Distinctively, Manila

Never in my wildest dream did I imagine would I be living in a high-rise building-like city. Of course, being an avid fan of Sex and the City, I would imagine myself walking in fms heels with shopping bags on my left and a designer bag on my right but that with be for vacay. With the sudden turn of events, I am now living in a very city city where everyone came from somewhere else. Living in an island city all my life, I never felt like a small town girl until now. It frustrates me because I am good with directions but now when the taxi cab driver drives me in circles, I would not still know the difference. No matter how they say that slow traffic is distinctively Manila, I still could not fathom the fact that what could take a 15 minute jeepney ride to the office would eventually end up to a 40 minute round robin. I have to get used to the thickness of smog, too, which I have oftenly mistaken as dark clouds, only to realize that when I pick my nose, it is all covered with black boog. It still amazes me that the ratio of smokers to non-smokers is equal to 4:1. I just wish that my job wouldn’t be that stressful so I would not go back to smoking. Ooops, I already did. Lol! Normal days in Makati would be rainy and the idea of fashion is wearing an umbrella. And yeah, my officemates laughed at me when I cried. It was my first time to see flood right at my doorstep. The measure of a true Manilena, according to them is when you already had swim in the flood. Hmm… I guess they wouldn’t be counting me in much sooner.

Why did I choose to stay here when Singapore is so much better? Because, here in Manila, I laugh with them, I hear Christmas songs played in the malls, my mum can call me everyday without losing my phone credits and inspite and despite the flood, pollution and traffic, it is really an interesting and wonderful city. And really, there is no place like home. J