Tag Archives: Manila

Thrilla in Manila: Brutality in the Philippines

09/10/2021 PhilLife Leave a comment

Two battle-scarred gladiators enter the arena, surrounded by tens of thousands of bloodthirsty spectators anticipating a gory battle.

They were both past their prime. But, they either had to choose to go to war. or to step back from battle and be vilified by the public, who were hungry for the spectacle.

They both chose to fight… to fight to the end – even if it meant their life. They were exhausted, not in their peak form, but they must wage a bitter battle. For their pride and honour, and how people will remember them. as these two warriors were about to step into the greatest sporting spectacles of all time.

Who are these Warriors? Why did the world stop to watch these two men in the arena?

The Ali vs. Frazier Trilogy

To set the stage, it was October 1, 1975.

It was a battle between two iconic professional boxers of the time. Muhammad Ali and Smokin’ Joe Frazier. The two icons were set to face off in the oven-hot boxing ring, at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila. It was held nearly a half-century ago, but is still heralded as the most legendary boxing match in history.

It remains a coffee shop issue to this day and it retains the distinction of being one of the most talked about fights of the last 100 years. Fans still talk of what might have been if Fraziers trainer didn’t throw in the towel late in the 14th round. If only they had known Ali was also moments from surrender, boxing history could have been very different.

Either way the result went, the fight was a monstrosity that legally sanctioned professional boxing had permitted to take place. It was a comfronting display of brutality broadcast to the public.

Marcos brings the fight to the Philippines

t was a pivotal chance of a lifetime that was given them both, and they both could not let it pass. The pair had faced off in two previous tournaments, with both Ali and Frazier achieving a win. It was now time for their trilogy match to see who was the greatest.

It was also an opportunity for the dictator President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos. He wanted to show the world how great the Philippines. That we are capable of staging a great fight that will be shown to the world live! Marcos had just declared Martial Law on the islands and he wanted to show the world that all is well.

The country was struck by poverty and corruption. There was a constant push back against his grip on power from workers unions and communict groups. There was also a growing Muslim insurgency in the south who were gaining influence. Despite the chaos surrounding his Presidency, Marcos still need a way to signify he was in control.

Marcos had a lot to gain from this event. Motivating him to cover the events expences, as well as the extravagent fight purses for the fighters. The fight promoter Don King, known for his preference for advertising his fights in the same manner of a cricus promotion, of course heeded the call of the dictator to have the fight staged in Manila.

On that day, the heat was searing hot outside the Araneta Coliseum before both fighters entered their assigned preparation rooms. It was even hotter inside the boxing ring, packed with 36,000 fight fans despite the Coliseums 25,000 seat capacity. The air-conditioning system simply can’t keep up with the heat emanating from the jam-packed arena which was beyond capacity. It was broadcasted to 68 countries worldwide. The event begun 10 am in order that the prime time audience in the US and elsewhere in the western world will be maximized.

But by that point there were very few things which could stop this fight. The show must go on. Both fighters wanted to prove something. Both fighters had an outstanding career by that point. It had come to a point where Ali and Frazier were both seen as equals, so it was time to settle the score. But still, both fighters took home a healthy purse. Ali earned $4.5 million or 43 percent of the gross and Frazier got $2 million against 22 percent of the gross, whichever is higher.

Finalising the trilogy

This was the last fight of the fighters trilogy.

The first bout, billed as The Fight of the Century, was held on March 8, 1971. It was a full and exhausting drama which consumed 15 complete rounds at the Madison Square Garden in New York City. This fight was surrounded by drama. coming from Ali’s refusal to take part in the Vietnam war, the fight for civil rights, and his relentless sledging directed at Frazier.

The controversy surrounding the fight meant that it caught people attention, and lots of it. By fight night, it became evident the event was going to live up to its name. There were more celebrities watching the battle in the Garden than your average Barbra Streisand concert.

Even Frank Sinatra obliged to take photographs for Life Magazine in order to have the privilege of watching the fight up close. Diana Ross, wanting a better view of the spectacle tried to insert herself in the press section. Security found out and had to return her to her original seat. Frazier won on unanimous decision from the judges, after he managed to take advantage of Ali’s fatigue and score a knockdown with a left hook to Ali’s jaw.

The saga continues: Super Fight II

The second bout, called Super Fight II, was waged nearly three years later. Held on January 28,1974, again at Madison Square Garden. There was no boxing title to gain, just pure pride and honor. During this round, Ali did what he did best, clinch. As during the bout Frazier found himself in the clinch of Ali an incredible 133 times. This annoying habit made Ali irritating to look at, but it paid off numerous times, giving him victory due maybe to his opponents’ annoyance or from pure exhaustion from the clinching.

This time, Ali won in 12 rounds by unanimous decision. It was a controversial one, but his frequent clinching and grabbing definitely did the trick.

