The Philippines journey continues..

Great video. This isn't really a slum though. It's just a regular working class neighbourhood of Manila. That's why there's minimal homeless people, beggars and extreme chaos as you mentioned. There is a real slum that borders BGC. It's called Mini Park and is next to the SM Aura mall. I think it used to extend to where SM Aura is now before they built the mall. You should try and visit there. It made me laugh when I saw some enterprising residents set up a penned off section 5 meters outside the BGC boundary where you could pay 5 pesos to stand there and smoke (as you will get in trouble for smoking in BGC) lol.

I found your vlog sometime ago and enjoyed watching it. I've been a Philippine expat since 1995. I have been living in the US since 1996 and now a US citizen. We enjoy watching travelers showcasing places that are dear to us and we missed. This vlog particularly caught my attention as I was born in BGC before it was called BGC. I was born in what was called the "Army Station Hospital", now St Lukes Hospital. The whole of BGC place was formerly known as Fort McKinley . It was an American base before it was turned over to the Philippine Military and renamed Fort Bonifacio. The barangay you were in, South Cembo (Central Enlisted Men BarriO) is where I lived until I left in 1995 . My father still lives there. Early settlers in the area are Military personnel and their families. The demographics changed overtime. To answer your question, "No it is not a prison it was all military facilities" . The barangays around the area all have "EMBO" in their name as they are (E)nlisted (M)en (B)arri(O). There was once the small "202 unit detainment facility" managed by the (MP)military police. This is where they detain military personnel who have violated the law and are waiting or have gone through court martial. This is probably why somebody called it a prison, but it is not. Most of the area are either military facilities or grassy wilderness where young kids like me explored. There are some interesting WW2 tunnel network underneath BCG.. I know of these as we were growing up and know they still exist. Try to find the entrance and could be a good topic for your VLOG. Thanks and keeep these vlogs coming! JS.

Crazy how Manila's hood looks safer than downtown Philadelphia

The Philippines has one of the most hospitable people... very friendly and polite!

The different between US Slums and philippine slums is that, in the philippines, the area where you considered as slums is actually not a slums area and most of the people living there are working in those high rise buildings in BGC and Makati city. Professionals, students, cub/jeepney drivers small business owners, cops, soldiers etc.. in short, working people. Not unlike in phillies and in other states wherein the word SLUMS are considered as dangerous zone. (Gangs, drugs addict, criminals, homeless etc...)

filipinos are some of the most friendliest people i ever met.

I went almost everywhere in the Philippines. I never felt in danger at all, not one time.

There used to be steps through the wall between JP Rizal Road and 7th Avenue but it got closed up a few years ago. What you refer to as "slums" is actually a modestly wealthy neighborhood !!!

Philippines is a beautiful country and culture. Good thing for English speaking travelers is most the people speak or understand English.

Another great video. I really liked it. One thing, though, I think you were misinformed. Whoever told you that the neighborhoods beside BGC were dangerous slums was really exaggerating things. Those neighborhoods are typical working-class neighborhoods. The people living there can be classified as lower middle class. They are not squatters. The houses there are properly titled, and the real estate prices in those areas are no longer cheap nowadays. Those neighborhoods are by no means comparable to Tondo, which you went to in your previous video. Actually, decades ago, when BGC was still an active military base, those neighborhoods were where many soldiers and their families lived. It used to be like a soldiers town. Anyway, keep up with the videos. You make very interesting stuff. Your videos offer a different take on things and places than other vloggers. I loved your videos in Argentina and in Japan before.

I just got back from the Philippines two weeks ago. It was my first international trip. Many of my friends are from the Philippines, so it made sense to go there. I sincerely enjoyed my time there. Traveled from Palawan to Buscalan. If I had to choose a place to live from the places I have lived so far it would be either Baguio or Buscalan or somewhere in between.

"Imagine waking up everyday looking at that up there, wondering what kind of life they have. Just the same way that the people up there are wondering what kind of life they have down here." That statement made my grown ass tear up man. What a perspective on life.

All my reading about the Philippines, it's a very safe country.

Knowledge is the key, my man here got it all. He does his research before going to visit the places I have always learned from him. Thank you brother.. please visit Tanzania back again. I am Tanzanian living in Toronto Canada.

Always a good day when Tommy posts :)

This is the real typical neighborhood of Manila you call it middle class the ‘norm’ lifestyle in Manila 👍

I'm American and been living in the Philippines for nine years straight now. I'm a little older than you but my interactions with the public are wildly different from you. I don't have that extrovert charisma. I'm mostly silent only speaking the minimum to do transactions and refer to pointing instead of asking to avoid language confusion. I do live 500 miles south of Manila though so the people in my locale are a lot different from the mega city folk. It's nice seeing how a foreigner gets treated when being nice.

I just love your bits of social commentary! And your subtle humor is so underrated.

Been loving the Philippines vlogs! Planning a trip soon.

Glad to have found your clips. Your energy and gentle approach on sharing your perspectives as a visitor are truly refreshing and amazing. Keep up the good work.

