Metro Manila

This article is about the greater region of which the capital of the Philippines is a part. For the capital city itself, see Manila. For the former province, see Manila (province). For the 2013 film, see Metro Manila (film). Metropolitan Manila (Filipino: Kalakhng Maynila, Pambansang Punong Rehiyn, Kamaynilaan ; English: National Capital Region (NCR), Metro Manila), is the metropolitan region composed of the City of Manila and the surrounding cities of Caloocan, Las Pias, Makati, Malabon,Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Paraaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon

City, San Juan, Taguig, and Valenzuela, as well as the Municipality of Pateros. The region is the political, economic, social, cultural, and educational center of the Philippines. As proclaimed by Presidential Decree No. 940, Metro Manila, as a whole, is the Philippines' seat of government while the City of Manila is the capital.[4] The largest city in the metropolis isQuezon City, while the largest business district is the Makati Central Business District. Metro Manila is the most populous of the 12 defined metropolitan areas in the Philippines and the 11th most populous in the world. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 11,855,975, equivalent to 13% of the national population. The sum of total population of provinces with a density above 700 people per square kilometer (more than double the national average) in a contiguous zone with Metro Manila is 25.5 million people as of the 2007 census. One way to refer to the conurbation around Metro Manila is Greater Manila Area. Metro Manila's gross regional product is estimated as of July 2011 to be $159 billion and accounts for 33% of the nation's GDP. In 2011, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers, it ranked as the 28th wealthiest urban agglomeration in the world and the 2nd in Southeast Asia.

Etymology
The term Metro Manila increasingly came into use after the creation of the metropolitan area in 1975 and is the de facto name for Metropolitan Manila. Metro Manila is often referred to as simply as Manila. It is very often abbreviated as M.M. or MM.

History
The area of Metropolitan Manila was already settled before the Spanish came. The Malayo-Polynesians who displaced the aboriginal Negritos, traded and received goods and peoples from its Asian neighbors. Thus the area possessed many labels according to the varying cultures that interacted with it before the Spanish came. The Chinese called the place [6] "" (Dongdu) when it was under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Tondo. During the era of the Maharajanate [7] of Majapahit the area was called " " (Selurong) and under the Sultanate of Brunei it was called (Kota Saludong)
[8]

or simply Maynila.

After the Spaniards arrived from Nueva Espaa, now Mexico, Spanish Manila was founded on June 24, 1571, by three conquistadors: Martn de Goiti, Juan de Salcedo, and Miguel Lpez de Legazpi who successfully wrested power [9] away from Lakan Dula, Rajah Matanda and Tariq Suleiman. Spanish power was eventually consolidated after the Tondo [10] Conspiracy and the Battle of Manila (1574)attempted by the Chinese Pirate Warlord Limahong. After doing this, they renamed the area and its surroundings as Nuevo Reino de Castilla. In 1867, the Spanish Government of the Philippines established the municipalities and territories south of the District of Morong in Nueva Ecija, north of the Province of Tondo and Manila, and isolated these from their mother province of Nueva Ecija. The government created the Province of Manila, composed of the Province of Tondo to the south and the isolated territories of Nueva Ecija to the north. The

parts of Tondo were Navotas, Tambobon (presently called Malabon), and Caloocan; the parts of Nueva Ecija were Mariquina (Marikina), Balintauag (Balintawak), Caloocan, Pasig, San Felipe Neri (which is now Mandaluyong), Las Pias, what had once been known as Paraaque, and Muntinlupa. The capital of the Province was Intramuros, then itself called and considered to be Manila, a walled city located along the banks of the Pasig River and on the shore of the Manila Bay. Through the ages, this city witnessed the sailing of the Manila Galleons when it was a territory of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, then, massive arson and looting during the British Occupation of Manila. Eventually, it was ruled directly from Spain after the Mexican War of Independence and was educated with liberal ideas right before the Cavite Mutiny(Precursor of the Philippine Revolution) occurred. During the Philippine Revolution, the Province of Manila was the last of the eight provinces to first revolt against Spain in 1896, paving the establishment of the Philippine Republic (composed of Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite and Manila). The Province of Manila remained in existence until 1901, when its territory was subdivided by the Americans. In 1901, the Philippine Assembly created the City of Manila composed of the municipalities of Ermita, Intramuros, Manila, Tondo, Santa Cruz,Santa Ana de Sapa, San Nicolas, San Miguel, San Fernando de Dilao (Paco), Port Area, Pandacan, Sampaloc, Quiapo, Binondo, Malate, San Andres, and Santa Mesa. The municipalities of Caloocan, Mariquina, Pasig, Paraaque, Malabon, Navotas, San Juan del Monte, Makati (San Pedro de Macati), Mandaluyong (San Felipe Neri), Las Pias, Muntinlupa and Taguig-Pateros were incorporated into a new province named Rizal, the capital of which was Pasig. In 1941, with the onset of World War II, President Manuel L. Quezon created the City of Greater Manila as an emergency measure, merging the city and municipal governments of Manila, Quezon City, San Juan del Monte, Caloocan, etc. and appointed Jorge Vargas as mayor. Existing mayors of the included cities and municipalities served as vice-mayors for their areas. This was in order to ensure Vargas, who was Quezon's principal lieutenant for administrative matters, would have a position of authority that would be recognized under international military law. There were doubts if the Japanese Imperial Army poised to occupy Manila would recognize the authorities of members of the Quezon cabinet. The City of Greater Manila was abolished by the Japanese with the formation of the Philippine Executive Commission to govern the occupied regions of the country. As an administrative concept, however, the City of Greater Manila served as a model for Metro Manila and the position of Metro Manila governor established during the Marcos administration. In 1975, the Metropolitan Manila Commission was created to administer the emerging metropolis when [1] President Ferdinand Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 824. Marcos appointed his wife Imelda as governor of Metro Manila. In 1986, after a major government reorganization, President Corazon Aquino issued Executive Order No. 392 and changed the structure of the Metropolitan Manila Commission and renamed it to the Metropolitan Manila Authority. Metro Manila mayors chose from among themselves the chair of the agency. In 1995, through Republic Act 7924, Metro Manila Authority was reorganized and became the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. The chair of the agency is appointed by the President and should not have a concurrent elected position such as mayor.

Geography
Located at 1440' N 1213 E, Metro Manila is situated on an isthmus bound by Laguna de Bay to the south-east and Manila Bay to the west. The metropolitan area lies on a wide flood plaincomposed mainly of alluvial soil deposits. The area is bounded by Bulacan to the north, Rizal to the east, Laguna to the south and Cavite to the southwest. The swampy isthmus on which the western metropolitan area partly lies has an average elevation of 10 meters. The eastern area lies on a ridge gradually rising towards the foothills of the Sierra Madre and overlooks the Marikina River valley, which is part swamp.

The Pasig River bisects the isthmus and links the two bodies of water. From Laguna de Bay, it enters Taguig, and flows east-west through Pateros, Pasig, Makati, Mandaluyong and Manila before draining in Manila Bay. Its main tributary, the Marikina River, originates in the Sierra Madre mountain range in Rodriguez to the northeast of the city. The Marikina River runs north-south and meets with the Pasig in Pateros. Traversing the course of the Marikina River is the Marikina Valley Fault System, part of the seismically active network of fault lines surrounding Metro Manila, placing it at serious risk of earthquakes.

Climate
Under the Kppen climate classification system, Metro Manila is split between a tropical wet and dry climate and a tropical monsoon climate. Manila, which features less rainfall than Quezon City, has a tropical wet and dry climate while Quezon City features a tropical monsoon climate. Together with the rest of the Philippines, Metro Manila lies entirely within the tropics. Its proximity to the equator means that the temperature range is very small, rarely going lower than 20C or higher than 38C. However, humidity levels are usually very high, making it feel much warmer. It has a distinct, albeit relatively short dry season from January through April, and a relatively lengthy wet season from May through December.
Climate data for Metro Manila Month Record high C (F) Jan
35 (95) 30 (86) 21 (70) 14 (57) 23 (0.91)

Feb
35 (95) 30 (86) 21 (70) 14 (57) 23 (0.91)

Mar
36 (97) 31 (88) 21 (70) 16 (61) 13 (0.51)

Apr
37 (99) 33 (91) 22 (72) 16 (61) 18 (0.71)

May Jun
38 (100) 34 (93) 23 (73) 17 (63) 33 (1.3) 38 (100) 34 (93) 24 (75) 20 (68) 130 (5.12)

Jul
38 (100) 33 (91) 24 (75) 22 (72) 254 (10)

Aug
36 (97) 31 (88) 24 (75) 21 (70) 432 (17.01)

Sep
35 (95) 31 (88) 24 (75) 21 (70) 422 (16.61)

Oct
35 (95) 31 (88) 24 (75) 21 (70) 356 (14.02)

Nov Dec
35 (95) 31 (88) 23 (73) 19 (66) 193 (7.6) 34 (93) 31 (88) 22 (72) 17 (63) 145 (5.71)

Year
38 (100) 31 (88) 23 (73) 14 (57) 2,042 (80.39)

Average high C (F)

Average low C (F)

Record low C (F)

Precipitation mm (inches)

Government
The City of Manila proper is the national capital of the Philippines. The wider Metropolitan Manila area is the seat of government. The executive and judicial branches of government are based in Manila as represented by Malacaan Palace, the official office and residence of the President of the Philippines, and the buildings of the Supreme Court of the Philippines respectively. However, the upper house of the legislature, the Senate of the Philippines, is based in Pasay, and the lower house, the House of Representatives of the Philippines, in Quezon City. Metro Manila is the smallest of the country's administrative regions, but the most populous and the most densely populated, having a population of 11,855,975 (2010 census) in an area of approximately 638.55 square kilometers (246.55 sq mi). It is also the only region without any provinces, instead being subdivided into 17 local government units: 16 cities and one municipality.

Local government unit

Population (2010 census) 1,489,040 552,573 529,039 353,337 328,699 1,652,171 424,150 459,941 249,131 588,126 392,869 669,773 64,147 2,761,720 121,430 644,473 575,356 11,855,975

Area (km) 53.33 41.54 27.36 15.76 11.26 38.55 21.5 46.70 10.77 47.69 19.00 31.00 2.10 161.12 5.94 47.88 44.58 638.55

Pop. density (per km) 25,907 12,815 20,736 23,076 27,138 43,079 12,500 9,699 22,780 11,589 21,214 20,240 29,495 16,630 21,101 12,810 12,762 18,113

Annual pop. growth rate 3.06 1.65 3.41 0.98 1.29 0.68 1.14 2.48 0.87 2.88 1.77 3.04 1.05 2.92 0.87 3.82 2.21 2.12

Per capita GDP $9,426 $8,678 $29,259 $4,334 $20,258 $23,731 $10,346 $13,789 $5,296 $10,146 $6,876 $12,032 $3,324 $11,213 $16,893 $12,342 $7,531 $10,223

Cityhood

Caloocan Las Pias Makati Malabon Mandaluyong Manila Marikina Muntinlupa Navotas Paraaque Pasay Pasig Pateros Quezon City San Juan Taguig Valenzuela Total

1962 1997 1995 2001 1994 1571 1996 1995 2007 1998 1947 1995 N/A 1939 2007 2004 1998

In terms of local governance, Metro Manila cannot properly be considered a single political entity. The cities and municipality comprising it are considered the highest level of local government with each having their own set of

separately elected officials. While the cities and municipality are independent from each other politically, several basic public services, such as traffic and flood control, are handled collectively by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). The MMDA is headquartered in Makati and is headed by the MMDA Chairman, an appointee of the President of the Philippines, who holds cabinet rank. The mayors of the cities and municipality belong to the Metro Manila Mayor's League that serves as the board of the MMDA. For mainly fiscal and statistical purposes Metro Manila or the National Capital Region (NCR) has also been divided into four districts grouped according to geographical basis in reference to the Pasig River. These districts were created in 1976 but have no local government and no congressional representation. The cities and municipalities within the NCR are grouped into the four districts as follows: # Alternate Name 1 The Capital District 2 Eastern Manila District 3 CAMANAVA District City/Cities Manila Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City, and San Juan Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela

4 Southern Manila District Las Pias, Makati, Muntinlupa, Paraaque, Pasay, Pateros, and Taguig Representation to the two houses of the Congress of the Philippines is as follows: For the Senate, polling is done at-large, nationwide. For the House of Representatives, each city has at least one representative; Pateros' representation is included with the first Sangguniang Panlungsod district of Taguig.

Metro Manila is also a judicial region ("National Capital Judicial Region"); as such, all regional trial court judges can be stationed anywhere within the region. Metro Manila is the financial, commercial and industrial center of the Philippines. It accounts for 33% of the Philippines' GDP. It has a third of the country's bank offices but over two thirds of its deposits. Makati is the financial and economic hub of the metropolitan area and the country. Its central business district hosts many of the Philippines' largest corporations including the Ayala Group of Companies and the nation's major banks as well as the main Philippine offices of many multinational corporations. Makati became the financial center of the Philippines during the 1950s. Many districts and landmarks in the city have become well known to outsiders. Makati has been iconified as the "Financial Capital of the Philippines". Anchored byAyala Avenue, Makati is the home of the Philippine Stock Exchange and the Makati Business Club, one of the most important economic hubs in the Philippines. Manila's economy is diverse and multifaceted. With its excellent protected harbor, Manila serves as the Chief Seaport of the Country, as the Port ofManila is one of the busiest in the world. Diverse manufacturers produce industrial-related products such as chemicals, textiles, clothing, and electronic goods. Food and beverages and tobacco products also produced. Local entrepreneurs continue to process primary commodities for export, including rope, plywood, refined sugar, copra, and coconut oil. The food-processing industry is one of the most stable major manufacturing sector in the city. One of the largest projects within the city is the 5 billion development by Ayala Land Inc., the Celadon Residences. Binondo has begun to be revitalized along with Divisoria, and several high-rise condominiums and offices are rising. Recently, a 20-hectare development was planned by the city government within the Port Area Manila is a major publishing center in the Philippines. Clustered in the central business districts of Makati, Ortigas Center, and Bonifacio Global City, all of the fifty tallest skyscrapers in the Philippines are located in Metro Manila, the tallest of which are The Gramercy Residences and the PBCom Tower in Makati.

Ortigas Center is Metro Manila's second most important Philippine financial and central business district after the Makati Financial and Central Business District. With an area of at least 100 hectares, the district is located at the boundaries of Pasig, Mandaluyong, and Quezon City. It is governed by Ortigas Center Association, Inc. Ortigas Center is home to many shopping malls, office and condominium skyscrapers and other building complexes, and nightlife bars and restaurants. These include the St. Francis Square, the Asian Development Bank compound, the Oakwood Premier serviced apartments and the Shangri-La hotel. It is also the headquarters of San Miguel Corporation, Jollibee Foods Corporation, the Philippine branch of HSBC, and Robinsons Galleria. It also home to the Banco de Oro main office owned by mall taipan Henry Sy, Sr. SM Megamall, the third largest mall in the country after SM North EDSA and SM Mall of Asia, is also in the Center along EDSA, as is the The Medical City, one of the three hospitals in the country accredited by the Joint Commission on International Accreditation. Ortigas Center is surrounded by the streets of EDSA to the west, Ortigas Avenue to the north, Meralco Avenue to the east, and Shaw Boulevard to the south. The Makati area is built around the former Nielsen Air Base, an American installation during World War II, and its runways now form the district's main roads, which cross each other at the Makati Triangle, home of one of the two trading venues of the nation's stock exchange. Ortigas Center is the second most important business district in Metro Manila. Situated in Mandaluyong andPasig, it is home to the headquarters of several major Philippine companies such as San Miguel Corporation and Meralco, and hosts many shopping malls and hotels. It also hosts the Asian Development Bank's headquarters and the Philippine Stock Exchange's trading floor at Tektite Towers. New developments seeking to become vibrant business centers of their own are Bonifacio Global City in Taguig; Eastwood City, Neopolitan Business Park and Triangle Park in Quezon City; the Manila Bay City Reclamation Area in the cities of Pasay, Paraaque and Las Pias; and Alabang Estates, Madrigal Business Park, and Filinvest Corporate City in Muntinlupa. The traditional business center of Chinese-Filipino businessmen and the country's CBD prior to the development of the Makati CBD was the Binondo District in the City of Manila. Escolta was the central street of commerce during the time of the Spaniards up until the development of the Makati CBD when Ayala Avenue superseded it. G.T. International Tower is an office skyscraper located in Makati, Philippines. The "G.T." in the name stands for George Ty, the building's owner and chairman of the Metrobank Group. Standing at 217 meters (712.93 feet). The Philippine Bank of Communications Tower, more commonly known as PBCom Tower, is an office skyscraper that currently holds the title, since 2000, of the tallest building in the Philippines. It has a total ground to architectural top height of 259 metres (850 ft), with 52 storeys, until the Completion of the Gramercy Residences, with a height of 302 metres (990 ft). According to KMC MAG Group, Manila real estate is among the most profitable industries in the Asia-Pacific as of 2013. One of the main factors behind this trend is the city's low real estate costs -- it attracts business process outsourcing firms and other foreign investors looking to invest in Philippine real estate. There is a strong investor interest in the Philippines because of the prospects of higher yields, which is about 7.9% on average, with a 4% spread over investing in treasury bonds.

