Kwentong Kapuso: More fun in what author Dan Brown calls 'gates of hell'

Kababayan, I’m getting white hair and wrinkles by the minute as I read your articles, blogs, posts and comments on Facebook on how upset you are about Dan Brown’s latest book, “Inferno.”

By this time, Mr. Brown is smiling because he is getting free publicity from tens of thousands of angry Filipinos talking about his new book! Let’s not waste our time huffing and puffing over what was written about Manila. Let’s take advantage and ride on Mr. Brown’s popularity and make it work for us too!

Now here is our strategy on how we can counterattack the unsavory publicity in a FUN way! Instead of focusing on the negative issues Mr. Brown wrote about Manila, let us focus on and write about the good things about our beloved city! Let’s make use of the most powerful tool to share our positive thoughts, and let’s use social networking! Write on your Facebook wall, blog or tweet why you love Manila. It’s not difficult, just be yourself and think good thoughts.

Here is a list of reasons to remind you why we love Manila.

Think of the glorious food washed down with ice cold San Miguel Beer; the night life that extends to breakfast at the Manila Pen or if you are on a tight budget, breakfast of ‘goto’ or ‘tapsilog’ at Gotohan with its famous logo “Open 25 hours” (where else in the world can you get that?); the affordable guilt-free-shop-till-you-drop 168 Divisoria Mall.

Ride one of Vin Diesel’s colorful jeepneys. Visit Baclaran on a Wednesday. When in traffic, practice your favorite song in a taxi equipped with a Karaoke. Get a full body massage for P250 (US$6).

Ride the tricycle and get a free blow dry. Buy a movie ticket and cool down. Relax and take a nap in an air-conditioned theater. Watch Vice Ganda on TV to release stress.

Watch the Manila Bay sunset from the Mall of Asia. Have your eyebrows threaded or better yet, tattooed. Watch ballet at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Get a facial and Botox on the third level of Edsa Mall. Visit the Malate Church and have Kropeck from the vendors waiting outside, then freshen your breath with Stork.

Get a pedicure from hundreds of tiny fish. Join a Tai Chi class at the Luneta Park. Have Chicken Joy at Jollibee and try breadless burger with rice and gravy at McDonald’s. View Juan Luna’s Spoliarium at the National Museum. Have warm ‘taho’ when you wake up, an ice-buco-pop at noon and a balut at sundown.
National Museum.

I can go on and on because the fun activities in Manila are endless. We have the best city and we know it! Best of all, the Filipino people make Manila the place to be.
Let us reverse Mr. Brown’s negative narrative of Manila by our good and positive feelings for our city.

Based on Mr. Brown’s previous book sales, there is a strong possibility his latest book will be another bestseller. More books sold, more people will read about Manila. How will the readers react? It doesn’t matter! We already have them at “gates of hell.” - The FilAm

Bessie Badilla, a former Balenciaga model in Paris and the first Filipina Carnival Queen in Brazil, is an actress, indie film producer and a lyricist and vocalist for Brinoy (Brazilian Pinoy) Music. She dabbles in children’s storybook writing and anime. She is the co-founder of the Facebook Group, Come Visit my Philippines. She lives in Connecticut with her daughter Ines and visits her daughter Blanca in New York on weekends.