World travel and tourism Council global summit in Manila.

@Druk1 Have you ever walked in the Andes?

No mate, my interest was always the greatest mountain range on the face of the planet, always the himalayas for me, did what I set out to do which was trek in every country it touches, now planning the K2 basecamp in Pakistan.

The Philippines to be honest needs a revamped tourist board, a bit of a shake-up, even the lady interviewed on Sky news today about the travel summit sniggered when manila was mentioned and said rather tellingly that most people leave manila quickly and go to "the islands"
They also showed drone footage of Boracay, the one jewel in the crown following its 6 month shut-down and clean-up, its unusual for a western travel brochure to show a philippine destination for a reason whereas Thailand and Malaysia have page after page, there's a reason.

It certainly is as horrible, I never saw the charm,its massively polluted, reminds me of Delhi in that way, but everyone likes different places, you like manila.

I love where I am, Beach resorts aplenty, marine sanctuary, world class diving ( apo island) and mountain trails. Dumaguete has some good restaurant and shopping malls, all within a short driving distance from my home.

Oh I forgot. Just a short boat ride from Dumaguete.
13 Wonderful Things to Do and See in Siquijor Island

Like any city Manila has it's issues but also has some good points!
I guess any new tourist visiting the Philippines through Manila for the first time wiĺ probably find themselves humming the song "Things can only get better"
I like Manila bay area plus a lot of work has gone into redevelopment of the old air base at Makita.

I have spent a lot of time on siquijor, its OK, I have a friend in Birmingham who spent a few years as dive-master on Apo.

I only ever met two types of Western visitor in Manila, the ones who work there, and the ones who visit or live there because their wives are from there so in reality they didn't have a choice on living elsewhere, I honestly don't see the charm in the city, I used to find it interesting wandering round the chaos, but that was back when I embraced it, nowadays it would drive me insane, there's over 7000 islands, 7000,but to land in Manila and set down roots because its charming is incomprehensible

And this is exactly what they are trying to overcome!

It will be like juggling with molten lava, impossible,i am a realist, 30 years ago manila was OK, nowhere near as crowded, polluted nor dirty,the last time I flew there the pollution cloud and the dirty brown colour change far out at sea made me realise its too far gone.

I have been to Manila everything looks much better when your above it, there's some honest walking tours of Manila on YouTube posted by a filipina, I will try and find one later.

The thing with walking tours is they will emphasise the things that the walker wants to bring to the attention of the viewer.
Manila has issues we all know that but so does every city across the world.
The Philippines need to put it right but it won't happen till a lot of other issues such as housing the poorer side of the population.

The thing with me is I am always going to say it as I see it,is your wife from Manila matt?

Manila....
https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/308785/manila-worlds-densely-populated-city-reimagined-harvard/

Luzon

Big island.

Dagupan