Markets and Street Scenes, Manila

if you don't have anything better to do on a sunday morning or afternoon, or even on an ordinary weekday, you might want to drop by the salcedo park in salcedo village, makati. everyday around 8am-9am and 4pm-6pm, all kinds of dogs are being walked by their owners or yayas. from siberian huskies to fox terriers to beagles to british bulldogs...its like watching a dog show!
for those who aren't so fond of dogs, don't fret. salcedo park is still a nice park to go to if you want to relax. they've got lots of trees and shade with benches strewn all over the place, a nice, big playground for kids and a jogging path for walking or jogging. coffee shops are also located around the park if you want something to drink. and every sunday they've got an open air market where you can buy fresh produce and other products.

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When visiting Binondo church, I am sure you would not miss seeing the violet firetruck parked beside the church. You would be wondering of all colors why violet.

Maybe the firetruck is donated or ownde by the owner of Eng Bee Tin who is famous for its hopia, tikoy and other chinese delicacies. The theme color of the store itsel is also purple.

There are two purple firetruck parked along Ongpin Street. The fire brigade who are all volunteers are always ready to respond whenever their services is needed.

The Pasig River taken from the back side of Fort Santiago. I didn't see any boat rides being offered which might be kind of cool. The other side of the river is Binondo which is one of my favorite parts of Manila!

Why not trying local food along the street? price is cheap! Filipinos loves eating some little snacks. These is very common in Manila... Barbeque in the street, you have choices of pork, beef, hotdog and chicken. Chicken barbeque sold the most with it's assortiment of legs, head or intestine, so rare? perhaps Filipinos like it.

The DIVISORIA MARKET off C.M. Recto, Manila, sells everything under the sun for up to 50% less. A real bargain-hunters' paradise, although you may have to bear with the crowds and the traffic. And, if you have enough courage, patience, and good humor to venture out to Manila's most famous mercado, you'll get to experience a slice of Filipino life very few foreign visitors have had the opportunity to see. Don't bring too much money (you'll get by fabulously on very little), don't wear any jewelry, watch your bags, and wear decent shoes!

Manila has a big problem with streetkids.And the kids going to jail sometimes very early in their lives.Drug,prostitution and other disasters hit the kids and get it very hard to get back to a normal life.

Some of the streetkids get sick without a place to stay and some of them also get mental sick of this hard life with drugs and prostitution and no support from family or goverment.The picture show a kid on a mental hospital in Manila.

The slums are no different from any of the other thrid world country. But the question for me was whether within that one week when I was in Philippines, coul I make any contributions at all.