Shifting Lenses

Looking back, our trip to the Philippines was easily one of the most memorable vacations of my younger years. It was all about sharp contrasts. We kicked things off in the crazy urban sprawl of Manila and wrapped up our stay on the island paradise of Palawan.

The Manila Metro area is gigantic, 14 million people. It was unbelievably crowded and it’s the only place I’ve ever been that had armed police officers working the toll booths. Even the mall security guards were carrying serious military-grade weapons, making American mall cops look like they’re just playing pretend. Once I got over that initial shock, we were genuinely surprised at how similar the mall was to one back home. Texas Roadhouse, Stride Rite shoes, and countless other American brands were everywhere. American mall culture, and not just the super high-end luxury store, had made it to Manila. When you were inside, you could’ve sworn you were in Cincinnati or Atlanta. But then you stepped outside, and the packed buses and colorful, tourist-filled Jeepneys told the real, local story. The whole contrast was fascinating.

Then we flew over to Palawan. The island itself was absolutely stunning. As a destination, though, it felt very cut off from the local culture. We were literally marooned on our little resort island. When we left Manila, we felt like we’d gotten a good sense of the city’s vibe. When we left Palawan, we felt like we’d seen an incredibly beautiful spot, but we were completely clueless about the local culture. Maybe it depends on the hotel, but I really wish there had been more focus on local history. Aside from trying some seriously delicious local food, the resort could honestly have been anywhere—the Caribbean, South America, you name it. My biggest realization from this trip was that I personally just prefer places that really go out of their way to showcase their unique culture. That’s what makes a trip truly perfect.