Stacked inside Manila, often found in shopping malls, are sanctuaries to Knowledge. Their sizes range from tiny chapels to grand cathedrals. They have different ways of recruiting the devotion of buyers. Some sell overpriced coffee and food as a message that they offer books of high quality. Some merely stack the books into their respective [...]
For someone who lives in a city that officially has one shopping mall, but in actuality has only less than a quarter of a mall, Manila shopping malls are must-see places. Yet if someone were to strip away those malls’ fancy building designs, air conditioning, security guards, and cleaning staff; what would be left would [...]
The poor are flooding Manila. They flock to the city hoping for a better life than what they had in the provinces. Too often they are greeted by a harsher life in Manila. They cramp themselves in squatter settlements, risking life and health under squalor conditions. Very few of their children grow up to escape [...]
Everything is expensive in Manila. What I can buy cheap in Iligan can cost twice as much in Manila. Food I can eat for less than P40 in Iligan can be bought for twice as much in Manila, and to think I’m still referring to ordinary fare. Borderline fancy fare in Manila can cost more [...]
Since my responsible, dear little sister slept on her watch; I am forced to while away the night in the part of Pasay City bordering Makati City. So my taxi fare was basically gone to waste*. I also had to look for a place to while away the night. Thus I began my search for [...]
