"Hip, Young Manila" a Manila Travel Page by antoniele

Browsing through VT pages about Manila you get the same staple tourist destinations. Being born and raised in this city of contrasts, let me give you a personal tour - not necessarily "off the beaten path" but more of the places, events and everyday encounters of twenty-something upper and middle class Manilenos.

True, traffic is unlike any other in the world but that's not the only thing Manila has to offer. Packed with beautiful people (everyone seems to be a mix of Malay, Spanish, Chinese, American, Indian, Japanese and/or European), some of the best restaurants, bars and clubs, and bargain shopping at any one of the malls that abound the city, whether you fancy some Gucci and LV or kitchy offerings of local, independent designers.

Come to Manila - definitely an experience!

Blame it on our Spanish forefathers who taught us the term "fiesta".

Manila has more to offer than just Rizal Park, Intramuros and Malate. Metro Manila consists of 14 cities, including Manila, Makati, Pasig, Quezon and Mandaluyong. Majority of tourists flock to Malate in Manila City but definitely the hippest nightspots, cafes and restaurants would have to be in Makati. This is the most cosmopolitan among the 14, with the highest cost of living to match. Makati and Ortigas in Pasig host the Central Business District, where most offices, shopping malls and five-star hotels can be found. Everyone is dressed to see and be seen.

Another alternative for the more laid-back, middle class folk is the Quezon City. Areas near the media networks (Timog and Tomas Morato) are lined with every bar imaginable: rock, reggae, hip-hop and yes, even the ubiquitous girly bar. Speaking of which, red light districts are concentrated in the Quezon Avenue, Makati Avenue and J. Nakpil areas (in case you wanted to know, wink wink).

Eastwood City in Libis, Quezon City is a compound made up of dozens of restaurants and cafes, which is a more upscale alternative for the people who live in North Metro Manila.

With an exchange rate that appeals to most of our Western cousins (approx PhP 51 = USD 1), shopping in Manila is C-H-E-A-P, even for us peso earners. And Filipinos just LOOOOVE shopping. It's a religion and the malls are our shrines. Every municipality has at least a dozen shopping malls, catering to all tiers of income.

For a typical hip, young Manileno, shopping can be divided into sub-genres:
1) Designer - take your pick: Armani, Dior, Balenciaga; for the uber-rich brats or wives/girlfriends of rich DOMs (dirty old men), usually a politician or a Jap
2) Mid-priced designer - Mango, Zara, Topshop are just some of the international fashion meccas that locals adore
3) Local retail chains - surprisingly good quality basics from Bayo, Rustans, Bench, etc.
4) Local independent designers - hard to find as most are via word of mouth. Befriend a fashionista or read local magazines such as Preview and Mega.
... and finally,
5) "Designer" - note the quotation marks. Counterfeit items at less than USD 25 on the average. Greenhills, Tutuban and Divisoria are popular "tiangges". A guilty pleasure for all.