I was able to get in touch with Chan from Team HoA: the top team in the Philippines to get his insight on the gaming scene there.

Baka: Philippines, name me some places worth visiting there?

HoA Chan: Definitely BORACAY, it's one of the best beaches in the world. It's a beach with fine white sand and a VERY jumpy night life. It’s said to be one of the, if not the best beach in the world.


Baka: When people travel, they love to try new food, what's the cuisine like in the Philippines?

HoA Chan: I guess people would say exotic...just because there is some weird stuff here, like a Philippine delicacy called "balut" which is an unborn chick. There’s no really distinct "flavor" here like Thai or Malaysian food, which are spicy.



Baka: Steamed, fried, BBQed, baked? What is it usually?

HoA Chan: Just boiled, it’s pretty disgusting (to me at least) and it's common to see vendors peddling them in the streets in little carts. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balut) Other Philippine favorites people should try are chicken adobo, fried lumpia, beef tapa and bangus.


Baka: What's a typical Friday/Saturday night like for a teenager or young adult?

HoA Chan: Ahh… there’s a problem with that question because I think the social status here is quite polarized. It's either you’re really rich or you’re really poor, so a "typical" night would be really different depending on which class you belong in. To be honest, I'm not particularly sure how things go for the lower class. Young adults usually go to malls, go to events (DJ Tiesto concerts, etc.) or do some bar hopping. There are no curfew times here and things can get really wild! I'd say the nightlife here is much better compared to most countries.


Baka: And by lower/upper class, what's really the main difference? education? The computers they have? Etc.

HoA Chan: Money, education and opportunities. It’s very easy to differentiate rich from poor lifestyle here. If you own a significant piece of property or land, I think it’s safe to say you’re well-off or at least not in the bottom part of society.