My Cousin’s First Time Leaving America. We Took Her to Manila Philippines

Added: 2026-05-19

[00:00:00]We're on our way to the Philippines.

[00:00:03]You So we have a very long travel. So we're leaving at 1:30 to Chicago. Then Chicago to Hong Kong, then Hong Kong to Manila, where we will stay for 5 days. And then we have to book our flight to Siargao.

[00:00:17]We should We should look at that like now.

[00:00:20]Okay, quick quiz. Do you know what language they speak in the Philippines?

[00:00:24]Hong Kong to Manila is 16 hours where I'm stuck on a plane. This is I'm not ready. She is What's the longest plane you've ever been on?

[00:00:33]>> Two.

[00:00:34]Two hours?

[00:00:34]>> Yes. She never left the country, right?

[00:00:36]No. So this is my cousin. Introduce yourself. Sierra, hello.

[00:00:41]Hey, [laughter] Sierra, hello. She grew up with me, you know, she's my cousin.

[00:00:45]>> She has the picture of the marshmallow.

[00:00:46]>> Oh, yeah. We're going to insert the pictures here. I went through a scrapbook yesterday and was like crying.

[00:00:51]>> language they speak in the Philippines?

[00:00:53]>> Doesn't it start with a T?

[00:00:55]Kind of long. Kind of long.

[00:00:57]Tagalog.

[00:00:59]But in in other parts they speak Bisaya.

[00:01:02]So Siargao is Bisaya, but they even speak Siargao non, which is another language only spoken there. Okay. So you're going to hear >> three. Three. Oh, okay. Oh, well, what did you say though that everyone's telling you? Told me not to get kidnapped.

[00:01:18]Watch my drink. Don't get kidnapped.

[00:01:21]Probably about 100 times before I left.

[00:01:23]They think They think the Philippines is dangerous. They have no idea.

[00:01:31]Yo, we're on the plane.

[00:01:33]I have the whole row to myself. Is that not crazy? Look at this.

[00:01:47]I have been laying down.

[00:01:50]I just took a nap.

[00:01:51]Let's see.

[00:01:54]Chicago Hey, woah.

[00:01:57]We're almost there.

[00:02:04]Wow.

[00:02:06]I've already been on this plane for 11 and a half hours. How long did I sleep?

[00:02:12]I was going to try to go back to sleep, but I kind of want to stay awake because when I land in Hong Kong, we have a 55-minute layover that we have to sprint to go to from our next in Hong Kong to Manila.

[00:02:28]But, when I land in Manila, it's going to be almost 1:00 a.m.

[00:02:32]Maybe earlier.

[00:02:33]However, I want to make sure that I can sleep at 1:00 a.m. cuz normally that's 1:00 p.m.

[00:02:40]at my time, you know, so my body I want to try to sleep, so I want to be like tired enough that you know what I'm trying to say?

[00:02:48]My brain's not working. You won't believe what I did. You won't believe what I did.

[00:02:53]I don't know if I should tell you now or when I get out if you can hear me.

[00:02:57]But, when I went up to go use the bathroom a little while ago, like I took a pill that made me really drowsy for sleeping.

[00:03:04]I went to the bathroom and I didn't know where I was. I walked up and down the aisles and I couldn't find my seat. It was so dark.

[00:03:14]So, I had to ask a flight attendant and I got to the other side and it's really hard to cross cuz there's only one exit row, you know, and all the people sleeping touching and I'm like, "Oh my gosh, I don't want to wake them up." And ask them to move their feet cuz they were sleeping.

[00:03:30]And then I like I had to ask the flight attendant and I'm like, "Can I cross?"

[00:03:33]And she had to and she helped me.

[00:03:35]Then, when I used the bathroom, I looked at her and I'm like, "I need to I was like, I can't find my seat." And I couldn't remember the number. I thought it was 40.

[00:03:50]So, she took me and she's walking up and down the aisle with me looking for my seat. It's so funny.

[00:03:57]And this is a Chinese airline. So, uh I think So, all the staff is from China.

[00:04:05]She was so sweet. She was so cute.

[00:04:08]And I found my seat right here. Yeah, and she was laughing.

[00:04:12]Okay, Sierra's over there.

[00:04:19]What's up, Manila? So, we made it safely.

[00:04:23]We're here at City Garden Suites. We're getting ready. Today, we are going to Where are we going?

[00:04:31]I don't remember.

[00:04:31]>> [laughter] >> Where are we going?

[00:04:35]That's We are going to Divisoria. So, this is supposed to be a place where you can get a lot of wholesale. So, a lot of stores and I think sari-saris actually get their stuff from here.