Both Ali and Frazier could not walk away from their rivalry. The previously undefeated pair were now tied in a draw after their two fights. The boxers now wanted to determine who was the greatest. They were more driven than ever to crush each other in the third and final battle. And that Manila opportunity came crashing in to their front doors.

Ali himself was more boastful than ever because just one year before the Manila fight, he demolished George Foreman in Zaire, Africa. It was an achievement for Ali that made him emerge again in the eyes of the boxing community. But for Smokin’ Joe, all he wanted was to push Ali back into his cave and roll a boulder tover the entrance.

But Ali has a mocking answer to Frazier’s primal and primitive man fantasies. Before the Manila gig, he rhymed and chimed like a hip hop star: A killa and a thrilla and a chills, when I get that gorilla in Manila!

The sensational news loving public and Don King, the promoter were so amused by this insulting chant that King made it the advertising title of the third fight of the Ali-Frazier Trilogy – Thrilla in Manila. For all we know, Don King was reincarnated from a performing carnival gorilla.

Joe Frazier was bitter going into the fight. He resented that Ali never acknowledged him and appreciated his support when Ali was publicly ridiculed when he vehemently objected to the involvement of the US in the Vietnam War. At that time, the world regarded Ali as an outcast, a religious extremist who was both politically and morally poisonous, and a boxer who was not worth his salt anymore. Frazier was one of the few people who publicly supported Ali, and Ali never came out in the open or even called Frazier to show his gratitude.

Then came fight day. Ali showed up one hour early at the coliseum one hour early with his brother Rahaman. It was 9 in the morning and he wanted to show the world that he was up and ready to defend his title. Ali was not his smiling self because it was searing hot outside. But it was nothing compared to the oven toaster inside the boxing ring later.

And the fight was on. Momentum was never on one side for a long time. It swung back and forth. It was so violent and hard fought that at one point, even their blood spattered on Imelda Marcos, the wife of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. One brutal Smokin’ Joe punch threw Ali’s mouthpiece out spiraling into the fifth row, but Ali still stood upright.

Frazier was also able to deliver an effective right hook into Ali in the second round even though Ali was covering his face with his gloves. But by the fourth round, both stood shoulder to shoulder in the judges’ scorecards.

In the middle rounds, Ali was slowly catching up, his stamina did not seem to be waining. Ali is one of the few boxers known to endure a tirade of brutal blows in the ring, then still emerge victorious in the end.

Photographers surrounded the ring capturing every moment, as the drama played out. Sweat can be seen flying from Frazier as Ali connects with a flying right.

Ali again makes brutal contact with Frazier with an effective right punch to the top of his head in the 13th round. This time, Ali is gaining momentum. But on the insides both men know they are nearing their limits.

The critical 14th round finally begun. Ali’s doctor Ferdie Pacheco commented on how it was the closest he had seen two people near to death. Though the duo continued to fight each other for survival.

Then came the pause for the 15th round. In his corner, Frazier was having issues with blurry vision in his left eye. It had swollen shut and his face was drenched in blood. Frazier wanted to continue with the fight and was on his feet for the 15th round, but his trainer Eddie Futch could not let him go on. Futch shouted at the Filipino referee, Carlos Padilla, to stop the fight.

The third fight of the trilogywas handed to Ali. This was shrouded with controversy up to this day.

Not everyone believed that it was only Futch’s call to stop the fight that arrived at the ears of Padilla, the referee, and the judges. Ali himself wanted to quit the fight. An Ali cornerman alleges that he overheard Ali telling Angelo Dundee, his trainer, to “cut them gloves off!” But it was never authenticated.

But the truth is, sports photographers caught on camera Ali sprawled on the ground in his corner,. visibly unconscious, after the 14th round, after he fell off his chair.

But shortly after that, photographers also took shots of Ali in the middle of the ring. He was surrounded by his trainers, handlers and doctors after he was proclaimed the winner of the third and final fight of The Trilogy.

After this real-life drama, both Ali and Frazier were never their old formidable self in the ring. They both retired within a week of each other in 1981.

Ali was coming off two straight losses inflicted by Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick. Frazier only fought twice after the Manila stint, stopped by George Foreman in 1976 and drew with the unknown Floyd Cummings over 10 rounds.

The Thrilla in Manila manslaughter did earn both legendary fighters the respect that they yearned for, but it made their health deteriorate and it eventually ended their ring careers.

And The Thrilla in Manila mystique lives on.

Destination

Attractions you must see when visiting Manila

03/01/2020 PhilLife Leave a comment

Manila is an interesting place to say the least. But so are an many other cities throughout the world.

So, why should tourists use the time and resources to visit the Philippine Capital?

Personally I feel Manila has a lot of depth. It is a city which can be enjoyed on many different levels. The city is filled with many classic entertainment options such as bars, theme parks, amazing malls amongst many other things.

