Philippines

Manila, October 2010

During fall 2010 I visted a Philippine supplier of my employer. The Philippines maintain a toll-free port in Manila. Material can be imported, processed and exported again via this port without paying duty taxes. During my visit I stayed in a hotel in new and modern Makati City. The supplier was located several slums away in the Laguna Techno Park south west of the  20 million people city.

The Philippines are probably situated on one of the most uncomfortable places on this planet. The Mariana Trench, the deepest spot on earth, is only a few 100 miles away from the coast of the islands. The location comes with many active volcanos causing earthquakes and flooding. And each monsoon season, typhoons cut their way through the archipelago. Usually, October is the end of the typhoon season. This year, however, the strongest storms since 5 years arrived quite late and passed Manila right at the weekend which I spend in Manila.

Taal Volcano, October 2010

The active Taal Volcano lies 50km / 30mi south of Manila. It's composed of a caldera inside a caldera, both filled with a lake.