Pastin

Here is a link to an article on CNNGO about some of my adventures.

http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/artists-mission-brighten-neighborhoods-446751

Thanks to Mitch for the hook up.

Charlie "Nasty" Mack. Double platinum rapper who showed us around his neighbourhood. Thanks to Charlie, San Francisco Barry and Chaddy "Patrick Swayze" Theissen

On the water tower, got to wait for the video for the finished product.

Walking Tour Highlights

The three day walking tour covered most of the off-the-beaten locations in Manila and gave me a great sense of what the city is like. Colorful chaos, outgoing people and a sense of desperation for the future are all combined to make Manila a bustling third world metropolis.

When you meet this guy on a walk, its going to be a good day. Big Pimpin

Got to love the fake grill made of plastic.

Funny how a split second can change the view of a person. 1 and

2

The kids were in a playful mood oblivious to the fact that their shanty town along the river will be torn down in a couple of weeks.

A mother helps style her daughter's hair while sitting on a tomb that is close to her house. This community lives inside a cemetery. More on that in the next couple of posts

This is actually the first picture of the walking tour. These guys lived under this bridge which they said provided protections from the harsh realities that many street children face each day in Manila. The water itself is filled with anything you can imagine plus a formidable scent, it stings the nostrils.

I bought them a meal after. At this point they said this was their first meal with any kind of meat in it for over a week. The guy in the hat was sporting a black eye from defending their home under the bridge from another group of kids looking for a place to live.

Kenneth and his wife

Dude was very high on glue, but his smile reveals that that glue took him to some good places.

Deconstructing cars by hand along the railroad tracks. They said they made 90-150 pesos a day. 2-4 dollars.

Of course no tour of Manila would be complete without a visit to Recto. Thanks to Auggie for helping me sneak onto this roof top with a view.

Despite the large knife in his hands, this man was rather pleasant.

"Hey, what the fuck are you doing taking pictures in my country" This is how I was welcomed by this man along the train tracks in Tondo. Give me 10 minutes, a few jokes and a cold drink for him and we are laughing away. It took me a while to work up the courage for a photo, but in the end....

Young Hustlaz

Homes along the railway line

Now this is how you hop a fr8.... In style

Manila train yards

The old railway station. Just don't make buildings like this anymore.

This settlement was/is supposed to be demolished in a few weeks to make room for more apartments like the one in the background which looms over the community.

Thanks Migs, Auggie, Jojo, Jerik, Paulo, Tito Mel and Tita Yolee for everything!!!

Homeschool x 13: Maharlaka

Located on the on the outskirts of Metro Manila, Maharlaka is home to a mostly Muslim population. If you ask people in Manila where the most dangerous place is, many will answer: Maharlaka.

 It took me 3 taxis to finally make it there. The first two gestured a slitting of the throat motion and told me it was too dangerous. 

A nice welcome on the outskirts of Maharlaka

Around 50 kids came out to draw

Some were too shy to participate so they stuck to the sidelines

An older fan showing love

Some of the great works produced that day

The chef of the day. I brought the spaghetti, she produced the magic

Dude killed this plate of spaghetti

If I was that close to Maharlaka, I wanted to venture into the heart of it. This also took some convincing and persuasion to the taxi drivers, but they eventually took me there. The first sight, a rare one in the Philippines a mosque and...

Of course no hood would be complete without the local hustlers...

This guy was no older than 20. He had a fat stack of bills in his hand from selling Shaboo, or Meth.

It took a couple of jokes, a basketball game and a few pictures, but I was granted access to the entire neighborhood.

 

The families inside were bright and full of life. Very friendly people who thanked me for coming and wanted me to share my pics and experience with the outside world. 

The women and girls were very shy, but curious of the camera. They eventually warmed up and allowed me to take some photographs of them.  

Mindanao Avenue, ask about me..

Runs the street corner through intimidation and colorful attire