For tourists who want to dig a little deeper, Manila is filled with cultural relics hinting at the rich history of the city which has made it what it is today.

So now lets have a look at some of Manilas tourist hot spots as well as some lesser known attractions in Metro Manila.

Fort Santiago

Situated at the mouth of the Pasig River, the scenic Fort Santiago is one of the premier attractions of the walled city of Intramuros.

Fort Santiago began its life as the headquarters for the Spanish military. It was a part of a larger collection of Spanish infrastructure which collectively made up the walled city of Intramuros.

This spanish base was established due to Miguel López de Legazpi who was a prominent Spanish explorer. He was was working to re-establish Manila as the centre the Spanish empire in the east.

After the ousting of the Spanish imperialists, Fort Santiago was home to the massacre of thousands of POWs during WWII. This violence during the Japanese occupation was shortlived after their hold on the city was removed during the Battle of Manila.

Today Fort Santiago is a much more peacefulplace. It features beautifully manicured gardens, plazas and water features, which perfectly compliment the dated stone features of the structure.

Amongst the beauty you can see hits of the colourful, but violent past of the strucutre. From the odd bullet hole, to the dugeons below in which the Filipino national hero Dr. Jose Rizal was held. There is a lot to be discovered within the walls of Fort Santiago.

Binondo

On the surface the Binondo district of Manila can easily be brushed off just another Chinatown. But reality is, this district of Metro Manila highlights the rich history of relations between Chinese natives and the Philippines.

Dating back as far as the early Spanish Colonial period, Binondo is commonly known as the oldest Chinatown in the world. It was once a vibrant hub of commerce and trade, but has now descended into the all too familiar urban decay seen across Manila.

Modern day Binondo is still very much the centre f the Filipino – Chinese community. To this day you will still hear various Chinese dialects and see various stores advertising their goods with Chinese signage.

Any visitor to the Binondo district must experience some of the local cuisine. You can find cuisines from various regions across China, as well as a mix of local Filipino foods. There are many tours which will take you through some of the famous eateries within the area.

Binondo also continues to be a centre for commerce, as it is home to a wide array of consumer goods. During the Chinese new year the area comes alive as many of the stores offer bargains which attracts many savy shoppers.

With the delicious food, Chinese New Year and celebrations, and the historical architecture of the Colonial buildings and temples, there is a lot to be experienced within the Binondo district of Manila.

Cubao Expo

In our world of mass produced goods, pockets of individuality where quality is valued over quantity are becoming scarce. Thankfully Manila maintains a community of like minded individuals who still see the appeal in offering unique, quirky goods.

This community found in Cubao Expo – a small complex developed in 1972, formerly known as Marikina Shoe Expo. The complex, found alon Gen. Romulo St. in Araneta Center, was originally used to showcase the wares of Marikina Shoemakers.

This lasted until 1997 when the complex closed down, but this turned out to only be a short hiatus. In the early 2000’s the thriving DIY and art scene began to take hold of the quarters and transform it into what it ias today.

Eve4n though over the years, different stores have come and gone, the theme of the complex remains the same. It is a melting pot of quirky vintage goods, and wares from the music and art scene.

You can find merch from local bands, dig through stacks of local and international vinyl, experience the local art through paintings and art books. Cubao Expo has a lot to offer those who love to indulge the arty side of life.

Manila Baywalk

Now for a personal favourite, Manila Baywalk. In fast paced environments like Manila, getting away from the hustle of city life and enjoying nature can be quite theraputic.

I think this is why I find myself strolling down Manila Baywalk so often. Its really at its best in the late evening, taking in the beautiful sunset across the ocean and the cool sea breeze.

The Baywalk is basically in full operation from early in the morning to all through the night. It generally begins with health conscious locals who walk and cycle up and down the promenade throughout the morning.

The 2km stretch of land running along Roxas Boulevard joins some of Manilas tourist hot spots which adds to the popularity of the Baywalk. At one end you have the infamous Rizal Park, US Embassy, and Manila Ocean Park.

As you travel down the baywalk you will pass by many bars, restaurants, cafes and much more. Eventually you’ll come to the other end situated by the Manila Yacht Club, also a short trip away is one of the largest malls in Asia – SM Mall of Asia.

Thriving gardens and beautiful architecture is found throughout the Greenbelt complex.

Greenbelt Mall

I’m aware that the love of mall culture in the Philippines has been pointed out ad nauseam, but I feel like I can not pass on highlighting this staple of mall culture in the Philippines.

When it comes to shopping, dining, and entertainment in the Philippines Ayala Malls are one of the biggest players in these industries. The brand is known for going above and beyond when it comes to customer experience – the Greenbelt Mall complex is no exception.

I have found Greenbelts appeal comes its ability to excel where a lot of other malls in the area fail. In one case malls in Manila tend to be very chaotic and fast paced, you are basically only there to spend money.

