Manila, because of its ideal bay, became the center of administration for the Spanish rulers for nearly four centuries. Poor city planning over the decades, a polluted bay, and a post colonial political system, in which paying bribes gets you what you want, are some of the colonial legacies that have left Manila behind its Southeast Asian counterparts.
Manila is one of those chaotic mega cities that can be exhausting, discouraging and exhilarating. A huge metropolis, hustle and bustle will greet you when you arrive to volunteer in Manila. Shantytowns exist alongside gated villages and modern skyscrapers and malls. Sports cars line some neighborhoods, while millions live in makeshift homes not much bigger than a box, and in some cases children actually live in a box. The massive garbage that comes from a city the size on Manila exemplifies the contradictions in this city. One of the dumpsites, called Smoky Hill, is home to thousands of families and children who live on the edge of hell eating from the garbage, recycling plastic for pesos a day, and living in constant danger and disease.
While there is truth to pictures painted of poverty-stricken neighborhoods, seedier areas, and higher than average crime rates, there is more to Manila than just the bad rep attached to it. The city is teeming with restaurants, bars, galleries, and other recreational facilities frequented by creative, progressive, fun-loving, and laidback souls. The economic and political center of the Philippines, Manila also serves as a key hub for politically inclined individuals looking to effect social change for the nation.
Transport in the city is easy to find, with plenty of options available at noon or night. The list f public transportation vehicles includes tricycles, jeepneys, buses, taxis, and urban rail transits. Public transportation in Manila can be rife with chaos, and occasional crimes, so a sense of adventure and constant vigilance are necessary for pleasant and uneventful navigation around the city. It will take some getting used to.
After the Spanish left the Philippines, the Americans came into power, with a brief occupation by Japan as well. As a result of their colonial rule of the past, the Filipino people are fiercely independent and have a proud national attitude. Hints of the colonial days are ever present throughout the country, the Spanish left the Kuratsa, the Americans left basketball, yet everything has a distinctive Pinoy flavor.
Tagalog, the national dialect, is the city’s medium of communication along with the Philippines’ second national language, English. Tagalog also known as Filipino is heavily influenced by the Spanish language.