Manila VS Cebu: No contest.
This is another long overdue post since we got back from Manila over a month ago. As I’ve mentioned in my previous post about how excited I was to visit Ann, I failed to mention that the anticipation was bitter-sweet.
I was born in Manila and spent the first half of my life there. In 1990, my mom and my other siblings moved to Cebu. I stayed with my brother in Manila because I simply didn’t want to leave my friends and the life I knew behind. It took 2 years’ worth of resistance before I finally followed and moved in with them.
Here we are, 15 years later… and I can’t imagine myself living anywhere else in the world. It would take a very very VERY attractive package before I would even consider moving back to Manila.
Manila has its perks… compared to Cebu, the shopping is simply incredible (though we are catching up faster now than we ever did). The nightlife is in full gear too. But it’s the food that I love the most. Whatever I was craving for, it was so easy to find… and then some.
But during this last trip to Manila, I was horrified how much smog developed during the past few years. A tall building as close as a 100 meters was as hazy as trees on a foggy day. I can’t believe how much concrete surrounded me.
The traffic was also horrendous. A usual 30 minute drive for us here at home would take about an hour and a half there. Which was why we missed our flight. A sudden downpour caused a web of traffic. Ann’s usual 1 hour travel time from picking the kids up from school and going home turned into a six (yes, SIX!) hour wait.
It was such a relief to be back home. Though Manila offers a very glamorous lifestyle: the shopping, the dining, the nightlife… and Cebu could be very backward in that sense… I wouldn’t trade my life for anyone glamorous in Manila.
Yes, I will miss the food. But I won’t miss the smog… the traffic… the high stress levels… the floods… the acid rain… the expense. Cebu is home. Cebu is laid back, hot and sunny, cheap… PROVINCIAL. Just the way it should be. I love Cebu for its flaws… for it is why Cebu is Cebu.
September 30th, 2008 at 8:26 am
cebu is better than manila
September 30th, 2008 at 10:15 am
so true, john… oh so true.
and i’m so happy that i live in cebu.
May 15th, 2009 at 12:04 am
Thanks, I enjoyed reading your post. It?s nice to see someone writing something worth reading. Take care.
- Jack
June 21st, 2009 at 5:01 am
Cebu outdoes Manila for once!!
Visited parkmall today. Out of Africa BBQ and Steakhouse is on soft opening.
So this is great, a major international franchise has come to Cebu first, before Manila! This should happen more often.
This is my report! Details come from the manager and owners who gave me a tour….it is like a museum!
The restaurant is amazing, animal heads, African paintings and sculptures. There is a African Safari Lodge upstairs that is not yet finished, since they are on soft opening. An original 100 year old bar from South Africa and separate antique wine rack.
They have a Father’s Day special of CROCODILE. The owner told me that they would have Ostrich, Wild Boar, Water Buffalo, Turtle, Deer, Lamb, Venison, Goat, Iguana and other exotic meats after their grand opening in July of 2009.
The chef was trained by two of the Out of Africa Group chefs from South Africa. I met Mike who is the on site consultant from South Africa.
The manager told me that they tested the menu for 6 months in Cebu, before opening the first franchise and their flagship restaurant in the Philippines of Out of Africa BBQ and Steakhouse in Parkmall.
The crocodile was great!
intp
July 1st, 2009 at 9:16 am
I haven’t had the opportunity to visit Parkmall lately but thanks to your comment, i will very soon.
I’m not that adventurous when it comes to food, i like my food normal but maybe I should let my inhibitions go and try out the exotic menu. Thank you!!!
