METRO MANILA

Metropolitan Manila (Filipino: Kalakhang Maynila, Kamaynilaan) or the National Capital Region (NCR) (Filipino: Rehiyon ng Pambansang Kabisera) is the metropolitan area of the city of Manila, the national capital of the Philippines. Its residential population of 11,553,427 (1-Aug-2007 census). Including suburbs in the adjacent provinces (Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan) Greater Metro Manila, has population about 22 mln (1-Aug-2007 census). Metro Manila is one of the two defined metropolitan areas in the Philippines, the other being Metro Cebu.In 2005, it ranked as the 42nd richest urban agglomeration in the world with a GDP of $108 billion according to PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Metro Manila is expected to climb to the 30th spot by 2020 with a GDP of $257 billion and an annual growth rate of 5.9%.As proclaimed by Presidential Decree No. 940, Metro Manila as a whole is the Philippines' seat of government although only the City of Manila is the capital.Manila is the capital, largest city, and major seaport of the Philippines. The city is located on central Luzon Island, on the eastern shore of Manila Bay, at the mouth of the Pasig River, just west of Quezon City. It is the commercial, administrative, and cultural center of the Philippines. The Manila metropolitan area, or Metro Manila, officially called the National Capital Region, comprises an area of 636 sq km (246 sq mi) and includes Manila proper, Quezon City, Pasay, Caloocan, Makati, and the municipalities of Las Piñas, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinglupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasig, Pateros, San Juan del Monte, Taguig, and Valenzuela. A small Muslim settlement named Maynilad was located in the vicinity of present-day Manila when the Spaniards arrived in 1571.

MAIN ATTRACTIONS

Plaza San Luis

Location: Intramuros, ManilaDescription: Named after one of the old barrios of old Intramuros, this is a cultural-cum-commercial complex currently composed of five houses - Casa Manila, Casa Urdaneta, Casa Blanca, Los Hidalgos and El Hogar Filipino. Plaza Ruis will eventually consist of 9 houses representing different eras in Filipino - Hispanic architecture. Aside from gift and specialty shops, the complex has a museum at Casa Manila, containing late 19th century and early 20th century furniture found in a typical Filipino illustrado or the priviledged class home. How to get there?: From Mabini and Pedro Gil Sts., hail a PUJ bound to the "Pier" and get off at the Bonifacio Drive intersection. From here, Plaza San Luis is a 10 minutes walk going towards Aduana St. As an alternative route, one can take any pier bound PUJ in Quezon City and get off at Aduana Street. Travel Time: Approximately 25 minutes (from Manila). Approximately an hour (from Quezon City)

Fort Santiago

Location: Intramuros, ManilaDescription: Which marks its entrance on the northwestern trip to Intramuros, started in 1571 and completed nearly 150 years later by Filipino forced labor. The pre Spanish settlement of Rajah Sulayman was a wooden fort on the ashes of which was built the Spanish fortress which was Spain's major defense position in the islands. It looked out on the sea, towards which is canons were trained to ward off pirates and invaders. Also known as the "Shrine of Freedom", in memory of the heroic Filipinos imprisoned and killed here during the Spanish and Japanes eras. Partly rebuilt from the ruins of World War II, it is now a park and premonadehousing a resident theater company - PETA which has used ramparts, old garison and small chapel, as theaters for both traditional and modern plays. How to get there?: From T.M. Kalaw St., walk to Mabini or Pedro Gil Sts. and hail a PUJ bound for the pier and get off at the Bonifacio Drive Intersection. From here, Fort Santiago is a five minute walk going towards Aduana Street. Travel Time: Approximately 25 minutes.

Rizal Shrine

Location: Fort Santiago, Intramuros, ManilaDescription: Rizal Park is situated in the heart of the city of Manila, Philippines. It is at the northern end of Roxas Boulevard, overlooking Manila Bay.Rizal Park's history began in the early 1800s during the Spanish rule. While Manila's social and business activities were confined within Intramuros, a small area just south of the walls was cleared to prevent sneak attacks from the patriotic natives. The area was shaped like a small moon (lunette) and thus was named Luneta. The Park was also called Bagumbayan (English: New Town) in Spanish colonial era, and later known as Luneta. Luneta has been the site of some of the most significant moments in Philippine history . Among them are the execution of Dr. José Rizal on December 30, 1896, whose martyred death made him a hero of the Philippine Revolution. (It was officially renamed Rizal Park in tribute to him.); the Declaration of Philippine Independence from American rule on June 4, 1946; and the political rallies of Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino in 1986. The monument also serves as the point of origin or Kilometre Zero to all other cities in the Philippines. How to get there?: From T.M. Kalaw St., walk to Mabini or Pedro Gil Sts. and hail a PUJ bound for the pier and get off at the Bonifacio Drive Intersection. From here, Fort Santiago is a five minute walk foing towards Aduana Street. Travel Time: Approximately 25 minutes.

Mabini Shrine

Location: Pandacan, ManilaDescription: Apolinarion Mabini, the intellectual leader of the Philippine Revolution, lived in this house as a law student, a lawyer and worker who advocated Philippine Independence from Spain. During the American Occupation, it was much frequented by foreign correspondents who found Mabini both interesting and informative and became intellectual headquarters of the first Philippine Republic.The house was made of bamboo and nipa roof. the floors are polished bamboo slats and the walls are sawali. It is a typical lower middle income family house. The pieces of furnitures in the house are replicas of the originals. How to get there?: From PWU in Taft Avenue corner Gen. Malvar St., hail a PUJ bound for Paco and get off at the foot of the Nagtahan Bridge. From the bridge, a short walk towards the Presidential Security Group compound leads to the shrine. Travel Time: Approximately 20 minutes.

