Solo Adventure Through The "Worst" Slum in The Philippines 🇵🇭 (Tondo)

Summary

In this vivid travel vlog, the narrator explores the gritty yet friendly streets of Tondo, a district in Manila, Philippines. With nicknames like Jesus and Aquaman, he navigates through bustling markets, encounters local cuisine, and even spots a man with a gun, which turns out to be fake. Despite some tense moments, he finds the community welcoming and shares experiences with locals, including a visit to a police station and trying RC Cola, a nostalgic beverage from his homeland, Australia.

Takeaways

• 😅 The narrator is in Tondo, Manila, Philippines, and experiences a range of nicknames from locals, including Jesus, Aquaman, Thor, and Jason Momoa.
• 🚘 They travel by tricycle, a common mode of transport in the area, and encounter friendly locals despite being in a reputedly dangerous neighborhood.
• 👮‍♂️ There's an interaction with police or security, suggesting a presence of law enforcement in the area.
• 🍽 The narrator explores local street food, indicating the availability of fresh seafood and other local delicacies.
• 🚶‍♂️ The video captures a walk through the neighborhood, highlighting the narrator's sense of adventure and willingness to explore off the beaten path.
• 👶 The presence of children in the area is noted, with some engaging in activities like gaming, suggesting a community aspect to daily life.
• 🌆 The script describes a vibrant and bustling atmosphere, with a variety of shops and businesses operating in close quarters.
• 🚨 There are moments of tension, such as when a man asks for money and another is seen with a gun, although it's later revealed to be fake.
• 👟 The narrator's shoes, described as 'fake Yeezys,' get muddy, indicating the rough conditions of the streets.
• 🍻 The video ends with a visit to a police station, where the narrator shares RC Cola, a nostalgic beverage, with the officers.
• 👋 The overall message is one of community resilience and friendliness, despite the challenging environment of Tondo.

Q & A

What is the main activity the person in the video is engaging in?

The person in the video is exploring the Tondo neighborhood in Manila, Philippines, and interacting with locals.

Why does the video suggest the person has four nicknames?

The person mentions that locals have given him four nicknames: Jesus, Aquaman, Thor, and Jason Momoa, possibly due to his appearance or behavior.

What mode of transportation does the person use to get to Tondo?

The person uses a tricycle to travel to Tondo.

What is the person's initial impression of Tondo?

The person has mixed reviews about Tondo but is optimistic, believing that the people there will be good.

What does the person find in the backstreets of Tondo?

The person finds fresh seafood, stray dogs, and a lolly shop in the backstreets of Tondo.

How does the person describe the food in Tondo compared to the city?

The person suggests that the food in Tondo is healthier and more basic compared to the city, where western foods are often deep-fried.

What does the person do when he feels unsafe in a particular area?

When the person feels unsafe, he decides to keep moving and trust his gut to avoid potential trouble.

What does the person find interesting about the local businesses in Tondo?

The person finds it interesting that local businesses, such as a clothing shop, operate from tricycles and sell food to the local village.

What does the person do when he encounters a child who seems to know how to recycle metals like copper and gold?

The person expresses admiration for the child's knowledge and considers giving him money but decides against it to avoid creating expectations among others.

What beverage does the person choose to drink in Tondo, and why?

The person chooses to drink RC Cola, a beverage that was once popular in Australia, for old times' sake.

How does the person's experience with the police in Tondo conclude?

The person's experience with the police is positive; he is allowed into the police station, and they enjoy RC Cola together.

Outlines

00:00

😎 Adventure in Tondo: A Tour of the Neighborhood

The script begins with the narrator casually mentioning a demand for money, quickly shifting to a light-hearted tone as they explore the neighborhood of Tondo in Manila, Philippines. The narrator humorously notes his four nicknames, which include Jesus, Aquaman, Thor, and Jason Momoa, and expresses curiosity about the high-class area they are about to visit. The video captures interactions with locals, including a playful encounter with security personnel and a visit to a bar named 'Ry 300.' The narrator's experience in Tondo is filled with friendly encounters and a sense of adventure, despite the area's reputation.