August 7th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Going back home to Cebu from Australia we used to stop in Manila and catch a domestic airplane to Cebu. But, after an 11 hour flights and getting off at Manila International Airports. The first thing we notice is the pollution, the pollutions is just so high, it is like breathing carbon dioxide. So after many years, we now just catch a direct flight to Cebu. No more stopping at Manila. What’s the best way do you think the Government can reduce the pollution in Manila? There must be away…Because at the end of the day, Manila is also a very modern and a very beautiful city…and beautiful people…
September 21st, 2009 at 5:07 am
i would rather say cebu lags behind manila far ahead, manila is such developed city that it is the 2nd richest city in southeast asia only singapore beat manila. cebu is such a clean and well settings city because it is not modern yet, manila is such a polluted because it experience wars and modern industrialization.
October 24th, 2009 at 2:49 am
Cebu is a whole package. It has the modern night life, beaches and resorts, historical places, waterfalls, mountains and rural life. It’s very easy to escape from the city’s hassle by just going to beaches in the north or in the south and come back again. Manila maybe the second richest but Cebu has been always the fasting growing economy in the Philippines and Asia. If only Philippines is a federal country like USA, Cebu might have already outlasted Manila in no time. And unlike Manila, Cebu rarely gets typhoon. I love Cebu. I miss Cebu.
March 9th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Cebu is a taste of everything. When going to work, you can drive by SRP and see, feel the fresh sea air as if you are going to a vacation. Isnt it nice going to work seeing oceanview? its so refreshing.
March 29th, 2010 at 8:47 am
Yes Cebu is better than Manila – but in a few years there will be no difference between Cebu and Manila – only the Lechon
. If uve got cool adventures in cebu, want to party in cebu, or simply want to know where it’s best to eat, join the newest Cebu info platforms – highly recommended by all of my friends
http://www.yummy-cebu.com
http://www.gimmick-cebu.com
http://www.vacation-cebu.com
and also new and upcoming: http://www.shopping-cebu.com – coming soon, though, very soon…
May 7th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
When it comes to nightlife and hipness and gimmiks .. manila crushes cebu.
when it comes to relaxation and cleanliness and laid back life cebu crushes manila.
two different scenes for two different tastes.
June 10th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
Manila is still the best! yes I know there is a problem in pollution and traffic but hey! even tokyo has problem in pollution and traffic too! even new yorka nd each and every industrialized city! without a doubt, economically speaking manila is better even if the government make cebu as a federal state! not even in your life time! career wise! I rather be in manila than cebu, fastest growing economy? maybe, maybe not. in fact CALABARZON and CENTRAL LUZON has even higher GRDP than the entire CENTRAL VISAYAS. In terms of human development index cebu is lagging behind benguet, rizal, cavite, laguna, bataan, pangasinan, pampangga, nueva vizcaya. manila has its tall sky scrapers biggest shopping malls, grandest hotels, transportation systems, beautiful sun set, best night life, best schools in the country, and if you are not happy with that. neighbouring provinces can offer the widest selection of amenities and activity’s. like laguna for hot springs and resort, and enchanted kingdom which is the philippines best theme parks, tagaytay if you are looking for a relaxing vacation over looking taal volcano with cool weather and fresh air. and batangas for magnificent beaches and this is just 2-6 hours away from manila. and if your not happy with that! go to davao! lolz!
October 17th, 2010 at 6:37 am
CEBU OR SINGHAPALA IS THE BEST!!!COOL,CONSERVATIVE & CAUTIOUS.
January 16th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
Stop saying cebu is better than manila or vice versa, another negative for Filipinos.
For EXAMPLE, did japanese people compare osaka/nagoya with their capital tokyo? NO. Did japanese compare kyoto the former capital of japan with their current capital, tokyo? NO.
Don’t compare the capital city with a city in a province, OK. =P
March 5th, 2011 at 6:39 am
kos-mos I definitely agree. Manila is the capital of this country and therefore should be unparalleled.
March 28th, 2011 at 11:50 am
Manila sucks. Cebu = beautiful beaches, beautiful people, great boxers, great singers and musicians, great food.
