First time in PI about 5/6 years ago. As the plane came down, looked out the window to the hoards of shanty towns. Then to get out of Manila airport. Exiting arrivals, OMG, so many people trying to get your attention. Taxi drivers, hotel reps, shouts of " sir-madam" from the sales desks. As my Filipino wife was with me, left her to negotiate the taxi fare to hotel . OK, so now to face the Manila traffic! Having been an intentional coach driver, I am used to gridlock traffic in places like Rome, Paris ect, but never encountered anything like this!! Bumper to bumper, wing mirrors touching, no sense of lane discipline, constant horn blaring, everyone doing anything they can to get ahead. Motorcycle/scooter riders wearing face masks as the petrol fumes were high. No unleaded here. Makes the fairground dodgems look like child's play.
On arrival at the hotel, first thing I noticed was a young girl with a half naked baby asleep on the pavement outside. Then there was the constant horn blaring and whistle blowing by traffic control that could be heard up till late at night, only to start all over again at first light. On shopping, every shop had an armed guard. Frisked going into Robinsons shopping mall. On the bus on way to Ilocos Sur, passed the shanty towns, people living in containers, under bridges, in cardboard boxes. Why such poverty in a city that has luxury apartments, expensive shops, modern office buildings? Once read on a travel site about Manila " get in and get out". Good advice
So my first impression of Manila is a place not for me. 