[00:04:50]They have clothes, they have everything.

[00:04:52]I did go one time, and I remember getting just a bunch of stuff. So, we're kind of we did We went to BGC already. I We didn't vlog. We were super jet-lagged, still adjusting.

[00:05:05]So, now we want to see the opposite. We saw the really nice part of Manila. Now, we want to see more of the cheap finds, and I really want to show my cousin some ukay-ukay and some more local spots here maybe in Manila, cuz I really appreciate [music] both.

[00:05:19]>> [snorts] >> So, we're staying here. I stayed at this exact room last time I was in Manila.

[00:05:24]I really, really like it here. Feels very comfortable.

[00:05:29]And they have great service. Yesterday, we ordered GrabFood, and they were It was expensive Thai food. 500 pesos for portions, which is kind of pricey for Philippines, and it didn't even come with rice. It was like [music] a She got a curry, like a chicken curry, and I I a chicken coconut soup, and there was no [music] rice with it. So, we asked them to bring us rice and they had room service.

[00:05:51]So, yeah. [music] It's been great so far.

[00:05:55]Anyways, we're getting ready. We're going to head that way and we might stop at Chinatown Binondo on the way or maybe on the way back to see some >> [music] >> street foods or some popular little things that they have here. So, yeah. Let's see.

[00:06:12]What's your first impression so far of the Manila Philippines? It is so different. I I've never been greeted from hellos more in my life. Everywhere hello, hello. It's honestly so nice, actually.

[00:06:27]And it's hot. It's really hot.

[00:06:30]>> Every day is hot. Well, it's always hot here, but this is actually peak summer.

[00:06:34]So, everyone's like, "Y'all are came at the wrong time." But, I don't think >> season? It's different and I don't really know Manila, but Siargao is November through February. It's completely different here in Manila. So, I don't know, actually. But, yeah.

[00:06:48]So, it is really hot. Super hot. We ain't complaining though. I'd rather have it hot than cold.

[00:06:54]So, yeah. We're soaking up some city life before she feels sees the real province of some of the Philippine Islands that Oh, I can't wait to be back in Siargao as well. So, yeah.

[00:07:04]All right. Next stop is Binondo or Divisoria. To be determined.

[00:07:14]>> [music] [music] [music] >> Okay. We've arrived in Divisoria. Right now, we're at more of the Hello.

[00:07:40]I don't know. Look at all this. This is like a Dollar General for us.

[00:07:44]We need to find where there is the stuff that we're interested in.

[00:07:49]I don't even know how you say maybe camiseta.

[00:07:53]I'm trying to think of where to ask where the clothes are.

[00:08:00]First purchase. We both are getting our sarongs. Which one did you get? Let me see.

[00:08:05]I love when it looks like a peacock.

[00:08:08]It was it 50?

[00:08:10]100. 100? Yeah.

[00:08:18]Pila? 50?

[00:08:21]It's a sale.

[00:08:23]I hope This is our first purchase. I don't know if it's going to be All right. So, we're on the hunt for some clothes. We found this and I also looked up there is a mall in the area.

[00:08:33]So, we're trying to find like where exactly it is.

[00:08:37]Wow, it's so beautiful. Oh, thank you.

[00:08:40]You too. Yeah.

[00:08:42]You are so beautiful. Can Where are you from? I'm from We're from the US, United States. You're from here in Manila?

[00:08:53]Okay.

[00:08:55]Cool.

[00:08:56]Where is the Is there another mall that has more clothes nearby? The what 999 or >> 999 168 It's just just just outside?

[00:09:05]Okay.

[00:09:06]It's same like this or different?

[00:09:08]>> Yeah. Same?

[00:09:11]Okay.

[00:09:12]So, apparently it's just across the street. But, we'll go here first.

[00:09:17]Yana Boone. Yeah. What's your name?

[00:09:19]Kimberly.

[00:09:20]>> Kimberly.

[00:09:21]She recognized me from some of my videos.

[00:09:25]This is your store or you're just shopping?

[00:09:27]I don't know about the data English to the Yeah. Here?

[00:09:32]Okay.

[00:09:34]Sure.

[00:09:38]Salamat. to meet you.

[00:09:41]Backpacks.

[00:09:51]I guess let's just see.

[00:09:54]Or go this way.

[00:10:05]Okay, we're going to cross to the other mall.

[00:10:08]Going to look for it. Oh.

[00:10:10]See it. It's so hot for these vendors. There's fruits all around here, too.

[00:10:15]If you want anything now.

[00:10:17]Wow, look at all these.