Shopping centers
"Malling" has been a pastime of Filipinos since the rise of "megamalls", a phenomenon developed by Chinese Filipino businessman Henry Sy and his company SM in the early 1990s. Three SM shopping malls are among the top 10 largest in the world. The largest in the country is currently the renovated SM City North EDSA in Quezon City. It is expected to become the nexus for three metropolitan rail lines once the terminal station next to it is fully completed. Previously, the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay was the country's largest mall, and before it, the SM Megamall in Ortigas Center held the distinction from 1991 to 2006. Malls are generally clustered into major shopping districts, sometimes within financial hubs such as Makati or Ortigas Center. Ayala Center, a major development within the Makati central business district, contains various up-market malls such as Greenbelt and Glorietta. SM Megamall is located within Ortigas Center, which is also the site of Robinsons

Galleria, Shangri-La Plaza, and The Podium. Within the City of Manila itself, the largest malls include SM City Manila, Robinsons Place Manila, and the older Harrison Plaza. Cubao is Quezon City's central commercial area and has five malls including the Gateway Mall at the Araneta Center. There is also Eastwood City, located along Libis; SM City Fairview, in Novaliches; and TriNoma, Ayala Land's newest mall, in front of SM City North EDSA. Newer business districts such as Bonifacio Global City have also become shopping hubs since the opening of Bonifacio High Street and Serendra. Recently opened in Pasig is a new development called Frontera Verde, which currently hosts Tiendesitas, a tiangge-style shopping center; SM Supercenter Pasig; and SilverCity AutoMall, the first mall in the Philippines that is dedicated to the automotive market. Traditional Filipino shopping areas, while now rivaled by more modern shopping malls, maintain a presence in Metro Manila. Filipino wet markets, known locally as palengke, are most prominent within the City of Manila, especially in Divisoria, near Binondo. Cloverleaf Market in Balintawak, Quezon City supplies much of Metro Manila's fruit and vegetable products. Navotas Port Market supplies most of Metro Manila's fish products. Other smaller markets include the Cubao Farmers Market, EDSA Central, Nepa-Q Mart, Novaliches Talipapa, and those found in Muoz, Balingasa, Galas, Santa Mesa, Baclaran, Libertad, and Cartimar (the latter also being one of the finest pet markets). Tiangge, or flea markets, are also prevalent in the city, and sell a wide range of dry goods, accessories and electronics.

Wealth extremes
Metro Manila is a place of economic extremes. Many high-income citizens are concentrated in gated communities in places such as Forbes Park andDasmarias Village in Makati, Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa (all three initially developed in part by the influential Zobel de Ayala family), Wack Wack Village in Mandaluyong, Valle Verde in Pasig, White Plains, La Vista, and Greenmeadows in Quezon City, Greenhills in San Juan, Marina Bay Village in Paraaque or in high-rise developments in or around central business districts, such as Rockwell Center in Makati, Eastwood City in Libis, Quezon City and Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, or along Roxas Boulevard overlooking Manila Bay. In sharp contrast to these residences are the slums and illegal settlements scattered across the metropolitan area, often found on vacant government land or in districts such as Tondo, San Andres, Bagong Silangan and Payatas. Illegal settlements have been concentrated on land adjacent to the tracks of PNR lines; but with efforts to rehabilitate the railway system, steps have been taken to clear these areas and relocate the informal settlers to other areas.

Landmarks and recreational areas

Located in the western portion of Metro Manila in the heart of Manila proper, Rizal Park, also known as the Luneta, is an iconic public promenade. Rizal Park features the Rizal Monument, a statue honoring Jos Rizal; a gigantic relief map of the Philippines; scenic Chinese and Japanese gardens; and several government offices, such as the Department of Tourism. On the seaside front of Rizal Park are numerous seafood restaurants specializing in Filipino and Asian cuisine. The National Museum of the Filipino People is also found here. It is a complex of two Greco-Roman buildings which house various relics and natural treasures in its galleries. The museum also boasts a large collection of artwork and masterpieces crafted by Filipinos. Part of the museum complex is the first planetarium in Southeast Asia. A newer attraction is the Manila Ocean Park, an oceanarium which opened in March 2008. Located nearby is the Quirino Grandstand, which apart from political campaign gatherings is also a popular staging ground for rallies such as those for various charismatic religious groups. Near Rizal Park is the 400-year-old former imperial city known as Intramuros. Intramuros, is a walled domain which was once the seat of government during the Spanish Colonial Era and American Period. Among its attractions areFort Santiago, a timeworn Spanish military fortress; Casa Manila, a Spanish colonial villa which is converted into a house gallery; Manila Cathedral, the official seat of the Archbishop of Manila; San Agustin Church, erected in 1587, the oldest [13] existing church in the Philippines; Intramuros Golf Club, a golf course outside the walls; and the Clam Shell Tent, an exhibition center of the Department of Tourism. Horse-carriages and tourist buses are also some of the attractions. The

rest also includes a walk above the walls surrounding Intramuros, government offices, universities and colonial houses. The Quiapo area is home to the famous Quiapo Church and Plaza Miranda, home to the Black Nazarene. It also has the largest Filipino Muslim community outside of the southern Philippines, where the trading-focussed Muslim Town and the Masjid Al-Dahab mosque is situated. Fort Bonifacio is the location of military detachments, cemeteries, corporate headquarters, and world-class dining and shopping facilities. Other local recreation areas include the Nayong Pilipino (Philippine Village) in Paraaque, Quezon Memorial Circle and Ninoy Aquino Wildlife Center, both in Diliman district of Quezon City, the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex and Bay City, both in Pasay. Meanwhile, the Paco Park, Arroceros Botanical Garden, Manila Zoo, Plaza Rajah Sulayman, Plaza Miranda, new Rizal Avenue Bargain Walkway, the all-steel Gothic San Sebastian Church, the bars and night clubs of Ermita and Malate districts and the Roxas Boulevard Bay Walk which offers a fine view of the Manila Bay sunset and hip dining are in Manila.

Transportation
Roadways
The metropolis has an extensive system of highways connecting the various cities and municipalities estimated to measure 5092 kilometers long. Of this total 1087 kilometers are national roads; 2366 kilometers are city, municipal, or barangay roads; 1639 kilometers are subdivision roads; and 37 kilometers are privately run toll expressways. The major roads include ten radial roads, which branch out from central Manila and five circumferential roads which form a series of concentric semi-circular arcs around downtown Manila. Most of these roads are very important transportation arteries. One is the C-4 (Circumferential Road 4), also called Epifanio de los Santos Avenue or more popularly as EDSA. It is the major thoroughfare in Metro Manila connecting five cities in Metro Manila, namely Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, and Caloocan. The MRT-3 line of Manila's metro network runs down the middle of EDSA between the road's opposite running lanes. A major alternative to EDSA is Circumferential Road 5 (C-5). Some other important roads are R-1 (Radial Road 1) better known as Roxas Boulevard and the Manila-Cavite Expressway (Coastal Road) connecting to Cavite province in the southwest; R-3 or the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) connecting to Laguna province in the southeast; R-6 (Aurora Boulevard and Marcos Highway) connecting to Rizal province in the east; and R-8 or the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) connecting to Bulacan province in the north. One of its newest roads, the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, running on the reclamation area parallel to R-1, is one of the destinations of Metro Manila's elite. Metro Manila is notorious for its traffic jams with trips averaging at speeds as low as 68 kilometers per hour. A trip that should take 20 minutes will last an hour or more especially during rush hour. Consequently, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (see section below) has constructed many projects to decongest traffic. Such projects of the MMDA for motorists are the construction of flyovers (elevated roads), interchanges, loading bays for Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs), emergency bays, and U-turn slots over various intersections and thoroughfares, and the completion of the comprehensive railway system (see below). It has also been engaged in road widening with the support of the Department of Public Works and Highways. MMDA has also utilized projects for the pedestrians such as the installation of footbridges, waiting sheds, and men's urinals to various roads in the metropolis. The agency has also implemented various schemes for motorists such as the Uniform Vehicular Volume Reduction Scheme (UVVRS), more popularly known as "color-coding", where vehicles whose plate numbers end in different digits are banned from traveling on different days, the Yellow Lane scheme, where yellow-plated PUBs (Public Utility Buses) will only use the two outermost lanes in EDSA, and the Organized Bus Route (OBR) for Metro Manila.
[16]

Railways
Main articles: Manila Light Rail Transit System, Manila Light Rail Transit System Line 1, Manila Light Rail Transit System Line 2, Manila Metro Rail Transit System Line 3, and Philippine National Railways

There are two different rapid transit systems in Metro Manila: the Manila Light Rail Transit System, or the LRT, and the Manila Metro Rail Transit System, or the MRT. The LRT-1 (formerly Yellow Line) and the MRT-2 (formerly Purple Line) form the LRT network. The Manila Metro Rail Transit System is composed of a single line, MRT-3 (formerly, Blue Line). With a track length of 20,7 km, LRT-1 is the oldest and longest (20,7 km) line. Originally opened in 1984, it was extended in 2010. MRT-2 commenced service in 2003, and has eleven stations along its 13.8 km track. Opened in 1999, the MRT-3 serves 11 stations on its 16.9 km long line. A new line, MRT-7, has been proposed, and as of 2013 the project has gotten to the bidding stage. If constructed, it would connect Metro Manila to the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal upon their completion. A southern extension of LRT-1 (also, LRT-6) has been planned for over 10 years and would involve 8 to 10 stations. MRT-2 may be extended in both eastward and westward direction in the future. Philippine National Railways operates one main-line railway lines within Metro Manila, part of the once-flourishing Luzon railway system. The northern line, known as Northrail and connecting Manila to Caloocan, is currently closed. A redevelopm ent of the line has been suggesteed to Valenzuela and further on to Bulacan and Pampanga. The trans-Metro Manila portion of the still-open southern line, known as Southrail, commences at Tutuban stationin Tondo, Manila, passes through the cities of Manila, Makati, Taguig, Paraaque and Las Pias, and ends in Barangay Buli, Muntinlupa, before entering the province of Laguna.

Airports
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), which straddles the boundary between Paraaque and Pasay, is the country's [18] busiest airport. It consists of a domestic terminal and three international terminals; it has two main runways. It is the hub of Philippine Airlines which has its main hangar located near the Villamor Air Base. The future international gateway for [19] the metropolitan area and the country is currently being built at Clark International Airport in Angeles, Pampanga. It is planned on becoming one of the world's biggest in terms of terminal size and land area. A fast train will be built to connect the new airport to Metro Manila.Officially, NAIA is the only airport serving the Manila area. However, in practice, both NAIA and Clark International Airport(CRK), located in the Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles, Pampanga serve the Manila area, with CRK catering mostly to low-cost carriers that avail themselves of the lower landing fees than those charged at NAIA. The airport is named after the late Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr., who was assassinated at the airport in 1983.

Water transportation
The Manila Seaport Terminal in the Port Area, Manila is the shipping gateway to the Philippines. The Pasig River Ferry Service traveled the Pasig River from Intramuros, Manila to Barangay Kalawaan Sur in Pasig. However, as of April 2012, the Pasig River Ferry Service has been suspended.

Demographics
Population of Metro Manila
Year 1980 1990 1995 Pop. 5,925,884 7,948,392 9,454,040 % p.a. +2.98% +3.53%

2000 2007 2010

9,932,560

+0.99%

11,553,427 +2.18% 11,855,975 +0.87%

Metro Manila has a registered population of 11,855,975 people. However, as of 2011, the greater urban area of Manila [21] has a population at around 21,295,000. According to the census of 2000, there were 9,932,560 people and 2,132,989 households residing in Metro Manila. With a population density of 15,617/km, it is by far the most densely populated region of the Philippines. For the period 1995 to 2000, the annual population growth rate was 1.06 percent, lower than that of the 1990 to 1995 period (3.30 percent). The indigenous people of the area now known as Metro Manila were the Tagalogs. Other native ethnic groups of the Philippines also inhabit the metropolis as a result of migration. The include the Visayans, Bicolanos, Kapampangan, Ilocanos, Pangasinan, and Moro groups (mostly Maranao and Maguindanao). Tribal groups such as the Igorot and the Bajau have also settled. There are also numerous peoples of Chinese, Japanese, and Indian descent. Resident Spaniards,Americans, and Koreans are also present in large numbers. Metro Manila is classified as a social urban conglomerate, meaning, it is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world. The most common language spoken in households is Tagalog (94.34%). English is widely used and understood, and is the main language of the middle andupper classes and in business. Chinese is taught in some Chinese schools. Other languages of the Philippines are also spoken, mostly between family members, relatives, or neighbors belonging to the same ethnic group. Among these languages, the most spoken are from neighboring provinces. The large majority of the population of Metro Manila is Roman Catholic which compromises 80% of the region's population. Other religions represented are Hindus, Buddhists, Protestants, Evangelicals, Islam, Members Church of God International, and Iglesia Ni Cristo. Other denominations such as Jesus Is Lord, Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ, Jesus Miracle Crusade and others also compose the region's population.

Education
(University of Santo Tomas, the oldest extant university in Asia, established in 1611.) (De La Salle University's modern campus building. DLSU was established in 1911. ) As of 2008 there are 511 elementary schools and 220 secondary schools in the National Capital Region. around 81 higher educational institutions. Literacy rate is around 92.4%.
[22]

There are

As the educational center of the country, many students from the provinces head to Metro Manila to study. Areas of high number of educational institutions include the so-called "University Belt" and Taft Avenue in Manila, Katipunan Avenue and Fairview in Quezon City, and Santa Mesa straddling the Manila, Quezon City and Mandaluyong borders. Metro Manila is also home to many private schools run by religious orders; these are among the first schools established in the country. The Dominican Order established the University of Santo Tomas in 1611 and took control of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, which was established in 1620. The Jesuit Order opened the Ateneo de Manila University in 1859. During the American occupation, theLasallian brothers were asked to establish a school in Manila, which became now the De La Salle University. Among the secular schools, National University is the oldest, having been open since 1900. Government-funded/run schools such as the constituent campuses of the University of the Philippines in Manila and Diliman, Quezon City, the main campus of the Philippine Science High School and Manila Science High School are located here as well.

Health
Manila is home to the World Health Organization's Regional Office for the Western Pacific, the main office of the Department of Health, and several hospitals and medical centers. Major hospitals such as the Makati Medical Center in Makati, Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa, St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City and Taguig, and The Medical City in Pasig have world-class facilities. Some of these have geared themselves toward medical tourism. The Asian Hospital and Medical Center, established on March 15, 2002, with Jorge Garcia, MD, an alumnus of the Faculty of Medicine & Surgery of the University of Santo Tomas, as its founding chairman, is the first private tertiary hospital built in the southern part of Metro Manila. It currently stands on a land area within the vicinity of Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa, Philippines, measuring 17,258-square meters that both includes the main hospital building and the hospital's medical offices. The St. Luke's Medical Center Global City is considered as the most advanced [24][26] hospital in the Philippines, it is also considered as one of the best hospitals in the world. The 14-storey building is located in the vicinity of the bustling district of Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.

Police and security

Headquarters of the PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is responsible for law enforcement in the country. Police structure in the Philippines is centralized and its command center is in Camp Rafael Crame in Santolan, Quezon City. Metro Manila is divided into 5 police districts under National Capital Region Police Office namely Central Quezon City, Western (City of Manila), Eastern (Mandaluyong, Pasig, Marikina, San Juan), Northern (Caloocan, Malabon,Navotas, Valenzuela) and Southern (Makati, Muntinlupa, Las Pias, Paraaque, Taguig, Pasay, and Pateros). The NCRPO Headquarters is located in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig. The Armed Forces of the Philippines' command headquarters is in Camp Emilio Aguinaldo in Murphy, Quezon City. The National Capital Region Command is in Metro Manila and was created by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to defend the metropolis from insurgents and terrorist groups.Philippine Army headquarters is in Fort Andres Bonifacio in Taguig. Philippine Air Force headquarters is in Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay. Philippine Navy headquarters is along Roxas Boulevard in Manila.

Public utilities[edit]
Electricity[edit]
Metro Manila's electricity is generated by the state-owned National Power Corporation (Napocor) and other independent power producers across the island of Luzon. It is transmitted by the privately owned National Grid Corporation of The Philippines (NGCP) through high tension wires. It is distributed by the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), the company that holds the franchise to distribute electricity to the metropolis.

Water[edit]

Metro Manila and its surrounding areas are divided into two water concessionaires:Maynilad Water (red) and Manila Water (blue).

