Scenes from Manila, Philippines
Scenes from Manila, Philippines
I walked down the Pedestrian walkway, a boardwalk by Manila Bay along Roxas Boulevard, last Friday night. There were crowds of people there, packing in to see bands playing in the open air. I saw two all-girl rock bands, a balladeer wearing green toreador pants, a ladyboy comedy act, and "little people" engaging in a mock fight as part of a band's act.
Filipinos love to sing, and a lot of them are very good. Over and over I have heard very good bands in the bars and on television.
There were also ice cream stands, food places, and generally just a lot of people milling about on a Friday night.
Across the street from the Stone House pension on Mabini Street in old Manila were several job agencies. Each morning lines of people would apply for jobs. People want to get jobs abroad, and the agency across the street claimed it had jobs in the USA, Taiwan, Caribbean, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, and Saipan. Many people are looking for work in other countries.
In addition to the job agencies on the street was a 7-Eleven, money changers, people who approach you to sell you Rolex knockoffs and "old American coins", and people looking to do other business.
I also went to the "rich" section of Malate (an area of Manila) to the Greenbelt shopping complex. This is a marked contrast to the Mabini part of Manila where my pension was. Well-dressed Filipinos and foreigners crowd exclusive cocktail lounges and Habana Cafe, a Cuban lounge.
Job postings in front of an agency.
A "girl band" performs on the boardwalk on Roxas Boulevard.
Children sit on a dinosaur back on the pedestrian walkway on Roxas Boulevard in Manla, Philippines.
A "girl band" on the boardwalk along Roxas Boulevard.
Little people mock fight as part of the act for a band on the boardwalk . Everyone found it funny, including the little people...
Chinese New Year is celebrated near Remedios Circle in Manila, Philippines.
At the posh Greenbelt shopping complex in Malate, you can eat your favorite Bollywood star at the Bollywood Bistro. Should I have olives on my Preity Zinta? How about some parmesan on your Sharukh Khan?
Scenes from Manila, Philippines
