Manila, Phillipines

Early Morning Sail-In

Nothing prepares the first-time visitor for Manila...nothing. There are extremes here at every turn; wealth, prosperity, & affluence - impoverishment, destitution, & hardship. You find love, friendship, & passion – revulsion, dislike, & aversion. There’s the beautiful, the scenic, the picturesque – and then the ugly, horrid, & foul. Most people here are always ready with a smile and a helpful answer, but there’s the element of menacing intimidation & violence that always keeps you on your guard. One might say it’s no different than any large city back home, but I don’t think that would be accurate. Every element is magnified, and as I said, to the EXTREME. The traffic element alone, is just one aspect of Manila that will persuade you to walk everywhere! Drivers here use their horns to warn other drivers that they are passing and more urgently when traffic is stalled - and they test the popular but unproven belief that the sound of a horn can move an 18-wheeler. Jeepneys jostle for position everywhere. These small colorful buses are everywhere. Crowded with local folks who use them for affordable transportation, each is a celebration in chrome and art of the driver’s favorite themes. Bono and U2 ride on the side of a jeepney in Manila as does the Virgin Mary and several saints, various local celebrities, horses, dogs and pictures of children. There’s even one with an artistic tribute to Holland America. Small motorcycles with elaborate sidecars attached dart among the cars and everywhere there is the sound of horns – everywhere. Most folks here...EXTREMELY nice - it's easy to understand why cruise lines recruit from Manila & the Phillipines in general - a large majority of people here work hard with a genuine smile and warmth about them.

Father/Daughter Reunion!

Let me begin with the good & heartwarming, as Manila is home to many of our crew members who haven’t seen family in 10 months. Many folks aren’t aware of this, but Holland America has their employees trained just outside Manila – a company named United Philippine Lines - they provide support and recruitment for all the Filipino crew and officers aboard the ships of Holland America. There are roughly 260,000 Filipino maritime workers overseas in any year, and nearly 6,000 of those will be on Holland America ships in some capacity. United Philippine Lines has been around since 1960, and they not only train passenger ship employees, but also oil tankers, car carriers, product carriers, supply vessels, ocean tugs, and bulk carriers. And they train it all – highly skilled technical workers, food and beverage kitchen and service personnel, engineers, physicians, front office staff, and security officers. Our stop in Manila has been much anticipated – the crew members have been beaming for weeks knowing they’d see and spend time with family members – and what a heartwarming reunion to witness. It just couldn’t get any better than this. To see the crew and their families reunite after long absences is a sight to behold. Just amazing! We finished the day shopping before returning to the ship to once again take-in the reunions among the families. Hat's off to Holland America for making arrangements to allow these guests on-board for the day to see firsthand how their husbands, wives, sons & daughters live and work at sea for months at a time! The ship was swarming with relatives and widespread smiles! Restaurants were open to all – the children of course gravitated to the ice cream counter, to the extent that a second booth had to opened. It was heartwarming to see such joyful, loving reunions!I think there were between 1500 – 2000 visitors to the ship today, and Holland America, in grand style, provided free food buffets for all.

Family Reunion!

  

   

   

  

And Now...The Sights of Manila & Surrounding Area

I'll begin here with the stark realities of Manila - it's an over-populated metroplex (19+ million) riddled with poverty and perhaps more sad than anything and what bothers me the most -  'street children' who have not and probably will never enjoy any of the comforts you and I too often take for granted. I continue to ask myself, how can a society accept this - moreover, how can a government simply turn a blind eye on their future mothers, fathers, civic, financial, & political leaders?? Perhaps one of these children will one day stand-up as an adult and through his/her leadership, do something about the sub-standard ways of life deemed acceptable today. We thought poor conditions in Bombay couldn't be matched - Manila is equally as bad and in many respects, much worse - particularly as it relates to children. Having said that, much good can be found here as well, but you really have to look for it. We left the ship at 8:30 and boarded a bus for our morning tour. During our pre-arrival lecture, we were told about the traffic conditions in Manila but until you experience it firsthand, photos don’t begin to capture the chaos & shear pandemonium. Iconic Jeepneys are the main source of public transportation – roughly 8-12 passenger vehicles of every imaginable color. Motorized tricycles are the second most popular, followed by scooters. Again, the congestion & unruliness makes your head spin – I’ve NEVER seen traffic like this anywhere, where even the ‘red lights’ are merely a suggestion!