April 8th, 2011 at 2:27 am
Most of the call centers in Cebu City have their central offices located in Manila esp. in? Makati. My cousin is working in one of the call centers in Cebu and the address of their BIR forms is MANILA. That really sucks! Cebu is paying taxes to Makati thus increasing Makati’s income. It is one of the unfair economic policies in the Philippines. It’s time for Cebu to separate from Philippines and build its own republic. LONG LIVE REPUBLIC OF CEBU!!! The real income of Cebu island is 25-30 BILLION. Manila sucks big time in english jproficiency and scored only 40% compared to Cebu’s 70% in John Clement’s English Proficiency. Manila has 92% literacy rate compared to Cebu’s 97%. Cebu was the first to experience the internet, WIFI and WIMAX technology in the Phils. and Manila lags behind. Cebu will soon will build the tallest building in the Philippines about 85 storeys and will build the tallest observatory tower in the Philippines. CEBU SHOULD SECEDE FROM PHILIPPINES. MANILA PEOPLE ARE STUPID, IGNORANT, GARBAGE/COCKROACH/HOUSEFLIES EATERS. MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN MANILA ARE JEJEMONS (VERY LOW IQ). MANILA WILL BECOME BANKRUPT BECAUSE OF ITS $4.74 BILLION DEBT FROM THE WORLD BANK. MANILA’S INCOME IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO PAY THAT. ABOUT 60% OF THE MANILA’S POPULATION ARE SLUM DWELLERS. CEBU HAS THE FIRST SUBWAY IN THE PHILIPPINES AND HOME TO 80% OF THE DOMESTIC/INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING COMPANIES.
July 5th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Manila has everything you need – shopping, food, nightlife, everything else.
Cebu is still provincial and offers nothing! The beaches are brown sand (and artificial), the restaurants are overpriced, and it has pollution that rivals Manila in some regards (ever drive on Osmena circle with your window open on a hot day? say hello to SMOG).
For now, if you want all of the amenities — live in Manila. If you want provincial “laid back” lifestyle, go with Davao or better still Bohol (at least a lot of white sand beaches).
July 11th, 2011 at 8:38 am
manila is a rotten city nothing good in manila 60% poverty, crime,pollution and corruption to the max! everything in manila is 100X worse than cebu!
July 19th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
Cebu is better than Manila.
The environment, its much cleaner, the government are already starting to enforce strict garbage laws. Food stalls are starting to be banned. Electrical wiring are starting to be put underground.
Many South Koreans, Japanese and Russians take direct flights to Cebu. Cebu is already very popular among Tokyoites (people who live in Tokyo).
Businesses and infrastructure development is increasing at a much higher rate than Manila. Cebu already has the first Subway in the Philippines.
Squatters are mainly found under the highways, but they are soon to be placed in government housing apartments.
The model and pattern of development Cebu is currently in is similar to Singapore.
Manila can stay as the capital, with all those crazy people and those shallow crazy celebrities. all the government can stay in Manila. Cebuanos don’t want those pesky and corrupt national government politicians. They can host all of those nation-wide events.
I’d rather Cebu stay as a highly developed city with the highest quality of life in the country. I’d rather have laid back and sensible, but highly educated Cebuanos. I’d rather international celebrities and local Cebuano artists be celebrated in Cebu. We’d rather have foreign dignitaries and host international events.
While Manila has managed to turn itself into a truly “Filipino” city, Cebu wants to develop itself as an attractive international destionation.
Besides, tourists don’t want to visit the Philippines for malls or those sleazy clubs. The reason why Russians and South Koreans, and the Japanese flock to Cebu is for the clean, white sand, natural beaches which are in close proximity to the hotels, the laid back lifestyle, the international clothing stores in small but beautiful malls.
Cebu has both the white sand clean beaches and the international malls.
Manila only has the malls and night life. Davao and Bohol has mainly the beaches.
Besides the national government is already planning to build a land-bridge connecting Cebu and Bohol. That will even boost the development in Cebu, and also spread the development to Bohol.
