Comparison & Contrast Essay: Ain’t No Place like Manila/Davao

            Davao – the food basket of Mindanao. Manila – the place where everything happens, good or bad. Both are different and far apart from each other but which is truly better, Davao or Manila? The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast Davao City and the whole region of NCR, collectively known as Manila, in terms of getting around, traffic, crime rate, cost of expenses, and leisure spots.

            Getting from point A to point b is really a concern for people who are traveling or going somewhere. In Davao, everything is within five to ten minutes of travel, considering that it is the biggest city in terms of land area. Traveling is not really a hassle, since you just have to go North or South, and the occasional East for some. The districts in Davao are also easily identified, as well as its streets. In Manila, traveling is one of the hassles. NCR is divided into cities, cities to towns, towns to districts, among others. Though the cities are relatively small, the system of highways and roads makes everything complicated. Even if they were made to make life simpler, it seems that they just add more problems to the worsening situation in Manila.

            Davao has no 3-hour  traffic jams or “long parking lots” as they say. Being stuck at one place for five minutes is already considered traffic, since there is normally a smooth flow of vehicles on the roads. On the other hand, the traffic in Manila is one of the problems that its inhabitants face. Being stuck in a traffic jam is like waiting for paint to dry; it will take you a long time before you can finish.

            Crime – another problem that any city faces. In Davao, the criminals are afraid of the ever vigilant mayor that orders for security in almost every part of the city. You can even leave your things in one place; leave, and still come back for them. The only reports of crime are minor thefts and other such cases. In Manila, people are often afraid to leave their houses, in fear that they might be victimized by the criminals and delinquents that lurk on every corner. I, myself, have been a victim of a hold-up, which led to a theft, and left me traumatized.

            In Davao, 100 pesos can already get you a decent meal and a taxi ride home. Since it is considered as a rural area, things in Davao are cheap. Meanwhile, everything in Manila is expensive; 100 pesos a day would not last any person. The cost of living is also expensive compared to that of rural areas.

            In Davao, there are only 5 malls, 2 parks, and not a hint of Starbucks. Although Davao is big, investors do not like to make expensive establishments, since the people are not used to high prices. In Manila, almost every city has a park, 2-3 malls, and at least one branch of Starbucks. Manila is the best place for these kinds of things, since it is the center of trade and business.

            All-in-all, I believe that Davao is the better of the two, considering the terms that have been discussed. The comparison and contrast of Davao and NCR, in terms of getting around, traffic, crime rate, cost of expenses, and leisure spots is for those who would like to live in either of the two cities, or currently residing in one of them. Some people may like the bustling city streets, or bright lights of Manila, but I would much rather prefer the peace and tranquility that only Davao has to offer.

Reflection:

            I found it easy writing this essay since I knew about the two subjects by heart. It was easy to compare and contrast, since I have lived in both cities and have seen the differences between the two. Overall, I think that I wrote a good essay by making good comparisons and contrasts. I could have written a better essay if I gave more information about the topics being compared.