[00:10:21]Hello.

[00:10:25]Ooh, red grapes are usually kind of expensive here.

[00:10:41]And the one on your maps is the other one.

[00:10:43]Um hello. We'll have to just maybe ask.

[00:10:47]I think it'll be easier.

[00:10:51]Ooh, this is so cool, isn't it? I always love seeing their markets. One of my favorite things about exploring other places is seeing their markets and their grocery stores.

[00:11:09]Show me.

[00:11:11]We're going to try some ice candy. It's like a Filipino kind of like a popsicle, but they make it homemade. It's really good. It's only like 10 pesos.

[00:11:19]Say hey.

[00:11:22]We're going to try What is the other one? Buko. Buko.

[00:11:26]Can I have mango, please?

[00:11:28]15.

[00:11:30]15. And I'll do buko pandan juice.

[00:11:36]Avocado buko make What was the ice cream? Yes.

[00:11:47]Yummy? So yummy. Think salamat.

[00:11:51]Thank you.

[00:11:54]Thank you, madam. Thank you.

[00:11:58]You keep keep saying I have I paid for you twice. Okay.

[00:12:03]Okay.

[00:12:05]Thank you.

[00:12:06]Sorry. Okay. Thank you. So you How you eat it is you just suck it.

[00:12:12]Okay.

[00:12:14]Like Well, you got to get past the plastic a little bit. Try pushing it up. Yeah.

[00:12:22]It's actually so good. It's good. Thank you.

[00:12:26]I like it.

[00:12:28]What do you think?

[00:12:29]It's slushy in a bag. Try mine.

[00:12:37]Yeah, it's really good.

[00:12:38]Ooh.

[00:12:42]I like this one a little bit. I need Let me get a bite. Yeah, like Bite a little bit.

[00:12:49]My You want to know what my page is?

[00:12:51]What the heck? What? You don't like it?

[00:12:53]Coconut. It's coconut. You don't like coconut? It's a little bit. Like sweet for you?

[00:12:58]>> different taste.

[00:13:00]Say hello.

[00:13:02]Hello. What What are you selling? Yes.

[00:13:05]>> What is that? Wow, that's so nice.

[00:13:09]Okay. Tablecloth. Cool. Well, we don't need a tablecloth, but thank you.

[00:13:14]>> [laughter] >> You Ice candy?

[00:13:19]Sure. We got you.

[00:13:24]Do I have a buko pandan juice?

[00:13:27]Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome.

[00:13:29]Yes, you're welcome.

[00:13:36]Yes, you're welcome.

[00:13:41]It's 20.

[00:13:48]Okay.

[00:13:53]You're welcome. Enjoy. Cheers.

[00:14:00]>> [laughter] >> Sharing is caring. So we were talking and he told [music] me he told me he told me to say salamat. So po is like their kind of like ma'am and sir, but it's a form of respect. [music] So when you hear po, it's giving me po. It's always means you're showing respect. And you're almost always supposed to say it especially to like elders or you'll hear a lot po.

[00:14:40]Oh, so they say also you'll hear a lot they'll call you ate. Like ate Sierra.

[00:14:44]Literally means sister, sister Sierra.

[00:14:47]Um kuya it literally means brother, but it's just a friendly term and often if I don't know his name I'm going to go up and say kuya how much is this?

[00:14:55]Ate how much is this?

[00:14:59]Oh, I scramble.

[00:15:02]I like that.

[00:15:04]Wow.

[00:15:10]I need a bra.

[00:15:18]Hello.

[00:15:20]Yes, so very hot.

[00:15:22]Yeah, hello. What's your name? Um, I forgot.

[00:15:38]So, it's always a little bit awkward when I love going to Filipino markets like this, but we're obviously some of the only Oh, look, there's more.

[00:15:45]There's more >> [crying] >> We're obviously the only foreigners.

[00:15:52]So, it's like you get so much attention and it can be definitely uncomfortable, right? Very uncomfortable. I'm not used to it.

[00:15:59]>> Right.

[00:15:59]>> a friendly way. Everybody just says hello, hello.

[00:16:02]But, that's the thing is like at first it's really awkward and uncomfortable cuz they're staring at you, but they're staring in a nice way. Like, we were even taking a picture and they're like, "Ooh, galing, so beautiful." And they're like hyping us up, but obviously it's still a little bit like, "Ah."

[00:16:19]Banana. Sagging.

[00:16:21]What's sagging? Sagging is banana.

[00:16:24]I think it's the same as Tagalog. At least in Visaya it's sagging.

[00:16:28]But, they understand banana.