Metro Manila's tap water is sourced from the Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan. It is stored in the Novaliches Reservoir and filtered in the La Mesa Dam, both in northeast Quezon City. Metro Manila's water distribution and sewerage system used to be managed by the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage System (MWSS), a state-owned company. In 1997, MWSS awarded concessionaire licenses to two private corporations. Metro Manila was sliced into two distribution areas. Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (MWSI). It is currently majority-owned by DM Consunji Holdings, Inc (DMCI) and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC). It operates in Caloocan, Manila, parts of Quezon City, a part of Makati, Valenzuela, Malabon, Navotas, Pasay, Paraaque, Las Pias, and Muntinlupa. MWSS is currently bidding out its shares in MWSI and expects to conclude the bidding before the end of the year. Manila Water Company, Inc. (MWC). It is majority-owned by the Ayala Corporation, which also controls Globe Telecom. MWC operates the East Concession Zone, which comprises Makati, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig, Pateros, San Juan, Taguig, most parts of Quezon City, and some parts of Manila.

Communications[edit]
For a long time since its founding in 1925, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) was the Philippines' only phone carrier. With the passage of the National Telecommunications Act of 1995, the Philippine National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) granted licenses to new and independent companies to install new phones across the Philippines. The NTC granted 3 new licenses for Metro Manila. BayanTel/ Benpres - Northern Metro Manila (Quezon City, northern Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Marikina, northeastern Manila, and the Ortigas Center in Pasig) GlobeLines - Southern Metro Manila (Makati, Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, Pasay, Las Pias, Paraaque, Taguig, Pateros, San Juan, and Pasig excluding the Ortigas Center) Eastern Telecom - Western Metro Manila (Southern Caloocan and Manila, excluding the northeast part)

Waste Management[edit]
Metro Manila produces about 8,400 to 8,600 tons of garbage each day which is equivalent to 25% of the national waste [28] generation. Paper wastes account for 17% of the daily total while 16% are plastics. Efforts to reduce pollution is one of the metropolis' major public management concerns especially with the closure of some garbage dump sites in Greater

Manila. At present, collected waste from the metropolis are disposed to various MMDA-designated waste disposal facilities, namely the Rizal Provincial Sanitary Landfill (SLF) in Rodriguez, Payatas SLF in Quezon City and Tanza SLF in Navotas. These facilities service all 17 LGUs in Metro Manila as well as the dispose of the garbage collected by the MMDA Agency from the different esteros and pumping stations. In addition, the agency also maintains closed disposal [29] facilities in San Mateo, Carmona, and Antipolo (Boso Boso).

Manila
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the City of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. For the metropolitan area, see Metro Manila. For other uses, see Manila (disambiguation).

Manila Maynila
Capital City

City of Manila

(From top, left to right): Skyline as seen from the Manila Bay, Manila Central Post

Office, Manila City Hall, Rizal Monument, Binondo, Malacaang Palace, Manila Bay, Church of Tondo

Flag Seal

Nickname(s): Pearl The City

of of

the Our

Orient[1] Affections

Distinguished and Ever Loyal City

Map of Metro Manila showing the location of the city of Manila

Manila Map of the Philippines showing the location of Manila

Coordinates:

1435N 12058ECoordinates:

1435N 12058E

Country Region Districts Kingdom of Maynila Spanish City of Manila Barangays Government[2] Type Mayor Vice Mayor Representatives City Council Area Capital City Urban Metro Elevation Population (2010)[3] Capital City Density Urban Urban density Metro Metro density Demonym Time zone ZIP code Area code Website

Philippines National Capital Region 1st to 6th districts of Manila 1500s June 24, 1571 897

Mayorcouncil Joseph Estrada (UNA) Isko Moreno (UNA)

City Representatives[show] Councilors[show]

38.55 km2 (14.88 sq mi) 1,474.82 km2(569.43 sq mi) 638.55 km2(246.55 sq mi) 16.0 m (52.5 ft)

1,652,171 42,858/km2(111,000/sq mi) 21,951,000 15,400/km2(40,000/sq mi) 11,855,975 18,567/km2(48,090/sq mi) Manileo (m) / Manilea (f), Manilan PST (UTC+8) 0900 to 1096 2 www.manila.gov.ph

Manila (English: /mnl/; Filipino: Maynila, [majnila]) is the capital city and the second largest city of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteencities (along with the municipality of Pateros) that make up the National Capital Region called Metro Manila which has a population of 12 million. The City of Manila is located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay and is bordered by the cities of Navotas and Caloocan to the north; Quezon Cityand San Juan to the northeast; Mandaluyong to the east; Makati to the southeast, and Pasay to the south. It has a total population of 1,652,171 according to the 2010 census[3] and is the second most populous city in the Philippines, behind Quezon City. The populace inhabit an area of only 38.55 square kilometres (14.88 sq mi), making Manila the most densely populated city in the world.[4][5]

The

city

is

divided

into six

legislative

districts and

consists

of

sixteen Miguel, San

areas: Binondo, Ermita, Intramuros, Malate, Paco, Pandacan, Port

Area,Quiapo, Sampaloc, San

Andrs, San

Nicolas, Santa Ana, Santa Cruz, Santa Mesa and Tondo. Bustling commerce and some of the most historically and culturally significant iconic landmarks in the country, as well as the seat of the executive and judicial branches of thegovernment are found in the city. It is also home to many scientific and educational institutions, numerous sport facilities, and other culturally and historically significant venues. Listed as a global city, Manila has its strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport making it the historical, cultural, political, economic and educational center of the Philippines.[6] The earliest written account of the city is the 10th-century Laguna Copperplate Inscription which describes a context of a Malay kingdommaintaining diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Medang. The city had preferential trade with Ming Dynasty China, which registered the place as "" (Dongdu).[7] It then became a province of the Maharajanate of Majapahit and was called by its Sanskrit title, " " (Selurong)[8]before it was invaded by Brunei's Sultan Bolkiah and

renamed into ( Kota Saludong)[9] or simply Maynila. By the 15th century, it was nominally islamized when the Spanish Conquistadors first arrived. They renamed the area into Nuevo Reino de Castilla (New Kingdom of Castille) and shortened the alternative name, Maynila to Manila. Manila eventually became the center of Spanish activity in the Far East and one end of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade route linking Europe,Latin America and Asia.[10] The city would eventually be given the moniker of the "Pearl of the Orient", as a result of its central location in the vital Pacific sea trade routes. Several Chinese insurrections, local revolts, a British Occupation and a Sepoy mutiny[11] also occurred shortly thereafter. Manila also saw the rise of the Philippine Revolution which was followed by the arrival of the Americans who made contributions to the city's urban planning[12] and development only to have most of those improvements lost in the devastation of World War II.[13] Since then the city has been rebuilt.

Prehistory[edit]
The earliest evidence of human habitation in and around the area of Manila is found the via the nearby Angono Petroglyphs dated to around 3000 BC. Furthermore, negritos, a class of Australoid peoples, became the aboriginal inhabitants of the Philippine islands. They were found across Luzon before the Malayo-Polynesians migrated in and [14] assimilated them.

Indian influence[edit]

A page from the 16th centuryBoxer Codex showing a Tagalogcouple of the Maginoo caste.

The Kingdom of Maynila flourished during the latter half of the Ming Dynasty as a result of direct trade relations with China. Ancient Tondo was maintained as the traditional capital of the empire, with its rulers as sovereign kings and not mere chieftains, and were addressed variously as panginuan or panginoon ("lords"); anak banwa("son of heaven"); or lakandula ("lord of the palace"), the Emperor of China considered the Lakans (rulers of ancient Manila) "" (Kings). In the 13th century, the city consisted of a fortified settlement and trading quarter at the shores of the Pasig River, on top of previous older towns. Manila was then invaded by the Indianized empire of Majapahit as referenced in the epic eulogy [8] poem Nagarakretagama which inscribed its conquest byMaharaja Hayam Wuruk. Selurong " " which is a historical name for the city of Manila is listed in Canto 14 alongside Sulot, which is now Sulu, and Kalka.
[8]

Islamic Hegemony[edit]
During the reign of Sultan Bolkiah from 1485 to 1521, the Sultanate of Brunei invaded, wanting to take advantage of Tondo's China trade by attacking its environs and establishing " Kota Saludong/ Selurong" (Now Manila). [9] They ruled under and gave yearly tribute to the Sultanate of Brunei as its satellite state. They established a new dynasty under the local leader who accepted Islam and became Rajah Salalila or Tariq Sulayman I. He also established a trading challenge to the already rich House of Rajah Lakandula in Tondo. Islam was further strengthened by the arrival of Muslim [15] traders from the Arab-Indian area and Southeast Asia. Manila was temporarily besieged by the invasion of Chinese pirate-warlord Limahong (1574) before it became the seat of the colonialgovernment of Spain.

Viceroyalty of New Spain[edit]

On June 24, 1571, Spanish conquistador Miguel Lpez de Legazpi arrived from New Spain, now Mexico, and then exercised rule of the Spanish city of Manila as a territory of New Spain with the establishment of a city council in what [16] today is the district of Intramuros. Miguel Lpez de Legazpi executed the local royalty after the failure of the Tondo Conspiracy; a plot wherein an alliance between Japanese merchants, Luzon's Rajahs with several Visayan Datus plus the Brunei Sultanate would band together to execute the Spaniards and their Amerindian mercenaries and African slaves. At the conclusion of which, the victorious Spaniards made Manila the capital of the Spanish East Indies and of the Philippine Islands, which the empire would control for the next three centuries, from 1565 to 1898. (Still, the Spanish also massacred about 26000 Chinese residents of Manila in 1603) Manila then became famous during the Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade which lasted for three centuries and brought goods from Europe, Africa and Latin America across the Pacific Islands toSoutheast Asia (Which was already an entrepot for goods coming from India, Indonesia and China) and trade also flowed vice versa. Silver that was mined in Mexico and Peru were exchanged for Chinese silk, Indian gems, and the spices of the Southeast Asia, some of which even flowed to [17] Europe. Likewise wines and olives grown from Europe and North Africa were transshipped via Mexico towards Manila.

British Occupation[edit]
The city was occupied by Great Britain for two years from 1762 to 1764 as part of the European Seven Years' [18] War between Spain and France and Great Britain. The city remained the capital of the Philippines under the government of the provisional British governor, Dawsonne Drake, acting through the Mexico-born Archbishop of [19] Manila, Manuel Rojo del Rio y Vieyra and the captiveAudiencia Real. However, armed resistance to the British [19] persisted, centered in Pampanga, and was led by Oidor Don Simn de Anda y Salazar. During the course of the occupation, the captive Hashemite Sultan of Sulu, Azim ud-Din I, was used as a hostage by both the British and Spanish. Also, the Chinese at Binondo rebelled against Spain and afterwards, the British's Sepoymercenaries from India, [20] mutinied against them. Eventually, the British withdrew as per agreements in the Treaty of Paris [21] [11] (1763). The Sepoys however, elected to stay and they settled in the area around Cainta, Rizal. As for the Chinese, thereafter, the Spanish Fortress-city of Intramuros always pointed their cannons against Binondo (The world's oldest [22] Chinatown) to create a quick response against anymore Chinese uprisings.

Direct Spanish Rule[edit]

Escolta Street in 1878

After the British Occupation, direct trade and communications with Spain facilitated by the opening of the Suez Canal, supplanted indirect rule via theViceroyalty. Eventually, Mexican Independence in 1821 necessitated direct rule from [23] [24] Spain. Under direct Spanish rule, banking, industry andeducation flourished more than in the past two centuries. The growing wealth and education attracted Indian, Chinese, Latino, European and local migrants from the Philippine [25] provinces to Manila, all of whom elected a nascent Filipino nationality regardless of ethnicity. The developments also facilitated the rise of an illustrado class which espoused liberalideas, the ideological foundations of the Philippine Revolution which sought independence from Spain.

American Colonial Period[edit]

The Burnham Plan of Manila. North is at the left.

After the Battle of Manila (1898), Spain ceded the surrendered city of Manila to the United States. The First Philippine [26] Republic based at nearby Bulacan fought against the Americans for control of the city of Manila. The Americans defeated the First Philippine Republic and captured president Emilio Aguinaldowho announced allegiance to the United States on April 1, 1901. Under American control, a new civilian oriented Insular Government headed by then Governor-General William Howard Taft invited city planner Daniel Burnham for the transformation of Manila, to adapt the old city to changed times and [27] modern needs. The Burnham Plan included development of the road system, the use of waterways for transportation, and beautification of Manila with the improvement of waterfronts, construction of parks, parkways and various building for [28][29] various activities. The latter included a government center occupying all of Wallace Field, which extends from Luneta to the present Taft Avenue. The Philippine Capitol was to rise at the Taft Avenue end of the field, facing toward the sea, and would form, with the buildings of different government bureaus and departments, a quadrangle, lagoon in the center, and a monument to Jose Rizal at its Luneta end. Of Burnhams proposed government center, only three units the Legislative Building and the building of the Finance and Agricultural departments were completed when World War II erupted.

Japanese Invasion[edit]

The destruction brought about by theBattle of Manila

Due to the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, American soldiers were ordered to withdraw from the city and all military installations were removed on December 24, 1941. General Douglas MacArthur declared Manila an open city to prevent further death and destruction; despite this, the Japanese warplanes continued to bomb the city. Manila was occupied by the Japanese forces on January 2, 1942. Manila was also the site of the bloodiest battle in the Pacific theater during the Second World War. After falling to the Empire of Japan on January 2, 1942, it was recaptured by joint American and Filipino troops from February 3 to March [30] 3, 1945. Some 100,000 civilians were killed in Manila in February 1945. It was the second most devastated city in the world after Warsaw during the Second World War. At the end of World War II, almost all of the structures in the city, particularly Intramuros, were destroyed but after the war, reconstruction took place.

Sovereign Philippines[edit]
In 1948, President Elpidio Quirino moved the seat of government of the Philippines to Quezon City, a new capital city in the suburbs and fields northeast of Manila, created in 1938 by former President Manuel L. Quezon, which was renamed [31] after him. The move ended any implementation of the Burnham Plan's intent for the government centre to be at Luneta. With Arsenio Lacson as its first elected mayor in 1952 (all mayors were appointed prior to this), the city of Manila [32] underwent The Golden Age, was revitalized, and once again became the "Pearl of the Orient", a moniker it earned before the Second World War. After Mayor Lacson's term in the 1950s, the city was led by Antonio Villegas during most of the 1960s, and Ramon Bagatsing for nearly the entire decade of the 1970s until the 1986 People Power Revolution, making him the longest serving Mayor of Manila. Mayors Lacson, Villegas, and Bagatsing are often collectively considered as the "Big Three of Manila" less for their rather long tenures as the city's chief executive (continuously for over three decades, from 19521986), but more for their indelible contribution to the development and progress of the city and their lasting legacy in uplifting the quality of life and welfare of the people of the city of Manila. During the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos, the region of the Greater Manila Area was created as an integrated unit with the enactment of Presidential Decree No. 824 on November 7, 1975. The area encompassed [33] four cities and thirteen adjoining towns, as a separate regional unit of government. On the 405th anniversary of the city's foundation on June 24, 1976, Manila was reinstated by Marcos as the capital of the Philippines for its historical significance as the seat of government since the Spanish Period. Presidential Decree No. 940 states that Manila has always been to the Filipino people and in the eyes of the world, the premier city of the Philippines being the center of [34] trade, commerce, education and culture. In 1992, Alfredo Lim became the mayor, and was known for his anti-crime crusades. Lim was succeeded by Atienza, who served as the vice mayor during Lim's term. Atienza was known for his campaign (and city slogan) "Buhayin ang Maynila" (Revive Manila), which saw the establishment of several parks and the repair and rehabilitation of the city's deteriorating facilities. He was the city's mayor for 3 terms (9 years) before being termed out of office. Alfredo Lim once again ran for mayor and defeated Atienza's son Ali in the 2007 city election and immediately reversed all [35] of Atienza's projects claiming Atienza's projects made little contribution to the improvements of the city. The relationship of both parties turned bitter, with the two pitting again during the 2010 city elections in which Lim won against Atienza.

Among the numerous controversies surrounding Lim's administration were the filing of human rights complaints against [36] him and other city officials by councilor Dennis Alcoreza on 2008, the resignation of 24 city officials because of the maltreatment of Lim's police forces, and his bloody resolution of the Manila hostage crisis, one of the deadliest hostage [37] crisis in the Philippines. Lim was also accused of graft and corruption, believed to be the cause of the city's bankruptcy. These allegations were later followed by a complaint on 2012 by Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and 28 city councilors which [38][39] cited that Lim's statement in a meeting were "life-threatening" to them. On the 2013 elections, former President Joseph Estrada defeated Lim in the mayoral race.

The skyline of the City of Manila as viewed from Harbour Square in the CCP Complex.

Geography[edit]
Main articles: Geography of Manila and Port of Manila

Landsat satellite false-color photo ofManila Bay, Metro Manila and surrounding provinces.

Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila bay, which rests on the western shores of Luzon. The city lies 800 miles [40] (1,300 kilometers) from mainland Asia. The Pasig River bisects the city. Almost all of the city sits on top of centuries of prehistoric alluvial deposits built by the waters of the Pasig and on some land reclaimed from Manila Bay. The city's land has been altered substantially by human intervention, with considerable land reclamation along the waterfronts since the American colonial times. Some of the natural variations in topography have been evened out due to the urbanization of the city. The city occupies an area of 38.55 square kilometres (14.88 sq mi) and is divided into 897 barangays, the smallest unit of local government in the Philippines. Each barangay has its own chairperson and councilors. For administrative convenience, all the barangays in Manila are grouped into 100 zones. These zones have no form of local government. Manila is composed of 16 former towns and municipalities which was absorbed by the city in the 19th century. These settlements are now known as places within the city. They are further grouped into the six legislative districts of Manila.

Climate[edit]

Under the Kppen climate classification system, Manila features a tropical savanna climate that borders on a tropical monsoon climate (Kppen climate classification Aw/Am). Together with the rest of the Philippines, Manila lies entirely within the tropics. Its proximity to the equator means that the temperature range is very small, rarely going below 20 C (68 F) or above 38 C (100 F) . However, humidity levels are usually very high all year round. It has a distinct dry season from late December through May, and a relatively lengthy and cooler wet season that covers the remaining period with mild to warm temperatures. In the rainy season it rarely rains all day but the rainfall is very heavy during short [41] periods. Typhoons can occur from June to September and can cause flooding in parts of the city.

a for Manila, Philippines (1971-2000) Jan

29.5 (85.1) 26.5 (79.7) 18.5 (65.3) 19.0 (0.748) 1 186.0

Feb
30.5 (86.9) 27.2 (81) 20.8 (69.4) 7.9 (0.311) 1 197.8

Mar
32.1 (89.8) 28.5 (83.3) 25.9 (78.6) 11.1 (0.437) 1 217.0

Apr
33.5 (92.3) 29.9 (85.8) 26.2 (79.2) 21.4 (0.843) 1 270.0

May
33.2 (91.8) 30.0 (86) 26.7 (80.1) 165.2 (6.504) 7 217.0

Jun
32.2 (90) 29.2 (84.6) 26.2 (79.2) 265.0 (10.433) 14 150.0

Jul
31.1 (88) 28.5 (83.3) 25.8 (78.4) 419.6 (16.52) 16 124.0

Aug
30.6 (87.1) 28.1 (82.6) 25.5 (77.9) 486.1 (19.138) 19 124.0

Sep
30.9 (87.6) 28.2 (82.8) 25.5 (77.9) 330.3 (13.004) 17 120.0

Oct
30.9 (87.6) 28.2 (82.8) 25.5 (77.9) 270.9 (10.665) 13 155.0

Nov
30.7 (87.3) 27.1 (80.8) 24.9 (76.8) 129.3 (5.091) 9 150.0

Dec
29.7

F)

(85.5) 26.2

F)

(79.2) 23.9 (75) 75.4

F)

(inches)

(2.969 5

ne hours

155.0

orological Organization[42] Observatory,[43] BBC Weather (sunshine data)[44]

Environmental issues[edit]
Largely due to industrial waste and heavy reliance on automobiles, Manila suffers from air pollution in the form [47] [48] [49] of smog which affects 98% of the residents of the city and results in more than 4,000 deaths per year. Open dump [50] sites and industrial waste contribute to increasing pollution within the city. Several rivers in Manila have been considered biologically dead. The Pasig River, where 150 tons of domestic waste and 75 tons of industrial waste were [51] dumped daily according to a report in 2003, is now one of the most polluted rivers in the world. Lack of adequate infrastructure is one of the causes of pollution in the city. [50] district in the city.
[52] [45][46]

The district of Ermita is the most air polluted

Rehabilitation projects are now seen in several waterways around Manila. The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission is [53] in charge of cleaning up the Pasig River for transportation, recreation and tourism purposes. Because of rehabilitation efforts, several waterways in Manila are now cleaned-up and already lined with trees, plants and flowers instead of slums, [54][55] which are now relocated in other areas.

Disasters and recovery[edit]

Manila's status as the capital of the Philippines which itself is strategically located in an oceanic area equally bisecting East and Southeast Asia, made the city prone to constant invasions. Thus, Manila became a desirable prize for many Maritime Empires. As a result of which, Manila has been repeatedly razed by several invading powers. In addition, Manila is also situated along the Pacific typhoon belt, in which every Typhoon, before travelling to East or Southeast Asia, always passes through Manila. This subjects the city to constant flooding and as many as 6 or 7 typhoons pass through the city [56] every year. Furthermore, the city is criss-crossed by several Earthquake fault-lines, the chief of which, the Marikina [57] Valley Fault System, has also reduced the city to rubble in several occasions. Yet, despite the constant challenges posed by the historical wars, earthquakes and floods that has repeatedly ravaged the city, the city repeatedly recovers and grows. It shares with Warsaw, the distinguishing "Pheonix City" title because of their tendency to progress "In defiance of the storms".

Wars[edit]
Owing to Manila's status as the capital city of the geostrategic Philippine islands, the city has been destroyed by a multitude of invading powers in the course of many wars. Although, there may be unrecorded battles for Manila when the Malays displaced the Negritos as the first occupiers of Manila, the first two recorded Battles for Manila: the Battle of Manila (1365), when MaharajaHayam Wuruk invaded the kingdom of Selurong and the Battle of Manila (1365), when [58] Sultan Bolkiah of Brunei subjugated the Kingdom of Tondo, saw only minimal damage to the city. However, during the Battle of Manila (1571), wherein the Conquistador Martin de Goiti arrived from Mexico to drive out the Muslim elite, the [59] city was totally razed to the ground. Thus explaining the absence of any Prehispanic architecture in Manila. The Battle of Manila (1574), between Chinese Pirate-Warlord Limahong and Don Galo only produced minimal damage to [60] Manila but the consequent Battle of Manila (1574), saw the massive looting, rape and arson of the city as perpetuated [61] by British soldiers. The next two consecutive battles for Manila; the quick Battle of Manila (1896) and the staged Battle of Manila (1898) did little damage to the city as whole. However, the Battle of Manila (1899), the first battle of the Philippine-American War, caused a reasonable amount casualties. It nevertheless paled in comparison to the Battle of Manila (1945) (Between the Japanese Empire and the Allied forces). In a single battle, the city witnessed the death of 100,000 civilians and the destruction of its historic district, the walled city of Intramuros. Despite this, the city has been mostly rebuilt and a good quantity of Manila's once forsaken landmarks have been restored.

Earthquakes[edit]
Manila itself is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of active volcanic and seismic activity and several parts of the city is also subject to the Marikina Valley Fault System. This caused the city to endure several deadly earthquakes, the chief of which: the 7.9 magnitude "1645 Luzon Earthquake" and the 7.3 magnitude "1677 Manila Earthquake", caused [62] massive destruction to the stone and brick medieval city. To cope with this, architects invented the architectural style called Earthquake Baroque and now, Churches and Government Buildings during the Spanish era were furnished in the [63] quintessential Earthquake Baroque style. As a result; the deadly earthquakes of the 18th and the 19th centuries barely affected Manila. Furthermore, modern buildings around Manila are usually designed or retrofitted to particularly resist Earthquake damage.

Floods[edit]
Manila, like the rest of the Philippines sits astride the Pacific Typhoon Belt. This makes the Philippines the most-exposed large country in the world to tropical cyclones. This subjects the city to constant flooding and as many as 6 or 7 typhoons [56] pass through the city every year. In order to adapt, the city has resorted to dredging it's rivers and planting lots of trees especially around the La Mesa area. Nevertheless, the city is still affected by yearly floods.

Demographics[edit]

The skyline of Manila as seen from the Manila Bay

Population Census
Year Pop. % p.a.

1903 1960 1970 1975 1980 1990 1995 2000 2007 2010

219,928

1,138,611 +2.93% 1,330,788 +1.57% 1,479,116 +2.14% 1,630,485 +1.97% 1,601,234 0.18% 1,654,761 +0.66% 1,581,082 0.91% 1,660,714 +0.70% 1,652,171 0.17%

As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 1,652,171 making it the second most populous city in the [3] Philippines. Manila is the most densely populated city in the world with 43,079 inhabitants per km . District 6 is listed as being the 2 most dense with 68,266 inhabitants per km , followed by the first two districts with 64,936 and 64,710, respectively, and [65] district 5 being the least dense with 19,235. Manila's population density dwarfs that of Kolkata (27,774 inhabitants per km ), Mumbai (22,937 inhabitants per 2 2 2 2 km ),Paris (20,164 inhabitants per km ), Dhaka (19,447 inhabitants per km ), Shanghai (16,364 inhabitants per km , with 2 its most dense district, Nanshi, having a density of 56,785 inhabitants per km ), and Tokyo (10,087 inhabitants per 2 [65] km ). The vernacular language is Filipino, based mostly on the Tagalog of surrounding areas, and this Manila form of speaking Tagalog has essentially become the lingua franca of the Philippines, having spread throughout the archipelago through mass media and entertainment. Meanwhile, English is the language most widely used in education, business, and heavily in everyday usage throughout the Metro Manila region and the Philippines itself. A number of older residents can still speak basic Spanish, which used to be a mandatory subject in the curriculum of Philippine universities and colleges, and many children of Japanese Filipino, Indian Filipino,and other migrants or expatriates also speak their parents' languages at home, aside from English and/or Filipino for everyday use. Minnan Chinese (known as Lannang-oe) is spoken by the city'sChinese-Filipino community.
2 2 [64]

Economy[edit]

A view of Roxas Boulevard, where the business hub of Manila is located.

Manila's economy is diverse and multifaceted. With its excellent protected harbor, Manila serves as the chief seaport of the country. Diverse manufacturers produce industrial-related products such as chemicals, textiles, clothing, and electronic goods. Food and beverages and tobacco products also produced. Local entrepreneurs continue to process primary commodities for export, including rope, plywood, refined sugar, copra, and coconut oil. The food-processing industry is one of the most stable major manufacturing sector in the city. Manila is also a major publishing center in the [66] Philippines. Binondo has begun to be revitalized along with Divisoria, several high-rise condominiums and offices are rising in the area. The plan to make theChinatown area into a business process outsourcing (BPO) hub continues to progress and is being pursued by the city government of Manila. 30 buildings are already identified to be converted into BPO offices. These buildings are mostly located along the Escolta Street of Binondo, which are all unoccupied and can be converted [67] into offices.

The Port of Manila, the chief port of the country

Tourism in Manila attracts over 1 million tourists each year. Major destinations include the walled city ofIntramuros, museums such as the National Museum of the Philippines, and other tourist destinations including Ermita, Malate, Santa Cruz, the Manila Zoo, the City Chinatown and events such as the Feast of Black Nazarene, free performances in Rizal [note 1] Park and events within the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Rizal Park is a major tourist attraction and one of the most recognizable icons of the Philippines. Ermita and Malate, aside from being known for its nightlife, are well-known shopping destination for the upper class while Divisoria was the shopping destination for local residents. The city's cash position in 2011 stated that Manila has 1.6 billion cash -at-hand while its gross operating expenses was [68] [68] [68] 2.97 billion. The financial expenses of the city was P45 million, and has a liability of 3.3 billion. Manila has the [69] highest budget allocation to health and was one of the cities with the highest tax revenue. Manila was also one of the [69] cities with the highest internal revenue. In 2012, the city was reported as bankrupt by the Commission on Audit (COA), citing: the city's cash position of 1.006 billion is insufficient to pay its deficit of 3.553 billion; unclaimed remittances from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) and the Philippine Health Insurance [70][71] Corporation (PhilHealth); and the bloating expenses for the operation of the city and its services. City officials

[66]

disputed the claim and stated that the city is not bankrupt. In 2013, it is confirmed by current city officials including [73][74] Mayor Joseph Estrada that the city is indeed in debt, with only 242 million pesos left in its funds.

[72]

Arts and culture[edit]

The Basilica Minore de San Sebastian, the only all-steel church in Asia.[75]

Residents in the city are mainly Christians, though the city welcomes all people of other faiths. Roman Catholics predominate, comprising 93.5% of the population, followed by Philippine Independent Church 2.4%, followed by Iglesia ni Cristo, comprising 1.9% of the population followed by Protestants (1.8%) and Buddhist (1.1%). Other [76] religions comprises the remaining 1.4% of the city's population. Manila is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila, the oldest archdiocese in the country, and the Primate of the Philippines, whose offices were located at [77] the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Manila is home to three other basilicas, besides the Manila Cathedral, namely, the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and the Basilica Minore de San Sebastian. Being the seat of the Spanish colonial government in past centuries, it has been used as the base of numerous Roman Catholic missions to the Philippines.

The interior of San Agustin Church inIntramuros, one of the most visited places in the city.

Other notable churches in the city include San Agustin Church in Intramuros, the shrine of the canonically crowned image [77] of Nuestra Seora de Consolacin y Correa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a favorite wedding place of notable people and one of two fully air-conditioned churches in the city; the Binondo Church, also known as Basilica Minore de San Lorenzo Ruiz; Malate Church, the shrine of Nuestra Seora de Remedios; Ermita Church, home of the oldest Marian Image in the Philippines, Nuestra Seora de Guia; Tondo Church, home of the century-old ivory image of Sto. Nio (Child Jesus); and Sta. Ana Church, shrine of the canonically crowned image of Nuestra Senora de los Desamparados. Aside from the Evangelical Christians, Manila is also the home of most of the country's Mainline Protestants. The ProCathedral of the Saint Stephen, the center of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Philippines of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines is also found in the city. The mainly Filipinorevolutionary church Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Church or Aglipayan Church) is headquartered in the city. Also, the main campus of the Cathedral of Praise is located within the city.

The city also hosts other faiths. There are many Buddhist and Taoist temples built by the Chinese community in Manila. Quiapo is home to a sizableMuslim population in Manila, where Masjid Al-Dahab is located. There is also a large Hindu temples for the Indian population, and Sikh Temples are also erected. Nightlife in Manila centres around Ermita and Malate, along with Intramuros. Areas in Binondo, the city's Chinatown, also attract many people, while other notable areas in the city such as Quiapo and Divisoria are known for being one of the shopping center of bargain goods. Ermita and Malate, being a popular tourist destination, showcase a wide variety of hotels, restaurants, clubs, bars, cafes, art and antique shops. The nightlife offers everything from cultural exhibitions to discothques, casinos, entertainment lounges, and fashionable cafes.

Annual cultural events[edit]

Manila celebrates civic and national holidays. Manila Day, which celebrates the city's founding, was first proclaimed by Herminio A. Astorga (then Vice Mayor of Manila) on 24 June 1962 and has been annually commemorated, under the patronage of John the Baptist. Each of the city's districts also have their own fiesta (festivals). The city is also the host to the Feast of the Black Nazarene, held every 9 January, which draws millions of Catholic devotees.

Museums[edit]

The National Museum of the Philippines

As the cultural center of the Philippines, Manila houses a number of notable museums. Bahay Tsinoy, one of Manila's most prominent museums, documents the Chinese lives and contributions in the history of the Philippines. The Intramuros Light and Sound Museum chronicles the Filipinos desire for freedom during the revolution under Rizal's leadership and other revolutionary leaders. The Metropolitan Museum of Manila exhibits the Filipino arts and culture. The Museum of Manila is the city-owned museum that exhibits the city's culture and history. Manila is also home to other notable museums of the country, namely the Museo Pambata, a children's museum, the Museum of Philippine Political History, which exhibits notable political events in the country, the National Museum of the Philippines (which includes the Museum of the Filipino People) of which exhibits life, culture and history of the country, the Parish of the Our Lady of the Abandoned and the San Agustin Church Museum, which houses religious artifacts, Plaza San Luis, a public museum, the UST Museum of Arts and Sciences and the DLS-CSB Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD), both of which are university museums dedicated to science and technology, and contemporary art respectively.

Other points of interest[edit]

Numerous notable landmarks are located in Manila, such as Rizal Park and the historical Intramuros. Rizal park is a [78] crescent-shaped 58 hectares (140 acres) park, it was erected for the country's national hero, Jos Rizal. Among the attractions in Rizal Park is the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, the National Museum of the Philippines, The National Library of the Philippines, the Planetarium, the Orchidarium and Butterfly Pavilion, the park auditorium, a landscaped relief map of the Philippines, the fountain, the children's lagoon, the chess plaza, the Quirino Grandstandand the Manila Ocean Park, which features a wide variety of marine animals. The flagpole west of the Rizal Monument is the Kilometer Zero marker for distances to the rest of the country. In the northernmost part of the city lie three cemeteries: the Loyola and Chinese cemeteries, and Manila North Cemetery, the largest public cemetery in the Manila metropolitan area.

