Dan Brown's latest book Inferno has offended some Filipinos and the Philippine Cyberspace is at a buzz with the latest work of the controversial writer. Honestly I didn't really have the same reaction as most of my countrymen have. We all know that Brown has a knack for creating controversy. His earlier works, Da Vinci code and Angel and Demons have caused a stir in the Roman Catholic world. So you may ask why I am not really that affected and calling foul the minute I read the news? It is simple because I think Dan Brown hasn't been to the Philippines and even if he did he may have visited Manila as a whole. Yes Manila is neck deep in poverty. Yes it is not the best place in world to visit. But there are more places far worse compared to Manila. 

The book described Manila as a city with a six-hour traffic jam, suffocating pollution and horrifying sex trade. There are places that I can think of worse traffic jam, pollution and prostitution compared to Manila. 

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino was one of the first Filipino to react about Dan Brown's latest work. “While we are aware that yours is a work of fiction, we are greatly disappointed by your inaccurate portrayal of our beloved metropolis. We are displeased (at) how you have used Manila as a venue and source of a character’s breakdown and trauma, much more her disillusionment,” Tolentino said. Tolentino has also extended an invitation to the bestselling author to visit Manila

Being populated by people mostly Roman Catholics and other Christian religion, I see why most are offended by Brown calling Manila the "gates of hell". But seriously there are more places in world that is far worst than Manila. I think Brown may have chosen Manila since Filipinos would create a lot of publicity for his book. And calling Manila "the gates of hell" surely did that. His three books: Deception point, Digital fortress and the lost symbol did not sell compared to the Da Vinci Code and Angel and Demons because they are not controversial enough. The Catholic Church’s reaction fuelled people' curiosity and that is one of the reason why a lot people read those book. I just got a copy the book. I want to read it first and will let you know what I think of it.