El Madrid de las Filipinas- How the Madrid Metro puts the Philippines to Shame

I know I keep praising the Madrid Metro system which results in empahasizing more and more that I live in a third world (ok fine, developing is a more acceptable term now) nation which has a horrible public transpo system. But hey, If you are one of the millions who drive to work everyday in the rush hour traffic or one of the people who has to squeeze into the MRT, you would be just as deliriously happy as I am to have the Madrid Metro. Not to mention the soaring gas prices which I don’t really want to get into. I normally hate it when people diss Manila or the Philippines in general and I get defensive. I always think that only Filipinos can criticize our own country haha. However, the public transpo chaos is one thing I can’t deny.

So anyway, I’m bringing this up because of a commercial I saw when I was waiting in one of the stations for the train to arrive. It’s an ad about the Madrid Metro which involves the Philippines. The ad is called “El Madrid de Filipinas” It’s in connection to the existence of a Madrid City both in Spain and in the Philippines.Here’s the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR7BW83ni2o

When I first saw it, my mouth was literally left hanging open out of disbelief and disgust. I always hate it when the Philippines is portrayed as some backward uncivilized nation where cars, buildings and indoor plumbing does not exist. So as you can imagine, I was not too happy about this portrayal of “Madrid” city somewhere in the south. God knows there must be dozens of Madrids, Valencias and other places named after Spanish cities all over the country.

I was just about to run amuck when I had an epiphany. What was I so mad about? Chances are, there is a backward town that looks close to what is in the ad. Even worse, that town probably does NOT have the measly 2 Metro stations portrayed in the Ad. The truth is, It’s actually much worse!

Ugh, dirt roads and lack of decent infrastructure is indeed still a huge issue in most provinces. I doubt if such a project can be completed as swiftly and accurately in the real Philippines. I now have mixed feelings about the ad. It may be offensive that our country is portrayed in such a manner where we all still use carabaos as daily transpo, but on the flipside, I wish we were as progress-oriented as these people who were inspired by what they saw in Madrid,Spain and wasted no time and worked together towards improving their own Madrid. 🙂

Comments

Myeongdong Street Food Review: (Video) Seoul, South Korea

Fishcake Myeongdong is one of the most popular tourist districts in the center of Seoul, Korea. Located just on the foot of Mount Namsan and the famous N Seoul Tower, you can’t miss this area if you’re on a tour of the city. One of the big reasons for a visit? Lots of great shopping opportunities and a bustling street food market! In the video below, my friends and I try to sample as much of the food as we can. We give you honest reviews of each item so that you’ll know what you can’t miss and what you can skip when you visit Myeongdong Street Food Market. Off the top of my head, I highly recommend: 1. Egg Bread (gyeran-ppang/gyeran-bbang). This is sweet and savory at the same time. Think of it as a your morning pancake and eggs all in one. I even make it with bacon at home. Korean Egg Bread (Gyeran-ppang/bbang) 2. Steak: I can’t be sure if this is the highly regarded Korean beef (Hanwoo) or not. However, I can guarantee that the beef they sell on the street here is much be...

An Unforgettable Oktoberfest Celebration at BROTZEIT Philippines

Brotzeit Philippines has brought back the highly-anticipated Oktoberfest party all the way from Germany! From September 1 to November 10, 2024, all Brotzeit branches will be hosting Oktoberfest celebrations. My friends and I enjoying the Oktoberfest party! My friends and I enjoying the Oktoberfest party! Earlier this month, my foodie friends and I attended one of the special "Party Days to Remember" at Brotzeit Shangri-La @ The Fort, BGC. During our visit, The Anton Showband was around to entertain us with their lively and engaging performances. The band came all the way from Germany specifically for Brotzeit's signature party days which were held at Brotzeit BGC on Sept. 27 and 29, and Brotzeit Alabang on Sept. 28. Wearing my traditional Dirndl and posing with The Anton Showband We could not help but to sing and dance as the band played traditional Bavarian music during the event. They got us to our feet and there were no strangers in the room as everyone interacted wi...

Sizzle Your Senses: Kureji's Innovative Japanese Cuisine

Kureji is redefining the Japanese dining experience, one sizzling bowl at a time and I got a chance to see what they have to offer! Since 2018, this innovative restaurant has been captivating taste buds with its signature Sizzling Ramen. This unique dish combines traditional ramen flavors with a theatrical presentation, served on a sizzling hot bowl to enhance the aroma and flavor profile. Are you curious yet? My friends and I trooped over to Kureji at Ali Mall, Araneta City and sat down for a fun catch-up session over a carefully curated lunch spread. Of course, we had to try their signature Sizzling Tomato Seafood Ramen. Sizzling Tomato and Seafood Ramen I was a bit skeptical about the tomato-based broth at first, fearing that it might taste more like pasta. However, the rich seafood flavor definitely came through, with just a hint of the tomato tang. The sizzling presentation was definitely interesting, and the interactive experience of timing the exact moment to pour the...

Ish Meets World

Search This Blog