Shopping centers[edit]

Robinsons Place Manila, a major shopping mall in the city

Manila has become a well-known shopping hub of the country and it has been named as one of the best shopping [79][80] destinations in Asia. Majorshopping malls are located around the city while local and traditional shopping centers such as markets and bazaars are also located around Manila. Robinsons Place Manila is the largest shopping mall in the city, it is located at the heart of Manila. The mall was the second and by-far, the largestRobinson Mall ever built by John Gokongwei, the mall features a wide range of local and international retail shops, dining outlets, entertainment facilities and service centers, it also features anchor stores such as Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Department Store and Robinsons Cinema. Another shopping mall is the SM City Manila, it is the first SM Supermall in the city, it features major SM brands like the SM Department Store, SM Supermarket, SM Cinemas and SM Foodcourt, it is located right beside the Manila City Hall; the mall underwent major redevelopment in 2008. SM City San Lazaro is the second SM Supermall in Manila, it is located in the district of Santa Cruz, the mall sits on what was the site of the former San Lazaro Hippodrome, a racetrack for horses. The site of the original SM Department Store located at Quiapo is known today as the SM Clearance Center, which was established in 1972 and is occupying a formerly well-known hotel with a revolving restaurant atop. Other department stores still thrive throughout the city. Aside from the aforementioned malls, the Tutuban Commercial Center, Lucky Chinatown Mall (Cityplace Square), 11/88 Mall, 168 Shopping Mall, and 999 Shopping Mall are some of the popular malls in the city located in Divisoria, a wellknown shopping center in the country. The traditional shopping areas of Divisoria, Binondo, and Quiapo, is a place for local and adventurous shoppers, these areas offers bargains and cheap buys and it also offers indigenous Filipino cuisine, crafts and delicacies. Quiapo is referred as the "Old Downtown", it has also made a name for itself as a place where cheap buys or goods are being sold [22] at rock-bottom prices. Binondo is the oldest Chinatown in the world, it is the district center of commerce and trade for all types of businesses run by Filipino-Chinese merchants; it offers Chinese restaurants, Filipino restaurants, and Chinese stores. Tiangge (flea market) stores are common, which are mostly concentrated on these areas to accommodate visitors.
[81]

Sports[edit]

Children playing basketball at Intramuros

Sports in Manila have a long and distinguished history. The city's, and the country's in general, main sport is basketball, and most barangays have a makeshift basketball court, with court markings drawn on the streets. Larger barangays have covered courts; this is where interbarangay leagues are held every summer (April May). The city has several well-known sports venues, such as the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and San Andres Gym, the [82] home of the now defunct Manila Metrostars. The Rizal Memorial Sports Complex houses the Rizal Memorial Track and Football Stadium, the Baseball Stadium, Tennis Courts, Memorial Coliseum and the Ninoy Aquino Stadium (the latter two are indoor arenas). The Rizal complex had hosted several multi-sport events, such as the 1954 Asian Games and the 1934 Far Eastern Games. Whenever the country hosts the Southeast Asian Games, most of the events are held at the complex, but on the 2005 Games, most events were held elsewhere. The 1960 ABC Championship and the 1973 ABC Championship, forerunners of the FIBA Asia Championship, was hosted by the complex, with the national basketball team winning on both tournaments. The 1978 FIBA World Championship was held at the complex although the latter stages were held in theAraneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Southeast Asia's largest indoor arena. Manila also hosts several well-known sports facilities such as the Enrique M. Razon Sports Center and the University of Santo Tomas Sports Complex, both of which are private venues owned by a university; collegiate sports are also held, with the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball games held at Rizal Memorial Coliseum and Ninoy Aquino Stadium, although basketball events had transferred to San Juan's Filoil Flying V Arena and the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Other collegiate sports are still held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Professional basketball also used to play at the city, but the Philippine Basketball Association now holds their games at Araneta Coliseum and Cuneta Astrodome at Pasay; the now defunct Philippine Basketball League played some of their games at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Previously a widely-played sport in the city, Manila is now the home of the only sizable baseball stadium in the country, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. The stadium hosts games ofBaseball Philippines; Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth were [83] the first players to score a home run at the stadium at their tour of the country on December 2, 1934. Another popular sport in the city are cue sports, and billiard halls are a feature in most barangays. The 2010 World Cup of [84] Pool was held at Robinsons Place Manila. The Rizal Memorial Track and Football Stadium hosted the first FIFA World Cup qualifier in decades when the Philippines hosted Sri Lanka in July 2011. The stadium, which was previously unfit for international matches, had [85] undergone a major renovation program prior to the match. The Football Stadium now regularly hosts matches of the United Football League. The stadium also hosted its first rugby test when it hosted the 2012 Asian Five Nations [86] Division I tournaments.

Parks and recreation[edit]

The Rizal Monument at the Luneta Park

Manila is the site of the Rizal Park. The park lies within the heart of Manila's cultural and business district, as an honor and dedication to the country's national hero Jos Rizal, who was executed in the same place where the park was created by the Spaniards on charges of subversion. Manila is also the home to several plazas, such as the Plaza Balagtas and Plaza Miranda, the site of the 1971 politics-related bombings. Notable parks and green areas include the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Rajah Sulayman Park, Manila Boardwalk, Liwasang Bonifacio, Mehan Garden, Paco Park, Remedios Circle, the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden, Pandacan Linear Park, and the Malacaang Garden. Within the city lies the cemeteries of the Manila Chinese Cemetery, La Loma Cemetery, the Manila South Green Park and the Manila North Green Park, notable as being the resting place of several historical figures and being the largest cemetery in the Metropolis. Both the Manila North and South Green Park are city-owned cemeteries. A large number of private and public recreational areas are scattered throughout the city. Also, several playgrounds, sports facilities and gardens were erected within the city most of these being developed in commercial areas. Within the city there are numerous shrine plazas wherein numerous historic monuments are found. Plazas also have numerous tiangge stores accommodating visitors. Plazas, unlike parks, consist of less greenery and mostly of bricked pathways. Plazas in the city are usually located in commercial and industrial places while shrines have more greenery than plazas and no tiangge.
[note 2]

Government[edit]
Local government[edit]

The Manila City Hall and its iconic clock tower are among the region's registeredCultural Properties.

The Mayor of Manila (Filipino: Alkalde ng Maynila) is restricted to three consecutive terms, totaling nine years, although a Mayor can be elected again after an interruption of one term. The Vice-Mayor is the Presiding Officer of the Manila City Council composed of the six elected City Councilors of thelegislative districts; the local President of the Association of Barangay Captains; and the Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) president. The Mayor's office and Council seat is Manila City Hall. The civic judicial branch is administered by the Supreme Court of the Philippines under the Metro Manila judicial region.

Incumbent officials[edit]
The incumbent Mayor is Joseph Estrada, former President of the Republic of the Philippines, who defeated former mayor Alfredo Lim (2007-2013) in the 2013 local election. Isko Moreno is the city's incumbent Vice-Mayor.

Coat of Arms[edit]
The coat of arms of Manila is composed of the city's modern coat-of-arms, with colours mirroring those of the National Flag. It is a modified form of the city's colonial arms bestowed in the 16th century. The arms consist of a pre-Hispanic shield, horizontally divided into red and blue fields. The top, red half depicts the city's nickname, "Pearl of the Orient", while the lower, blue half is charged with a sea-lion surmounting the waves of the River Pasig and Manila Bay. The sea-lion originally represented the islands's former colonial status as an ultramar (overseas) possession of Spain, and is ultimately derived from the arms of the Len. The arms are surrounded by a white roundel containing the words Lungsod ng Maynila and Pilipinas (Filipino, "City of Manila"; "Philippines"), and six yellow stars representing the city's six congressional districts.

Administrative districts[edit]
Maps of Manila

Map of Manila with landmarks highlighted.

Map of Manila and its districts.

The city of Manila is divided into sixteen officially-defined administrative districts, and subdivided into 897 barangays that [3] are only known by sequential numbers instead of names. The districts only exist for administrative convenience and do not have their own sets of elected officials. Each geographical district is further divided into officially-defined "zones," which are clusters of two or more barangays.

District

Barangays

Population (2010 census)

Area (has.)

Pop. density 2 (per km )

District

Barangays

Population (2010 census)

Area (has.)

Pop. density 2 (per km )

Binondo

10

12,985

66.11

19,641.5

Ermita

13

7,143

158.91

4,495.0

Intramuros

4,925

67.26

7,322.3

Malate

57

77,513

259.58

29,860.9

Paco

43

70,978

278.69

25,468.4

Pandacan

38

73,895

166.00

44,515.1

Port Area

57,405

315.28

18,207.6

Quiapo

16

24,886

84.69

29,384.8

Sampaloc

192

241,528

513.71

47,016.4

San Andrs 65

115,942

168.02

69,004.9

San Miguel 12

15,992

91.37

17,502.5

San Nicolas 15

44,241

163.85

27,000.9

Santa Ana

34

60,952

169.42

35,976.9

Santa Cruz 82

115,747

309.01

37,457.4

Santa Mesa 51

99,933

261.01

38,287.0

District

Barangays

Population (2010 census)

Area (has.)

Pop. density 2 (per km )

Tondo

259

628,106

865.13

72,602.5

Data presented by the National Statistics Office still do not reflect the 16-district configuration recognized by the city government of Manila. It recognizes neither the western area of Santa Ana that now belongs to the fifth congressional district of Manila as the geographical district of San Andres Bukid, nor the area of Sampaloc south of the Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard which now belongs to the sixth congressional district as the geographical district of Santa Mesa.

Legislative districts[edit]

Manila's legislative districts

Aside from the division of the sixteen geographical districts, the city is also divided into the six legislative districts that serve as the constituencies for the election of the city's representatives to the lower house of the Congress of the Philippines and of the regular members to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP; City Council). Each district elects one representative to the House of Representatives and six SP members to the council. The city, along with the rest of the nation, elects 12 senators as one at-large district. The 1st District (2007 population: 407,331) is Manila's (and the country's) most densely populated congressional district. It covers the western portion of Tondo that lies along Manila Bay. Within this district, the northern Port Area is located. The 2nd District (2007 population: 223,273) comprises the eastern inland portion of Tondo, a neighborhood known as Gagalangin. The 3rd District (2007 population: 197,242) covers the districts of Binondo, Quiapo, San Nicolas and Santa Cruz. These areas were once the commercial and financial centres of the metropolis. The congressional district is home to the city's Chinatown, and to several notable landmarks, including the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, the Binondo Church, Avenida Rizal, and the city's three largest burial grounds: the La Loma Cemetery, the Manila Chinese Cemetery and the Manila North Green Park. Some areas of this district is a part of the University Belt. The 4th District (2007 population: 255,613) comprises solely the geographical district of Sampaloc, a mainly residential area. The University of Santo Tomas, along with several well-known universities is located in this district. The 5th District (2007 population: 315,961) consists of the geographical districts of Ermita, Malate, Port Area, Intramuros, San Andres Bukid, and a portion of Paco (zone 90). The congressional district contains some of the most historically and culturally significant landmarks and institutions in the country, such as the old walled city of Manila, Rizal Park, the Manila Zoo, the National Museum and a portion of the Cultural Center of the

Philippines complex. The Supreme Court of the Philippines, the Court of Appeals and theWorld Health Organization are all in Ermita. The districts of Malate and Ermita are known for entertainment and nightlife. The three century-old college, Colegio de San Juan de Letran is located in this district. The 6th District (2007 population: 261,294) covers the geographical districts of Paco (except zone 90), Pandacan, San Miguel, Santa Ana and Santa Mesa. This congressional district is host to the Malacaan Palace, the official residence of the President of the Philippines and the main campus of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

National government[edit]

The faade of Malacaang Palace, the official residence of the President of the Philippines

Manila, being the seat of political power of the Philippines, has several national government offices headquartered at the city. Planning for the development for being the center of government started during the early years of American colonization to the country when they envisioned a well-designed city outside the walls of Intramuros. The strategic location chosen was Bagumbayan, a former town which is now the Rizal Park to become the center of government and a design commission was given to Daniel Burnham to create a master plan for the city patterned after Washington D.C.. These improvements were eventually abandoned under the Commonwealth Government of Manuel L. Quezon. A new government center was to be built on the hills northeast of Manila, or what is now Quezon City. Several government agencies have set up their headquarters in Quezon City but several key government offices still reside in Manila. However, many of the plans were substantially altered after thedevastation of Manila during World War II and by subsequent administrations.

Faade of the Supreme Court of the Philippines

The city, as the capital, still hosts the Office of the President, as well as the president's official residence. Aside from these, important institutions such as the Supreme Court (Kataas-taasang hukuman), the Court of Appeals, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Departments of Budget and Management (Kagawaran ng Pagbabadyet at Pamamahala), Finance, Health, Justice, Labor and Employment, and Tourism still call the city home. Manila also hosts important national institutions such as the National Library, National Archives, National Museum and the Philippine General Hospital.

Congress previously held office at the Old Congress Building. In 1972, due to declaration of martial law, Congress was dissolved; its successor, theunicameral Batasang Pambansa, held office at the new Batasang Pambansa Complex. When a new constitution restored the bicameral Congress, the House of Representatives stayed at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, while the Senate remained at the Old Congress Building. In May 1997, the Senate transferred to a new building it shares with the Government Service Insurance System at reclaimed land at Pasay.

Education[edit]
Main articles: Education in the Philippines, Division of City SchoolsManila, and List of universities and colleges in Manila

The campus of the University of the City of Manila is the flagship university of Manila's local government.

The National Library of the Philippines is located within Rizal Park.

The center of education since the colonial period, Manila particularly Intramuros is home to several Philippine universities and colleges as well as its oldest ones. It served as the home of the University of Santo Tomas (1611), Colegio de San Juan de Letran (1620), and Ateneo de Manila University(1859). Only Colegio de San Juan de Letran (1620) remains at Intramuros; the University of Santo Tomas transferred to a new campus at Sampaloc in 1927, and Ateneo left Intramuros for Loyola Heights, Quezon City (while still retaining "de Manila" in its name) in 1952. The University of the City of Manila located at Intramuros, and Universidad De Manila located just outside the walled city, are both owned and operated by the Manila city government. The national government controls the University of the Philippines Manila, the oldest of the University of the Philippinesconstituent universities and the center of health sciences [87] education in the country. The city is also the site of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, the largest university in [88] the country in terms of student population. The University Belt refers to the area where there is a high concentration or a cluster of colleges and universities in the city and it is commonly understood as the one where the San Miguel, Quiapo and Sampaloc districts meet. Generally, it includes the western end of Espaa Boulevard, Nicanor Reyes St. (formerly Morayta St.), the eastern end of Claro M. Recto Avenue (formerly Azcarraga), Legarda Avenue, Mendiola Street, and the different side streets. Each of the colleges and universities found here are at a short walking distance of each other. Another cluster of colleges lies along the southern bank of the Pasig River, mostly at the Intramuros and Ermita districts, and still a smaller cluster is found at the southernmost part ofMalate near the border with Pasay. The high concentration of higher learning institutions makes Manila the country's educational capital.

The Division of the City Schools of Manila, a branch of the Department of Education, refers to the city's three-tier public [89] education system. It governs the 71 public elementary schools, 32 public high schools and the two city-owned universities. The city also contains the Manila Science High School, the pilot science high school of the Philippines; the National Museum, where the Spoliarium ofJuan Luna is housed; the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, the premier museum of modern and contemporary visual arts; the Museo Pambata, the Children's Museum, a place of hands-on discovery and fun learning; and, the National Library, the repository of the country's printed and recorded cultural heritage and other literary and information resources.

Infrastructure[edit]
Transportation[edit]
Main article: Transportation in Manila Further information: Public transport in Manila and Major roads in Metro Manila

A taxicab in Manila

Train at Blumentritt Station of the Manila Light Rail Transit System.

One of the more famous modes of transportation in Manila is the jeepney. Patterned after U.S. army jeeps, these have [90] been in use since the years immediately following World War II. Today, the Tamaraw FX, the third generation Toyota Kijang, has begun to compete directly with jeepneys. Along with buses, jeepneys and Tamaraws follow fixed routes for a set price. On a for-hire basis, the city is served by numerous taxicabs, "tricycles" (motorcycles with sidecars, the Philippine version of the auto rickshaw), and "trisikads" or "sikads" (bicycles with a sidecars, the Philippine version of pedicabs). In some areas, especially in the Divisoria district, motorized pedicabs are popular. Spanish-era horse-drawn calesas are still a popular tourist attraction in the streets of Binondo and Intramuros. All types of public transport are privately owned and operated under government franchise. The city is serviced by the Manila Light Rail Transit System, popularly known as LRT, as distinct from the Manila Metro Rail Transit System, or MRT, in other parts of Metro Manila. Development of the railway system began in the 1970s under the Marcos administration, making it the first light rail transport in Southeast Asia. The LRT and MRT system has [91] undergone a multi-billion dollar expansion. Two lines provide service to the city: the LRT-1 Line (Yellow Line) that runs

along the length of Taft Avenue (R-2) and Rizal Avenue (R-9), and the MRT-2 Line (Purple Line) that runs along Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard (R-6) from Santa Cruz, through Quezon City, up to Santolan in Pasig. The main terminal of the Philippine National Railways lies within the city. Railways extend north to the city of San Fernando in Pampanga and south toLegazpi City in Albay, though only the southern railway is in operation. The Port of Manila, located in the vicinity of Manila Bay, is the chief seaport of the Philippines and it is the premier international shipping gateway to the country. The city is also served by the Pasig River Ferry Service which runs on the Pasig River. The city is also served by the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Clark International Airport. In 2006, Forbes magazine ranked Manila the worlds most congested city. Manila has become notorious for its frequent [92] traffic jams and high densities. Government units have taken efforts to alleviate traffic jams, including a construction of [93] a new flyover at Sampaloc.