August 2nd, 2011 at 6:58 am
CEBU is better than Manila – in terms of living. I’ve been to a lot of countries and been to many cities including but not limited to; Tokyo, Paris, Vienna, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Singapore, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane… & more… so I have experience in my travels & I have explored my fare share of the globe… but I keep coming back to CEBU… I love it, the LIFESTYLE is fantastic. It has everything, from Nightlife, Restaurants & Shopping, Beaches & Resorts, cheap cost of living & more… OH & I forgot… the WOMEN ARE AMAZING!!!
People in Manila don’t realise they spend a lot of time in their lives in traffic and pollution… how is that Living?
August 14th, 2011 at 2:20 am
Cebu will is the best. Manila is 50% slums. Manila sucked Cebu’s taxes big time. Manila still has to pay its 4.7 trillion debt from the world bank. Manila did not share any amount, so they are liable to pay big time. Manila will not survive without Cebu. Cebu will soon become a republic like Singapore. Cebu simply hates Manila. Cebu needs to secede from the opportunistic and jejemon Manila.
September 24th, 2011 at 12:11 am
lol, ano ba mga tao dito. puro nagaawayan, nagsisiraan kapwa pinoy
September 24th, 2011 at 10:14 am
Not until Manila stops treating Cebu and other places outside of Manila as just provinces outside of Manila, then yes we will continue to exert ourselves.
October 9th, 2011 at 5:05 am
I’ve been to a lot of places.. in the Philippines.. and other parts of the world… I am originally from the UK.
I manage an online business employing Filipino talents.
I initially planned to set-up my business in Manila, I lived there for 2 months just as a tourist to get the feel of the life style.. I honestly feel lost.. as a tourist in manila.. the traffic is horrible, people are not very accommodating maybe because they have their own problems to take care, food is Ok but its more expensive. wages are higher but everything else is higher too.
Early 2010 I went to Davao and decided to set-up my business there because it was cheaper.. I lived there for 1 year… the place is nice but there’s nothing much to do… talents are few… and there is always a threat of terrorism..
Late 2010 I went to Cebu as a tourist, little did I know, I was falling in-loved with the City and its Culture..
Fast forward to 2011 I decided to stay in Cebu and transfer my business from Davao to Cebu. and kept my workforce in Davao to work from home..
The people here are amazing, so friendly, and hospitable… you can just see the desire of the Cebuanos to succeed, they always help each other, and put down their differences when it comes to work…. the synergy and professionalism is unparallelled… and its amazing!
My entire family from UK, decided to migrate to Cebu (wife and 2 kids).
If you want to find a home in the Philippines then I would highly recommend Cebu!
October 25th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
Cebu City is boring and ugly. It’s trying too hard to be like Manila, yes there may be more pollution and traffic there, but it is waaaayyyy more beautiful, exciting and fun! The people are glamorous in Manila,unlike people in Cebu. The only place I like in Cebu is Ayala because it kinda looks like Makati, but the rest is garbage, garbage, garbage… This is coming from a person who doesn’t live in the Philippines. Lol
November 8th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
“welltraveledchick ” – wow. what a typical tagalog. lol . you’re like a spoiled kid bragging about his dad’s car. remember, part of manila’s income is from cebu. and never was part of cebu’s is/was from manila. so don’t be bragging about what you have there when you were just taking money from your parents. “centralized govt./funding is the way to go for manila to survive but still has about $5 B debt.”
November 8th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
lex, i know why you stay in cebu
November 30th, 2011 at 4:23 pm
CEBU – Villa del Santíssimo Nombre de Jesús” (Town of the Most Holy Name of Jesus). “Simple yet elegant”. Lovely
MANILa – Ive been there plenty times but really i didnt find anything special except for one thing – My freind was arrested by a police officer without any reason, they grabbed him inside the car and then accused of drugs related crimes. What angered me the most was that when they heard that we were speaking cebuano language, they said that cebuanos were criminals… goddam it… i said to myself who were these people to say that kind of thing to us? Luckily I was able to arranged it with 5k in my pocket.