[00:16:34]Okay, we found another mall, but it's I think it's similar to what we found last time, but I'm getting a screen protector for only 100, so it's $2 because mine's all broken. So, we're going to replace that.

[00:16:53]Is the mall 168 mall or 999 is better for clothes?

[00:16:59]Clothes, what kind clothes? Like, um, broke like camisetas, like which third floor? Up here or other mall?

[00:17:07]>> Other mall. Okay.

[00:17:12]All right, we made it to the clothes section. It's very random where I feel like some are really cute and original.

[00:17:18]Like this, like the the shirts are pretty cool.

[00:17:22]I end up getting some linen shorts and a pair of linen pants as well. They're really cute. Oh, look at this. So cute.

[00:17:30]200 I see this a lot. Like you'll see shorts they sell for 50 to 25 pesos. A lot of the ukay-ukay, the jean shorts. Oh, look at this.

[00:17:39]650, so it's like little probably about $10, maybe a little more.

[00:17:45]I got to find my cousin. We got split up.

[00:18:19]All right. Hello.

[00:18:21]So, we're on our first Jeepney. Yeah, say hey. So, they were trying to get us to go for 150. So, we're like, "Nah, we we're taking the Jeep Jeepney is only 14 14 pesos each." We would have took that.

[00:18:33]It would have been like 150 each.

[00:18:36]So, we're going to Lucky Town Mall to try I was looking up on TikTok cuz we're going to um we're going to try some of the viral stuff in Binondo.

[00:18:47]So, we're going to San Jose La Union.

[00:18:49]I was going to say it's crazy to me how different that is. They're literally right next to each other. 14 and 150, that's crazy.

[00:18:57]>> Well, this is that's private. This is like every This could be that's why.

[00:19:01]Yeah. Okay. That's why I said when you see this, this is always 10 pesos. But, they normally won't take you to their their direct spot because Lucky Mall is a very popular, like, you know. Yeah.

[00:19:14]Oh. my gosh, I'm getting hungry. So we're going to go try this place.

[00:19:20]San Go La Mian and then I also screenshotted some dumplings we're supposed to try, some benundo bites, and then that mochi thing looked amazing. We got to try that.

[00:19:32]Where did it go?

[00:19:34]I'm using Tik Tok for my research.

[00:19:38]I don't know where it is. We'll find it later.

[00:19:40]Oh, here.

[00:19:42]Nano Park.

[00:19:45]Shout out to Addie Padilla.

[00:19:49]Okay.

[00:19:51]San Go La Mian.

[00:19:55]Hello. Did I say it right?

[00:19:57]Thank you.

[00:19:59]Oh.

[00:20:01]Looks busy.

[00:20:04]I'm so excited for a hearty soup.

[00:20:16]I think I'm going to do the beef one cuz that was the one in the the the recommended in the video and that's the one he just pointed to as well.

[00:20:25]And I want to eat What's the difference between this and this?

[00:20:29]Spicy. Oh.

[00:20:31]Okay. Can I do this with beef?

[00:20:35]Me too, please. It's all the same noodle or there's different noodles? Same noodle. Okay. Do you have the udon noodles or only Knife noodle. Okay.

[00:20:44]Okay, I'll try that, please.

[00:20:46]Knife noodle.

[00:20:48]Knife uh Like the thicker.

[00:20:53]This one noodle?

[00:20:55]Okay. What's the this one or Okay, sure. [music] Sure.

[00:21:03]Beef smells delicious.

[00:21:06]It looks good. It It reminds It looks like a Chinese version of pho, maybe.

[00:21:13]Try. You Where have you Have you ever had pho in in the States? Yeah. I thought it was called pho. When we went, it was called pho. I didn't know if that was right or wrong, but um it was delicious. I Oh, I love it.

[00:21:27]Pretty healthy, too. Yeah, very.

[00:21:30]Mhm, the broth is really nice. So So So soothing.

[00:21:38]So, why do they give us these? Do we transfer? Maybe if you wanted to just share some or something or put some there.

[00:21:45]I need something to eat over that plate.

[00:21:49]I like to put up some on a plate to cool it. And I don't know why I'm weird with my soup. I feel like in the Philippines, the soup, you know how you put your rice just like you would think to just put it in it, they seem to kind of do it the opposite. Like they would transfer their meat onto the rice.

[00:22:04]I don't know.

[00:22:08]Mhm.

[00:22:10]It's like cold brisket.

[00:22:12]I didn't try the meat yet.

[00:22:16]Mhm.

[00:22:17]Perfect.

