Smile, you’re in Asia’s friendliest metropolis

There’s a reason this city is one of Asia’s fastest rising stars.

The first thing you’ll notice about Manila are the stares you attract from locals. No one grows up in this city being told that it’s impolite to stare, so the habit has just stuck. Don’t worry, these are just curious glances and the only response is a friendly smile.

The second thing you’ll want to get your head round is the city’s intricate urban geography. Outside of the Philippines, the Metro Manila area is simply Manila but as you navigate your way around, you’ll find it comprises 16 mini cities.

Among them: trendy and cosmopolitan Makati City, Bonifacio Global City and Ortigas City, the financial and commercial hubs. About 10km east is the seat of government, the old town of Manila where a few traces of its Spanish colonial heritage can still be seen in some of the crumbling architecture.

The Philippines economy has soared since 2010, with GDP up by 42%; current-account surplus up by 77% and global competitiveness ranking also up by 33 places, based on figures from the International Monetary Fund and World Economic Forum. This stunning progress has marked the nation out as one of the fastest growing in Asia.

Export labour still feeds about $20 billion in to the economy in annual remittances (money sent home by Filipinos working overseas). But these days Filipinos have far less reason to look for work abroad, half of the special zones registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority are information technology parks or business outsourcing firms, which have become an $18 billion industry in the Philippines.

Last year the city hosted the World Economic Forum and in November, 2015, the APEC Summit where 20-member economies outlined new commitments for the Asia-Pacific region. US President Barack Obama and China President Xi Jinping  were among the high-profile guests.

The Philippines is known worldwide for a high standard of spoken English which makes it a top choice for call centre support businesses and other outsourced services across the English-speaking world.  Manila ranks third on a list of top 100 outsourcing destinations, according to Tholons, a US-based strategic advisory firm. Around 400,000 Filipino college graduates enter the workforce every year, and many work for call centres and other business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in software and web development, legal and transcription, finance, logistic and accounting services.

 In spite of this love of languages making yourself understood in a business relationship can be difficult for outsiders. Filipinos prefer to be extremely polite and may not always respond in a straightforward manner if they think their answer might hurt someone’s feelings. It takes a while to adjust to this mode of speaking but once you get the hang of it— by picking up on subtle cues — communication gets a lot easier. Office environments here are expat-friendly with a strong family vibe.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is the main international gateway for travellers to the Philippines. The airport is about 7km south of Manila proper and southwest of Makati. Visa rules have been eased for at least 150 countries, but arriving travellers must hold a ticket out of the country as well as passport that’s valid for at least six months.

For years, NAIA was regarded as one of the world’s worst international airports so prepare yourself for chaos. Although recently airport authorities have tried hard to change this poor international reputation, by decongesting some areas and adding new comfortable lounges.

Waze, a community-based traffic app, recently ranked the city’s traffic the worst in the world, so try to avoid rush hour if at all possible. Plan ahead if meeting someone outside of Manila’s business districts, picking a hotel close to your place of business is strongly suggested. Manila is one of the most densely populated cities in the world with a crumbling transport infrastructure. The elevated LRT and MRT rail systems for example are often overloaded.

Renting your own car is also not recommended for foreigners but a car with a driver is easy to request from a hotel concierge or receptionist. Taxis are the preferred method for frequent Manila visitors. Just make sure it’s a metered fare to avoid being overcharged. The flag rate for a taxi is less than a dollar, but smartphone booking platforms Uber and GrabTaxi are also available.  

Philippine food is mainly influenced by Malay, Spanish and Chinese cultures, but Manila’s culinary scene is suffused with all types of food from all over the world. In Makati, hotel restaurants offer many choices for business travellers but for those venturing further out, Barcino, a Spanish restaurantin Greenbelt or at The Fort in Taguig is a great favourite with its large wine list and excellent tapas and paellas.

To appeal to both local and foreign diners, Filipino food at XO 46 Bistro in Makati blends traditional and modern cuisine. Or there’s Via Mare which serves Filipino cuisine from about 10 locations. The best buffet choices are Spirals at Sofitel and Vikings at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay, 7km west of Makati.

A must-visit north of Manila is its oldest district and historical core, Intramuros or the Walled City. Within its walls, you’ll find a crumbling fortress that protected the city from invaders.

South of the Walled City is the new City of Dreams,a 6.2-hectare integrated hotel casino complex. Inside are Nobu Hotel, Solaire and The Hyatt and restaurants with guest Michelin-starred chefs. Nearby is the Mall of Asia, the largest mall in Asia at over 4 million square  feet, which draws A-list pop stars such as Taylor Swift and Madonna to fill its mammoth theatre.

For nature lovers, there are two- to three-hour daytrips you can take outside of Manila. About 64km south of Manila, the city of Tagaytay offers panoramic views of a huge lake and inactive volcano. Considered a quick respite from city living, people come here to hike the trails in a mild climate. Further afield, snorkelling at Puerto Galera is also popular.

For those staying in Makati who don’t have time to get out of town, there’s the Ayala Museum’s ethnographic and archaeological exhibits on Filipino culture, art, and history.