VI
EN
Arriving in the Philippines amidst Typhoon Bualoi, it was several days after the storm passed before I had the chance to take a stroll around Manila, just as a light rain was falling on the city on a gentle, gray day. The rain wasn't torrential, just enough for droplets to roll down the car windows, transforming the outside scenery into a watercolor painting: where the buildings, the brightly colored jeepneys, and the bustling crowds were all blurred in a hazy mist. The "city tour" thus slowed down, like a slow-motion film reel, each frame a moment worth cherishing.
A rainy day in Manila – the streets still damp after the storms.
As the most populous and vibrant capital of the Philippines, Manila captivates visitors with its blend of ancient charm and modern life. Whether you're seeking famous landmarks or lesser-known corners, the city always has something intriguing to discover. From the car, Manila unfolds before you with its winding power lines and fleeting glimpses of jeepneys, as if breathing within a city steeped in history.
Jeepneys are an integral part of the culture and daily life of the people of Manila.
One interesting aspect of exploring Manila is the ubiquitous presence of jeepneys – dubbed the "king of the streets" in the Philippines. After World War II, Filipinos cleverly repurposed American military jeepneys, modifying them by extending the body, adding a roof, and installing two rows of long seats in the back to carry passengers. Over time, they transformed these vehicles into a distinctive and unique form of public transportation. They are not only iconic public transport but also an integral part of the daily life and culture of the people here.
Famous for their incredibly unique exteriors, each jeepney is a mobile work of art with a one-of-a-kind appearance, decorated with vibrant colors and hand-painted designs reflecting the owner's personality.
Jeepneys are famous for their colorful exteriors, especially because each one has a unique appearance; no two are alike.
Jeepneys operate like mini-buses, running on fixed routes with destinations clearly marked on the vehicle's body, and offering very affordable fares. However, unlike buses which must stop at specific stations, jeepney drivers can flexibly pick up or drop off passengers anywhere with just a wave of their hand. Alongside jeepneys, tricycles also contribute to the vibrant street life of the Philippines.
Besides jeepneys, tricycles also contribute to the vibrant street life of the Philippines.
Sitting on these characteristic modes of transportation, tourists can truly feel the pulse of the city: traversing bustling streets, observing the rhythm of daily life, chatting with locals, or stopping at small roadside eateries to enjoy the most authentic Filipino flavors.
Chinatown in Manila
As the most vibrant capital of the Philippines, Manila captivates visitors with its blend of ancient charm and modern life.
Yet, amidst this modern and bustling life, Manila still preserves its nostalgic fragments of the past. Stopping at Intramuros – the ancient city built by the Spanish in the 16th century (around 1590) – visitors feel as if they have stepped into an old-world space, surrounded by moss-covered stone walls, time-worn iron gates, and the faint sound of church bells echoing in the distance. Rain brightens the ancient paving stones, blending with the scent of historical ashes and damp brown tiles. The city walls bear the silent marks of time, the wrought-iron balconies are covered in bougainvillea, and somewhere the church bells resound softly.
Intramuros, an ancient citadel built by the Spanish in the 16th century.
Most visitors to Intramuros hire a horse-drawn carriage to tour the old town.
Following the narrow road behind the Intramuros fort, winding alleyways gradually appear, lined with houses stacked on top of each other. Here, Manila is no longer the city of brightly lit skyscrapers or bustling shopping malls. That's when I encountered a completely different Manila – a side not found in travel guides or in the glamorous photos often seen on social media.
Children frolic on the rain-soaked street; a man sits in a grocery store, smiling kindly at a stranger; jeepney drivers pull over to take shelter, laughing heartily as they share cigarettes. Makeshift houses with corrugated iron roofs stand close together, stacked like colorful matchboxes. A few steps further, everyday life unfolds vividly with the sound of music blaring from loudspeakers, creating an unusually cheerful atmosphere. And amidst this seemingly cramped and stifling space, life stirs gently, peacefully, in a strangely captivating way.
The woman held her child on the porch, with damp clothes drying on the corrugated iron roof above.
Three-wheeled vehicles are also quite common.
The pink grocery store...
Then, from a window of the grocery store, the man gazed into the distance as if watching the flow of life that had passed before his eyes countless times.
These scenes are not wonders to behold, nor are they perfect beauties to marvel at. They are simply slices of life, the breath of a city that has experienced the ups and downs of time. Because ultimately, travel is not just about hunting for beautiful photo opportunities, but also about listening to and feeling the sounds of local life in each place we visit.
On the way back, the rain had just stopped. The city reflected in puddles shimmering with the yellow lights of dusk. Manila was still noisy, crowded, and congested with traffic for over an hour, even though the journey to my hotel was only 8 kilometers. But somehow, I felt a sense of calm. Perhaps it was the narrow alleyways, the unexpected encounters, and the wordless conversations… that made Manila so memorable. Because sometimes, the most memorable thing about a trip isn't the famous destination, but the moment you stop to listen to a city breathe its own unhurried rhythm.
The lively chatter disturbed the otherwise silent space.
Manila, Philippines, may be bustling with the speed of a modern metropolis, but hidden within are small corners where time seems to slow down. For the soul of a city doesn't lie in its grand structures, but in its unnamed alleyways, where daily life unfolds peacefully and quietly.
Join Travellive in admiring images of the streets and daily life of the people of Manila, Philippines:
Traffic jams in Manila are a rare opportunity to see the vibrant streets; a little rain and... flooding.
A chat after school
In front of the Intramuros ancient city.
The narrow alleyways and everyday life in Manila
Colorful grocery store
The small houses, built close together with dilapidated tin roofs, were always filled with the sounds of buyers and sellers around the housing complex.
Listen to the city breathe not through noisy avenues, but through the silent pulse of its narrow alleyways.
