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Back in Manila and Chewable Smog 1st May 2007
Manila. It's hard to know what to make of the place. Sometimes I just think "dump" when I think of the place. Jeepneys, buses and motorcycles belch filth that you can chew on. Girly bars seem to be on every corner and slums perch on the other side of street to Mega Malls. I've often said Manila is my least favorite place in the Philippines. But then you scratch a little deeper. My stay in Manila this time was with Eden and Vincent and various family members. They stay in a quiet little suburb just off the main drag called Fairview. It has - gasp - trees and is actually quiet pleasant. This is where I will base myself when I inevitably return to the Philippines. I was joined by two volunteers in Manila. Chris - a part Filipino Nurse from the states, and Lorelei - a cancer research scientist from Canadathe states. He is here to discover his roots, much like Spike did in Uganda. In the great tradition of welcoming volunteers to the Philippines, they were treated to the cultural highlights of the Philippines. i.e. Balut and Karaoke. Chris' double gag was priceless!Touring Manila A couple of days later, Raymund gave us a tour of Manila, much like my very first tour way back in October 2005! Unlike the first time however, we went to one of the slums in Manila. This slum, like many of the slums across the world, has a railway line through its center. Ray hired a small boy to push us around in a handmade railway cart. I think I've become desensitized to slums. I've visited many in my times and they just don't shock me anymore. Yes, the poverty was extreme. Yes, it was very dirty. Yes, people were suffering. Maybe it's easier to not care for people that I cannot help: My efforts will go elsewhere. If I started caring and trying to help everybody, then I'm going to end up a miserable wreck. Fook that. Next stop: Romblon!.
(c)
2005, 2006 and 2007 Malcolm Trevena. |
