Well, if you got an agenda, then go to Manila, it will be an eye opener, and will make you see the Pnoy PMETs in a new light ..
Like here, they show off nice fancy dresses and bags and iPhone 5 - but the moment they are wheels-down in Manila, all goes into safe keeping ... lest it be stolen (or grabbed - in Pinay speak .. )
You can check MBC - every 3rd Saturday, Freddie Aguilar performs there - or used to .. not sure about the scene now ..
Well, back to cost of living, an Indian can make it in 1,000 $ in Delhi, but a non-Indian needs 3,000 $ or more ..
More closer a friend in ADB was asked to base in Manila, and he targetted the average cost of living at 50,000 peso excluding apartment - he was shocked his costs overran to 150,000 peso plus
After all, locals shop in local shops, eat in cheaper places, and know the deals and .. get charged local rates.
Expats - for a start, even if you try to go local, you can never get local .. unless you are married or living with a local .. and for food, even if you take the cheapest food, you are still eating at twice the price or more of natives. Forget taxis - any expat gets charged twice or more .. if you live there, you give up bargaining and pay like 400 peso when a native grabs an FX and does it for 10 peso.
Well, that's a simple lesson in Economics.
PS: some people from Village working in Manila ? there are people living in the cemetries of Manila too .. no kidding .. Manila is one of the most congested cities of the world .. have the richest in Asia and the mega poor - including those who live in Smokey Mountain
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokey_Mountain "Smokey Mountain has a large squatter community, and it is estimated that 30,000 people live near the site, and make their living from picking through the rubbish at Smokey Mountain"
And also see ..
http://www.vice.com/read/living-dead-v14n11
All the while when the cream of the society hosts inaugaral balls, super expensive monthly dinner gatherings, and drive around in Escalades and Expeditions with body guards and more .. and have so much spare money, they don't know what to do with the money ..
Read about LKY on Filipinos ..
http://opinion.inquirer.net/12827/le...on-philippines