Medical facilities[edit]

The Philippine General Hospital

Manila is headquarters to the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, the World Health Organization Country Office for the Philippines, main office of the Department of Health, and several private and public hospitals and medical centers. One of the many programs of the Department of Tourism is the promotion of medical tourism in the Philippines. Manila hosts a large number of wellness centers and spa facilities. The Manila Health Department, which is responsible for the planning and implementation of the health programs of the [94] city government, operates 44 health centers and lying-in facilities scattered throughout the city. Hospitals in the city are the Manila Doctors' Hospital, University of the Philippines- Philippine General Hospital, Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, Dr. Jos R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, San Lazaro Hospital, [77] the University of Santo Tomas Hospital and the city-owned Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center.

International relations[edit]
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the Philippines

Twin towns and sister cities[edit]

Manila has a number of sister cities worldwide, as classified by the city government. Each sister city is divided into three [95] parts, namely the International, Friendly location and Local City. Manila has 33 International Sister Cities, three Friendly Location Cities and two Local Sister Cities. Acapulco, Mexico Astana, Kazakhstan Bangkok, Thailand Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Honolulu, States United Maui County, United States Mexico City, Mexico Montreal, Santiago, Chile Seberang Malaysia Sydney, Australia Perai,

China

[95][96][97]

Incheon, Korea

South

Canada

[95][101]

Taichung, Taiwan Taipei, Taiwan

[95][103] [95]

Bucharest, Romania

Moscow, Russia New Delhi, India Nice, France

[102]

Jakarta, Indonesia

Cartagena, Colombia

Jersey City, United States

[95][99] [100]

Takatsuki, Japan Tehran, Iran Winnipeg, Canada

[95][104]

Osaka, Japan

Guangzhou, China
[95][98]

Lima, Peru Lyon, France Madrid, Spain Malaga, Spain

Sacramento, United States Francisco,

Haifa, Israel Havana, Cuba

San United States

Yokohama, Japan
[95][105]

Friendly Location
[95]

Busan, South Korea Shanghai, (1983)

[95] [95]

China

Xi'an, China

Local city Cebu City, Philippines Davao Philippines

[95] [95]

City,

Caloocan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Caloocan
Highly-Urbanized City

Caloocan City Hall

Seal

Nickname(s): The Only Divided City in the Philippines Motto: Moving from Vision to Victory

Map of Metro Manila showing the location of Caloocan City

Caloocan Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: Country Region Province

1439N 12058ECoordinates: Philippines

1439N 12058E

National Capital Region none (Former part of Rizalprovince until 1975)

Districts Incorporated (town) Cityhood Barangays Government[1] Mayor Vice Mayor Sangguniang Panlungsod Area[2] Total Population (2010)[3] Total Density Time zone ZIP code Dialing code Website

1st and 2nd Districts of Caloocan City 1815 16 February 1962 188

Oscar Alliance)

Malapitan (United

Nationalist

Macario Asistio III (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino)

Councilors[show]

55.80 km2 (21.54 sq mi)

1,489,040 27,000/km2 (69,000/sq mi) PST (UTC+8) 1400 for Caloocan City Post Office 02 caloocancity.gov.ph

The City of Caloocan (Filipino: Lungsod ng Caloocan) is one of the cities that comprise Metro Manila, the National Capital Region of the Philippines. Located north to northeast of the City of Manila, Caloocan is the country's third most populous city with a population of 1,489,040 as of the 2010 census.[3

Geography[edit]
Caloocan City is divided into two separate areas. Southern Caloocan City lies directly north of the City of Manila and is bounded by Malabon Cityand Valenzuela City to the north and west, Navotas to the west, and Quezon City to the east. Northern Caloocan City is the northernmost territory of Metro Manila; it lies east of Valenzuela City, north of Quezon City, and south of San Jose del Monte City, Meycauayan City and Marilao in the province of Bulacan. Caloocan's northern part is much larger than its southern half.

Barangays[edit]
Main article: Barangays of Caloocan City Caloocan City is divided into 188 barangays. The city uses a hybrid system for its barangays all barangays have their corresponding numbers but only a few - mostly in the northern part - have corresponding names. Among all cities in Metro Manila, only Manila, Pasay City and Caloocan City implement the so-called "Zone Systems". A Zone is a group of barangays in a district. Although a zone is considered a subdivision in the local government units, the people do not elect a leader for the zone in a popular election similar to the normal barangay or local elections. The zoning system is merely for stritical purposes. Caloocan City has 16 Zones. The biggest zone in Caloocan is Zone 15 located in District 1 (North Caloocan) directly west of the second biggest zone in Caloocan which is Zone 16.

Barangay Bagong Silang (176) is the largest barangay in the country with a population of 221,874 people.

[4]

History[edit]
See also: Philippine Revolution

The ammunition train and reserves of the 20th Kansas Volunteers, Col. Frederick R. Funston, marching through Caloocan at night after the battle of February 10.

The city is historically significant because it was the center of activities for the Katipunan, the secret militant society that launched the Philippine Revolution during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines. It was in a house in Caloocan where secret meetings were held by Andrs Bonifacio and his men, and it was within the city's perimeters where the very first armed encounter took place between the Katipunan and the Spaniards. In 1899 the city saw heavy fighting in the PhilippineAmerican War, at the Battle of Caloocan and theSecond Battle of Caloocan. The word caloocan comes from the Tagalog root word lo-ok; kalook-lookan (or kaloob-looban) means "innermost area". The City borders many other cities such as Quezon City, Manila, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela and San Jose Del Monte Bulacan in the north. During the formation of Rizal Province, Caloocan was included in its matrix until 1975.

Territorial controversy[edit]
By the 1920s, Caloocan had annexed the neighbouring town of Novaliches, bringing its total area to about 15,000 hectares. When Quezon Citywas created in 1939, 1,500 hectares of land from Caloocan was to be given to the new capital city. Instead of opposing it, Caloocan residents willingly gave land to Quezon City in the belief it will benefit the country's new capital. However, in 1949, Congress passed Republic Act No. 333, which redefined the Caloocan-Quezon City boundary. The barrios of Baesa, Talipap, San Bartolom, Pasong Tam, Novaliches, Banlat, Kabuyao, Pugad Lawin, Bagbag, Pasong Putik, which once belonged to Novaliches and had an area of about 8,100 hectares, were excised from Caloocan. This caused the division of Caloocan into two parts, the southern section being the urbanised portion, while the northern section becoming suburban-rural.

Demographics[edit]
Population census of Caloocan
Year 1975 Pop. 397,201 % p.a.

1980 1990 1995 2000 2007 2010

467,816 763,415 1,023,159 1,177,604 1,378,856 1,489,040

+3.33% +5.02% +6.03% +2.85% +2.28% +2.60%

Source: National Statistics Office[5]

As of 2010, the city has a population of 1,489,040 people which makes it the third largest city in the Philippines in terms of [3] population. Most residents speak both Filipino and English, with considerable numbers speaking other languages and dialects. Like many other places in the country, Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in the city. There is a significant presence of Ang Dating Daan, Iglesia ni Cristo and other Protestant churches.

Economy[edit]
Caloocan City's 10th Avenue area is well known for the clusters of motorcycle dealers and motorcycle spare parts dealers. Among the major and famous streets are P. Zamora Street and A. Mabini Street. Numerous banks have branches in the city such as Banco de Oro, East West Bank, MetroBank, Maybank, Chinabank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Our Lady of Grace Credit Cooperative, etc. The city also has a number of shopping malls and stand-alone supermarkets and hypermarkets including Victory Central Mall, Puregold Monumento, Araneta Square, Uniwide Warehouse Club Monumento, and SM Hypermarket Monumento which are located in Monumento area in the south; and Zabarte Town Center and Puregold Zabarte, which are located in Barangay 175 Camarin area at the north. Manila North Tollways Corporation (the concession holder of the North Luzon Expressway), is headquartered in Caloocan.

Local government[edit]
List of Mayors and Vice Mayors[edit]
Municipality of Caloocan

Period of Tenure

Mayor

19021904

Pedro Sevilla

19041906

Silverio Baltazar

19061908

Tomas Susano

19081910

Leon Nadurata

19101913

Emilio Sanchez

19131915

Godofredo Herrera

19151921

Jose Sanchez

19221925

Dominador Aquino

19261928

Pablo Pablo

19281931

Dominador Aquino

19321940

Pablo Pablo

19411944

Cornelio Cordero

19451946

Oscar Baello

19461951

Jesus Basa

19521962

Macario Asistio, Sr.

City of Caloocan

Period of Tenure

Mayor

19621971

Macario Asistio, Sr.

19721976

Marcial Samson

19761978

Alejandro Fider

19781980

Virgilio Robles

19801986

Macario Asistio, Jr.

1986

Virgilio Robles

19861988

Antonio Martinez

19881995

Macario Asistio, Jr.

19952004

Reynaldo Malonzo

20042013

Enrico Echiverri

20132016

Oscar Malapitan

City of Caloocan

Period of Tenure

Vice-Mayor

1988-1992

Celestino Rosca

1992-1995

Reynaldo Malonzo

1995-1998

Nancy Quimpo

19982001

Oscar Malapitan

2001-2010

Luis Varela

20102013

Edgar Erice

20132016

Macario Asistio, III

Infrastructure[edit]
Transportation[edit]

The Balintawak Toll Barrier of the North Luzon Expressway is located in Caloocan City.

The LRT-1 has a terminal at Monumento that passes through the city's 5th Avenue LRT Station. The railway traverses Rizal Avenue Extension and enters the City of Manila and Pasay City. The whole stretch can be travelled in about 30 minutes. Philippine National Railways also has a line, with its terminal at Samson Road, and passes through Caloocan railway station, Asistio Avenue railway station, & C-3 railway station. The city has an extensive network of roads, the most prominent being Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, which begins in the Monumento area. Also, theNorth Luzon Expressway's Operations and Maintenance Center and the motorway's Balintawak Toll Barrier are in Caloocan City. Bus line Victory Liner Incorporated has its headquarters and terminal along in Rizal Avenue Extension near the Monumento Station.

Landmarks[edit]
The city's most celebrated landmark is the monument to revolutionary Andrs Bonifacio, which stands on a roundabout at the northern terminus of EDSA. The memorial was erected in 1933, and consists of an obelisk with sculptures by National Artist Guillermo Tolentino. The monument marks the very first battle of the Philippine Revolution on 3 August 1896. Recent renovations have been made on the environs of the monument, including the Bonifacio Circle, its former site, and the Caloocan stretch of EDSA, which is 100 metres away from the landmark. The whole area is known as Monumento. City hall stands along A. Mabini Avenue in the southern part of the city, across the street from San Roque Parish Cathedral. The old city hall, on the other hand, still stands today in its present location at 9th Avenue. There is also a city hall in the northern part of the city. The city's District Office of the Bureau of Internal Revenue is along EDSA.

Education[edit]
The city's lone public university is the University of Caloocan City (formerly Caloocan City Polytechnic College). Other educational institution of higher learning are the University of the East - Caloocan, ABE International Business College (www.abecollege.com), Holy Redeemer School of Kalookan, World Citi Colleges and Manila Central University. Several high schools, such as Caloocan High School, Maria Clara High School, Notre Dame of Greater Manila, Caloocan National Science and Technology High School (the First Ever Science & Technology High School in North Caloocan its students will only be admitted if they passed a competitive examination. Caloocan National Science and Technlogy High School is located on Congressional Road Brgy. 173, Bagumbong, Caloocan City.), Caloocan City Science High School, Caloocan City Business High School, Guardian Angel School, Holy Infant Montessori Center, Saint Benedict School of Novaliches, Saint Andrew School MHANLE Inc., Philippine Cultural College (Annex), Systems Plus Computer College, St. Mary's Academy of Caloocan City, St. Gabriel Academy, St. Clare College of Caloocan, Mystical Rose School of Caloocan, Holy Angel School of Caloocan Inc., St. Agnes Academy of Caloocan Inc., St. Therese of Rose School, St. Joseph College of Novaliches, Maranatha Christian Academy of Caloocan (Camarin), Camarin High School, and the two campuses of La Consolacion College in which one is located in Novaliches in the northern part and the other one is located on the southern part, near the city hall. There is a campus here of Access Computer College, a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution.

Sister cities[edit]
Calamba City

Gallery[edit]

A century-old Taoist temple, a landmark built by the Chinese community in5th Avenue LRT Station.

City hall, view from a side

View of the Seat of Government from Brgy. 16

View of Brgy. 15 & 16 from the City hall

Regional Trial Courts, Halls of Justice

Vicariate of Our Lady of Grace, Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Grace, Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalookan

Las Pias
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Las Pias
Highly-Urbanized City

City of Las Pias

Zapote River and Quirino Avenue

Seal

Nickname(s): Home of the Bamboo Organ,City of Love and Progress, Salt Center of Metro Manila, Lantern Capital of Metro Manila Motto: Las Pias, Our Home

Map of Metro Manila showing the location of Las Pias

Las Pias Location within the Philippines

Coordinates:

1426.7N 12059.6ECoordinates:

1426.7N 12059.6E

Country Region Districts Incorporated (Town) Incorporated (Separated from Paraaque) Incorporated (City) Barangays Government Mayor Vice Mayor Sangguniang Panlungsod Area[1] Total Population (2010)[2] Total Density Demonym Time zone ZIP code Dialing code Website

Philippines National Capital Region Lone District of Las Pias 1762 or 1797 March 27, 1907

March 26, 1997 20

Vergel A. Aguilar (Nacionalista) Luis I. Bustamante (Nacionalista)

Councilors[show]

32.69 km2(12.62 sq mi)

552,573 17,000/km2(44,000/sq mi) Las Piero Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8) 1740 - 1752 2 laspinascity.gov.ph

The City of Las Pias (Filipino: Lungsod ng Las Pias) is a city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines with a population of 552,573 as of the 2010 Census. It is bounded to northeast by the Paraaque; to the southeast by Muntinlupa; to the west and southwest by Bacoor; and to the northwest by the Manila Bay. Half of its land area is residential and the remaining half is used for commercial, industrial and institutional purposes. The present physiography of Las Pias consists of three zones: Manila Bay, coastal margin and the Guadalupe Plateau. The city is bisected by Real (Spanish for Royal) Street, also known as the Alabang-Zapote Road. It forms part of the Maharlika Highway which spans the whole country. The AlabangZapote Road connects the South Luzon Expressway, which passes through Muntinlupa in the east, to the Coastal Road along Manila Bay. The Coastal Road is a major tollway which runs the southern length of Metro Manila's shoreline with Manila Bay. It is an important artery for people commuting to-and-fro Las Pias and Cavite to Manila. In 2004, a new road called "Daang Hari" (Tagalog for King's Way) was completed at the border of Las Pias and Muntinlupa. The road provides alternative access to the inner areas of both cities, including the neighboring municipalities of Bacoor, Cavite and San Pedro, Laguna. Daang Hari is a popular route for cyclists, especially on weekends.

Like its neighboring city, Muntinlupa, Las Pias currently bans the use of plastics and styrofoam for packaging.

The city[edit]

Map of Las Pias City

Established as a small fishing port and becoming a major sea salt producing municipality from severalsalt evaporation ponds since the Spanish Era, Las Pias has grown into an important residential, commercial and industrial suburb of Metro Manila. Las Pias is famous for its Bamboo Organ located inside the St. Joseph Parish Church in the old district of the city. Built in 1824 by a Catholic priest, Fr. Diego Cera, it is the only organ of its kind in the world with organ pipes mostly made out of bamboo. This famous organ is praised for its unique, rare, and melodious sound. The Sarao Motors factory, also located in Las Pias, is the place where jeepneys are assembled piece by piece in painstaking individual production. The factory remains open to buyers and curious tourists all year round. Las Pias has a large shopping mall named SM Southmall, which has an area of 205,120 square meters and is located along AlabangZapote Road. The newest shopping mall development in the city is SM Center Las Pias, located few meters away from the City Hall. The first high rise building in the city is 16 story residential building Almanza Metropolis. Las Pias, also known as one of the cleanest cities in Metro Manila, is in the list of the "Clean and Green Hall of Fame" awarded by the Philippine Government. It is also the first local government unit in the Philippines that has been honored with the prestigious Global 500 Roll of Honour of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). These honors were in recognition of the city's outstanding achievements in the protection and improvement of the environment. Las Pias has recently acquired the status "Most Competitive City" in the Philippines, together with Davao City, Makati, Muntinlupa and Marikina.

Etymology[edit]
The story about the true origin of the city's name, "Las Pias", varies. Some said that traders from the province of Cavite and Batangas shipped first their pia (pineapples) for sale to this town before they are distributed in nearby markets. Others related that it was "Las Peas" (the rocks) evident by the quarrying of stones and adobe which were used to construct buildings and bridges. The old church bell of St. Joseph Parish Churchfounded by Fr. Diego Cera has been

preserved inside the church museum. An inscription on the bell states "Siendo cura del pueblo de Laspeas el M.R.P. Padre Diego Cera se fundio este equilon ano de 1820" showing that even during the time of Fr. Cera, the town's first parish priest, the town has been called "Las Peas" until after sometime that the spelling of the town's name was changed [3] into "Las Pias".

