Random Manila

It's a strange place this Manila. Random. I've been trying to figure it out for 4 months now and still the only word coming up to my mind is that, random.

The city that once used to be the pearl of Asia, now looks like nothing has happened to it since the 1970s. It's not beautiful, it's not architecturally interesting, it's not even ugly enough to be fascinating. It's an enormous collection of random buildings and highways. If it wasn't for the Manila bay and for the old Manila with it's ruins and old Spanish "left over" houses, it would be hard to understand the city actually does have a long history.

Interestingly enough, it's not only the outlook of the city that doesn't seem to have changed since decades. The English language sounds rather unique in it's old fashioned way too. And with that I'm not referring to "Taglish" (Tagalog+English) which means using the most suitable words from each language. Filipinos in general speak really good English, but on their own terms. Their vocabulary and sense of grammar ought to be appreciated as their own.

Take it but make it your own. Maybe that could describe the Filipino culture. As with the English language, the same is with their religious views. They are devoted Catholics but only in what suits them the best. God's blessings can be seen everywhere and churches fill up quickly. Yet I'm not sure whether the Vatican would agree on the exceptional moral values regarding especially the different types of prostitution. Under which I include selling sex only as well as selling sex as part of a bigger package. Or can someone honestly say they believe that the pretty young uneducated girls from the provinces have truly fallen in love with the wealthy fat sweaty old men of their grandfather's age? Didn't think so.

Well but that's another story.

What Manila as a city lacks, the people offer all the more. They are lovely and lively. They are open and not afraid to say or do what they feel like saying or doing. Like women coming to me to compliment my beautiful short blond hair. Or giving their sympathy when they here I'm as old as I am and yet still not married.

They can be serious and humorous at the same time. By the entrance of most buildings there is a sign stating that one should deposit their firearms before entering. The guards search the bags with the help of a drum stick. Making it look like that was the most meaningful job in the world, although it's unclear to me what they expect to find in the bags during the half a second they have look inside. Maybe they rely on the terrifying effect of the guards standing outside, with their big machine gun look a likes. The bigger the gun, the friendlier the guard though, at least towards me. It's absurd how all the guards and police officers always smile at me and wish me a good morning or afternoon, mam. Absurd and random.

Life in Manila is filled with many absurd moments that make me smile. The decorations on jeepneys. What names the jeepneys have been given to. Men lifting their shirts up to their armpits, proudly pushing their stomach out. Traffic controllers moving like Michael Jackson. People waiting for the elevator so close to the door their nose is touching it. It's entertaining to observe the everyday life in Manila.

Manila is a place where it's crucial to enjoy the little things. It's by no means an obviously attractive city. It doesn't have much to offer if compared with other cities of it's size. Yet still life in Manila can be amazing and rewarding - if you can see the random little things.