Yes "the Bubble" is definitely felt in my few months here. It's hard to rationalise paying for a basic meal at a restaurant an amount that is higher than a full days' salary for a worker. It's so easy to forget how most people are living.
Went to Manila 2 weeks ago loved it ! Coming from California I thought driving in San Francisco or LA was tough not compared to Manila if I can drive in Manila I can drive anywhere 😊
I'm from San Francisco and my family and I visit the Philippines at least once every 2 years pre-pandemic and I can confirm all these pros and cons. Manila is constantly changing, but its way too crowded to our liking. Which is why we always tend to go to my dads hometown instead (San Fernando, La Union) for a more chill and relaxed environment compared to Manila. My parents often flirt with the idea of retiring here and my dad convincing me to open a business too lol
Comment to show support as always! I remember, I had an eye infection when I was in Cebu.. I walked up to some Irish guy at the mall and asked him where a doctor's office was. It was right outside the mall! I walked right on in and saw the doctor within 15 minutes. Out the door for less than $20 including the price of my prescription eyedrops
I lived in or near the "university belt" of Manila for nine years. I'm glad I got to experience something closer to the "real" Manila/Philippines. Even then I had a relatively big apartment/condo that was much bigger than what most people there could afford. It went home every night to my own "bubble," so to speak. Manila is such an interesting combination of prosperity and poverty side by side.
Just got back from a whole month in Manila. Actually, we stayed at QC, but go to metro Manila quite a bit. I have been traveling on & off to the Philippines for over 22 years. This time was different. We ran around almost all over- Divisoria, Quiapo, Binondo, Baclaran, Malate, Makati, Cubao. My fiancee went to the Philippines for the first time & she has a different view of the Philippines now,. To me, Manila is a very exciting place to be from slums to Resort World, Mall of Asia etc.......... I told her, that ppl are more nicer these days, the crimes isn't as bad & the streets are much cleaner. From President Duterte to Mayor Moreno have done a very good job turning things around. Let's hope that they continued what they started & make Philippines a better place for ppl to go to & enjoy!
Great informative video, I'm during heavy research now on where I want to start my two year travel journey. And Manila looks like a easy but good transitional starting place for my first month.
As a visitor from USA I love Manila, due to the entertainment, great food choice and so many things to do. Places like Davao City are so boring and just nothing to do....
@@AmazingYTv I used to like Davao years ago, now it suxs due to all the crazy traffic, horrible streets, street beggars everywhere, and since around 2012 they started closing all the clubs down. Plus many of the cool clubs went out of business during the 2 year lockdown in Davao when every one wasn't allowed to leave their house and was basically on house arrest and needed a FM pass just to go outside.
@@mikejones5364 yeah but that was because of pandemic, and we arw back in business now so why you are still spreading hate and lies anywhere in evry video? You become toxic. Get a life dude focus on your own life, mind your own business. Dont ever visit davao not even thinking of it or mentioning of it.
@@AmazingYTv Sadly there is no lies from me about Davao, Traffic is horrible, streets are too small, Street beggars everywhere, and they have bombings, which one is a lie? Exactly none of them. Sorry if the truth hurts.
My family and I live in Antipolo, Rizal, about 2 hours east of Metro Manila. There are very few foreigners here - I've met 2 in 4 years - but that is not an issue for me. We came here from Hong Kong where living space is at a premium, both in terms of desire and cost. I enjoy having large spacious houses, gardens and even my daughter's dogs don't p*ss me off that much! Manila is like every other major urban conurbation, e.g. New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong, Bangkok, etc.; there are places to be avoided and places that are great to visit or live in. Poverty exists everywhere but in Manila it is more in your face and not concealed. In all the places I mentioned above there is homelessness and poverty, it's just not as obvious. One major bonus to living here is that costs are about 15-20% those of living overseas which allows us more cash for holidays etc.
Whenever I saw remnants of an unfinished construction work, splinters came to mind…lol! The traffic and power outages are atrocious. Despite of it all, there’s a spirit and charm that makes the Philippines a destination. There you feel welcome and engaged as opposed to what we’re used to in the West where we are detached and Uber individualistic. Thanks for another brilliant video Evan!
Small clarification: Manila is much, much, much smaller than half the size of the state of Texas :) Manila City is 16 sq mi (~2mil pop), the Manila Metro area is 250 sq mi (~14mil pop), and Manila Urban area is 750 sq mi. (~25mil pop). The state of Texas is a bit over 250,000 sq mi, with a population of about ~30mil. Which means the Manila urban area has a population comparable to the entire state of Texas, crammed into an area less than 1/300th the size.
