Welcome to the Jungle
a concrete jungle, that is.
If you live and work in Manila, you know the hustle is real. Not the cute “rise and grind” kind — more like:
6:00 AM: Alarm goes off. You hit snooze. Twice.
7:15 AM: Grab coffee. Grab phone. Grab Grab.
8:03 AM: EDSA says hi.
9:17 AM: Boss wants that “quick” update (which is never quick).
8:42 PM: You finally step out of the office, only to realize your dinner plans just became “foodpanda + Netflix.”
But here’s the thing — the Manila hustle doesn’t have to grind you down. With the right mindset and a few tactical moves, it can actually work for you.
Here’s how to not just survive, but actually thrive:
1. Treat Your Calendar Like Real Estate
Your time is prime Makati real estate — don’t give it away for free. Every slot of your time has value. Like real estate, the more prime your time slot (e.g., morning for deep work), the more valuable it is — which means you have to be deliberate about what you "build" in each time slot, not just filling it with low-value meetings or activities. Just as cities have zones for residential, commercial, and industrial use, your calendar should have zones for: Deep work (strategic, creative, analytical), Maintenance (emails, admin), Collaboration (meetings, brainstorming), and Rest (lunch, downtime).
2. Redefine Networking (No, It’s Not Just LinkedIn)
Networking happens in everyday interactions — in your community, online, in collaborations — where trust builds naturally over time. Some of your best career moves can start over coffee in Poblacion or a post-work jog at BGC. Our advice? Build genuine relationships, not just contact lists. Instead of focusing on what can I get from you?, shift your perspective to how can we create value for each other? Treat networking as cultivating genuine relationships that may lead to opportunities that will fall naturally.
3. Commute Smarter
No choice but to travel during rush hour? Turn EDSA into your classroom, gym, or therapy session. Listen to audiobooks, podcasts, or language lessons to turn dead time into learning time. Use the commute to plan your day or mentally rehearse key tasks. If you’re stuck in traffic, might as well come out wiser. Treat your commute as a transition zone between work and home — a mental reset instead of a chore. Use calming music or meditation apps to arrive less frazzled.
4. Have a Non-Work Life — Seriously
Manila’s energy is addictive, but so is burnout! Block time for hobbies, weekend escapes, or even that pottery class in QC you keep postponing. And do take note of this: if your identity is tied only to your job, setbacks at work can feel like personal failures. Having passions, communities, and goals outside of work gives you a more stable sense of self-worth. Isn’t it ironic that stepping away from work makes you better at it? Time spent on leisure, exercise, or creative pursuits sharpens problem-solving skills, boosts focus, and encourages fresh perspectives.
5. Play the Long Game
Your career is a marathon, not a sprint from Ortigas to Ayala at 5:55 PM. Learn to make choices with an eye on lasting value rather than chasing quick wins. Your small, consistent efforts — may it be in career, relationships, finances, or health — build momentum. Like compound interest, the rewards of discipline multiply if you stick with them long enough. Playing the long game means treating every interaction as part of a bigger story, and when your vision stretches years ahead, temporary failures or slow progress don’t derail you. You plant seeds now, water them patiently, and let time work its quiet magic.
Final Word
The Manila hustle will always be here — loud, fast, and a little unpredictable. But with the right mindset and habits, your life can be your launchpad, not just your treadmill.
So here’s to another round of chasing goals, dodging traffic, and living a life that’s more than just making it through the week. Good thing we’re in this together.
See you next Friday,
Kaye
Chief Editor, WLM
The Manila Edit
SOME FRESH FINDS FOR YOU
Watch over the weekend: “My Oxford Year” (in Netflix) →
Listen to this pop star royalty’s latest album: I Said I Love You First… And You Said It Back (by Selena Gomez) →
Don’t miss the highly talked-about season finale: The Gilded Age (season 3) →
Something new to pick your curious mind: Secrets of the Career Game: 36 Simple Strategies to Win in the Workplace (by Kendall Berg) →
Quoteworthy
“Living deliberately wasn’t planning everything, but being definite about every small moment — because a succession of moments is really all we have.”
Until next time,
