My home, Manila

What is it like to live in Manila? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Manila is a very populated and urbanized city. I would definitely recommend living in Manila. The traffic and pollution might be quite bad, but the people and experiences that you make with them are some of the best things that this city can offer.

Others say that Filipinos are the warmest people you'll ever meet.

What is the student lifestyle like in Manila?

It depends which university you'll be attending. I studied at a university in the northern part of Manila. It was near 2 other universities and residential areas so it is not as populated and polluted like the universities at the university belt.

How much does it cost to live in Manila?

It is very cheap to live in Manila. It would depend where and what you want to eat but price range may be 100-250 pesos per meal at nice restaurants (2-5 dollars). But you can buy other delicious options for only a dollar.

Transportation is also cheap but it would depend if you plan to take cabs all the time then it would be quite expensive.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Manila? Is there any advice you can give?

Not really. There are a lot of condominiums being built nowadays. Those are better options than apartments because they're safer.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

SO GOOD. Mostly are fusions of Filipino food and other cultures (Asian, western). I like grilled food (fish, pork, chicken), gising gising (vegetable dish) and sizzling sisig.

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They are must-try dishes!

What places would you recommend visiting in Manila?

Malls (there are a lot), The Fort or Chino Roces for bars/clubs, Intramuros for a heritage tour.

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I recommend touring the nearby cities/towns near Manila too though. The Philippines is composed of 7, 107 islands and you gotta visit at least a few of them! Our beaches are to die for!

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Is it good to eat out in Manila? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Yes, there are so many restaurants popping out of nowhere nowadays. You can try going to food parks (they're all over the metro) since they're the fad now and you have a lot of options to choose from there.

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Is the nightlife good in Manila? Where is good to go?

Yes, right now people in their 20s until mid 30s flock at The Palace (there are 3 clubs and 1 bar there).

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If you're more of the hipster/rnb kind of person, clubs at Chino Roces are also really good options.

What advice would you give future students heading to Manila?

It's a beautiful city- once you get used to the traffic & its being populated. It's still a developing country though and crimes still happen so always be vigilant.

Be open to try new stuff like our bizarre street foods! And last but not the least, befriend many Filipinos and you'll make great memories for sure!