[00:22:19]I love soup. I just feel like it's so filling and it's usually pretty healthy.

[00:22:25]So much noodles. So much.

[00:22:28]>> [music] >> If we don't finish it, we can take it to go and give it to somebody outside.

[00:22:36]Have you ever tried real ramen?

[00:22:38]Like from a Japanese place?

[00:22:40]No.

[00:22:41]I only have I surprisingly didn't even try it when I was in Japan, but I tried it one time. Yeah. Cuz That would be my first meal. I don't know why I'm never a I'm not a big ramen or noodle person.

[00:22:51]I'm more of a rice-based meal. I don't know why I don't like Maybe cuz I was like afraid of gluten or something. See, I love noodles. That's why I know like when I go to Europe and like I want to go to Italy, too, one day and I to the noodles and I'm going to learn from Nona how to make noodles. But my friend my friend says you can drink you can have gelato everyday you can have a wine there everyday pasta and you don't feel the way you feel in the states cuz the food is real.

[00:23:20]Something I'm very excited to experience there.

[00:23:23]So we're Honda Bridge.

[00:23:33]No it's pink.

[00:23:38]I don't I look at the skirt.

[00:23:43]This is how I know I'm in the Philippines. Look at these cable lines.

[00:23:47]It's just crazy.

[00:23:51]Hello. No thank you. Hello.

[00:23:56]Just walking.

[00:24:03]Tiktok?

[00:24:04]Yeah but I saw it just from one person but I'm sure it's good.

[00:24:09]Mine is all Dong Bei dumplings. Let's see. Hello.

[00:24:14]Do you have beef or only pork? Only pork? How much is it?

[00:24:20]It's like 14 pieces pork one. Okay.

[00:24:22]Okay. Thank you.

[00:24:27]So they only have pork. We don't really eat pork but we'll see. And I'm not even I know I'm like full enough.

[00:24:35]I could still eat more but we're planning to eat the emoji.

[00:24:39]Yeah.

[00:24:40]But I'm sure we'll see many more.

[00:24:42]>> save it for there. Okay. I would try like a dumpling if it was small.

[00:24:48]Like let's see something like this. Oh wow that looks good.

[00:24:52]Oh.

[00:24:53]Well you can probably buy just two of them right?

[00:24:55]>> Mhm. Let's do it.

[00:24:58]Oh my gosh.

[00:25:01]This is so cute.

[00:25:04]We're in China.

[00:25:14]Mochi Bob. We are looking for Mochis, but Wait.

[00:25:22]They just said no.

[00:25:23]Oh my gosh.

[00:25:30]So, we might skip the dumplings. I I mean, I still want to try one if I see it, but we're definitely looking for the mochi, but I I'll still try dried shrimp.

[00:25:42]Smells good.

[00:25:44]They're really digging into their dried fish and when you go through them Oh, there. It's right there.

[00:25:49]Oh, yes, please.

[00:25:50]Okay.

[00:25:52]Dun dun na.

[00:25:54]I feel like I need to try a dumpling though. I'm sorry.

[00:26:02]I want to get one that's like that. Yes, so probably yes.

[00:26:07]Oh, sure. Yeah.

[00:26:09]Maybe the mango.

[00:26:12]It's the mango graham. What is this one?

[00:26:17]Okay. Maybe the the best seller is what?

[00:26:22]I I don't know best seller.

[00:26:28]>> [music] >> Okay. Maybe they'll try the the matcha.

[00:26:33]Can I try the mango?

[00:26:39]Oh, it's almond it's literally cream cheese.

[00:26:42]Oh, wow.

[00:26:44]>> [music] >> Okay, we're going to get some hopia. We got one ube.

[00:26:50]And one mango.

[00:26:53]What is that? Almond cake. I have no idea. Jelly. They love their jelly consistency stuff.

[00:27:00]Ooh, what is that?

[00:27:02]Oh, that's not what I thought it was.

[00:27:06]I hope you enjoyed our part one of Manila. I was actually going to include more in this video, but we go to Mall of Asia, we go exploring a lot of other places in Manila, and it would have been such a long video. So, I decided to break it into a part two. So, stay tuned. That is going to be the next video. Make sure you like and subscribe so you can see when I post the next one.

[00:27:26]And I put a lot of effort into editing these, so it would mean a lot to me if you did. And see you in the next Manila adventure. then I will be in Siargao Island. Oh, wait. I may or may not already be here right now. Sneak peek.

[00:27:44]Because I'm behind on editing. I'm looking for an editor. So, yes, please be nice to me for being late on a lot of my uploads, but we're going to get better very, very soon. Woo.