it is very westernized in outlook and culture, given its 300 years under Spain and 50 years under America. The Coconut Palace is a unique place, and like many of the buildings built by the Marcoses during their dictatorship, it is a symbol of excess
Go to a high-end hair stylist salon to be pampered to your heart's content
JAF, Los Angeles
… That's the Makati skyline, Metropolitan Manila's business center. This very urban capital is a great place to shop, having among the world's largest malls & tourist friendly discount centers, and a great place to party from bohemian Malate to sophisticated Makati! Traffic is horrible especially during rush hour, which is a great time to go to a high-end hair stylist salon to be pampered to your heart's content!
The culture of the Philippines is still alive and well…
Veronica, Toronto, Canada
Most people complain that Manila is too busy and westernized, and does not compare to other locations in Asia. For a long time I thought the same way. Last year, though, I had a business trip in Manila and for a while I thought Manila was what I expected it to be, until I actually had the time to take a closer look. Although the country does suffer from westernization, the culture of the Philippines is still alive and well. Anywhere you might be in Manila, colorful jeepneys roam the streets, and customs and traditions are still alive and kicking. I was surprised that although Manila is a chaotic place, people are laid back and don't seem to have a care. Traffic might be horrible, but you can't find people yelling at each other in the streets (or elsewhere, for that matter!). Time just seems to pass a little slower in the Philippines. For tourists who plan to relax, then try other cities in the country, but for travelers, Manila is a must-see. Manila is chaotic, busy and hectic, but if you can learn to live with it, then you see an entire world only known to some. Nowhere else in the world will you see the harmonious clash of Asian, Spanish and American culture mixed with the Philippines' own unique culture!
It is definitely paradise …
Lester, Daly City, CA
The Philippines is a beautiful place. Beautiful beaches, beautiful scenery, beautiful people...the Philippines has it all. From the bustling Manila metropolis to the quiet, relaxing life in the provinces, the Philippines has so much to offer. Enjoy shopping at the huge SM Megamall or enjoy authentic Filipino food at every corner. Make your way into the province to meet some of the hardest-working and most courteous people in the world. There is so much to do and enjoy in the Philippines. It is definitely paradise.
The people go out of their way to make you feel at home…
Brett, Toronto, Canada
My wife's family is from the Philippines, and we flew there and had our wedding in San Agustin Church, which is one of the churches inside Intramuros. We had the reception at the Coconut Palace (we were told that Brooke Shields, George Hamilton and other celebrities stayed as guests of Imelda Marcos). We went island hopping in the Southern Philppines for our honeymoon. We got to see Cebu, Palawan, Bohol, Camiguin, and Boracay in 3 weeks.
For a small country, the Philippines offers a magnitude of entertainment and attractions to foreign visitors. The people go out of their way to make you feel at home (thank God they speak English!).
Dubbed the "pearl of the orient"…
JB, New York City
The Philippines has absolutely been underestimated. I mean, sure, this country has been (and still is) under many common dilemmas, but that didn't stop me from going to this beautiful country. My friends told me not to go there cause of the terrorist scare and all, but I dared to go, and I'm still alive! Dubbed the "pearl of the orient," it certainly lives up to its name. Manila is certainly one of Asia's cosmopolitan cities despite its cornucopia of both old and new structures mixed with the slums and elite buildings.
Apart from Manila, there are several amazing stops you can visit in the country for seeing faces and places and immersing in a maelstrom of diverse cultures, what with 7,107 islands comprising this magnificent gem. The beaches are spectacular (try Boracay, Palawan, and Siargao for surfing), the food exotic and scrumptiously tasty (try their renowned roast pig called "lechon" as well as adobo, and other culinary adventures), and the people very warm and welcoming (believe me, the Filipinos are known for their hospitality). Take the time to see the beautiful things in the background. If you are the traveller or backpacker who dares for something different, don't forget the Philippines on your route map for your own amazing race. Take my word for it.
Beautiful diving and resort places in the Palawan region…
Rolan, Manila
When you visit Manila, you have two options: spend time in the city or get out to the remote islands in the south. If you opted to stay in the city, the nightlife is so much fun. Makati and Malate has the best nightlife entertainments. If you opted to go on nature trips, try Palawan, one of the best destinations in the country. Actually, Lagen Island is just one of those beautiful diving and resort places in the Palawan region. I can attest to its beauty; I've been there. Boracay and Puerto Galera are places best known in the world. But there are other spots best known in the country that tourists really have missed: Guimaras, Camiguin, Batanes, Baguio City, Cebu, Siargao, Sagada and Bohol. Check this out for yourself, and I can assure you, you'll have the best memories of this place.
I rode standing on the rear bumper and hanging on for dear life…
Dave, Northfield, MA
I have been to Manila and one of the most fun things is to ride in a jeepney. It takes a little getting used to the procedure of how to make them stop to pick you up and let you off and how to pay, but I was just observant of what other people were doing, and most people in Manila are friendly and helpful anyway. They really cram in as many people as possible, sometimes even on top or hanging onto the sides and back. One time I rode standing on the rear bumper and hanging on for dear life! It is really the cheapest way to get around Manila (about 5 cents for a ride) and a good chance to meet people and experience life in the Philippines. When I came back, my Filipino friends couldn't believe I had actually ridden in a jeepney because most tourists usually stick to the taxis or hire a car. My photo album is full of pictures of jeepneys too because they really go all-out in decorating them.
I would go back to the Philippines in a heartbeat…
Stephen, San Francisco, CA
The secret to riding the jeepney is to sit as close as you can to the exit. As we all saw in the episode, the two Team members and the driver were the only people in the jeepney. When you actually ride a jeepney in the Philippines, it can fill up close to about 30-40 people inside. It can get extremely jam-packed inside, so that there are people hanging from the outside of it. The entrance and exit are located in the back of the jeepney, and it is important that you sit close by there because you can get stuck inside and will have to get off at the next stop it makes. I almost experienced this when I was there just a few weeks ago. But if you love humidity and that island atmosphere, the Philippines is a beautiful country to visit. I would go back to the Philippines in a heartbeat.