05:03

🌆 Exploring the Back Streets and Local Life

In this paragraph, the narrator delves deeper into the local life of Tondo, highlighting the abundance of bananas and the raw, unfiltered nature of the streets. They express a desire to try street food and navigate through the neighborhood with a new local tour guide named Francis. The script captures the essence of the community, from the lolly shop to the laundry being done in the streets. The narrator also mentions the presence of stray dogs and the challenges of navigating the narrow alleyways. Despite some unsettling moments, the overall tone remains positive and curious.

10:04

🚶‍♂️ Navigating the Neighborhood's Challenges

The script continues with the narrator's journey through the neighborhood, where he encounters a mix of people and situations. He notes the presence of a man with a gun, which initially causes alarm, but turns out to be a fake. The narrator also discusses the local food, the importance of RC Cola in the area, and his own dietary habits. He shows concern for the safety of the area but maintains a positive outlook, believing that for every bad person, there are many good ones. The paragraph ends with the narrator's decision to keep moving forward despite the challenges.

15:07

🛍️ Street Life and Unexpected Encounters

This paragraph showcases the vibrant street life of the neighborhood, with the narrator coming across a mobile food vendor, a makeshift clothing shop on a tricycle, and a gambling game. He also interacts with a young boy who is knowledgeable about recycling metals like copper and gold. The narrator's experience is a mix of observing local customs, such as the sale of food in unconventional settings, and engaging with the community in a friendly manner. Despite the muddy conditions and the presence of counterfeit goods, the narrator remains open to the experiences and people he encounters.

20:13

👮‍♂️ A Visit to the Police Station and Reflections

The final paragraph of the script describes the narrator's visit to a local police station, where he interacts with the police and a young boy named Marco. He reflects on his experience in the neighborhood, noting that despite a couple of scary moments, he found the people to be friendly and the experience overall positive. The narrator also shares his intention to provide food for the people he met instead of money, to avoid creating dependency. The script ends with the narrator enjoying an RC Cola, a nod to the local culture, and a sense of accomplishment from his exploration of the neighborhood.

Keywords

💡Air Hockey

Air hockey is a table game that is played by two players, where a puck is shot back and forth on a low-friction surface with the aim of scoring goals against the opponent. In the video, the mention of air hockey is likely a casual reference to the environment or the activities available in the neighborhood being explored, indicating a more relaxed or recreational setting.

💡Tondo

Tondo is a district in Manila, Philippines, known for its vibrant and bustling atmosphere but also for being one of the city's poorer areas. The script mentions Tondo as the destination for the video's exploration, highlighting the contrast between the high-class neighborhood of Courtondo and the more gritty reality of Tondo, which is part of the video's theme of social disparity.

💡Nicknames

In the context of the video, nicknames are used to describe the various names the person is called by the locals, such as Jesus, Aquaman, Thor, and Jason Momoa. This indicates the cultural interaction and the locals' way of relating to the visitor, possibly due to his physical appearance or demeanor, which is a humorous aspect of the video's narrative.

💡Tricycles

Tricycles in the Philippines are a common mode of transportation, especially in congested urban areas. The script describes jumping on a tricycle as part of the journey to Tondo, illustrating the local way of commuting and the video's focus on immersing in the local culture.

💡Street Food

Street food refers to ready-to-eat food sold by vendors on the street. In the video, the mention of street food signifies the exploration of local cuisine and the authenticity of the food culture in Tondo, which is an important aspect of the video's theme of discovering local life.

💡Gangs

The term 'gangs' is used to describe groups involved in criminal activities, which the script implies as a potential concern in the neighborhood of Tondo. This adds a layer of tension and reality to the video's narrative, contrasting the otherwise friendly and welcoming atmosphere encountered.

💡Stray Dogs

Stray dogs are dogs that live on the streets without a home. The script notes the presence of stray dogs in Tondo, which is a common sight in many urban areas and can be indicative of socio-economic conditions. It also adds to the authenticity of the setting and the video's exploration of the neighborhood's daily life.

