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Arriving in the Philippines in the midst of Typhoon Bualoi, it was only a few days after the storm had passed that I had a chance to tour Manila, just as a light rain fell on the city on a mild gray day. The rain was not torrential, just enough for drops to roll down the car windows, turning the scenery outside into a watercolor painting: where the buildings, the colorful jeepneys and the bustling people were all blurred in the mist. The “city tour” thus suddenly became slow, like an old film in slow motion, each frame a moment worth keeping for a long time.
A rainy day in Manila – when the streets are 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 are looking for famous destinations or hidden corners, this city always has something to make people curious to explore. From the car, Manila appears with a scene of passing electric wires, the silhouettes of jeepneys... as if hiding a city breathing after a long history.
Jeepney is an integral part of the culture and daily life of Manila people.
One interesting point when traveling around Manila is the ubiquitous presence of jeepneys – dubbed the “king of the roads” in the Philippines. After World War II, Filipinos cleverly took advantage of American military jeeps, improving them by lengthening the body, adding a roof and two rows of long seats at the back to carry passengers. Over time, they have turned these vehicles into a distinctive public transport full of personality. Not only is it an iconic public transport, but it is also an indispensable part of the daily life culture of the people here.
Famous for its unique exterior, each jeepney is a mobile work of art with a one-of-a-kind appearance, decorated with vibrant colors and hand-painted motifs that reflect 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 minibuses, running on fixed routes with destinations clearly marked on the body of the vehicle and very affordable fares. But unlike buses that have to stop at specific stops, jeepney drivers can flexibly pick up or drop off passengers anywhere, with just a wave of their hand. Besides jeepneys, tricycles also contribute to the bustling life of the Philippine streets.
Besides jeepneys, tricycles also contribute to the bustling life of the Philippine streets.
Sitting on these typical vehicles, tourists can truly feel the breath of the city: passing through crowded streets, observing the rhythm of daily life, chatting with local people, or stopping at small roadside eateries to enjoy the flavors of the Philippines in the most natural way.
Chinatown in Manila
As the most vibrant capital of the Philippines, Manila captivates visitors with its blend of ancient features and modern life.
However, amidst the modern and vibrant pace of life, Manila still preserves for itself nostalgic pieces of the past. Stopping at Intramuros - the ancient citadel built by the Spanish in the 16th century (around 1590), visitors seem to be lost in an old space, between moss-covered stone walls, iron doors stained with time and the sound of church bells ringing somewhere. The rain makes the old paving stones shine with damp streaks, blending with the smell of historical ashes and damp brown tiles. The citadel walls are silent with traces of time, the curved iron balconies are covered with bougainvillea and somewhere the sound of church bells echoes silently.
Intramuros, the ancient citadel built by the Spanish in the 16th century
Most visitors to Intramuros hire a horse-drawn carriage to tour around the ancient city.
Following the small road behind the ancient citadel of Intramuros, narrow alleys gradually appeared, with tin-roofed houses stacked on top of each other. Here, Manila was no longer a city of brightly lit high-rise buildings or bustling shopping centers. That was when I encountered a completely different Manila - one that did not appear in travel guidebooks, nor in the sparkling pictures often seen on social media.
Children frolicked on the road still wet from the rain; a man sat in a grocery store smiling kindly at strangers; jeepney drivers pulled over to take shelter from the rain, laughing heartily as they shared cigarettes. Temporary tin-roofed houses were close together, stacked on top of each other like colorful matchboxes. A few steps further, daily life came alive with the sound of loudspeakers playing music, strangely cheerful. And in the midst of that seemingly cramped, stuffy space, life stirred gently, strangely peaceful.
A woman holding a child in front of the porch, above are wet clothes drying on the corrugated iron roof
Tricycles are also quite popular.
Pink grocery store...
Then from a grocery store window, the man looked into the distance as if following the flow of life that had passed before his eyes countless times.
These scenes are not wonders to be admired, nor are they perfect beauties to be admired. They are simply slices of life, the breath of the city through the ups and downs of time. After all, traveling is not just about hunting for beautiful photo angles, but also about listening and feeling the sounds of local life in each land we set foot on.
On the way back, the rain had just stopped. The city reflected in the puddles of water shimmering with yellow lights at dusk. Manila was still noisy, crowded and stuck in traffic for more than an hour for the 8km journey back to the hotel. But somehow, I felt my heart calm down. Perhaps it was the small alleys, the unexpected encounters and the wordless stories… that made Manila leave a lasting impression. Because sometimes, the most memorable thing in a trip is not the famous destination, but the moment we stop, to listen to a city breathe with its own unhurried rhythm.
The sound of chatter stirred the quiet space.
Manila, Philippines may still be spinning at the speed of a modern metropolis, but hidden deep inside are small corners where time seems to slow down. Because the soul of a city does not lie in the massive buildings, but is hidden in the small, anonymous alleys, where daily life takes place in a simple and quiet way.
Join Travellive to see street images and daily life of people in Manila, Philippines:
Traffic jams in Manila are a rare opportunity to see the lively streets, a little rain and… floods
After-school chat
In front of the ancient citadel of Intramuros
The narrow alleys and daily life in Manila
Colorful grocery store
Each small house is close together, with shabby corrugated iron roofs, and the sounds of buyers and sellers always echo around the apartment complex.
Hear the city breathe not through the noisy boulevards, but through the silent beats of the small alleys
