Manilla - Philippines

It was only after a long and tiring journey - from Bali, via Surabaya and Singapore to avoid delays due to a volcanic eruption on lombok - that I arrived in Manila, capital of the Philippines.

After 2 days, I still do not quite understand what Manila is exactly... no kidding! There sseems to be more than one city when I look at it from my hostel's roof. I asked around and indeed, there are many 'cities' composing what we simply call Manila. I see Bonifacio Global City, Makati City, then another and another, it's endless. The question remain, what is the true center of Manila? Skyscrapers are standing in groups everywhere ... all divided by low-rise residential areas and ghettos. The contrast is striking. A very kind, older Philippin gentleman shared some information with me about the people of his country. He was saying ''30% are wealthy or well-off and 70% live on the poverty line or below.'' In a population of 100 million... it is certain that it creates quite unsettling contrasts!

I saw families with young children enter under a huge statue. They live there in their sleeping bags, just outside Intramuros. Intramuros is a tourist district which is also home to universities and most renowned Philippino schools. I was shocked ... the homeless people are everywhere, and 5 minutes walk from there they sell Aston Martin and Mercedes, Gucci and Prada, the UltraHD screens and HD makeup that comes along!!! In the restaurants of Bonifacio and Makati, we are the only Caucasian, my other half and I. Indeed, we are surrounded by Philippino and Philippina which seems to be wealthier than we've ever been... I mean I never managed to afford that pair of Manolo Blahnik... they did!

Anyways, Manila is all of contrast and grandiosity. Those who said I was going to find there a second Jakarta... they were wrong. Jakarta, with only some streets of skyscrapers and a huge afflux of people, was rather uniform - nothing to do with Manila!

Long day short, I visited Intramuros and now I will have '' checks "to put on my bucketlist! Rizal Park... disappointing. Nothing to add. At least, the stormy weather allowed for a good photo of this Filipino hero!

The Cathedral of Manila, divinely beautiful and very modern... normal since it is the 7th they build on the ruins of the previous ones. Fires and earthquakes are among the reasons why the previous cathedrals were partly or completely destroyed.

San Augustin Church, divinely even better to see and so full of history. It was very well maintained over the restorations. I prayed and talked to my angels up there, having a serene moment and feeling the heavy past of the land I was walking. Sometimes you need to step down and take the full measure of the life you live.