💡RC Cola

RC Cola is a brand of cola soft drink that was once popular in various countries, including Australia, as mentioned in the script. The mention of RC Cola serves as a cultural reference point and a nostalgic element, connecting the past with the present and the Australian experience with the local Philippine context.

💡Mud

Mud in the script refers to the muddy conditions of the streets in Tondo, which is a result of the weather and poor infrastructure. This detail contributes to the portrayal of the neighborhood's living conditions and the challenges faced by its residents, which is a significant part of the video's exploration of social realities.

💡Mafia

The term 'Mafia' is humorously used in the script when the person jokingly refers to joining the local community as if it were a mafia. It reflects the person's attempt to connect with the locals and the light-hearted approach to potentially intimidating situations, which is part of the video's overall tone.

💡Police Station

A police station is mentioned in the script as a destination, which could imply a sense of safety or a need to interact with local authorities. It serves as a reminder of the coexistence of law enforcement and community life in Tondo and adds a layer of complexity to the video's narrative.

Highlights

The narrator has been given four nicknames in Manila, Philippines, reflecting a cultural connection or misidentification.

Visit to a high-class neighborhood, Courtondo, indicating a contrast to the narrator's usual environment.

Engagement with local police or security, suggesting an attempt to understand the local community.

Travel to Tondo, a neighborhood with mixed reviews, showing the narrator's willingness to explore different areas.

Use of tricycles as a mode of transportation, providing insight into local transportation methods.

The narrator's spontaneous approach to video-making, highlighting the organic nature of the content.

Observation of the abundance of bananas and seafood, indicating local produce and food culture.

Discussion about the health benefits of local food compared to Western food, showing cultural dietary differences.

Encounter with stray dogs, raising questions about animal welfare and public safety.

Interaction with a local named Francis who offers to guide the narrator, demonstrating local hospitality.

The narrator's concern for personal safety in response to feeling 'bad vibes,' illustrating the unpredictable nature of urban exploration.

Sighting of a man with a gun, which turns out to be fake, adding a layer of tension and relief to the narrative.

The narrator's philosophy of finding good people despite encountering bad ones, reflecting a positive outlook.

Discovery of a local gaming area, suggesting a common pastime for the youth in the area.

Observation of makeshift businesses, such as a clothing shop on a tricycle, showing resourcefulness and entrepreneurship.

The narrator's decision to give money to a local, indicating a desire to contribute to the community visited.

Visit to a police station and interaction with the police, offering a glimpse into local law enforcement and community relations.

Purchase and sharing of RC Cola, a cultural artifact from the narrator's home country, Australia.

Overall positive experience walking through Tondo, despite initial concerns, emphasizing the importance of firsthand experience.

Transcripts

okay the guy just said give me your

money so we're just gonna um I'm just

gonna keep going it's like cool but air

hockey have a look

I was one there's a lot of um gangs and

all that

you want a drink

okay okay

from Manila in the Philippines I've been

here for about three days now and I seem

to have four nicknames

Jesus

Aquaman

Thor and Jason Momoa I don't think I

look like any of them maybe Jesus a

little bit but uh we are going to go to

a really nice neighborhood

courtondo I heard it's very high class

we're gonna go talk to these guys hello

how are you how are you are you police

or security uh

very good

he's from tondo the hood the hood okay

all right I'm gonna go say guys

all right we're off to tondo yeah we're

gonna jump on one of these uh tricycles

come down yeah

it's like fun yeah it is oh hey we're

twins

Okay jump in here

hello how are you

asking all right we are off to tondo

[Music]

