High-rise buildings are seen in the background with slum dwellings in the front, near a polluted river in Manila May 31, 2013. The Philippines on May 30, 2013 posted surprisingly strong growth in the first quarter, knocking China from pole position in Asia driven by robust domestic consumption and government spending. From a year earlier, the economy grew 7.8 percent, helped by robust domestic spending, making the Philippines the fastest growing economy in Asia as it pushed past China's 7.7 percent annual pace and 1.6 percent quarterly growth. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY POVERTY CITYSCAPE)