The same as Puerto Princesa, our bus once again had a police escort between stops. As an extra measure of safety, we were also flanked by walking guards. We’re not sure if the increase in protection was because of possible assault or just protecting us from the bizarre traffic, but none of us ever felt threatened in any way, although Manila, as with any large metro area, definitely has its adverse element. We started our tour not far from the pier at historic Rizal Park and the old walled city of Intramuros, built during the old Spanish colonial period. The park itself is quite beautiful and the city well-preserved. We next stopped at the Manila Cathedral and then the San Augustin Church, the oldest structure in the Philippines and also a World Heritage site. While one can marvel at the beauty of the structure and the religious statues bejeweled in gold & silver, I really have to ask myself AGAIN if the monetary priorities of the church are completely appropriate & aligned given so much malnourishment & impoverishment apparent throughout the city, particularly the children. At any rate, a beautiful, educational tour.

          

          

     

   

   

   

   

   

Unique Open-Air Shopping

          

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

     

Before returning to the ship, we drove through one of the street markets of several blocks – elbow-to-elbow – all forms of fruits, vegetables, trinkets and knick-knacks – you name it, it was there!

We were back at the ship in time for lunch – great timing! After a quick salad, Cheryl and I hopped on the complimentary shuttle arranged by Holland America and we were off to the mall. Most everyone has been to the Mall of America in the U.S. by now – the mall in Manila is like the Mall of America on steroids…much larger (if you can believe it) & much more diverse in restaurants, retail outlets, & product offerings. You enter through a security scanner – females on one side, males on the other. Purses and bags are hand-checked for weapons, and guards pat your lower back to insure you’re not wearing any type of explosive belt. Age & gender doesn’t matter – everyone is checked. I was comfortable with the process – it was fast, efficient, & non-evasive. I appreciated knowing that we were going to have a safe shopping experience. The people in Manila and for that matter, everywhere we’ve been in the Philippines, are extremely friendly. If you travel as a couple, you will always be addressed by Ma’am/Sir – you will always be greeted and thanked – at least that was what we experienced and everyone we’ve talked with on the ship had the same encounters. Genuinely very nice people!

The last shuttle from the mall back to the ship was scheduled at 4:30 – we left at 3:00. Once back, we showered, went to Happy Hour, and then had a casual dinner on the Lido deck. The singers and dancers who greeted us earlier in the day were still performing on the pier – yes…all day long they serenaded passengers leaving and returning to the ship! They were joined by a high school band of approximately 35 members toward the end of the day to give us yet another memorable farewell. Coincidentally, the city of Manila was hosting an international fireworks competition that evening in the harbor – the Italians vs. the Dutch. We were scheduled to leave at 6:00, but the Captain announced that he planned to anchor in the harbor after leaving the pier so that we could watch the event from the ship – what an extraordinary treat for everyone! We didn’t know that countries actually competed in fireworks displays – nor did any of our friends. Apparently, this was to be Manila’s 4th annual event! Bring it on! Once we dropped anchor, the ship continued ‘crabbing’ in the strong currents, and we didn’t know exactly where the best vantage point would be to view the show, nor did anyone else. Cheryl and I headed for the top and backend of the ship – sure enough, chairs were setup along with a portable bar, and the Captain’s wife was comfortably seated. With Karen there, we figured she had an inside scoop (from someone) so that’s where we setup camp – WRONG! The ship continued adjusting in the currents and once the anchor grabbed the bottom, we swung portside to shore, which is exactly where our cabin is! We raced back to the room – Cheryl with her rum and me with my wine…we settled in our lounge chairs and waited for the show to begin at 7:30.

First...More City-Sights

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

       

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

We stayed late in Manila for two reasons. First & foremost, to give the crew members more time with their families. Secondly, to watch an international fireworks competition between the Dutch & Italians. It was spectacular - the Italians won.

   

   

   

It was, overall, a very fascinating day - so many new experiences & sights! A very emotional day as well watching the hard-working crew members reunite with their families if only for a short period. We had our first death today as well – a gentlemen in his early 50’s – his wife found him slumped in their cabin – cause unknown. A memorial was held earlier today. His body will be off-loaded in Hong Kong and flown home. Sad situation – they were only married a few short months. 

Off to China – scheduled to arrive Monday morning at 9:00. The Hong Kong sail-in is advertised as one of the most dramatic in the world – last year we had fog & rain. The weather forecast is sunny and 72 degrees – we sure hope it holds so we can get some great pictures to share! We’ll be there for 3 days, 2 nights.