[Music]

hero

because it's so loud but we're off to

this place called tondo just some mixed

reviews about it I heard it can

the people will be good

and if not we're gonna find some good

people

check out this thing bar

Ry 300. okay okay be careful be careful

yeah why

but but be careful

these police

for the place

all right see you brother

okay we're here in uh we're here in

tondo

pretty uh bad area here

but it's all right and the best thing

about the Philippines is I don't even

need to plan these videos

Everyone's so friendly here these videos

are just going to make themselves

so hello

so we're gonna walk through

probably just going to stay on their

little outskirt bits unless we meet

someone sort of nice and trusting that

might take us into one of these

buildings

good eight I'm sure we'll get some good

content we'll meet some good people

hello hello how are you brother hey

brother how are you

yeah

this little Back Street area see who we

can meet

[Music]

hey man hey man

hey man

there's um there is bananas everywhere

here they're everywhere

have tourists ever been down here maybe

not

maybe we hey man maybe we can get some

uh maybe we can get some uh

street food or something down here

whoa these streets just keep going have

a look at this there's a whole section

down here

here it sort of just Choose Your Own

Adventure where will you go oh look at

this so much fresh seafood

how are you brother

[Music]

absolutely stinks but hey

that's what we're here for I believe

from

good walk down here you get to get to

the water so we'll have a look that's

nice is fine this is all right not

dangerous at all

hello how are you

do you like bugs do I like crabs yes

yeah

I like cooked ones not raw

foreign

s sometimes the food they eat here is a

lot more healthier than in the in the

city because it's been a bit of a

struggle like everything in there it's

Pizza deep fried a lot of the western

foods but here they're Back to Basics

okay Basics lots of stray dogs too

I don't know if they're friendly I don't

want to be bitten

so we will just keep going Hi how are

you

it's a lolly shop

you've got lilies lilies lilies lilies

hey man how are you

[Applause]

which which way should I go down here or

this way

which way

oh everyone's trying well they probably

don't speak

but another thing have a look at this

[Music]

this is so interesting

have I got a crowd Behind Me Maybe maybe

I do oh

[Music]

I think that's good that they got um

it's good that they got things like that

you know keeping the keeping the kids

out of trouble gaming watching YouTube

stuff like that hey how are you yeah

yeah

these are all these are just all houses

and businesses hello

doing some washing today yeah

[Music]

okay hello

no hey man what what is down this way

this way

good okay

we're gonna we're gonna walk down here

with my new tour guide what's your name

man

name this way Ryan's teams Brandon

Francis Francis okay Francis is going to

show me somewhere

we're gonna go follow brantis

oh I think hey man thank you I love it

here I love you so much hey you got to

be careful here because I'm like the

tallest person if I'm not careful I

could just walk straight into this just

like take my head off but we're gonna

put your money we're gonna keep going

okay the guy just said give me your

money so we're just gonna um I'm just

gonna keep going just keep moving

through he's probably joking but he's

probably serious as well

hello hello hey brother hey

I'm getting some

some bad vibes here I'm just feeling the

energy is a little bit off and I always

go with my gut so we're gonna keep we're

going to keep moving

couple of people yelling out and so

let's keep going good good okay

obviously feels safe with this guy I

don't know he's good and we have a local

hello hello

hey man yeah yeah yeah hello

um fist pumping everyone

what's that

Marcus Marco

Marco for sure what's my job

yeah my job

oh name the Vlogs

from Australia

Australia

Australia hey man put this down this way

the water

and you you live here you live here how

old are you ten

ten fifteen wow

so you've got like little what are these

just shots

uh restaurants

you don't smoke

you don't smoke nah naughty drinking no

drinking

I think that's when I first had my drink

15 years old probably a little bit too

young but

no that's everyone in Australia isn't it

well I feel a bit more safer here in the

open I was worn there's a lot of um

gangs and all that which there probably

is

but hey I feel like hey man I feel like

wherever there's one bad person is going

to be 20 good people hey man hey

bro fist pumping everyone

oh wow look at this

wow wow wow okay this way

I got scared for a second I see this guy

with a gun

okay we're going down this way

happy lunch

it's this way Happy Land Happy Land okay

I um my God's healing is saying

something is off again

10 minutes and I'm gonna bail

um I don't even know if I'll find my way

out it's like a bit of amazing here it's

just rubbish everywhere it doesn't

actually smell at all but to be honest

yeah

okay let's keep heading through we'll

get to this uh big water tower up here

see this RC RC Cola I

think he's like the hello

I see Cola is like the biggest Cola here

that used to be used to be a semi

semi-popular drink in Australia back in

the day but uh not anymore I think it

was discontinued have a look at this but

how they cook

what's this rice cooking some rice

[Music]

