Your videos aren't the typical "wow, we're in Manila and you have to do this and try this!" You actually did some research and inserted the historical significance of "the world's oldest Chinatown." Keep making these interesting, information-filled videos. Thank you!
Even that short clip of intramuros was lit. And showing its proximity to Chinatown, and why the basilica was erected in the first place is lit. I remember now Escolta being mentioned as fashion capital for a time when he mentioned about the business district moving to Makati. Wow. Loved the researched done there.
Welcome to the Philippines. It's very apparent that you put extra effort into your vlogs. Love that you gave a short history/background of the place. Mabuhay and enjoy your stay.
Hi Mergim, Mabuhay. Started watching your vlogs a week ago, and have been very interested to follow your transition from Thailand to the Philippines. Originally a Brit, having lived in the Thailand for 20 years ( 1998-2019), and presently living in the Philippines ( 2019- present) I thoroughly understand your thought process and decision to try something new. Your time vlogging in the LOS was well spent, you have created the 'magic sauce' and now I believe you have found the perfect place to take your 'food truck' on the road. Everything is created twice, first in the mind, then in reality, and you will shape your future with your strong positive self-belief that you exude. Your 'magic sauce' really does accompany ( accommodate?) the Pilipino tastes, and I predict that by the time you leave, your subscriptions will be 50k + with over a million views total. You mentioned at the end of the vlog that your camera battery was low, I live on an island where there is not so much chance to buy technical equipment, so I humbly suggest that while in Manila, you get some 'back-up' battery, USB chargers etc., for your future travels, as you don't want to miss out on a perfect sunset vlog at the end of a long day. All the best with your travels and endeavors. Regards, Anarcho
@@gramirez72 Thanks for the message. I am not a vlogger and actually very rarely comment online. i just appreciate when someone creates something of value and tries sincerely and whole-heartedly to make their dreams come true. Be happy Adrian
And by the way, maybe you don't know. If you are staging in Chinatownm then you are just one trike ride away from Hidalgo Street. Since you are a vlogger, dudem that street is the... i mean THE CAMERA CENTER. it's a whole street for camera supplies. It was part of our culture, before the malls went up, when there are streets dedicated to certain crafts, like shoes, glasses, and there, at Hidalgo, you will find camera supplies.
@@MergimVlogsYT Philippines might not be the most beautiful among all the places here in this world. The internet connectivity here is shitty and some places are hella dirty. But the hospitality would compensate that and would make Philippines somewhat a heaven on earth.
@@MergimVlogsYT Indeed your content is top quality. Editing and story telling is actually great. Color grading and cinematography is absolutely amazing. You really did put great effort and dedication in making these kinds of videos. So keep em coming, we'll be watching.
No doubt,..you really put a lot of efforts on making sensible and good contents. It's not all about just Vlogging but you definitely do a lot of research. Looking forward for more videos!☺️
I’m a Filipino working in Thailand for years. I love Thailand but if your a fan of beaches, Philippines is a paradise...It’s our pleasure that vloggers come to visit our country. Working abroad and watching videos of our country helps us with our longing back home. Goodluck...
In just a matter of days your channel suddenly explodes. Keep it up, the silver play button is already waving at you. Aren't you amazed on how supportive the Filipinos are? Philippines is indeed a vloggers paradise. Keep safe and enjoy my beautiful country.
You may find a big contrast between Philippine and Thai foods.. The "Spiciness” difference.. but Philippine cuisine is a variety of Spanish and Chinese tastes. Explore & enjoy!
Wow! What a beautiful area, and beautifully friendly people. Just from this video alone, the Philippines is a must on my list now. This is crazy exciting watching your channel grow exponentially in the past couple of days, If not hours. You've obviously made the right move man. I've also noticed a certain glow in you, and it reads complete and utter happiness and excitement, which is awesome to see. 😊 I'm strapping in for the ride, as this is going to be absolutely awesome watching this next string of videos. Keep up the amazing work! Your channel has undoubtedly made it's way to the top of my favorites!! 😀👍
@@ELEAByahera Right! It's so great to see. It's like watching a friend graduate from high school and then seeing them off to college (bad analogy 😂)... Seriously though, it's simply awesome to watch. So happy for him! 😁
Please visit the Philippines. You will encounter fun loving Filipinos. We appreciate tourists. Why we appreciate these foreign tourists? Just to show our gratitude that the more than 10 Million Filipinos who are based outside the country and living or working in all continents are generally accepted and kindly treated.
