Recently have visited Manila for the first time in my life. I have stayed in Makati in the Metro Manila. If you just staying within the city, you probably will always see nice picture, clean streets, tall buildings, beatiful parks and luxury hotels. A minute i stepped out to travel just outside of the city it was massive difference, unfortunately i was in the hurry and could not stop-by to take pictures, but it looks a bit scary.
Generally i found it a nice place, with lovely and smiley people around you, taxi drivers that will try to screw you up unless you will ask to have a ride by taximeter and plenty of nice places to have a bite to eat.
One thing to mention, temperature outside was all the time around 32C is always hot especially for people coming from the Western Europe. Generally i don't like to go to shopping malls, but this time it was the only place to cool down.
All the best,
R.G.