what is

okay vegetable let's continue oh what's

this burger you want some food or

something no no you're fine yeah

I actually have an eight today but um I

had a coffee before the coffee here is

not very strong I had to get three shots

the other day

whoa I thought that bird was gonna fly

to me

this one

okay

little birdhouse

I got to be careful with the um the

power lines here because they're just

hanging down

[Music]

where does this go to

water water does this go to the water

all right it's gonna become getting

really muddy muddy up here

so

these fake Yeezys from uh from Turkey I

think it's time to go they've been good

but we're gonna go find some new shoes

maybe today maybe a bit later

absolute mud everywhere

[Music]

hello

Mafia I joined the mafia

what does that means

oh look at this

hey it's like it's like cool but air

hockey have a look

gimbal oh my god I've never seen that

it's Paul but they just slide

crazy and they're gambling

okay see you later bye-bye

all right we're gonna keep going have a

look at some of the street food here

should we try some

Hey brother what are these

what's this one

no that's probably liver intestines

[Music]

good okay it's okay I know I'm scared

all right hello hello

hey bro

[Music]

I have no idea where I am for how I'm

gonna get out

I don't know hey man

brother

oh look so it's like a clothing shop but

on on his um on his tricycle

comes in and and sells food into the

local Village

he's getting bullied

[Music]

okay I can see I can see the exit ahead

freedom but um I did see on the photos

on Google that there's meant to be some

water down here hello

cool to see the arm the water side

go to the police station yes am I under

arrest no you're taking me to the police

have a look at this and where is your

house which one your house

yeah Happy Land

what is Happy Land is

Happy lands

yeah keeps telling me about Happy Land

which I don't I don't know what Happy

Land is

hello what is down here

what is done this way

this way or this way okay we'll go this

way

is here to police station and

yeah okay

all right we're going to the police

station

hey it's Marco have a look at the puppy

hello the puppy

this is puppy very cute

this is puppy

oh look at this have a look at this like

pool or the uh the expensive Metals out

of the old bits of uh

it's copper copper and gold

this kid's so young he knows what to do

already

this is your son no nothing no nothing I

wanna I wanna be able to give some money

but then everyone's gonna want it and

I've been giving out money for the last

few days

but I'll get them food if I if I could

okay we're gonna we're gonna keep going

huh I'll give I'll give this guy some

money

the uh

here

with all the stuff oh yeah Bravo you

want Bravo yes you want some you want

Bravo okay

get some Bravo

all right we're gonna get gonna get him

some uh

what's that drink you want a drink okay

we got a drink you you ordered me the

drink that is good I see I see Cola okay

yeah For Old Times Sake we're gonna get

an RC Cola

this is mine

do you want to get them a drink too we

get them a drink you want her drink

yeah yes okay okay

oh okay

yeah

[Music]

everything what's her name it's Marco

Marco Marco is my name thank you ah

Bravo

go for something

[Music]

oh the place are here

hello good morning am I allowed in here

yeah how are you man

beautiful police of the Philippines are

here

okay we've got some we've got some RC

colas happening hello

is this your shot no who do I pay thanks

Ben who do I pay the money to

pay him

Daddy's Daddy's that is definitely like

me I always I always spill my drink 70.

okay you hold this for me

thank you okay let's go

here we go Royal Crown Cola for old

time's sake

ice ice

thank you

say thank you thank you

thank you thank you thank you okay we go

this way or

thank you yeah

[Music]

hey this guy's sculling it is quick

it's very fast

I'm gonna enjoy my my RC Cola

okay so I can report absolutely no

problems walking through this this

District here everyone was nice as you

saw

the only two times I got scared was when

the guy said to give him

might want my money and then the other

time was the dude that had the gun but

it was fake that actually scared me a

bit so but you know I'd like to be able

to talk my way out of anything

Hey Brother