Right, Mergim, majority of the Filipinos speak English. I remember the first time I visited Taiwan and asking some locals for direction, they just smile because they don't speak English. Here, even low educated Pinoy individuals try to speak "crooked" English with matching smiles and signed gestures just to communicate. Very friendly and accommodating. Cheers!!! Have a nice day.
I am Thai. I think you did a right choice to come to PH. it is amazing that your subscribers increasing dramatically. Amazing filipinos power and They are very supportive.
It’s a breath of fresh air that you get to an asian country that speaks English. I have traveled to almost 18 countries and know the feeling of language barrier. It can be frustrating sometimes. But here in the PH everything is written in English even though Filipino is our national language
You reap what you sow, you respect the culture and in return people will love you. Keep it up and in a short period of time you will see the vast growth on your channel. Take care both of you. 🇵🇭🙏
i'm now theowing myself in the bandwagon! 😂 what i love about your style is that it feels more like im watching a tv documentary yet with a balance of personal touch or point of view...its not the usual "wow" "amazing" "i love the vibe" and most of the time just seeing the vloggers face 😂 keep it coming!
your vlogs look like tv documentaries..balanced, concise and well-researched.. all of these plus the everday upload is just amazing.... any other vlogger may die from exhaustion..😊😊 hope the other foreign bloggers learn from you....😊. and of course, welcome aboard!!! we appreciate your coming here to our country..!!!enjoy your stay!!!😀😀😀😀😀
Welcome to the Philippines @Mergim Vlogs. Sending a little heartfelt appreciation your way today. I enjoyed watching your Binondo vlog today. You've got great presentation skills - from editing, giving insights or informations about the places you've visited and the clarity of your voice. Filipinos are generally cheerful and friendly. Feel free to approch any locals if you have doubts about directions or giving recommendations. We will surely help in the best way we can. Enjoy, take care and stay safe on your travels. 😀
Hi Mergim, you're my current favorite youtuber. So refreshing, keep on posting. If only you know how uplifting for us Filipinos living abroad to watch videos of our country from a foreigners perspective..
It is amazing to see how you put your clips together with the right narrative, sound and transition. it feels like a short documentary. China town may be crowded, noisy and crazy, but you have given justice to its beauty hidden behind those alleys. Glad you enjoyed the experience. On to the next adventure! Travel safe.
I watched your video before you left Thailand talking about other foreigners moving to the Philippines. Yes, you are right, their views and subscribers gained a lot when they landed in our country. Looking forward you explore more of the islands, stay safe and enjoy.
It seems to me that you have adapted so quickly to your new environment in the Philippines. Welcome and Mabuhay. Also, I am amazed that you made a good research of the local places, its history, culture, and people.
Thank you Mergim. Your vlog on Chinatown reflects the dedication you put into your work. You showed the current scene today, but you also provided the historical context and gave a deeper meaning to Chinatown. With regards to firefighting, every local government has its own well-trained firefighters. However, among the Filipino-Chinese community, volunteer firefighting brigades are also very active. Many of the Filipino-Chinese volunteer firefighters are actually multi-millionaires. But when there is a fire, even in the poorest areas of the community, they risk their lives alongside the professional firemen of the government. I personally know a young Filipino-Chinese volunteer who got hospitalized because the roof he was on collapsed under him. Fortunately, his injuries were minor. These days the Chinese government is insulting the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea. But I have no doubt that in case of war, all the Filipino-Chinese will fight for their home country - the Philippines. But of course, at heart, Filipinos are peace-loving people and would prefer to smile instead of fight. But history has also shown that Filipinos never shy away from the call of battle even against powerful countries like Spain, the United States, and Japan. The nice thing about our culture, after any fight is over, the fighters usually become best friends.
Mergim, not bad at all! Great food, superb editing, chitchat with locals and little bit of history. Perfect vlog filipinos both here and all over the world wants to watch! Go get 'em Tiger!! 🇵🇭🇹🇭✌
Welcome to the Philippines! I found your vlogs only a few days ago and it really intrigued me so much I had to follow your journey to my homeland! I’m stuck here working away in California and it’s been over 30yrs since I had set foot in Manila . I am able to live vicariously thru vlogs like yours. I. Hope you ask around and try out local traditional street foods and visit the night markets! Hoping you continue your adventure and share it with us..swim with whale sharks in Oslob… visit the chocolate hills and the tiny tarsiers in Bohol maybe, or just chill on a boat taking in the sunset in Boracay…. Whatever you do.. welcome and I hope you continue to enjoy the hospitality of the Philippines!