Malacañang Palace

Location: J.P. Laurel St., San Miguel, ManilaDescription: Seat of the head of Government of the Philippines since Spanish times; officially stands on the northbank of the Pasig river whose beauty has been said in legend and in song.Malacañang, from the vernacular "May Lakan Diyan" meaning "There lives a noble man," was built in the 18th century as a recreation villa for a Spanish aristocrat Luis Rocha. In 1825, the Spanish government bought the palace for P5,000.00 thus turned it into a summer house of governor generals. The earthquake which brought down the Palacio del Gobernador in Intra-muros officially designated Mala-cañang Palace as the permanent seat of the Head of State. How to get there?: From T.M. Kalaw St., hail a PUJ bound for "Quiapo". Get off at Quiapo and hail another PUJ going to "San Miguel". Get off at the J.P. Rizal Laurel Street and proceed to gate number 6 of the palace. Travel Time: Approximately 30 minutes.

Pasig River

The Pasig River (called Ilog Pasig in Filipino) is a river in the Philippine and connects Laguna de Bay (via the Napindan Channel) into Manila Bay. It stretches for 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) and divides Metro Manila into two. Its major tributaries are the Marikina River and San Juan River.The Pasig River is technically a tidal estuary in that the flow direction depends upon the water level difference between Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay. During the dry season, the water level in Laguna de Bay is low and the flow direction of the Pasig River depends on the tides. During the wet season, when the water level of Laguna de Bay is high, flow is normally from Laguna de Bay towards Manila Bay. The Pasig River used to be an important transport route in Spanish Manila. However, due to negligence and industrial development, the river has become very polluted and is considered dead (unable to sustain life) by ecologists.The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) was established to oversee rehabilitation efforts for the river. Supporting the PRRC are private sector organizations i.e. Clean and Green Foundation, Inc. who implemented the Piso para sa Pasig (Filipino: A peso for the Pasig) campaign. How to get there?: One can have a joyride in Pasig river by taking the metro ferry down MacArthur bridge. Travel Time: Approximately 25 minutes.

Manila Bay

Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila (on Luzon), in the Philippines. The entrance is 19 km wide and expands to a width of 48 km. Mariveles, in the province of Bataan, is an anchorage just inside the northern entrance and Sangley Point is the former location of Cavite Naval Base.On either side of the bay are volcanic peaks topped with tropical foliage: 40 km to the north is the Bataan Peninsula and to the south is the province of Cavite.Across the entrance to Manila Bay are several islands. The largest is Corregidor, which is 3 kilometers from Bataan and, along with the island of Caballo, separates the mouth of the bay into the North and South Channels. In the south channel is El Fraile Island and outside the entrance, and to the south, is Carabao Island. El Fraile, a rocky island some 4 acres (16,000 m²) in area, supports the massive concrete and steel ruins of Fort Drum, an island fortress constructed by the United States Army to defend the southern entrance of the bay. To the immediate north and south are additional harbors.The bay was the setting for the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898 and the siege of Corregidor Island by invading Japanese forces in 1942.Today, Manila Bay still remains as an important area for commerce and industry, which made the bay very polluted and black. How to get there?: One can start the tour from Rizal Park going towards the Bay. Travel Time: Approximately 30 minutes.

Chinatown

Location:Binondo, ManilaDescription: A Chinatown is a section of an urban area with a large number of Chinese outside the majority-Chinese countries of Greater China. Chinatowns occur all over the world, including those in East Asia, Southeast Asia, North America, South America, Australia, and Europe. The Chinatown which is located along the northern bank of the historic Pasig river symbolizes the long history of the Chinese people presence in the Philippines; long antedating the arrival of the Spaniards. The Chinese had been much involved in business, especially the retail trade and have been absorbed into a Philippine life-style. How to get there?: From Taft Avenue or Ma. Orosa St., hail a PUJ going to "Divisoria". Get off at the "Arch of Goodwill" which is the main gateway to Chinatown. Travel Time: Approximately 10 to 20 minutes.

Manila Ocean Park

Manila Ocean Park , the PhP1-billion marine park constructed by Singaporean and Malaysian investors at the back of Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park, opened on 29th February 2008. "The park is set to be the city's major tourist destination. It is expected to draw millions of visitors on its first year, offering a unique tourist experience beyond the usual shopping activities," said park developer, China Oceanis Philippines, Inc., a joint venture between Singaporean and Malaysian investors. The Manila Ocean Park is an oceanarium in Manila, Philippines. It is owned by China Oceanis Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of China Oceanis Inc., a Singaporean-registered firm that has operated four oceanariums in China. The Manila Ocean Park (MOP) is currently under construction behind the historical Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park. Still incomplete, the Manila Ocean Park nonetheless is now partly open, as of March 1, 2008. The (8,000 square meters) oceanarium is said to be bigger than (6,000 square meters) Sentosa's Underwater World oceanarium in Singapore in terms of floor area but its 25-meters underwater acrylic tunnel is far shorter than Sentosa's 83-meters with moving travellator.