Yes, chaotic. Geographic location of streets, a bit messed up. Yet Manila’s charm still rules.
Recommended hostel:
Green Mango- Reasonable price rate. Clean. Friendly staff and helpful staff.
It was not expensive to travel from Green Mango to Manila center. As we just took Trysikad (bicycle with a side cart) from the hostel to the main road (Sucat road) then get a going-to-Baclaran jeep( then from Baclaran, one can take another jeep or bus going to the MRT station where you’re off to, and then vice versa. It’s not that difficult. It just requires a bit of a higher level of alertness, to be on your guard all the time.
Guards, Vendors and even mall sales people never fail to greet you (not that it’s their job to do it!). No matter how probinsyana one sounds, Manilenyos I guess have gotten used to assisting these local strangers without any prejudice (as what other probinsyanos/nas would probably still think, or as what I used to think).
This issue is a bit of a controversy in my mind, after my friend’s discovery (which I have experienced as well) that Cagayan de Oro, the place dubbed as the City of Golden Friendship has not even a golden greeting nor a smile to offer.
I’m actually referring to department store and malls. Went to 3 malls, and really, majority of the sales people especially sales ladies, don’t say thank you or sometimes greet anymore (though I think its still their supposedly SOP). These are the places where one can generally gauge the basic persona of an individual.
Yes it’s a shame to be in given anything but a raised eyebrow sneer-like reaction once you ask a number of queries. But well, you never know, it might just be their natural physical looks. Who knows, they might be the very best friend one would ever have wanted!
spencercourt said,
September 2, 2008 at 12:33 am
What part of Manila is Green Mango? I was born and raised there, so i’m familiar with most parts, but you may want to cite a few landmarks to help me, since I left in 1970….
I LOVE green mangos, preferably with some rice.
mariawent2town said,
September 3, 2008 at 7:39 pm
its in Paranaque, so near the airport. i only found out about it from a friend who checked in the net. anyways, the complete add is here:
365 Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Sucat, Parañaque City, Metro Manila
havent really asked why they call the inn, green mango. but green mangoes are great with bagoong….
spencercourt said,
September 4, 2008 at 7:14 am
Paranaque! I lived there in the late 50’s. Near where the 7-Up bottling plant used to be (I assume it’s long gone now.) The house was one block from Manila Bay. We moved to Makati in ‘63 (?) when the American School moved there from Donada Street.
Never heard of green mango with bagoong before! I’m not a fan of patis either. Now, I do like dilis. Almost like Pinoy potato chips..lol! I’d eat them as a snack.
What I miss most about PI is all the fruits that I can’t get in the US. The Skyflakes, Kropek, calamansi concerntrate and powder, etc are available but I’d sure like some santol, atis, cinegualas, lonzanes, guavas, and my favorite – jackfruit (nangka). I can get nangka in the can but it’s not the same as fresh…sayang.
mariawent2town said,
September 8, 2008 at 6:28 pm
I dont know Manila that much, but I do know that it has changed a lot since then.
Masa loves green mango with bagoong am sure of that.
I think the fruit of this season is atis n. am seeing lanzones too. yup, its masarap if fresh.