I'm not gonna lie. I wish your vlogs were longer because I wanna watch more and more. It's very addicting in a sense. I know you said that you upload daily, but man I can't wait for the next video to drop already. LOL. Keep 'em coming, man and I wish you the very best of luck in making these awesome videos!
I'm so glad you're enjoying what the city of Manila has to offer 1st time expats! Most tourists would normally skip exploring the city because it has been unfairly described as just like any other capital...loud...chaotic...concrete jungle. Well, it could still be all that but it has its own charm and surprises some hidden in plain sight. All one has to do is to take the time to stop and give it a second look. I hope you get to visit Intramuros soon...it's like going back in time when Spain ruled. When in Intramuros try visiting the San Agustin church museum and Fort Santiago. This is what makes the Philippines unique among its South East Asian neighbors, being predominantly Christian and Catholic nation. We mostly have churches instead of mosques (mostly found in Mindanao). Keep safe and stay blessed!
Wow! your videos are incredible! It's a breath of fresh air from all these other vlogs that don't really have the same level of preparedness and thought in making them. you've set the new standard!
The dumpling you had was a xiao long bao. It is usually paired with ginger and vinegar. The broth inside is the pork juices, that is formed when it is being cooked. Typically the way to eat it is drink the broth then munch on the dumpling. It was featured also in Zimmern's Bizarre foods Taiwan episode. Other dumpling like siomai or hakaw is usually paired with soy sauce, chili and calamansi (like the first dip you had). There are more restaurants to try in ong pin ie ling nam and maxim tea house as well as lan zhou la mien.
Wow, you can pronounce good Filipino words already and this is your first visit to the Philippines. So many foreign vloggers lives or made the Philippines their home base. We support them as well.
Wow... Yesterday i saw your subscriber 10k just in one day 16k...Awesome good luck for your market bro. nice to knew your growing your channel with Filipino or Philippine content.
I really love binondo vlogs, it brings back so many childhood memories. Just started following you and I hope you find the unique charm of Philippines, you did right by starting with the city of Manila, then venture out into the islands. Keep safe and enjoy the rest of your stay, Congrats on your growing channel!
I miss the food from Ongpin. I love going to Estero where they serve fresh seafood. I've never found any restaurant here in LA that serve my favorite dishes like PataTim and Kikiam. Watching you down those juicy dumplings makes me hungry. Interesting video. Can't wait for the next one. Thanks man.
I must try it out and It’s quite sad to find out there isn’t anything like this in the LA. Hope you get to try out some delicious Filipino food soon! :)
Try to look for “One Day Old Chick” a crispy cook - so far that’s the best I’ve tried street food in the Philippines. Island is life❤️🏝enjoy the Philippines, Filipinos are friendly, hospitable, humble, loveable, innocent in terms of enjoying the nature and when they’re having fun - they are all out. They’re honest and always wears a smile.
I'm binge watching your vlog now! Soooo excited for your journey in my country Philippines! Best of luck and can't wait for more vlogs! New subscriber here! Sending lots of love from Gold Coast Australia 🇦🇺! 💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞
Thanks for replying mate really appreciate it! Please keep safe, as you know there are good and bad people around, just make sure you both look after yourselves! God bless you and keep you both safe!💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞
Mergim -- You got the "Mabuhay" right. The Filipino "a" is almost always going to be pronounced "ahh". Really appreciated the voice over for background and the map for orientation. I know this takes time on edit, but I like the care you've given the vlog.
Oh yeah I nailed the mabuhay, and I really felt the vibes from the motor tricycles drivers when I said it correctly. It takes a lot of time hence the very late upload but it was well worth it in the end :)
@@MergimVlogsYT you don't need to upload everyday. Take some rest days too. Lol. Don't exhaust yourself too much. Like Shev and Dev, I think they upload once a week. They have huge views in just one video they upload.
@@generosetepait8619 I do get ur point but daily vlogging is good financially 😁, I don’t think the quality of his daily vlogs has been compromised , seen couple vlogger who came around a month ago which has a huge numbers since arriving kind a over exaggerated reaction and turn me off , but hey that’s them they have to do they have to do
Hope u enjoy our food!! And i really appreciate you knowing the history and respecting our culture!! Love it! Enjoy the philippines. I want you to explore BGC next!! You will enjoy it there.
