mmcd, that's a bit like asking "How long is a piece of string?" There is so much information available on the internet that it truly is worthwhile doing a search, and not just on FT. For hotels try www.asia-hotels.com. They have pretty good rates and a decent selection of hotels.

Like any major city you have to be streetwise, keep you eyes open and refrain from doing anything provocative (such as wearing conspicuous jewelry or waving wads of money around). Otherwise I find the Filippinos friendly and helpful.

I always found it a strange paradox though that a country that is so openly devoutly Catholic has such a large number of people walking around with guns!