Category Archives: Manila Opinions

Top Livable Cities in Metro Manila

Okay, first off, this is not a thorough survey, simply based on superficial personal observation of mine.

Basically, judging each city’s cleanliness, safety and economics. Some might argue with me, but no city is perfect.

Makati City. Everywhere I go, the roads are concreted. Even in areas which can be considered a slum, is generally clean.

For college graduates, it is a buffet of possible jobs to work for. Even laborers, food servers, and store clerks can find jobs here, there are constant construction of corporate buildings, and new businesses sprouting everywhere.

There are still affordable houses or rooms to rent, just go farther away from the Makati Business Disctrict.

Marikina City. The Ondoy storm that ravaged the part of this city could have changed their image as a livable city. But I would still recommend this city to anyone wanting to live in Metro Manila. Just avoid Providence Village, the place most devastated by the 2009 strongest typhoon.

The mayor here is strict about cleanliness and aesthetics. Although, it does not have a large business center such as Makati’s Ayala and Pasig’s Ortigas Center.

Pasig City. I would recommend this Eusebio managed city for working professionals, but not for families especially with kids.

There had been several shabu colonies that were raided by the police. Including one, just meters away from the City Hall, and reportedly raided three times in three years.

Pasig City belongs to the top five earning cities in the Philippines. I believe the Ortigas Center, the city’s premier business district is one big source of the income.

Manila Universities are Overhyped!

Indeed, Manila universities are grossly overhyped as i have written previously.In the recently published result of the Architecture board exam, UST, a school in Manila got three topnotchers, while the provincial school USC got two topnotchers (top 2 and 4).

Hey UST has 3, and USC has only 2?!

Well, i’m not finished yet.

USC (Univ. of San Carlos) – 68% (13/19) 13 passed out of 19 takers
UST – 56% (35/63) 35 passed out of 63 takers

USC even with few exam takers it still able to have two topnotchers. In numbers that’s 11% excellent students for USC, while UST has only 5% excellent ones.

Just got lucky?!

Nope.

On our Architect’s board last 2006, USC had 2 topnotchers, I think UST got 3. USC had 13 passers out of 26, UST had 57 passers out of 144 takers, that’s 50%.

USC with fewer students produced more academically good graduates.

Let me show you the nursing exam results this year (2008). Just the passing percentage.

A. WITH 100 AND MORE EXAMINEES
1 Saint Louis University (Baguio) 146/144 99.00 %
2 Xavier University (Cagayan de Oro) 233/229 98.00 %
3 Silliman University (Dumaguete) 321/312 97.00 %
NOTHING FOLLOWS———————-

B. WITH 30-99 EXAMINEES
1 Trinity University of Asia (Trinity – Quezon City, that’s Manila) 41 40 98.00 %
2 Mindanao State University ( Marawi City) 76 74 97.00 %
University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (another Manila, thankfully) 31 30 97.00 %
3 Palawan State University (P. Princesa) 57 54 95.00 %
NOTHING FOLLOWS———————-

Where is the much overhyped UST in the list? UST is way down the list with 75% rate.

Ateneo and De Lasalle probably don’t have architecture and nursing courses.

I have nothing against Manila schools. I just like to encourage those students and graduates from Philippine provincial universities that we “promdis” are clearly at par if not better.


Original post taken from my personal blog.