December 12th, 2011 at 9:48 am
@sri vijaya: you are the same @overaw who commented on NM Cabangbang’s wordpress blogsite about Manila. I bet you are also @Sonyun. Anyways, most Manila bashers base their criticisms on exaggerations and lies. Like pollution — those in Beijing, China and Mexico are worse than Manila’s. Traffic? Of course, Manila won’t be a metropolis without it.
Let me answer @Sonnyun’s arguments point by point:
He said: “Food stalls are starting to be banned. Electrical wiring are starting to be put underground.”
I say: He’s exaggerating. Food stalls are everywhere downtown and at the port area in Cebu. There are more CBDs in Manila with underground electrical wirings.
He says: “Many South Koreans, Japanese and Russians take direct flights to Cebu. Cebu is already very popular among Tokyoites (people who live in Tokyo).”
I say: Manila has its fair share of these kinds of tourists.
Businesses and infrastructure development is increasing at a much higher rate than Manila. Cebu already has the first Subway in the Philippines.
He says: “Businesses and infrastructure development is increasing at a much higher rate than Manila. Cebu already has the first Subway in the Philippines.”
I say he’s lying. Cebu doesn’t have a subway but a tunnel which we also have everywhere in Manila. Cebu doesn’t even have a respectable highway.
He says: “Squatters are mainly found under the highways, but they are soon to be placed in government housing apartments.”
I say he’s lying. I dare him to cite even one gov’t apartment project for squatters in Cebu.
He says: “The model and pattern of development Cebu is currently in is similar to Singapore.”
I say: that’s what he thinks. Dream on, girl.
He said: “Manila can stay as the capital, with all those crazy people and those shallow crazy celebrities.”
I say: Those shallow crazy celebrities sell among the Dodongs and Indays, a great number of which come from Cebu.
He said: “I’d rather have laid back and sensible, but highly educated Cebuanos.”
I say: Manila has UP, Ateneo, La Salle, UA&P, AIM, UST and thousands of other schools.
He said: “I’d rather international celebrities and local Cebuano artists be celebrated in Cebu.”
I say: Most international concerts are held in Manila, only a handful in Cebu.
He said: “We’d rather have foreign dignitaries and host international events.”
I say: Conduct a survey how many international events are held at PICC, World Trade Center, Manila Hotel and other hotels compared to CICC and Cebu’s hotels.
He said: “While Manila has managed to turn itself into a truly “Filipino” city, Cebu wants to develop itself as an attractive international destination.”
I say: He’s right — Cebu wants to develop itself. But Manila HAS LONG BEEN an attractive international destination.
He said: “Besides, tourists don’t want to visit the Philippines for malls or those sleazy clubs.”
I say: Cebu is the sex capital in Southern Philippines with rampant cybersex in Mactan. I heard from newspapers that yoni massage is good there.
He said: “Besides the national government is already planning to build a land-bridge connecting Cebu and Bohol. That will even boost the development in Cebu, and also spread the development to Bohol.”
I say he’s lying. PNoy already scratched that bridge.
February 6th, 2012 at 10:44 am
I’m an Australian, I love the Philippines, I fell in Love with Cebu and I live in Cebu now for the past 4 years. I know that Manila is the capital but to be honest, and I dont mean to offend but the people and the place is very seedy. I got pick pocketed, taxi drivers always rip me off, actually almost everyone tries to ripp me off as soon as you arrive in Ninoy International Airport and less smiling faces. I was only in Manila for a month and I did not enjoy my stay there at all, I wouldnt go back there, its just not for me…… I dont know if anyone has noticed, but Cebuanos are very relaxing, fun & warm people… they really love to sing and dance.. a friend of mine once told me its like the Rio De Janeiro of South East Asia… & its not hard to see the comparisons at all… music, dancing, festivals – Sinulog, girls, beaches,& resorts… what more could you ask for.
So I highly recommend Cebu over Manila.