I had traveled to the Philippines with my lady about a month ago & we stayed in the vicinity of Pasay City. Unfortunately, the area is pretty much a slum where you can see a lot of poor people by the roadsides especially at night. Additionally, the local jeep vehicles used for cheap transportation are parked in large numbers in the area, making it a hangout for many locals. Most of the people in the street at night are presumably harmless but the lack of street lighting in the area makes it feel more dangerous than it actually is so no sense in taking the risk of being mugged by taking a walk into the night at Pasay City with the locals staring creepily at you. One experience of walking in the area at night was enough for me & my lady. So don’t go there because you can’t see anything interesting especially at night plus it’s not worth the risk.
What alarmed me most was that there was a security guard in a 24 hour convenience store. There must be a reason for it. Furthermore, I arrived to Pasay City by bus from Clark airport. Beware of the sleazy Aussie Connection cab driver in the white taxi at the bus station who will charge triple the cost of cab fare. It does not make sense to pay the same amount of 10 minute cab fare which costs similar to a 3 hour travel by bus. He will be offering to show his ideals of better hotels. I realized now that he had rigged his taxi meter to start at 285 Philippine pesos (about US$6) even before the cab moved. Hence, whatever the amount that shown on the meter of the scamming cab driver, the real amount you are supposed to pay is way less because a hotel service car cost only 150php. More ??worst places to travel to?? information is available at Peter Greenberg’s site(www.petergreenberg.com) who is the author of the book called Don’t Go There & also travel host for the Today Show.
Abas
Pasay City is classified as a highly urbanized City. Like in any part of the world there are unsightly areas where you see poor people which you would perhaps consider slum areas. Depending on affordability one would choose a decent place to stay for leisure vacation.
The city of Pasay has long been a great earner for Metropolitan Manila and not at all a slum area. Roxas Boulevard which sits in Pasay City - is a recognized center for culture and the arts in the country. Found here is the Cultural Center of the Philippines, which was built to symbolize the country’s national cultural development. Not far from the Cultural Center of the Philippines stands the Folks Arts Theater. The work of Architect Leandro Locsin, the 10,000-capacity theater is used for popular performances which anticipate extensive audiences. Just west of Roxas Blvd is the huge SM Mall of Asia, the largest in the Philippines and is the third largest in the world, at least by floor size and ranks behind the Golden Resources Mall in China and the West Edmonton Mall in Canada.
Found in Pasay are the houses of two prominent people in the national government, Claro M. Recto and President Manuel L. Quezon. With its nearness to Manila and the proliferation of business firms and factories, Pasay has been the target destination of people from all walks of life who have wanted to settle and build beautiful residences in the metropolis. Pasay is now a progressive city boasting modern conveniences and, for its huge urban settlers, inexpensive forms of transportation. Pasay City has also good hotels like the Heritage Hotel, Sofitel, Traders or Kabayan Hotel and the like. I am Canadian and have been to the Philippines and have stayed in various areas and it is beautiful…you cannot nickel and dime if you want a memorable experience…
Russielle Lantin
December 12th, 2008
I just been to Manila and Pasay City last month and have a enjoyable stay, yes I saw some squater area but I did’nt not see any dirty things the the guy commenting on Pasay sity, if you are looking for a pegeon hole of course you will be on the not too good to your eyes, specially you mentioned that you are with your lady friend???? who maybe not familiar in Metro Manila enviroment and where to go what to see….Manila and Pasay City is now have the two BIGGEST MALL IN ASIA AND THE OTHER ONE IS THE THIRD LARGEST MALL IN THE WORLD, now if your LADY FRIEND don’t know this and did not bring to this beautiful Malls…I don’t know from where you met her????
Ursula Hesse
December 12th, 2008
Manila is definitely one of the worst, dirtiest/filthiest/smelliest and corrupted, godforsaken place in the whole wide world. Don’t even dream of goign there.
nesuhi erehwon
July 30th, 2009
I wouldn’t ask you about where you are from, I guess that by the way you classify our city means that you are from some sort of a heavenly place where you can’t say anything bad about the place. It is true that we lack a lot of street lights and everything, but that doesn’t mean that the place has a scarcity of peace-loving, intelligent, polite, considerate, and hospitable people. When I travel, which I do most of the time, I look at the positive side of each places. It’s the same as looking into a glass with half of its content. It is on how you look at it, half full or half empty. don’t tell me that there’s no murderers, robbers, looters, kidnappers, gamblers, drug addicts, and swindlers from your hometown, because no one in his right mind would believe you! Where did you get your so called “lady”? In our country, you do not brand that kind of thing to a lady. You can call her your wife, girlfriend, friend , or anything that describes best the person. Not “lady”. It shows what kind of breeding your place has for you. a piece of advice, do not classify a place base on its appearance, look at the inhabitants, the people who have done no harm to you. It’s true, Pasay City is a poor city, but one thing is for sure, Pasay City is rich with good people, well-visioned personalities like its incoming mayor, Ding santos, a man with a vison to turn Pasay City into a precious city. Wait and see, Mr. whatever, go back here by 2010, look for me, Jake Pangan and I’ll show you around Pasay City and I’ll make sure that no harm would come your way. Thank you very much!
Jake Pangan
September 15th, 2009
To peter greenberg,
you must be wrong in Pasay City. perhaps your lady friends had brought you to other place and not in Pasay. You must know and for your information, crime is less happening in Pasay City compared to nearby city and perhaps to where you came, your country!
Atty. Allan Bong Tebelin
February 10th, 2010
We will be flying to Boracay (via Manila) this summer and are looking for a nice place to stay. I have seen reviews of Dave’s Straw Hat Inn in Boracay. Has anyone stayed there? What did you think of it?
Alayna Burget
May 7th, 2010
Yes Manila is a very dirty place I’ve been there with my wife. It is the worst place in the world, Manila is the Hell on earth. My three weeks of stay in manila was a real terror and horror, Iloilo is a much better place, the people are very kind and all the public vehicles are elegant and stylish unlike manila. I couldn’t even eat when thinking about my stay in the Philippines!
De Pac Perdrayes
June 4th, 2010