I Will Survive: Tips on How to Live and Work in Manila, and Live to Talk About it (Part 1)

1. NEVER SUCCUMB TO THE POWER OF TAXI DRIVERS.
During my first few trips to Manila from my hometown, I would go to the airport taxi service booth and get a ride there, which was very, very expensive. They have rates to follow, depending on the area you want to go to. Until I learned that from the arrival area, I could take the escalator or elevator to the second floor departure area, where metered taxis usually drop off departing passengers. There you can take these taxis and pay what's on the meter. Beware though, because there are cab drivers who will insist on negotiating with you to give them a fixed amount that is way beyond what will be on the meter. Stick to the meter and pay it. If the cab driver is nice enough, I may even give an extra twenty peso tip.
When in the city and you want to take a cab somewhere, hail one, then open the door, and immediately (and I mean really quickly) get in the cab, settle, and tell the driver where you want to go. Most drivers have areas in the city where they don't want to go due to a number of reasons: the traffic, the distance, and God knows what else they can think of. So it is very usual that when you stand there outside the cab and tell a driver where you want to go, he will refuse. I suggest don't give him a chance. Get in the car, put all your things down on the seat beside you and tell him, very firmly, where you want to go.

2. GET A JOB THAT IS AT MOST ONE HOUR AWAY FROM WHERE YOU LIVE (NOT COUNTING THE TRAFFIC)
The reason for this is very simple, and very logical. If you are just starting, you may not be earning enough to take cabs to and from work everyday. So I'm going to assume that you will be taking the normal routine, meaning jeepneys and buses. These things have routes that they follow, so if it takes you more than one ride to get to work, sometimes you will have to walk in between those rides. So imagine the time from your house to your stop, the walk from this stop to the next ride, the next ride to the next stop, and so on and so forth. Then add another hour for traffic. Ok, maybe thirty minutes when you work during weekends and holidays. Add that to the normal one-hour limit I gave you, and that's the acceptable time for you to have to spend travelling. That's a rough draft of what you will most likely encouter every single day that you decide to work. More than that and you will surely go out of your mind.

3. HAGGLE
May you be in the wet market trying to buy a kilo of pork or chicken, or in Greenhills, Divisoria or Quiapo wanting to purchase those shoes and bags which they sell for half their mall prices, haggle! I'm telling you, haggle like you've never haggled in your life! They will normally quote you a price that is twice the price they can actually sell them for, so summon your deepest retail courage and act like you know how much it really is. For dealing with vendors who seem like they'll never bend, I have a very important thing to teach you today: The Frown and Turn. When you couldn't seem to agree with the vendor regarding the price (I'm assuming you're quoting a reasonable one), slowly look at the item, frown like you're really sad that you couln't afford it, and slowly turn as if to walk away... In most cases the vendor will tap you on the back and say "Ok, ok!", then give you the item for the price you want. Other times, well...you can always go to the next stall, where they most likely will also be selling the same stuff. Remember, practice makes perfect.

4. EAT
I remember my American boss once told me a story. He's been to Manila before and he went to several malls around the city. Majority of the people who go to malls flock to the restaurants and fast food chains to eat, not to the necessarily to the stores buy other stuff. And he's amazed that not even a fourth of the people he sees are obese. So do yourself a favor and treat yourself to the variety of food you won't likely be eating back home, whichever province in the Philippines you come from.

5. MAKE YOUR BAG/PURSE A PART OF YOUR BODY
I'm not talking transformers here. I'm saying that, especially when travelling, hold your bag or purse so close to you, preferably in front, to make sure you are safe from snatchers lurking around. Stay away from extremes: crowded places mean that someone can stay so close to you without you or anyone else getting suspicious; secluded spaces won't give you a chance to scream for help and will of course render you very vulnerable to mugging. Whatever care you take during normal days, double it during the "ber" months. In the Philippines this means September, October, November and especially December. The impending Christmas season makes everyone work doubly hard, and muggers and no exception.