The Greenbelt complex has a completely different atmosphere, the vibrant open air architecture, and lush gardens throughout the area create a relaxed feeling.

Another uncommon feature amongst other malls in the area are the small plazas found throughout the area, where patrons can sit, unwind in areas often adorned with gardens, water features, art work and sculptures.

Greenbelt malls offer a host of common and uncommon shopping outlets, a wide array of restaurant and cafe options as well as many different entertainment options. I think visiting Greenbelt is a must for anyone spending time in Manila.

Culture

First exposure to the infamous Metro Manila traffic

03/13/2018 PhilLife Leave a comment

Traffic.

For residents of Manila, this is a topic discussed as frequently as the weather.

This is because Manila has some of the worst levels of traffic on earth. With the growth of the middle class has also come the growth of the number of cars on the road. Unfortunately, planning and development within the city haven’t seen the same growth.

Manila has gotten to a point where It isn’t uncommon to hear of people renting dorms near their work just to avoid the long commute times. While some celebrities have gone as far as taking helicopters to work to avoid being stuck in traffic for long periods of time.

I vividly remember my first time visiting the city. We were going out one evening as we were meeting friends in Makati. At that point, I didn’t know the city well, so I sat back and let everyone else make the plans.

It wasn’t long before we were in a taxi on the way to Makati. We were all excited about going out to see Manilas nightlife for the first time. We were all in the back of the taxi – loudly talking over each other.

Now the taxi had taken us onto a highway, but I hadn’t been paying attention. Later, I felt like we had been moving really slowly for a while. After checking the time, I realised we had been in the back of the taxi for 2 hours!

It turns out we had left at the same time most of Manilas residents return home from school or work. The peak hour traffic was a nightmare, thankfully I had my friends there to keep me company.

After what seemed like a lifetime, we finally made it to our destination. In the end, the commute was almost 3 hours! Which adds up to quite a large bill for the taxi. But the rest of the evening was very memorable, to say the least…

The following days’ Revelations

Understandably, I woke up late into the following day. At this point, I still knew nothing about Manila. We had travelled around a fair bit the previous evening but because it was nighttime nothing really stood out.

Once I had dragged myself out of bed, I went into the kitchen where everyone had gathered. The plan was to begin our day at Makati as my brother needed to visit an embassy there, we would then go and enjoy more recreational activities after.

We all walked together out onto the main street to find ourselves a taxi. At this point, I was ready for another long day stuck in the back of a car. Which I didn’t really mind as I was still new to Manila, so I would just sit in the back staring out the window at everything.

Now, where we were heading was roughly a few minutes walk away from where we were the previous evening. So I had it set in my mind that we were going to be stuck on the road for a long time.

But, no more than 20 minutes after getting into the taxi, we had arrived! That’s when it hit me – the previous evening we had spent 3 hours on a route which would normally take no more than 20 minutes within normal traffic conditions.

I could not believe it, if I had realised how close it was the previous evening I would have been a lot more frustrated than what I was. So it was probably better to come to the realisation later on.

Moral of the story – If you want to travel around Manila, pick your commute times wisely, or maybe just walk.

Destination

Star City, A Fun Filled Theme Park In The Heart Of Manila

06/24/2017 PhilLife Leave a comment

Star City is one of two dominant theme parks in Manila, the other being Lagunas Enchanted Kingdom. Having been to both theme parks, I have come to the conclusion that I prefer Star City over The Enchanted Kingdom.

Although Star City does not have the same attention detail as The Enchanted Kingdom; it has the advantage of being right in the heart of Metro Manila as well as still offering a wide variety of rides and attractions for its patrons.

With an extensive range of indoor and outdoor rides, Star City can accommodate guests in all weather conditions. Although a few of the rides did look dated due to the theme park opening in 1991; the park undergoing a lot of maintenance and construction work at the time, so it appears that the park’s management is actively updating its rides as well as expanding on what it has to offer.

One thing I noticed is how wide the variety of rides on offer is. It has all the traditional roller coaster, and ferris wheel style rides you would expect at a theme park. It then has offers other alternative attractions such as a haunted house exhibit and its snow world. There is also an entire section dedicated to smaller arcade games where patrons can relax after enjoying the more intense rides.

Star City schedule and directions

Star City business hours are from 4 pm until late on Monday through to Thursday; 2 pm until late on Friday through to Sunday.

Star City is located within the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay City; a short drive from SM Mall Of Asia. It is a 15 – 30 minute drive from Makati and Manilas international airport; although these times can be significantly longer due to frequent traffic in the area.

How much is the Star City entrance fee?

Star City offers a wide variety of ticketing arrangements from Admission only to ride all you can tickets. You will also be able to buy tickets for their alternative attraction such as Snow World and Scream Avenue. Discounts are offered when you pair your attraction tickets with your ride all you can tickets.

Ride all you can tickets are currently P450, while the cost for the other attractions ranges between P100 – 150. For updated ticketing information, please check the official website.