The Philippines looks very beautiful

Sigue con estos videos de Filipinas son realmente muy interesantes , Tenemos la misma perspectiva .

Philippines may not be a rich country and some of the neighborhoods may look sketchy but poor doesn't necessarily mean bad people/thugs or criminals. sometimes, those ppl are the nicest, most welcoming and happiest ppl you'll ever meet despite their situation. sometimes, they're just misunderstood and this labeling their area as dangerous. meanwhile, yet another school shooting just happened in Nashville leaving 3 students and 3 teachers dead...a very heartbreaking news because shootings and schools shouldn't even exist in a sentence. it's horrifying.

i love how this trip is so educational

it is a typical neighborhood in manila before it became BGC ,i was born and raised there because my father was a soldier.. now that it was privatized and with all the tall skyscrapers,we are called slums and now you can see the difference between the rich and the poor . ,

Love your vlogs, getting better and better each episode! My favorite part is how you give a lot of cool info about the place and the history of it!

Philippines is more American than most countries, love Philippine people, most friends and nephews are from there, hailz 🙏🏻👊🏼👍🏽

Over 110 million Pilipino I think 0.1% percent people can cause you harm, so you are safe here. As a Pilipino, I will say foreigners are most welcome here.

I love Manila! Can’t wait to pay a visit soon! Just a 1.5 hour flight from Hong Kong!

Its safe in Manila --- considerably safe compare to some inner cities in United State.

Thanks for posting on my birthday! I'm a lucky man.

LOVE Philippines from China

Your videography has a great vibe here.

Interesting tour as always... Thanks for posting.

Interesting to see the contrast. Everything seemed pretty chill and safe overall.

You’re personality is very New York. You are straightforward. By the way those neighborhoods behind those walls are ok. Safe. They aren’t dangerous. Many areas I have walked through that looked not so good still have friendly people. It’s actually ok. Never had a problem. Never.

love your content! thank you for sharing your experiences.

Wow Manila looks like a really fun place to visit actually

Good video. I'm at the halfway point of your video and I am enjoying it very much. I have been researching the Philippines history from the time of the Spanish Colonization and some time before. I have researched up till the time the Americans left till present day. The Filipino people are some very strong people based on History and my opinion. I can't wait to put my boots on the ground in the near future.

when sabbatical video drop you know its a good day, thanks mate

Another great video. You never fail to make me want to hop on a plane and see more of the world

I was just there in January. I always look forward to your videos. God bless! I love that your content is different than others, it’s very educational.

This is the best channel on KZfaq.

Love your content, keep traveling!🖤💛🤟✌️

Love your videos,currently watching your latest Manila video can’t wait to get back there 👍

Great video and content always!!!

Nice video, I was born in Villamor Air Base, a military base just across BGC (Villamor Air Base is now homes of big hotels, Marriotts, NAIA terminal 2 etc). BGC( Fort Bonifacio) is the home base of the Philippine Army, I believe that there are still some offices of Philippine Army in the area. Fort Bonifacio is also the place for the Philippine military soldiers' cemetery called Libingan ng mga Bayani (Cemetery of the Brave). I remember going to Fort Bonifacio when I was a child. There are a lot of big old trees, and foliage in the area. There used to be a curfew at 10 pm, with sirens in these military bases. You are not allowed to walk on the streets, if the military police find you walking after 10 pm, you will be placed in a jail overnight. I left the Philippines to live abroad in 1998. Much has changed (not really sure if it is good or bad), but I missed my old place so much, I' m still reminiscing the the places where I pick guava fruits(now Marriotts), The Air Force hospital where was born (now hotels), the military grand stand where we watch the Blue Diamonds (Air shows) every May 1st (Air Force Day), now NAIA terminal 2... good old days!

Amazing. I spend January staying at Hyatt and was blessed to experience all the great things of Manila. I'm going back for 3 weeks in April. You really captured the beauty of the city and also the people that support BCG. I walked I feel the same areas you did and everyone was very nice anc accommodating, Best City I ever visited

It's my first time to watched a KZfaqr who is very calm, humble and so friendly. We love you man keep up the great job! Take Care❤❤❤!

Cool, thanks for the video

I like your content, but this time you were a bit of: - there is Western Union in BGC - the Home Depot building was not a prison, the grounds probably - wouldn’t call South Cembo a slum, just a (poor) neighborhood, with regular street addresses, businesses etc. Compare that with Tondo Happyland.

Interesting walk. The contrast between how the rich and poor lives is evident. These are areas in Makati right next to BGC There is a slum IN BGC called the Mini Park just right next to SM Aura Premier mall.

A real vlog. Very informative.

Takes me back to those days in Olongapo city in 1987 and 1989 while i was on deployment in the US Navy. Partying and drinking ice cold Red Horse beer!!

Keep it up!

Thanks for sharing.

Wow! I’m loving your vlogs.