There's a lot of Private hospital in NCR not only Makati medical hospital & st. Luke's, st.claire in Makati, Manila med, UST hospital,Manila doctors , Asian hospital etc.. i got confined in Jose Reyes it's a public hospitals but it's not dirty at all, it is a ward but they have Aircons too..Research more.
Now that's one thing that I hope doesn't continue to happen to the Philippines or Manila I sure don't want it to become westernized not like the states.
@@TheSavvyExpat I love living in BGC and I think Detroit is pretty awesome these days! I visited three cities in 3 months in PH and enjoyed them all especially the local people. But no matter where you travel even in the US poverty exist just thank GOD you are blessed and open your heart now and then. Bad is forgetting where your blessing come from.
I like the way you divided the pros and cons up I know in the states there's still similarities when it comes to lack of infrastructure and unfinished buildings and a tremendous homeless problem over here
You are really incredible. I really enjoy watching your videos even though even though I am very familiar with what you’re saying, and I grew up in The Philippines. A lot of what you say makes a lot of sense and is absolutely true. I said it before and I’ll say it again. I really hope that you are in a broadcasting school because you have a lot of talent. Keep up the great work.
0:43 it's because our top notch specialists have all gone abroad, mainly to the US, UK, and Canada. 2:20 many cities in the provinces might have already achieved this level as well, like Cebu and Iloilo, but it's your call, I guess. 7:07 having tight roads is better than the much deadlier stroads (something between a street and a road) common across the US. Yes, we still have a lot of car accidents, but somehow having tight roads force people to go slower while using those death steel boxes.
Yeh you pretty much nailed it. We'll be coming back to see family in 2 more weeks and staying until mid-January. Hope to run into you in Makati or BGC. Love your channel.
Just love your show and the quality content that you provide. You provide a wealth of information about the Philippines which others don't provide. What I would like to know is how are Filipino's making a living doing freelancing work as VAs? If I were to start a call center what city or town would be the best place to do it?
Overpopulated ,lacked of housing,high cost or electricity ,clean water & poor sanitation and uncollected garbages worsened d situation especially d city areas...
Ironically enough for lots of Americans the Philippines has better hospitals and healthcare than America. The reason for this is bc while the hospitals and doctors in America are far better a lot of people simply can’t afford it. Either no insurance or bad insurance and expensive medical bills many people like myself used to avoid the doctors like the plague unless we were literally dying. And medical expenses can be one of the biggest reasons for an unexpected bankruptcy. Dental too. Getting your teeth pulled in the Philippines is infinitely cheaper than America. Now I’m a Christian conservative so I’m not a free healthcare for all type of person. Someone still has to pay for it: I’m not sure what the answer is. Maybe making medicine cheaper and getting rid of the monopolies would be a good start. I know it’s cheaper in Canada and Mexico.
WORKING ON MY VIETNAM EXIT VISA NOW, AND IT'S LOOKING LIKE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR 2023, FOR ME, HOPE TO MEET WITH YOU, WHEN I ARRIVE AND LIVE FOR A LITTLE WHILE IN BGC/ MAKATI AREA.
Getting the same meds/ prescriptions in Manila is not going to be easy. I have a chronic condition, that's why I live their parttime.part time. I had to go to hospital in the province a month ago. They did a good job, but the equip was old..
Sorry to hear that Cebu wasn't all that. Honestly, I think BGC will be more up your alley. When you land, shoot me an email and let's have some coffee!
Nahiya naman University of Santo Tomas Hospital saka ung iba pa, di na lang ako mag say kc baka magmukhang HINDI NAGRESEARCH si Sir, anyway this is your content and I have nothing against this, kaso nirecommend ng youtube at napanood ko. Wag masyado paniwalaan, not 100% accurate content.
Hi Savvy I only subscribed to 2 presentation your 1 of them Very honest and good intelligence.I will be in Philippines in January I will want to rent a condo 6 months advance.I would like a luxurious 2 bed apartment in B.G.C.Greenbelt area.Could you possibly help and guide me on That.Regards Paul
That's the Problem of many Filipinos and few otheAsian Having a Colonial Mentality, Like You , Makati CBD , BGC Ortigas CBD, Araneta and more , They Are Real Philippines, Not just the other way Around, the Best Side and the Worst side of A Country ,that's the Real Philippines, The Classification of Developing Country that's Another Bullshit that Wealthiest Countries Discrimination,
HELLO EVEN; MANILLA LOOKS GOOD IN THE BGC AND MAKATI AREA, AS FAR AS AN URBAN CITY LOOK AND FEEL, AS FOR ME THE PROVINCE LOOKS LIKE MORE MY LIFE STYLE, BUT I WILL TRAVEL HERE THERE AND EVERY WHERE AND CHOOSE A PERMANENT PLACE AFTER ONE YEAR, THEN SETTLE. THANK YOU EVEN