Hi brother! Seems like your hunch of growing your channel in the Philippines is without a doubt happening already. Few days back, you only had 5k plus as I remember but now, it's more than 14k already in just 2or3 days i guess? What a real leap ha? 🥰👏 Congratulations! This is an achievement bro. I totally agree with you when you said your life would be easy here 'cuz filipinos speak english and very hospitable. This is how we are known for my friend. Just enjoy your Manila adventure until you get to the island paradise of the country, if it is at your itineraries. Thank you brother for liking the Philippines and its people so far. ❤️🇵🇭
I went to Binondo way back in 2014, but most of it was closed. I think we picked a fiesta day or something. There was also a marked difference (downwards) of the friendliness quotient compared with Filipinos. I left feeling like I'd wasted my day. But watching your vlog has made me want to give Chinatown another try. We are in Manila in January, and will visit some of the places you recommended. So glad to see you didn't go down the route of making a 'Taste Balut - pull a face' video. This was much more interesting.
Wow, you featured in a different angle, different perspective and we appreciate that. I havent even visited some of the places you featured. Thank you for giving Manila a different vibe. Only people who respects the authenticity of each culture could appreciate what these simple life in a simple place has to offer. Looking to see kore of your vlogs. You have 7,100 islands to visit and a lot of ethnicity to witness then you’ll know that the country has it all. Urban, sub urban, mini safari, natural tropical lagoons, unlimited beaches in every island. Western, European, Asian and Muslim vibes even tribal vibes we have it here.
Holy cow! You are actually going to hit 20K subs in few days! At least you are honest with your intention when you initially announced your purpose of coming to the Philippines. That I’ll give props to you. Honestly though, your Pinoy subs will not follow you when you leave the country. I am originally from Philippines and now based here in San Francisco California. The only reason I am here watching your videos and all other foreign vloggers that are in the Philippines is I am curious about what is currently the situation back in my motherland. Kudos to you for this top notch vlog about China town. I’ve seen quite a few vlogs about China town but yours is one of the best so far.
Great job on making videos, the style of vlogging is gratifying and I can see that you put tremendous efforts because the result is the best. Keep it up. Be safe and goodluck for all your vlogs. I wish your channel will spike rapidly.
Not just an ordinary travel vlog, it's very informative. Not all Filipinos know the history of Ongpin Street. Two thumbs up. Keep safe and enjoy your stay here.
I like how you do your research and provide background information about the place you visited. It is quite rare from foreign tourists who just roam around and show what they’re doing. I am giving your channel a chance and will check out old videos.
Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed your vlog today, mate. In addition to your honest reactions, you seem to offer something that most other vloggers don't - that is a bit more context and fun facts. I see you did some research. Well done, mate. Am looking forward to more on your channel whilst you're in the Philippines. We hope your Thai girlfriend is enjoying herself, as well!! 😁💕
Hahahah. I guess you're happy now having lots of subscribers. You did the right thing. Philippines is an english speaking country. I subscribed when I saw your video about moving into the Philippines and ranting about how other vloggers published low quality videos but gets more attention than you. Congrats!
I’m pretty sure you were surprised how much of a jump of subscribers you have in just a day moving to the Philippines. It’s one way us Filipinos are know for, our hospitality at its best. Anyway, continue to enjoy our unique culture, food of course and keep sharing it to the rest of the world. Good luck
I'm a Filipino working abroad. I love Thai foods, noodles soups (Singapore style) and of course our own Filipino street foods and snacks. Food there in Binondo has the authentic Chinese taste that made it so famous. Comparing Philippines from Thailand is that English is widely understood and spoken by almost 99% of literate Filipinos as it was taught in school from Kinder garden. Of course some Filipinos don't speak English if they did not go to school...but still some of them can understand as English is the medium of instruction in the Philippines...we have 7461 islands to explore and thousands of beautiful beaches (only hundreds are known BTW). You will need years to explore them all. So welcome to the Philippines. I love to see foreigners point-of-view as they go around the country...that's why I subscribed.
Subscribed, kudos to your efforts. The well-researched and appropriate approach to talking straight to locals. Can't wait to see your modern perspective view of Metro Manila, cheers!