History[edit]
Las Pias was one of the earliest fishing settlements on the shores of Manila Bay and was proclaimed a town of Cavite province either in 1762 or 1797. Its exact date of creation cannot be ascertained because historical records vary. Cavada, a Spanish historian and Fr. Juan Medina placed it at 1762, while Manuel Buzeta recorded the date at 1797. Besides being famous for its Bamboo Organ, which was built by Fr. Diego Cera and completed in 1824, the town of Las Pias was also a major war theater during the 1896 Philippine Revolution, as it was occupied by forces of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. Las Pias was occupied by theJapanese during World War II and liberated by the combined American and Filipino forces. In 1901, the municipality of Las Pias was separated from Cavite and incorporated to the newly created province of Rizal pursuant to thePhilippine Commission Act No. 137. Two years later, it was combined with the town of Paraaque, with the latter as the seat of a new municipal government. It was separated from Paraaque to become an independent municipality again on March 27, 1907 by virtue of Philippine Commission Act No. 1625. Then, with the founding of the Metropolitan Manila Area or Metro Manila in 1976, Las Pias became one of the municipalities making up the region. On February 12, 1997, President Fidel V. Ramos signed the bill which elevated Las Pias from municipality into a city. A plebiscite held a month after approved the city status by its residents, and Las Pias became the 10th city of Metro Manila on March 26, 1997.

Local government[edit]
Las Pias, like other cities of the Philippines, is a local government unit whose powers and functions are specified by the Local Government Code of the Philippines. In general, as a city, Las Pias is headed by a mayor who heads the city's executive function and the vice mayor who heads the city's legislative function, which is composed of twelve councilors, [4] six each from the city's two city council districts. For representation, the city is considered as one district, and therefore one representative, in the country's House of Representatives. Additionally, like other cities and municipalities, Las Pias is subdivided into barangays.

Districts and barangays[edit]

Population census of Las Pias
Year 1990 1995 2000 2007 2010 Pop. 297,102 413,086 472,780 532,330 552,573 % p.a. +6.81% +2.74% +1.71% +1.25%

Source: National Statistics Office[5]

Las Pias is divided into 20 barangays. These barangays are grouped into two legislative districts, each with its own set of representatives in the city council. District 1 comprises the northwestern half of the city while District 2, the remaining half. District Barangays CAA-B.F. Internation al Daniel Fajardo (Poblacion) Elias Aldana Ilaya Manuyo Uno Manuyo Dos Pamplona Uno Pamplona Tres Pulanglupa Uno Pulanglupa Dos Zapote 1 District Barangays Almanza Uno Almanza Dos Pamplona Dos Pilar Village Talon Uno Talon Dos Talon Tres Talon Cuatro Talon Singko 2

Culture[edit]
Las Pias town feast[edit]
The town fiesta of Las Pias is celebrated every first Sunday of May each year to honor its patron saint, Saint Joseph. Saint Joseph's Day celebration is centered in St. Joseph Parish Church in the old poblacion of Las Pias in Brgy. Daniel Fajardo on Padre Diego Cera Ave. (Quirino Ave.).

Festivals[edit]
Las Pias City is home to unique festivals like the: International Bamboo Organ Festival, a music festival held in February celebrating the music of the [6] unique Bamboo Organ with performances by local and foreign classical artists.

Waterlily Festival every July 27.

[7] [8]

"Parol (Lantern) Festival" celebrated during Christmas season.

Shopping Malls[edit]

The SM Southmall (South Wing).

SM Southmall, is a large shopping mall owned and operated by SM Prime Holdings. The mall opened in April 1995, and is the first SM Supermall in southern region of Metro Manila, the 5th SM Supermall ever built by Chinese-Filipino businessman, Henry Sy, Sr. and the 5th largest shopping mall in the Philippines. The mall still remains as the largest shopping mall in the South Metro Manila Area in terms of its size which is 200,000 sq.m of land area and a total floor area of 205,120 sq.m. SM Center Las Pias, is a shopping mall owned and operated by SM Prime Holdings. The mall opened on October 2, 2009, and is the second SM Supermall in Las Pias, the 35th SM Supermall ever built by Chinese-Filipino businessman, Henry Sy, Sr.. Unlike the other SM Malls, SM Center is noted to be smaller and is noted to have no department store or any other shops that sell clothing other than the supermarket inside. Starmall Las Pias Starmall Las Pias - Annex Evia Lifestyle Center Robinsons Place Las Pias (Under Construction)

Transportation[edit]
Car Rental Agencies[edit]
MIAs Toyco Rent a Car: www.toycorentacar.com Car Rental: www.laspinas.info

Rail Transport[edit]
Las Pias City will soon be served by the LRT-1 (via Manuyo Uno Station and Las Pias Station).

Road Network[edit]
Las Pias City is accessible through these major roads: Aguinaldo Highway Alabang-Zapote Road Carlos P. Garcia Avenue (C-5 Road Extension) Daang Hari (Las Pias, Muntinlupa, Cavite, Laguna Link Road) J. Aguilar Avenue Manila-Cavite Expressway

Marcos Alvarez Avenue Padre Diego Cera Avenue (Quirino Avenue)

There are several bus lines linking Las Pias and Manila. Bus services that operates in Las Pias includes Tas Trans Corp./Bensan Trans, Reinalyn Bus Lines, WLH Trans/WLLH Liner, Erjohn And Almark Transit Corp., MJ Sunville Transport. There are also several FX vans that goes from Manila to Las Pias and they are usually parked in front of the Manila Central Post Office. Various jeepney routes also ply the roads between the city and neighboring cities and towns in Paraaque, Muntinlupa & Cavite .

Notable people[edit]
Ely Buendia, songwriter, vocalist and guitarist of Eraserheads, Pupil and Oktaves Allan K, co-host of Eat Bulaga Tirso Cruz III, actor Jen Da Silva, model, dancer as part of the 26K girls of Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal and former housemate of Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition 2 Mr. Fu, radio jock, comedienne and host Michelle Gavagan, Miss Philippines Fire 2011 Ruben Gonzaga, comedian and winner of the Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition 2 Jennylyn Mercado, actress and singer Iwa Moto, actress Sitti Navarro, bossa nova singer Queneerich Rehman, Miss World Philippines 2012, Miss World 2012, Top 15 Semifinalist Zara Aldana or Zephorah Aldana Mayon, Mutya ng Pilipinas 2007 Asia Pacific International and former housemate of Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition 2 Ranidel de Ocampo, basketball player, member of Gilas Pilipinas Sef Cadayona, actor

Sister cities[edit]
Paraaque, Metro Manila, Philippines Muntinlupa, Metro Manila, Philippines Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines Bacoor, Cavite, Philippines Samal, Davao del Norte, Philippines

Gallery[edit]

Saint Joseph Parish Church

Las Pias Bamboo Organlocated inside Parish Church of St. Joseph

Las Pias Boys Choir during the yearly International Bamboo Organ Festival, in that same church

Makati
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Makati
Highly urbanized city

(From top, left to right): Makati skyline at night, BPIHeadquarters, Ayala Avenue, Greenbelt Mall, Ninoy Aquino Statue, MRT-3, EDSA-Guadalupe

Seal

Nickname(s): The

Financial

Capital

of

the

Philippines

The Wall Street of the Philippines Motto: Makati, Mahalin Natin, Atin Ito

Map of Metro Manila highlighting Makati City

Makati Location within the Philippines

Coordinates:

1433N 12102ECoordinates:

1433N 12102E

Country Region Districts

Philippines National Capital 1st and 2nd districts of Makati City

Settled Cityhood

1670 January 2, 1995

Barangays

33

Government Type Mayor Mayorcouncil government Jejomar Erwin S. Binay, Jr.(United Nationalist Alliance) Vice Mayor Makati Council
[1]

Romulo V. Pea, Jr. (Liberal) City

Councilors[show]

Area

Total

21.57 km (8.33 sq mi)

Elevation
[2]

15.4 m (50.5 ft)

Population (2010) Total Density

529,039 78,904/km (204,360/sq mi)

2

Time zone

PST (UTC+8)

ZIP Code Dialing code

1200 to 1299 2

Website

www.makati.gov.ph

The City of Makati (/mkt/ m-KAH-tee; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Makati), in the Philippines, is one of the sixteen cities that make up Metro Manila. Makati is located within the circle of 1440 north and 1213 E right at the center of Metro Manila. According to tradition, the firstGovernor-General of the Philippines, Miguel Lpez de Legazpi, while exploring a swamp near the Pasig River, asked for the name of the place but, because of the language barrier, was misinterpreted by the Tagalog people. Pointing to the receding tide of Pasig River, the Tagalogs answered, Makati, kumakati na, literally meaning ebbing tide.[3] Makati is the financial center of the Philippines, it has a highest concentration of multinational and local corporations in the country.[4] Major banks, corporations, department stores as well as foreign embassies are based in Makati. The biggest trading floor of the Philippine Stock Exchange is situated along the city's Ayala Avenue.[5][6] With a population of 529,039, Makati is the 16th-largest city in the country and ranked as the 41st most densely populated city in the world with 19,336 inhabitants per square kilometer. Although its population is just half a million, the daytime population of the

city is estimated to be more than one million during a typical working weekday because of the large number of people who go to the city to work, shop, and do business.[7] Makati is also known for being a major cultural and entertainment hub in Metro Manila.[8]

Etymology[edit]
When the first Governor-General of the Philippines, Miguel Lpez de Legazpi, explored a swamp near the Pasig River, he asked for the name of the place but, because of the language barrier, was misinterpreted by the Tagalog people. Pointing to the receding tide of the Pasig River, the Tagalogs answered, Makati, kumakati na, literally meaning ebbing tide. Makati (maka-ti) means "ebbed tide".[3]

History[edit]
The city started out as part of the wide municipality of Santa Ana de Sapa (part of Manila today) and in the 1600s[9] began to be developed as a pilgrimage center around the churches of Our Lady of Guadalupe (now Our Lady of Grace) and of Saints Peter and Paul in what is today the city proper, built by the friar orders to attract the faithful, and also as a farming community. It became independent in 1670 as a full-time municipality, then named San Pedro de Macati in honor of Saint Peter, its patron. The town was also from the 18th century onward famous for its pottery industry, with skilled potters trained by the Jesuit priests making the best pots for everyday use.[citation needed] In 1851, Don Jose Bonifacio Roxas (a member of the Ayala Roxas family) purchased the Jesuit estate of Hacienda de San Pedro de Macati for 52,800 pesos.[10] Since then, Makati and its development remain close to the Zobel de Ayala family.[11]

American Commonwealth Period[edit]

By 1898, Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States after the former's defeat in the Spanish-American War. In 1901, the Americans declared the whole area south of the Pasig River, including the town of San Pedro de Macati, down to Barangay Ayala Alabang, a US military reservation; thus establishing Fort McKinley, which is currently known as Fort Bonifacio. That same year, the whole town, with a population of 25,000, was incorporated from Manila to the province of Rizal with Marcelino Magsaysay serving as the town president.[citation needed] As the 1910s approached the Meralco tranvia lines to Fort McKinley and to the western end of the town were built, opening transport lines for its residents and thus brought along potential investors who opened several businesses including the famous Santa Ana Cabaret at the terminus of the streetcar lines. In February 28, 1914, the The Philippine Legislature passed Act 2390, shortening the name, San Pedro de Macati, to simply Makati. In the 1930s, the first airport in Luzon island, Nielsen Field, opened in what is now the Ayala Triangle, and the tracks of what is now thePhilippine National Railways reached the town very early in the decade. During that same period, Santa Ana Park, the nation's second horse racing facility, opened to expectations.[citation needed]

Post-World War II[edit]

Makati skyline with the Manila Golf Club on the foreground.

After the destruction of World War II that brought upon Makati, the town grew rapidly, and real estate values boomed. The first centrally planned communities (in what is now Barangays Forbes Park, Urdaneta, San Lorenzo and Bel-Air) were established in the 1950s with the help and support of the Ayala family, and since the late 1960s, Makati has been the financial and commercial capital of the country[9] especially during the terms of town mayors Maximo Estrella, Rafael Baola, Jose Luciano and Nemesio Yabut who encouraged the massive development of the town and welcomed foreign and local investors to what was tagged as the nation's number one municipality at that time. Makati's central location on Luzon also made it an industrial hub for major corporations. Partly as a result a new town hall just miles from the old one was built in 1962 just along J.P. Rizal Street (the old hall was later converted into the city museum). In 1975, Makati was separated from Rizal province along with Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Quezon City, Marikina, San Juan, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Pateros, Taguig, Pasay City, Paraaque, Las Pias, and Muntinlupa, to become part of theNational Capital Region as a component city. In the 1980s, Makati figured prominently in the political history of the Philippines. The community was one of the cradles of Filipino passive resistance against Spanish colonial rule in the 1890s and the Philippine Revolution that followed. [citation needed] Following the assassination of Ninoy Aquino nearly a century later in 1983, it became the center of the People Power Revolution against the dictatorship of President Ferdinand E. Marcos. The People Power Revolution would happen only several years after the Confetti Revolutionevents of 1983-84 held in the central business district led partly by employees of major corporations based in the town. After the revolution and the downfall of Marcos 20 -year presidential regime,Corazon C. Aquino, the wife of the deceased senator Aquino, became the new and first female president of the Republic of the Philippines. After the death of Mayor Nemesio Yabut during the People Power Revolution, she appointed Jejomar Binay as the acting mayor of the town of Makati and was elected as mayor in 1987. His first term as the town executive would see the events of a 1989 coup attempt happen in the town's business district and would help usher the building of the country's first skyscrapers in the early 1990s.

Geography[edit]
Makati is located within the circle of 1440 north and 1213 E right at the center of Metro Manila. The city is bounded on the north by the Pasig River, facing Mandaluyong City, on the northeast by Pasig City, on the southeast by the municipality of Pateros and Taguig City, on the northwest by the city of Manila, and on the southwest by Pasay City. Makati has a total land area of 27.36 square kilometres (10.56 sq mi); it constitutes 4.3% of Metro Manila's total land area[citation needed].

Climate[edit]
Under the Kppen climate classification system, the city of Makati features a tropical monsoon climate. Together with the rest of the Philippines, Makati lies entirely within the tropics. Its proximity to the equator means that the temperature range is very small, rarely going lower than 20 C (68 F) and going higher than 38 C (100 F). However, humidity levels are usually very high which makes it feel much warmer. It has a distinct, albeit relatively short dry season from January through May, and a relatively lengthy wet season from June through December.

for Makati, Philippines Jan

37 (99) 21 (70) 25.4 (1)

Feb
30 (86) 21 (70) 25.4 (1)

Mar
31 (88) 21 (70) 38.1 (1.5)

Apr
33 (91) 22 (72) 25.4 (1)

May
34 (93) 23 (73) 38.1 (1.5)

Jun
34 (93) 24 (75) 127 (5)

Jul
33 (91) 24 (75) 254 (10)

Aug
31 (88) 24 (75) 431.8 (17)

Sep
31 (88) 24 (75) 406.4 (16)

Oct
31 (88) 24 (75) 355.6 (14)

Nov
31 (88) 23 (73) 203.2 (8)

Dec
31 (88) 15 (59) 152.4 (6)

F)

inches)

m[12]

Demographics[edit]
Population Census
Year 1903 1960 1970 1975 1980 1990 1995 2000 2007 2010 Pop. 2,700 % p.a.

