As Filipinos and especially those living in Manila, what do you think about Dan Brown's description of Manila in his new book Inferno?
In Dan Brown's Inferno, he refers to Manila as "the gates of hell", describing it as a city of "six-hour traffic jams, suffocating pollution [and] horrifying sex trade." In his book, Dan Brown writes about a character, Sienna, who is overcome by the city's destitution, filth and child prostitution – and is later raped in one of its many slums.
Metro Manila's chairman Francis Tolentino decided to adress a letter to the author. In it he wrote: "we are greatly disappointed by your inaccurate portrayal of our beloved metropolis," "We are displeased [by] how you have used Manila as a venue and source of a character's breakdown and trauma, much more her disillusionment in humanity." In it he wrote that he objected to the descriptions written about Manila, which he argues neglect the "good character and compassion" of Filipinos, calling Manila "an entry to heaven" and a "centre of Filipino spirit, faith and hope"
"MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino is either blind or perhaps never leaves his guarded mansion without his chauffered limo with its tinted windows," commented one reader on the PhilStar website, describing Brown's depiction of the city as "near perfect".-guardian.co.uk
What is your stand? Make a post and voice it out. What do you RPers think?