For more information on Star city and what it has to offer, visit the official Star City website here.

Destination

Why should you visit Manila Ocean Park?

06/20/2017 PhilLife Leave a comment

On my various adventures around Manila, I have found myself at Manila Ocean Park a handful of times. On every visit, I still enjoy my stay. It is packed full of so many things to see, so there was always something new for me to experience.

They have a wide range of exhibits which are entertaining while also having some educational and historical aspects to them. The main attraction guests gravitate towards is the oceanarium. It’s full of a wide variety of species, which you can look at up close through the walkway tunnel beneath the aquarium.

My other personal favourite is the evening shows. I have seen the sea lion show in which the sea lions display their skills as well as talks on the conservation efforts made by the park. There is also the evening symphony show, which at first I wasn’t too excited about going. But the show exceeded my expectations; it contained fire, water and lighting synchronised to the music; it was surprisingly entertaining.

How much is the Manila Ocean Park entrance fee?

The entrance fee can be expensive due to what is actually on offer. It roughly P500-1000 per person depending on which package you choose. If you are looking for up-to-date fees, it is best to check the Manila Ocean Park website.

On my visits, I have bought the basic ticket with one of the evening shows. These tickets kept me occupied for most of the day, and the evening shows were always excellent quality. So you can get away with buying the cheap tickets and still having a good time there.

Other amenities at the complex

Despite the name, Manila Ocean Park is not purely a home for marine wildlife. The complex also houses a wide range of other amenities to keep guests comfortable and entertained. There are a wide range of specially stores throughout the premises as well as a range of restaurants catering to guests look for a snack to guests wanting a fine dining experience.

The complex also houses a fully functioning hotel, Hotel H2O. The hotel in itself offers a range of dining and spa experiences for its guests. For pricing and availability, book direct through the Hotel H2O website, or take advantage of the various promos available through Agoda.com.

How to get to Manila Ocean Park

The first major attraction you want to head towards is Rizal Park. As everybody knows where this is, this should be your first goal; once you arrive at Rizal Park, the rest of the journey is quite easy. From Rizal Park, you should walk toward Roxas Boulevard in the direction of Manila Bay. Once you cross Roxas Boulevard, you should then be walking towards Quirino Grandstand, which is not far from Roxas Boulevard. Once you pass Quirino Grandstand, you should see the large building and signs for Manila Ocean Park.

The Manila Ocean Park hours are between 10am – 8pm, check the official website for any updates or changes.

Feel free to ask any other questions in the comments box, I have spent quite a bit of time here, so I should be able to help you with any questions.

Destination

NAIA – Will One Of Asias Worst Airports Become One Of Asias Best?

06/19/2017 PhilLife Leave a comment

I recently flew out from the countries primary hub for international travel, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. For the uninitiated, NAIA the space in which the majority of tourists coming to The Philippines will be gaining their first dose of what this country has to offer.

NAIA holds a special place in Manilas colorful history. It is primarily known for being the location of one the most significant political assassinations in the countries history; the murder of Ninoy Aquino.

In recent times the airport was plagued with another scandal; which went on to garner the attention of international media. Individuals, most likely airport staff were planting bullets inside the luggage of unsuspecting passengers. The airport staff would then use this to extort money from passengers after being threatened with jail time for the ammunition in their luggage.

As time has gone on the airport has slowly begun to revitalise its reputation. Though, when you consider the advancements made at other airports in the region, it is easy to see that NAIA has some catching up to do.

Personally, I put a lot of weight on the significance of this airport in relation to the experiences of the growing number of visitors coming to the country. Although I recognise the airport quality is a relatively minor issue when it comes to the allocation of the nation’s resources. I still think first impressions of visitors do matter, especially when you factor in the potential of the situation.

The Philippines has some of the most beautiful attractions in the world. There are breathtaking mountainous landscapes along with world class, picturesque beaches infesting this country. The Philippines has the potential to be a tourist hot spot; it certainly has the assets to reach that position.

So with that in mind, I am left wondering why is NAIA, the tourism hub of the country left in such a sad state?

Individuals not boarding a flight are mostly left standing outside in a waiting area which is essentially a segment of the car park. There is another waiting area on the bottom level, though this is also outdated; as well as still being outside. So if you are going to be waiting for somebody, your only choice is to stand out in the heat.

From an aesthetic point of view, the exterior styling of the airport does have potential. It is just in need of some attention to bring it up to standard. The airport has the appearance of a concrete wasteland there is nothing aesthetically pleasing about the exterior of the airport, no landscaping, no artwork; it has a cold, hard almost industrial feeling to it.

The interior of the airport has recently had some much-needed renovations. When I first arrived at NAIA the interior look as if it had not been updated since the airport was built. The interior furnishings and design looked as if it had come from an entirely different era.

