Manila, Philippines - March 23, 2008
I'm back in the slimepit of Manila. This time we're staying in Ermita/Malate. I hate this area. We've been all over the Philppines, and it's only this area where parents don't often dress their kids so they can gain sympathy and pesos from foreigners. Everywhere you walk, there are people harrassing you to buy something or to give them something. I've long thought that the government should ban 'harassing' people by banning soliticing or begging or whatever else. It worked well in New York City. There are people in every major city in the world (rich or poor) who want free money from people, but it's the government's job to stop them from harassing and annoying people. There are endless amounts of not just street kids, but hordes of women who seem to borrow babies to walk around with and harass foreingers for handouts. You also have countless old filipino men in miniskirts and long outgrown hair who think they are pretty women and you'd actually pay them to 'accompany' you or some other illusion. They are some real scary old guys, quick to tell you to F-off if you ignore their 'can I talk to you?' and 'yoo-hoo' and 'Hi'. If it was just one, it would be funny or quirky, but the fact there are many of these, make it just bizarre.
I also think that this part of Manila, if they left the foreigners around, could be an interesting area. There are a lot of restaurants and very urban and condensed and hotels and everything else. But being relentlessly followed up and down the streets if a real strong negative and shows the Philippines incredibly negative. As this is where most people stay when they visit the Philippines, I'm 100% convinced this is why most travelers have such a strongly negative view of the Philippines in its entirity. It's too bad they couldn't just get to the other islands and experience gorgeous Boracay or normal people in Davao or Cebu or Camiguin Island such. Unfortunately this city is the first impression and last impression everyone always has of this country, and due to the vermin that constantly walk the streets looking for foreigners to harass and bother and annoy, makes it a real negative.
Continued journal entries in the Philippines:
March 23, 2008
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