Like in the US many Filipinos don't know much of their history. But in fairness to the people you asked about the prison, they honestly have no idea because fort bonifacio is a military camp and everything inside the camp is classified and the public have no idea what the military do in the camp.

Love your Filipino blogs and how you are not just centering on the 'pretty' parts of the Philippines. Btw, I've seen vloggers get a million views on just one Jollibee taste test video! Just so you know... LOL

Amazing vlog, i've went to south cembo for a walking tour too, quite a contrast with just a road across from BGC 👍👍

Glad you showed this as there’s a British KZfaqr couple who just show the glitz of Manila

I was station in Subic Bay for two years and we just drank the Beer that was made in Manila, the stuff made in San Miguel was a little iffy . The beer was the best. Would go to Manila all the time. I meet a Chinese man named Pong Sam who owned a Hotel in Olongapo. He like the steak house on the Base. We'd go have steak once in a while. I had a great time in the PI. I've been back a couple of times. Never had a single problem, the whole time.

Tommy thank you for the interesting look at communities around the world. I’ve been to Philippines several times. I love it there.

"authoritarian, but in a nice way" hahaha love it

great vid as usual greetings from Liverpool uk

Hey Tommy ,you certainly are going up in the world going by the opening of the video .. Har ,har ! Keep 'em coming ... Fast !

Everything about The Philippines makes me think of Latin America

I love your video coverage, no sweeteners, it’s all natural and you are better than “National Geographic”. Greetings watching here from Washington DC !!!❤️❤️❤️😘😘😘🇵🇭🇺🇸🇵🇭🇺🇸🇵🇭🇺🇸🇵🇭🇺🇸🇵🇭🇺🇸

Nice content, exploring every corner

Loving your videos thanks 🙏 watching you from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 take care my friend 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Love your work Tommy,, unfortunately the divide between the haves and have nots is increasing every day the world over.

Not really the slums man it’s a typical Manila neighborhood. 😂

Thanks Tommy!!!

The unique aspect about sabbatical is he doesnt do all that touristy stuffs but he tells stories of every places that he visits. Glad that i encounter this channel.

Really enjoyed the tour of Manilla, was surprised at how pretty some of the slumhouses were, it looked quite clean too & the people so friendly. 1 thing tho... the cock fighting it is effing evil

Tommy!!!!!! Welcome to my country!!!!

Thank you for your service

love vloggers with different perspective. Gives us good indication of how things are on the ground.

Somebody give this man his travel channel TV show already lol

That's the nicest slum area I have seen.

Best travel videos on the internet.

Great content! not just any regular vlogging! thumbs up sir!

I sent my family there your last two videos. They moved from Manila to Biñan. They were telling me about the areas you went to and what it was like growing up close to that slum. Hopefully, I'll get to visit there soon. Be safe over there.

BGC to the average Filipino is the equivalent of The Merry Old Land of Oz. PS…if you want a good understanding on the drug situation during the Duterte presidency watch the PBS documentary “On the President’s Orders”.

Thammy, your videos are very inspiring.

HELLO THANK U so much 4 showing & educating the 🌎 Can't wait I HOPE U GO INTO the country side!!! YES I am FILIPINA haven't been home now 40yrs! ❤

How should you end the video? Never. Luv ya, man.

When crossing a street, you need to do it like a jedi. Raise your hand and use the force. 😂

amazing video !

Man your vlogs are amazing so Educational and fun

Craziest thing about Philippines to me is that they have so much good food everywhere. Boggles my mind how they even have a chain like Jollibee, let alone how is it so successful.

Nice trip 😊 we also want to go to the philippines in december, how is the weather there then?

Great, Top content 👍

Another cool video. What camera do you use😊

You should have tried going to the Taguig side instead of the Makati side instead. There is an opening right beside SM Aura. Much more compact spaces used, and some may be considered slums. There are some vloggers who have also explored this part and there they were greeted by the requisite Filipino hospitality. The Makati area generally isn't considered slums as it is the second richest city in the PH, second only to Quezon city. Even the barangays you visited - the names ending in -EMBO, which means "Enlisted Men's Barrio" - are areas which were formerly villages of soldiers and their families living near the fort.

If you're unfamiliar with Jollibee, it's spaghetti is very sweet. It's a surprise if you're accustomed to Italian-style. And spaghetti is part, often a big part, of the Filipino 'traditional' Christmas Eve feast, Noche Buena.

Love the history lessons!🤙🏼

Living in Mindanao, which is still on the US do not travel list I can testify that the Philippines is one of the safest places where an English speaker can go. The people may be materially poor, but they have warm hearts, and their hospitality is genuine. You should definitely visit Mindanao, Davao and the Island Garden City of Samal (where I live) on a future trip!

Just to show how diverse the Philippines is, you can see the big difference even in big cities where modern establishment is in contrast with slum neighborhoods beside it, but both can live under one sky, it is almost evident in all big cities, then there are European looking and Latin American looking cities and towns...the past colonizations had big parts on how the country has been molded today as narrated by this vlogger Tom, good he researches before telling the story of the place, much appreciated.