I have been given a wonderful opportunity to work in Manila for 2-3 months. I work for a company called Integreon that has worldwide facilities. The company is an outsourcing company that provides business and legal support to law firms and corporations. I work for a particular financial corporation whom has support in both Fargo and Manila. I will be going to Manila to help a new program that was launched in January that has been floundering.
I will be staying in Makati City which is the main business district of Manila. It is a relatively safe place with many security guards in place. There is both a Starbucks and a Fridays near my office. I will be working overnight shifts, which will be day shifts in Fargo. Therefore, I will probably be up about the same time as you are up. I plan on exploring the community and taking some mini trips to one of the many 7,000 islands in the Philippines to enjoy some much needed time on some of the most beautiful beaches. I am really excited and nervous for this new adventure and wonderful experience.
I plan on starting a blog so people will be able to read about my adventures, for me to connect to the rest of the world and as a journal to allow myself the memory of all my experiences in a secure place that can't be lost! My URL is:
http://journals.worldnomads.com/kristalk/
I will still be available through email, skype and will be back from May 15-May 22 for my friend Niki's wedding. I guess they couldnt wait for me to come over and were willing to pay for my trip!
Here is some general information for your viewing pleasure! Happy Friday!
MANILA INFORMATION
Overview
In the days of the Spanish Empire,Manila was Spain’s seat of power in Asia and the
Pacific. Today, the city and itspeople are a mish-mash of the East and West. A string of
harsh invasions (Spain, USA and Japan)and a history of hardships molded Filipinos into
resilient, good-humored andresourceful people, traits that can be seen in their everyday
life.
The friendliness of Filipinostranslates to good customer service in hotels, businesses
and malls. Most residents speakEnglish, so navigating the city is not a big problem. These,
plus the added purchasing value of theforeign exchange rate, make Manila a great place for
guests looking for luxury, pamperingand bargains.
‘Manila’ really refers to two places:the City of Manila, founded by Spanish conquerors in
1571 by the side of Manila Bay, andthe larger Metropolitan Manila (abbreviated to Metro Manila), which encompassesthe City of Manila and 17 other cities. Filipinos use ‘Manila’ to mean MetroManila, while the term Manileño is reserved exclusively for the City ofManila’s residents.
Manila’s history is intertwined withits geographic location. Manila Bay was an ideal port for
Spanish ships bearing gold, spices,silk and ceramics (treasure hunters still seek sunken Manila galleons
today). Unfortunately for Manileños,this also attracted a string of invaders.
Spain first conquered Manila in 1571.For 300 years, Spain successfully repelled a series of invasion
attempts by the Chinese, Dutch and theBritish. A Filipino revolutionary force triumphed over the
Spanish in 1896. But this wasshort-lived as the USA took over Manila in 1898. The city finally got its
independence after WWII.
Climate
The city is mostly warm and humid,with an average temperature of 27°C (81°F). It gets cooler in the months ofDecember to February (down to around 21°C/70°F), and warmer to hot during Marchto May (up to around 34°C/93°F). The rainy season used to be in June toSeptember, but this has shifted towards September to October, with typhoonsoften arriving during these months.
SightseeingOverview
Manila has many facets to satisfydifferent tastes. History buffs will enjoy the rich heritage of the old Manilacity. The Spanish influence is still evident in the old quarters of the cityand in local traditions.
Most Filipinos are Catholic and Manilahas numerous old churches, some dating back 300 years. Food lovers can feast onthe diversity of local cuisine, which incorporates the good stuff from Spanish,Indian and Chinese cooking. Shopaholics will love the malls easily accessiblewithin the metropolis.