When you cut through the xiao long bao dumplings with your chopsticks I was like, “Nooooo!” 😂 These are called soup dumplings for a reason. They’re meticulously, carefully made so that there will be soup inside the dumpling as you eat it. One artful way of eating it is to put some of the ginger-vinegar-soy dippingsauce onto a spoon, then put the dumpling on it, take a tiny bite off the dumpling skin to make a hole so you can slurp the soup and dipping sauce at the same time, then finish by putting the entire dumpling in your mouth. Aside from that little detail, I love how you researched well. Looking forward to more videos! Welcome to the Philippines, let loose, and have fun! 🇵🇭
Hi Mergim, I'm a Filipino living here in Thailand for almost two decades, I just came across your channel two days ago and that's the video where you were airing your "honest frustrations" about your vlogging journey here in Thailand. I was thinking then of commenting why don't you try going to the Philippines for you to actually see and experience the difference when it comes to the support that Filipinos can give to vloggers, specially to new channels like yours. Then today, I saw this video so I suddenly subscribed because I want to feel like home through your videos. In just two days, from 6K to almost 15K subscribers? That's what you call journey, when you get the heart of Filipinos, we are loyal patrons, you will see it in the future, you will get thousands of views even if you are just sitting and eating "kaopat" or drinking "chang" once you come back here in Thailand. This video, more than 3K views in less than an hour. WTG buddy! :)
Bro! Kuha lng mrming subscribers sa pinas yan tpos balik sa thailand! Thai gf nya.. at mrming foreingn blogger diyan sa thailand malaki subscribers nla at views.
That is the reason why many vloogers moving down to PH. There are huge numbers of viewers ready to support expat youtuber visiting their country. This is great since it will help to boost tourism in PH in another way.
@@jeddee3820 I totally disagree with you. As noticed when some expat vblogers leave our country and go to other country to do vblogs, expect that there will be a drop of views and subscriptions. Like for example the juicy vblogs, huge drops of views and subscription compared to their friend making it happen vblogs where the channel and view grows. Lol.
I have to be honest I have not watched your videos until today and I must say that its nice to watch a different kind of vlogging style where there is a little touch of story telling and history. Makes me excited for the next one! Hope you are enjoying your stay.
Your first day and you're already in the nitty-gritty part of (Metro) Manila lol. The voice-over narration in the background is a nice touch. The xiao long bao (soupy dumplings) would usually have the black vinegar type sauce. The usual dumplings like siomai, hakaw would usually have soy sauce and calamansi added with chilli garlic (amount will depend on how spicy you want it to be). The chilli garlic is phenomenal in most Chinese restaurants and i add it on almost anything. I'm surprised with the amount of research you are able to pull up (like even on each store) in a short period of time. Enjoy!
Thank you for sharing! I miss the Philippines so much....I was 12 years old the last time I was in China town...turning 54 and still have not returned since.
There is a place bit north from Binondo called Tondo with a street called Ugbo known for it's street foods. The whole street transforms into a night market by 4pm and the food is affordable but delicious at the same time. The place can be crowded from 5pm onwards so better be early if you want to check it out. Going there can also be hectic so just be prepared.
Judging from an outsider perspective; Philippines is a consumer driven economy due to the massive size of it's Shopping malls and the huge volume of customers patronizing this Malls. Filipino Family and friends prefer Leisure Shopping, dining, and recreational activities done inside the massive Mall. Hence, a Filipino Mall culture was created.
Not all Filipinos love shopping malls, I for one would rather take a stroll in a place like Intramuros (an ancient Spanish walled city), in Binondo, Fort Santiago, or Luneta and eat in some small carenderias (eateries) along the streets. The weather here in the Philippines is unforgivingly hot, that's why most Filipinos will just hang out in the malls and not necessarily buy anything. Let's go!
I like the way you vlog Mergim. You are very transparent and mentioned to ur vlog earlier that you are aware that doing vlogs in the philippines makes views and subscribers get higher. I had my finger crossed and hope that once you landed in our beloved country, you won't exaggerate ur reaction too much 😅 hehe i like it how neutral, genuine, relax and detailed your video is. Im waiting for moooooore! 😊
New subscriber here, good for u, u made to the Philippines 🇵🇭 my lovely country, i am Filipino but working here in canada, hope u enjoy in Philippines, watching ur videos without skipping ads 👍👍👍
