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Manila vs Rest of Philippines
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How is the rest of the Philippines different from Manila or Metro Manila? I understand that Manila is distinct in that it is an economic (and cultural) hub and population center, but how is it different from the average Philippines and Filipinos?
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I grew up in Cebu City. So my impressions of Manila are that of a Filipino living outside of it. Metro Manila is huge. It is composed of 16 cities or municipalities in a 620 sq. km. land area. Cebu City is tiny by comparison. Life in Manila is very different from life in other provinces. I find that life in Manila is very fast paced. Like any metropolitan city, everything is far away. Your daily commute eats up a lot of the time in your day. When we think of Manila, we would always have that in mind: everything is far away. Of course Manileños will probably disagree with me but you asked how the rest of the Philippines differs from Manila. Life outside of Manila is more slow-paced where hanging out at the mall is actually a thing (usually it is to have coffee with friends among other things), the beach with crystal clear water is less than an hour’s drive, and freshly caught seafood is widely available daily. The cost of living in Manila is also higher. Wages are higher too but if you factor in the cost of living, I doubt they would end up with more disposable income. Air pollution is a bigger problem in Manila than it is comparatively, to the rest of the country. It is easier to commune with nature when you live outside of Manila where beaches, rivers, waterfalls and lakes are in abundance. I also find that the further you are from the cities, the friendlier the people are.
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Metro Manila is much closer in culture and lifestyle to other world cities than it is to other Philippine cities and rural Filipinos. It is often referred to as “fast paced.” In the capital, we like things done and we like it done yesterday. Yes, Filipino Time still exists but if you're going to find a punctual Filipino, it will most likely be in the capital. In addition to that, people in the NCR are driven, ambitious, and slightly neurotic about work. The city never sleeps, and most of us like it that way. We work and study at all hours, especially when it's crunch time. When you're working 16 hours a day, it's nice to know your favorite restaurant will be open for breakfast before you head home for a quick bath. Many who work “normal” working hours will still only get off at 7 or 9 pm, so that's when you text your friends to meet for dinner. If you're not working OT, you're at your second job. Yes. That's a thing. For the less fortunate, that second job is riding public transport. It's hellaciously bad. Thanks, LTFRB! We work long hours, so we play when we can. People will walk, bike, or shoot hoops at 2 am if that's when they get off work. It's often the only time they have. The lack of green spaces and the engine heat from the cars makes the atmosphere very hot and polluted. Manileños seek solace in malls, small parks, and smaller neighborhoods. When you get a long break, you get out. Doesn't matter where. Anywhere that doesn't have concrete is amazing.