Now that NAIA has undergone renovations it has a much more respectable appearance. It now has a beautiful ceiling and lighting installation, modern furnishings and an upgraded luggage collection system. The interior has a much more fresh and clean feel to it as opposed to its previous state.

NAIA Domestic Vs. International Terminal

When it comes to the two departure areas, I don’t think it is a debate. When I travel domestically, I never have an issue besides the frequent flight delays. As I always arrive to my flights early, I never struggle to find seating at the gate. The departure area is also surrounded by vendors selling a variety of food, so I usually take the opportunity to grab something to eat.

The departure area is also surrounded by vendors selling a variety of food, so I usually take the chance to grab something to eat. If that’s not enough, then there is the option of an entire food court on the top level of the terminal. The food court primarily contains all the major food chains in the Philippines plus a few other smaller restaurants.

I am also a big drink fan; I love to sip on the different drinks from the coffee shops and read a book while I wait for my flight. As long as I have that available to me, I am happy.

The international departure area is where I have an issue. Usually, you will be waiting for 1 – 2 hours before your flight leaves. So again for me, I naturally gravitate to wanting something to eat to pass the time. The lack of options inside the departure is an issue for me.

You have the choice of either have Starbucks or some smaller general stores. The issue is that the food from the general stores is so bad that it seems like everybody flocks to the one Starbucks chain. This means it is always hectic, and getting a seat is always an issue. Even once you get a seat relaxing is not an option as you will always have other Starbucks customers trying to squeeze into the space near you as there are no other seats available.

I feel like NAIA has begun to walk in the right direction. But I feel as if it is only walking away from its horrible reputation. It still has a long way to go to reach the league of other airports in the region like Hong Kong and Japan.

Some basic moves can be made at NAIA which will bring the passengers experience to a whole new level. Doing things as simple as offering more seating in the busy departure areas; a few banks of seats in front of a TV playing basketball is not ideal. Offering the wider variety of dining options will also lift the passenger’s experience.

But the NAIA management can’t ignore all these years of appearing on lists of the worst airports in Asia. Hopefully, these moves to improve the airport will continue to gain momentum.

It ‘d be nice to see The Philippines step away from its underdog status and begin to offer world class facilities to those travelling the country.

History

KKK and its Revolutionary Operations in the Philippines

03/23/2017 PhilLife Leave a comment

As a little PSA for the uninitiated in Philippine history. The many references to the KKK you may see or hear are not what you think.

I still remember laughing as I passed the chain restaurant donning the name KKK. Obviously, I knew they weren’t advertising the American white supremacist group.

After asking a few people about it, I didn’t seem to get a complete answer on what the KKK was referencing. So, I decided to dive into the topic myself.

So who was behind the KKK revolutionary group?

It turns out the KKK is a historically important secret society and revolutionary group. Its beginnings date back to 1892 when anti-Spanish Filipinos decided to band together. The members had the common goal of gaining independence from Spanish rule.

Now the official name of the society was Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan. When translated into English, means Supreme and Most Honorable Society of the Children of the Nation. So it seems that shortening it to KKK or the Katipunan was a reasonable decision.

The founders of the group Andres Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata, Ladislao Diwa plus various others were mostly Freemasons. This meant that a lot of the organisational structure adopted by the KKK was borrowed from Philippine Freemasonry.

A lot of people associate the Filipino national hero Jose Rizal with the KKK. Although Rizal was not formally a member of the group; due to his being exiled to Mindanao at the time; he still remained a close affiliate with the KKK. The society had been created as a reaction to the La Liga Filipina organization being shut down, an organization in which Rizal was the founding member.

Members of the La Liga Filipina moved away from the organization when the realization came that the organizations’ peaceful stance would be suppressed by Spanish authorities. As these members moved to the KKK their aims were adjusted to the concept of an armed revolution against the Spanish.

The KKK had begun their work in preparing for the revolution over the course of many years. They had been working to stockpile weapons and build membership to their organization. These activities did not go unnoticed by the Spanish authorities, as they had begun to alert their superiors to possible anti-Spanish movements amongst the Filipinos.

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The Spanish turn against the movement

Shortly after the Spanish became aware of the movement, they received information on the location of the organizations’ operations. Spanish officers arrived at the site of the Katipunan newspaper printing operations and made several arrests; this became the trigger for the Katipunan to stage their revolution.

This led to a series of battles across Manilla and into its neighbouring provinces. As a consequence, many rebels were killed or arrested and ultimately the Katipunan were subject to defeat. But this was only the beginning of the demise of Spanish dominance in The Philippines.

In the end, the movement worked to weaken the Spanish colonial power due to their frequent clashes. The Spanish were also weakened after needing to focus resources on fighting another war across the globe. After much resistance, the rebels were able to gather control over most of the countries’ territory.

In the end, the rebels were able to declare independence on June 12, 1898, in Cavite. After 333 years of colonial rule, The Philippines was finally able to declare independence from the Spanish.

