Based on your opinion, is Metro Manila an ugly capital?

Taylor Miles

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Works at webbROI Upvoted by 

Charles Choong

, lives in The Philippines (2007-present) 6y

The Short answer is YES. It's a dirty Ugly City, with massive problems  include Poverty, Traffic, Pollution, Poor infrastructure, Crime.

The longer answer is Any city will be as ugly as you expect it if you're not prepared or you go to the wrong areas or do the wrong activities.

None if these are reasons not to visit for a day or two. It's only as dangerous as you make it. If you doing Recreational Drugs or looking for Street Prostitution then yes your risk of violence will increase.

But if you have to visit, with the right local knowledge you can find some peace and beauty here as well. Some tips to avoid the chaos and bad experiences.

• Get a Local friend or guide to show you around. This is a must if you want to navigate the chaos with grace, ensure you wont get scammed, and increase your safety. This especially applies if you're not well traveled, new to the Philippines, or a single white male.
• Travel on Sundays or Between the hours of 2 am and 5:30 Am. - If you have to fly out get out as early as possible, or if you have to travel any significant distance try to do it either late at night or early in the morning. Traffic is Horrendous, so is the heat and humidity during the middle of the day.
• Stay in the Right Neighborhood - Generally, Fort Bonifacio or Makati City, Philippines are going to be more Foreigner friendly, cleaner, safer, less traffic, better restaurants, etc. I know this sounds snobby, but it's just going to reduce the culture shock for many. There probably are many other nice micro neighborhoods even in the “Bad” areas, but that takes me back to #1.. get a local guide. There is lots of violence in some areas, just like you don't want to stay in EAST Los Angeles , Compton, or Parts of Washington DC or Chicago. 2 City blocks can make a big difference.
• Dont trust any random person who approaches you on the street. - Especially if you in a tourist area. Yes they might be just being friendly, but its not worth the risk. Most likely they just want to sell you something. Edit:(this does not apply in the provinces, smaller cities, or even non touristy area of Manila)
• Make the Taxis use the meter - Unless you know the general fair and its peak traffic there is no reason for them to not use the meter. There are some situations where it will be hard to find a cab to go to a specific direction during rush hour.. In this case you might pay 100 peso more. Its always better to negotiate fee over the meter, not flat fee.