Manila：May 20-22, 2016

The Philippine people elected its new president, Rodrigo Duterte, early this month. I visited Manila for the first time in more than 20 years.

The city was full of energy and messy. New shopping centers were crowded with families while many people live in the slum areas. The gap between the rich and the poor was big.

These impressions were similar to those I got in Jakarta a few months ago.

There used to be a place called “smoky mountain” of garbage in the northern part of the city. It was called as it produced heat because of the pressure from the new garbage piled above and smoked. People tried to find renewable materials from the garbage.

It does not smoke any longer because wasting new garbage here was prohibited. Still, people in the area still make their living by disposing garbage. Large slum areas spread. (see also the 2nd photo from the top)

Down south about seven kilometers, there is a huge shopping mall called SM Moll of Asia. It is one of the largest malls. 

I saw many people enjoying shopping.

There are many office buildings and shopping centers stand in the central part of Makati City, southern part of Metropolitan Manila.

There also are places where high-quality residential houses are built. The places are enclosed for the residents and unauthorized people are not allowed to go in. The spaces are called villages or parks.

The politics must be complicated. But there exist continuing poverty and widening gap between the rich and the poor. They may be elements behind the popularity of Mr. Duterte.

Posters of the politicians are everywhere. (see also the 5th photo from the top)

I saw the construction works of buildings in many places. (see the 3rd photo from the top)

The works of new railways and other infrastructure are also underway. Still public transportation system and other infrastructure are not enough. The train was so crowded when I got it. I also saw a long line of people in the Taft Avenue Station of the Line 3 to enter the platform.

The jeepney is widely used for the transportation of people.

The security check is strong at the stations, shopping malls and other places. 

The Manila Bay was beautiful.(see also the top photo)

The historical Intramuros district preserves the atmosphere of the Spanish rule era between 16 and 19 centuries.

I found many people went church on Sunday. The chorus were beautiful.