Manila is too crowded, dirty, and the people cant drive for crap. If you want to visit the Philippines for beach-going or diving or whatever, just pass through Manila...dont stay there. True, the food is good and the people are generally friendly, but its a dangerous city too. If you're not a Filipino then you might end up knifed in a back alley, or in broad daylight in a jeepney for your wallet or jewelry.
AND YES, THE PHILIPPINES IS A 3RD WORLD COUNTRY! Stop trying to say its not, Filipinos :)

A big, beautiful city with some problems like pollution, overcrowding, and smog, but the people are very friendly and there's quite a lot to see.

Manila WAS nice, but now it's too crowded and polluted because every Filipino wants to live there. Manila equals traffic and pollution now. On the other hand, people there speak English well so it's really easy to communicate. It's mostly polluted and dirty, except Fort Bonifacio & Makati. Malate's okay too. Good nightlife is in Malate. Cheap places are in Fairview and Paranaque. Best schools are in Quezon City. Most foreigners are in Makati. And for me, the cleanest is Fort Bonifacio. Go check out Serendra, Bonifacio Highstreet and Powerplant mall in Rockwell to chill a bit if you start to feel like hell.

Manila is dirty and polluted Makati and malate are ok. i love the Philippines but manila is expensive and dirty and over crowded. good night life and some nice areas.

Of all the worlds cities I have visited - Manila is by far the worlds worst.. When I was there the traffic snarls were choked with dirt puffing Jeeps (minibuses) and the polution was so intense you could not see from one side of the road to another (in daytime). Add to that the fact that the poverty is not the pity inducing kind I have witnessed in South America and Africa - but agressive begging with no attempt to try and interact with the donor. Whilst I'm aware that as a western traveller my perspective may well be a bit skewed, I couls not adjust to the mindnumbing looks of HATRED from people on the street... My advice - give SE Asia a miss completely and head to South America - same grubby poverty - but people smile...

well i gotta give this place a good rating since my mom's from the philippines and it's the only other asian city i've been to. the people are friendly and almost everybody speaks english. however manila has all the inherent problems of a third-world metropolis. so i'd recommend bagio (i think i'm spelling it right). it's a smaller town in the north that's a bit cleaner.

It is a great city with lots of nightlife! Very warm and friendly people. Lots of good restaurants! Don't worry if you suddenly crave American food while here. There's McDonald's and KFC to be found. ;-)