As a side note, the Philippine hero Jose Rizal was killed as a result of these uprisings. At the time, Rizal was on his way to Spain. Word got out that a group he was instrumental in forming had begun to revolt against the Spanish. In the end, Rizal was executed by the Spanish after being convicted for treason.

Click here to read more about the vibrant history of the Philippines.

Culture

Taxi Drivers In The Philippines Surprised Me

02/27/2017 PhilLife Leave a comment

Cebu taxi drivers have just left one of the most positive impressions I have had with Philippine taxi drivers in a very long time.

As someone who spends a lot of time in Manila, I try to avoid using taxis by any means necessary.

I have even gone as far as trying to book accommodation within walking distance to the LRT and MRT, just to minimize the number of times I may have to rely on taxis to travel the city.

I remember long evenings spent on EDSA trying to find a driver who would offer a price below 1000 pesos for a 10-minute ride.

I remember an instance when a driver – with no explanation – pulled over on the side of the highway, got out and opened the trunk. He then went on to tinker in there for a minute or two. He then got back into the car, barely able to hold back the smile on his face and took off driving again with no explanation.

Within seconds I noticed the meter was moving extremely quickly, easily 3 – 4 times the regular rate.

By the end of the trip, a normally 100 peso ride was going to cost me almost 600 pesos. So I let him know I had taken down all his details and was ready to make a report, this was then followed by him almost crying and telling me to pay what I think the ride was worth.

Basically, if I decide to use a taxi I have to accept that I will be dealing with a scenario similar to these. There have been some days where I have travelled trouble free, not having to deal with drivers trying to funnel money out of me. But days like that are outnumbered by days dealing with hustlers.

At least up until I visited Cebu recently.

The Miracle Cebu Experience

The first thing I do on arrival to either Cebu or Manila is avoid the arrivals area. I will leave the plane to get my luggage and then immediately walk to the departure area to look for a taxi that has just dropped off passengers.

-I am so used to being overwhelmed with people offering 700 – 800 peso fares the moment I step out of the arrival area, now I just resorted to avoiding it completely.

The biggest hurdle I now face on arrival to Cebu is having to deal with an upset security guard, they usually aren’t too happy with people trying to find a taxi in the departure areas. I have been doing this every time I arrive in Manila and Cebu so I now have it down to an art.

Instead of being offered a ride to my hotel at a premium price, I now get a ride from the departure area in a regular metered taxi.

This is why Cebu City is now possibly my favourite city.

Next came my day to day travels throughout the city. This really caught me off guard, I was taking taxi after taxi, not once did they ask for a fixed price.

I would simply get into the taxi, they would then turn on the meter and begin the journey.

I don’t know if this was just luck or if there have been tighter laws have been put in place for taxi drivers in Cebu. Either way, it turned the usually daunting task of having to find a taxi driver who would treat you like a normal person into a simple operation which I had to no longer think twice about.

When getting taxis from malls I have noticed signs which stated that the fixed price rides were not allowed, this I think was the source of my pleasant stay in Cebu.

Every taxi ride I got was either from the front of my hotel or from a taxi queue at a mall. This means I was given the details of the driver and it seemed the driver had to follow certain rules if they were going to take passengers from those locations otherwise they would be reported and face disciplinary action.

Whatever has happened to keep the drivers in line with the first world standard of taxi service – it should be held in place.

Although they might not be making as much money through their scams, I feel it would draw a lot more people back towards using their services. I previously found myself resorting to just using Jeepneys or the more convenient Uber, so my recent experience has helped to build my faith again in the Philippines taxi industry.

Food, Uncategorized

My Breakfast Buffet Induced Gluttony

02/26/2017 PhilLife Leave a comment

,My stay in The Philippines has now reached a tipping point. I feel I’ve been here long enough to no longer consider myself simply a tourist or visitor. Although I still have people regularly assume that I have just arrived in The Philippines. They will inform me that a new president has just been elected or tell me to plan my travels carefully as delays are common due to traffic.

With spending significant time in the country comes quite a lot of experience with living out of hotels. I took this route as opposed to renting an apartment or condo due to convenience. Earlier I had tried renting condos as the initial price was a lot cheaper than staying in hotels for long periods of time. Though I quickly realized that a hotel is what suits my needs; I am happy to pay extra for the convenience that comes with services such as the housekeeping and room service.

One thing the hotel lifestyle has made me accustomed to is waking up to the buffet breakfasts. When I was younger not a lot got me more excited than my parent telling me we would be dining at a buffet restaurant. The thought of an unlimited spread of all the food you love available to you in a supply only limited by the size of your stomach was overwhelming for such a young mind.

As I have grown older I have usually chosen to have the hotel buffet more due to the financial advantage. To get the buffet a small charge is added to the room; this is a lot less than the cost to get breakfast outside of the hotel. I usually wait until just before the buffet closes to have breakfast; having a late breakfast means that I don’t feel hungry for the majority of the day. Basically, I’m just cheap, also I hate having to eat all the time. So having one big meal later in the morning is ideal for me.

I am starting to realize that there is a trade-off between eating the buffet and dining at a traditional restaurant. What stands out to me is that it feels so informal. I walk in, I am greeted by a waitress who then escorts me to a table. Then I simply take a plate and begin helping myself to what is available. Most of the time I am too lazy to change out of what I wore to bed that evening; it usually seems like the rest of the people in the restaurant made that same decision.

The quantity also becomes an issue; a lot of the better buffets offer seemingly every type of breakfast food available. For me breakfast food is one of my guilty pleasures. I love having coffee and orange juice with a plate of crepes and some fruit. Maybe I can grab a bowl of cereal and some toast once I finish? The possibilities are all there which makes self-control important when you are in the presence of a good breakfast buffet.

One thing I do love about having the option to choose what to eat is that it allows me to grab exactly what suits my diet. Although a lot of the vegetables are not usually the best quality I still love having that option available to me. I have so many dietary restrictions, so seeing buffets which cater to a wide variety of dietary styles makes me extremely happy.

The breakfast buffet for me has become a fairly important prerequisite as to whether I book a hotel room or not. The buffet is an important part of my morning as I can spend the time waking up, getting myself into a relaxed positive frame of mind and take in the energy I need to get the most out of my day within The Philippines.

Destination, Uncategorized

Why I Love Manila PT II

01/17/2017 PhilLife Leave a comment

We were now making our way through The Manila international airport NAIA. Alongside us was a pool of passengers who had also left the flight from Singapore. Our first job was the usual checking in with the immigration department.

Then we needed to find a taxi to take us to our condo so we could finalize our journey. While walking through NAIA my head was flooded with different thoughts of the airport. It was mostly just me noticing how bare and empty it felt. We had just left Changi airport in Singapore, so after that experience NAIA seemed a little more underwhelming than usual.

As I got to immigration I became slightly anxious. I had been told that immigration would ask to see a return ticket, which I did not have. The lady at the counter signaled me through, asked for my documents, and then began checking everything. She asked how long I would be staying, I answered two weeks as that seemed like an average holiday length. Without hesitation, she simply handed me back my passport and gave me a nod.

This is it, we were finally free in Manila. We stepped out of NAIA and were immediately hit with the warm humid air, along with the dull background noise that comes with the chaos of such a densely populated city. I felt like our sweat glands had almost immediately went into overdrive. Most likely because we had just left winter in Australia, this seemed to amplify the feeling of the tropical weather of The Philippines.

Once we had left the restricted area I was immediately overcome by a feeling of entering the lion’s den. Within seconds of leaving NAIA, we were swarmed by taxi drivers trying to get us into their vehicles. It was overwhelming being surrounded by so many drivers shouting out their prices. It was a stark contrast to what we had experienced in Singapore where we had been approached by one man who directed us toward a driver standing a few meters away leaning on his taxi.

We finally settled on a price with a driver, which I later realized was roughly 3 times the price of what it should have been. We then began our journey to the condo, this was right at the same moment I realized I was desperate to have some rest. This also quickly became the moment in which my mind was blown.

We left the immediate premises of NAIA, I felt a rush of excitement as we were finally on our way to our final destination after roughly 12 hours of flying. Within minutes my spirits were quickly dampened as we came to a dead stop. We had hit a traffic jam, cars lined the streets ahead as far as I could see. I quickly learned that this was just the current modus operandi of Philippine traffic. It also wasn’t exactly a negative experience as that is what gave me the opportunity to really take in my surroundings.

As I began to look around I began experiencing the feeling of being in another world. I was struggling to take in everything that was happening around me. I was in a stupor sitting staring out of the window in a taxi. My first shock came once we were in among the traffic itself. I had been told the driving was unique, but I never thought it would be as unique as it was. We were regularly driving into oncoming traffic, lanes seemed to mean nothing to our driver and he like every other driver on the road seemed desperate to jam the car into any space available in order to keep the traffic flowing.

My other observation was the people walking around on the highway selling their goods. Where I came from walking on the highway was illegal, so I was surprised when somebody walked past the car selling steering wheel covers, I then saw another man further down selling pillows. Something which now seems so normal seemed so crazy to me at the time.

The final 20 – 30 minutes of our drive to the condo still consisted of me having my head jammed out the window staring at the different areas of the city we were driving through. I was still trying to take in the different layout of the city as I had never seen this degree of high-density living. I loved the chaos and freedom of Manila, especially after spending my life in a quiet sheltered town. Now I was ready to shake things up, experience living at the opposite end of the spectrum. Manila certainly was able to accommodate these needs.

Manila was not able to offer a completely sheltered way of life. But it was able to offer the excitement which I was craving. So that is why I love Manila.