114,540 +6.80% 264,918 +8.75% 334,448 +4.77% 372,631 +2.19% 451,170 +1.93% 484,176 +1.42% 471,379 0.53% 510,383 +1.14% 529,039 +1.20%

Makati has a population of 529,039 as of the 2010 census. [2] Makati ranks ninth in population size within Metro Manila municipalities. 88.9% of Makati residents identified their religious affiliation as Roman Catholic. Other religions includes Protestantism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism.[13] Based on the Citys Transport and Traffic Improvement Plan 2004 -2014, the citys daytime population is estimated to be 3.7 million during weekdays, owing to the large number of people who come to work, do business, or shop. [14] The daily influx of people into the city provides the skilled labor force that allows Makati to handle the service requirements of domestic as well as international transactions; it also serves as the base of a large consumer market that fuels the retail and

service trade in the city.[14] At the same time, however, the large tidal population flows exert pressure on Makati's environment, services, and utilities, most noticeably causing large traffic volumes along the major road corridors leading to the city as well as within and at the periphery of the central business district.[14]

Economy and Infrastructure[edit]

Skyline of the Makati Central Business District

The city of Makati remains the richest local government unit (LGU) in the Philippines in terms of income from local sources and on a per capita basis.[15] As of end-2012, Makati had registered over 62,000 business enterprises, which are engaged in financial services, wholesale/retail, services, real estate, export/import, and manufacturing. Makati also boasts of having the highest number of BPO offices in Metro Manila at 1,159 companies to date, as well as the highest number of PEZA-accredited IT Parks and Buildings. The city government of Makati has not increased its tax rates since its new Revenue Code took effect in 2006. For 26 years now, the city enjoys a deficit-free status.[15]

Ayala Avenue, dubbed as the Wall Street of the Philippines

The city is known for its developed business district. It is bound by EDSA, Gil Puyat Avenue, Arnaiz Avenue/Pasay Road, and Chino Roces Avenue. It mainly encompasses Legazpi Village, Salcedo Village, the Ayala Center, and parts of Bel-Air Village. The Ayala Triangle is a sub-district of the Makati central business district, comprising the parcel of land between Ayala Avenue, Makati Avenue andPaseo de Roxas, as well as the buildings on those streets. Many multinational companies, banks

and other major businesses are located within the triangle. A few upscale boutiques, restaurants and a park called Ayala Triangle Gardens are also located in the area.[16] Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas also house the distinction of being the runways of the former Nielson Field, Metro Manila's main airport in the 1930s. The biggest trading floor of the Philippine Stock Exchange is housed in Ayala Tower One and at the old Makati Stock Exchange Building, both along Ayala Avenue. The Makati Business Club is composed of over 800 chief executive officers and senior executives representing almost 450 of the largest and most dynamic corporations in the Philippines. Most of the tallest skyscrapers in the Philippines are located in Makati such as the Gramercy Residences, PBCom Tower and G.T. International Tower. PBCom Tower along Ayala Avenue is the country's tallest building, reaching up 259 meters. It is the headquarters of the Philippine Bank of Communications, or PBCom. The PBCom Tower is an office skyscraper ranked officially as the tallest building in the Philippines from 2000 until the topping-out of The Gramercy Residences in 2012. It has a total ground to architectural top height of 259 meters (850 ft), with 52 stories[17] including an 8-level radio tower.

Shopping centers[edit]

Facade of the Greenbelt Mall

Makati City is one of the most well-known shopping hub of Metro Manila. Various shopping centers, offering both international and local retail shops, high-end boutiques, dining outlets and entertainment facilities can be found around the city.[18] The Ayala Center is a major commercial development operated by Ayala Land, it is located at the central business district of Makati, the center is known for its wide array of shopping, entertainment and cultural offerings, making it a premier shopping and cultural district in the metropolis.[19]Shopping malls that are located at the Ayala Center include Greenbelt, Glorietta, Park Square, and The Link. The Ayala Center is also home to 3 department stores which include SM Makati, Rustan's, and The Landmark. Aside from the Ayala Center, the Rockwell Center is also a popular shopping district in Makati, it is home to the Power Plant Mall. The Salcedo Saturday Market and Legazpi Sunday Market are popular open-air community markets. These markets offers organic products, specialty foods, fruits, vegetables, fish, gourmet items and antiques.

Education[edit]
The University of Makati, a public, non-profit university, is the city's flagship university. Other institutions of higher education include the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), the Ateneo Professional Schools, the Mapa Institute of Technology, Centro

Escolar University Makati, Far Eastern University- Makati, Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries (ASCM), Don Bosco Technical Institute, Makati, Assumption College San Lorenzo, Colegio San Agustin, Makati Hope Christian School, Saint Paul College of Makati, Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary, Asia Pacific College, Assumption College among others.

Culture and sports[edit]

The Ayala Museum

Makati is home to a number of fine art museums, colonial-era churches and recreation areas. Along the south-eastern border of Makati beyond Forbes Park are the Manila Golf Club and the Manila Polo Club.[20] The Manila Golf Club features an 18-hole golf course. The Manila Polo Club counts among its polo enthusiasts some of the country's wealthiest people. The Makati Sports Club in Salcedo Village is another popular place for sports. The Makati Coliseum is another famous sports landmark in the city, where some of the biggest sports gatherings are held. The Ayala Museum is a private fine arts and history museum housing various exhibitions such as the "Gold of Ancestors," an exhibition of more than one thousand golden pre-Hispanic artifacts.[21] Other popular museums also in Makati also include the Yuchengco Museum and the Museo ng Makati. Makati has several Spanish-era churches, such as the Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Nuestra Seora de Gracia (Our Lady of Grace) in the old town. At the Greenbelt Park stands the modern domed chapel of the Sto. Nio de la Paz. Between Forbes Park and Dasmarias Village is the Santuario de San Antonio, a popular church for weddings in the Makati area. The National Shrine of the Sacred Heart is located in San Antonio Village. Makati also houses the country's only Jewish synagogue, Beth Yaacov.

Future Development[edit]
Ayala Land and the Makati Tourism Foundation launched a year-long campaign titled "Make It Happen, Make it Makati" to increase Makati's visibility as an arts and culture destination. The campaign is part of Ayalas ongoing US$1.5 billion redevelopment masterplan for Makati, which began in 2011 and divides the city into six distinct hubs for business, lifestyle, entertainment and transport.[22] In 2013, Ayala Land unveiled its plans for a P20-billion project that will transform the old Sta. Ana race track into a mixed-use development, featuring entertainment and sports facilities. It will sit on a 21-hectare property - the last available sprawling landbank in Makati City and will be dubbed as "Circuit Makati" in honor of the Sta. Ana race track, which is part of Makati's heritage as a former racing circuit. There will be a FIFA-sized football turf which will be used for games and for football

workshops. It will feature a 2-hectare open-air events ground, which can accommodate up to 20,000 people. It will have links to the Makati central business district (CBD) through Ayala Avenue Extension and South Avenue, other future road linkages or potentially even a revived Pasig River ferry service.[23]

Transportation[edit]

Ayala Triangle

The Ayala Center MRT station

Major roads in Metro Manila surrounds Makati, such as Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), located in the southeast part of the city, the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), which intersect EDSA at the Magallanes Interchange, and the Skyway which is built on top of the SLEX.

Land[edit]
Two of Metro Manila's main arteries pass through Makati. The Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) pass along the southeast part of Makati and connects Makati with the cities of Mandaluyong and Pasay. The South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) runs through the western part of Makati and connects the city with Manila to the north and with southern Metro Manila. The Skyway, an elevated highway built on top of SLEX, provides residents coming from southern Metro Manila a fast way to reach Makati. SLEX and EDSA intersect at the Magallanes Interchange, which is the most complex system of elevated roadways in Metro Manila. Buses plying the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA/C-4) route from Baclaran in Paraaque to Quezon

City and Caloocan pass through the central business/financial district daily. Jeepneys ply Makati's inner roads and connect the city to its surrounding towns and cities.

The countrys first-ever e-jeepney and hybrid bus services were piloted in Makati City. The buses are parallel electric hybrids, powered by an electric motor and a Euro 3 diesel motor. The hybrid buses will ply the route from Buendia (Tramo/LRT Taft) to Kalayaan Avenue (C5), which are considered among the busiest in the citys central business district, cutting through other major roads like South Superhighway; Chino Roces, Ayala and Makati Avenues; Paseo de Roxas and Edsa.[24] Other major roads in Makati include Buendia Avenue, also called Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, which connects EDSA and SLEX in the north; Ayala Avenue, an important street that runs through the central business/financial district; and Makati Avenue, which connects Ayala Avenue with Buendia Avenue, also extending north to cross the Pasig River to Mandaluyong City. At the center of Makati is the Ayala Triangle, a park built on the former Nielsen Air Base.

Train[edit]
The Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3) on EDSA has four stations located in Makati: Guadalupe, Buendia, Ayala and Magallanes. The Philippine National Railways has three stations: Buendia, Pasay Road and EDSA. In 2013, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) worked on a feasibility study for a $1.75 billion monorail project. The proposed 12.56-kilometer elevated monorail is envisioned to connect Makati City, Bonifacio Global City, Pasay City through the Metro Rail Transport (MRT) system as well as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The present alignment being considered starts from the MRT 3 (Guadalupe Station), enter Bonifacio Global City through the north gate and end at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 building. If approved, the monorail project can be completed by 2016.[25]

Airport[edit]
The city is 20 minutes away from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Water[edit]
The Pasig River is located north of Makati. The Pasig River Ferry Service has two stations: Guadalupe and Valenzuela.

Local government[edit]
The current mayor for the 20102013 term is Jejomar Erwin S. Binay, the only son of former mayor and now Vice President Jejomar Binay. Romulo Kid Pea is the city's incumbent vice-mayor. The vice-mayor heads a legislative council consisting of 18 members: 8 Councilors from the First District, 8 Councilors from the Second District, the President of the Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council) Federation, representing the youth sector, and the President of the Association of Barangay Chairmen (ABC) as barangay sectoral representative. The council is in charge of creating the city's policies in the form of Ordinances and Resolutions. Current district representatives of the city are Monique Yazmin Q. Lagdameo, representing the 1st district and Mar-len Abigail S. Binay, daughter of Jejomar Binay, for the 2nd district.

Map of Makati

Makati city is divided into 33 barangays (the smallest local government units) which handles governance in a much smaller area. These barangays are grouped into two congressional districts where each district is represented by a congressman in the country's House of Representatives. Congressional District I occupies the western half of the city, while District II covers the eastern half.
Barangay Population (2004) Population (2010)
[2]

Area (km )

District

Bangkal

22,433

23,378

0.74

1st

Bel-Air

9,330

18,280

1.71

1st

Carmona

3,699

3,096

0.34

1st

Cembo

25,815

27,998

0.22

2nd

Comembo

14,174

14,433

0.27

2nd

Dasmarias

5,757

5,654

1.90

1st

East Rembo

23,902

26,433

0.44

2nd

Forbes Park

3,420

2,533

2.53

1st

Barangay

Population (2004)

Population (2010)

[2]

Area (km )

District

Guadalupe Nuevo 22,493

18,271

0.57

2nd

Guadalupe Viejo

13,632

16,411

0.62

2nd

Kasilawan

6,224

5,291

0.09

1st

La Paz

8,843

7,931

0.32

1st

Magallanes

7,509

5,576

1.20

1st

Olympia

20,172

21,270

0.44

1st

Palanan

16,614

17,283

0.65

1st

Pembo

35,035

69,789

1.23

2nd

Pinagkaisahan

6,186

5,804

0.16

2nd

Pio del Pilar

22,495

27,035

1.20

1st

Pitogo

13,367

15,332

0.14

2nd

Poblacion

8,446

17,120

0.46

1st

Post Proper North 1,475

6,010

0.45

2nd

Post Proper South 25,037

45,310

1.87

2nd

Rizal

37,022

123,872

3.55

2nd

San Antonio

12,226

11,443

0.89

1st

Barangay

Population (2004)

Population (2010)

[2]

Area (km )

District

San Isidro

8,686

7,589

0.50

1st

San Lorenzo

6,487

10,006

2.09

1st

Santa Cruz

7,419

7,440

0.47

1st

Singkamas

6,226

7,426

0.13

1st

South Cembo

13,570

14,672

0.20

2nd

Tejeros

16,820

13,868

0.29

1st

Urdaneta

3,817

3,717

0.74

1st

Valenzuela

5,908

7,261

0.24

1st

West Rembo

28,889

28,406

0.55

2nd

List of former mayors[edit]

Marcelino Magsaysay (1901-1903) Eusebio Arpilleda (1903-1908) Hermogenes Santos (1908-1911) Urbano Navarro (1911-1913) Jose Magsaysay (1913-1916) Pedro Domingo (1917-1919) Ricardo Arpilleda (1919-1920) Igmidio Flores (1920-1922) Nicanor Garcia (1922-1934) Jose Villena (1935-1941, 1948-1954) Pablo Cortez (1945-1947) Ignacio Babasa (1954) Bernardo Umali (1954)

Maximo Estrella (1956-1969) Jose Luciano (19691971) Cesar Alzona (19711972) Nemesio I. Yabut (19721986) Jejomar Binay (19861998) Elenita Binay (19982001) Jejomar Binay (20012010) Jejomar Erwin S. Binay, Jr. (2010present)

Seal of Makati City[edit]

Seal of Makati City

The official seal of Makati City depicts a silhouette of the territory of Makati. At the bottom is the Pasig River, located on the northern border of the city. The Guadalupe Church stands on the river and is the oldest church in Makati; a reference to Spanish religious influences. Behind the church rises the modern skyscrapers, for which Makati is well-known. Behind the skyscrapers are 33 rays representing the barangays of Makati.

Boundary Dispute[edit]
Recently, Makati and Taguig have fought over the jurisdiction of the Fort Bonifacio district (barangays Post Proper Northside and Post Proper Southside). This Philippine military base, most of which has been converted to a modern commercial and residential development area, lies in an ambiguous area. A portion of the base, including the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Cemetery of the Heroes) and the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial lies within Taguig, while the northern portion where the development center is now located used to be considered part of Makati. A 2003 ruling by a judge in the Pasig Regional Trial Court has upheld the jurisdiction of Taguig over the whole of Fort Bonifacio, including the Bonifacio Global City development. On August 5, 2013 the Court of Appeals has declared portions of Fort Bonifacio, including the high-end locale of Bonifacio Global City, as being part of Makati City and not Taguig City. The Court overturned the ruling of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court that gave Taguig City jurisdiction over the disputed area. [26]

International Relations[edit]
Diplomatic missions[edit]
Countries that have set up permanent missions or offices in the city include:

Argentina

Cuba

Lebanon

Papua

New

Sri Lanka

Australia Austria Bangladesh Belgium Brazil Brunei Cambodia Canada

Czech Republic

Malaysia Malta Mexico Netherlands

Guinea Peru Portugal Qatar Romania Russia Saudi Arabia Singapore South Africa Spain

Sweden Switzerland Thailand Turkey United Emirates Arab

Egypt Finland France Germany Indonesia Iran Israel Italy

New Zealand

Venezuela

Niger Norway Pakistan Palestine

People's Republic of China

Sister cities[edit]
Makati's sister city is Los Angeles, California. Makati is also twinned with Ramapo, New York and Vladivostok, Russia.

International cities

Cluj-Napoca, Romania Los Angeles, United States Ramapo, New York, United States Vladivostok, Russia Taichung, Taiwan

Malabon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Malabon Lungsod ng Malabon

Highly-Urbanized City

City

City of Malabon

Seal

Map of Metro Manila showing the location of Malabon

Malabon City Location within the Philippines

Coordinates:

1439.75N 12057.4E

Country Region Districts

Philippines National Capital Region Lone District of Malabon City

Cityhood

May 7, 2001

Barangays

21

Government Mayor Vice mayor Congresswoman Antolin A. Oreta III (LP) Jeannie Sandoval (UNA) Josephine Veronique R. Lacson-Noel (NPC) Sangguniang Panlungsod
Councilors[show]

Area Total 19.76 km (7.63 sq mi)

2

Population (2010) Total Density

[1]

353,337 17,881/km (46,310/sq mi)

2

Website

malabon.gov.ph

The City of Malabon is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. Located just north of Manila, the city has a population of 353,337 as of 2010.[1] It is primarily a residential and industrial town and is one of the most densely populated cities in the metropolis. It has a total land area of 19.714 square kilometers. Malabon is part of the sub-region of Metro Manila informally called CAMANAVA, which consists

of CAloocan, MAlabon, NAvotas, and VAlenzuelacities. Caloocan lies to the south and east, Navotas to the west, and Valenzuela to the north. Malabon also borders the town of Obando in the province of Bulacan to the northwest.
Contents
[hide]

1 History 2 Politics and government 3 Barangays 4 Demographics

4.1 Religion

5 Economy 6 Culture

6.1 Heritage houses

7 Education 8 Sister cities

o o

8.1 Local 8.2 International

9 References 10 External links

History[edit]
Malabon, per legend, came from the words maraming labong which means "plenty of labong", the edible bamboo shoots. Originally called the town of Tambobong, Malabon was founded as a Visita of Tondo by the Augustinian friars on May 21, 1599 and remained under the administrative jurisdiction of the province of Tondo from 1627 to 1688. The newspaper La Independencia was first printed in Malabons Asilo de Hurfanos, where orphaned children due to a plague in 1882 were housed.[2][3] Malabon was officially made a municipality of the newly created province of Rizal on June 11, 1901 by virtue of Philippine Commission Act No. 137.[4] When Act No. 942 was promulgated, Malabon was merged with Navotas under a new government.[5] On January 16, 1906, Act No. 1441 separated Malabon from Navotas into two distinct municipalities of the Rizal province. The first Mayor of Malabon was Vicente Villongco. For 70 years, Malabon was a municipality of Rizal, until November 7, 1975, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 824, when Malabon became a part of Metropolitan Manila or the National Capital Region. Malabon became a city on April 21, 2001, under Republic Act No. 9019 when Malabon was 407 years old. Former Mayor Tito Oreta, who died in office in 2012, was credited with building some of Malabon's most important modern infrastructure projects, including the new eleven-story Malabon City Hall, the Oreta Sports Complex Building and a Government Center Annex.[6]

Politics and government[edit]

On April 21, 2008, Malabon Citys newly constructed 11-storey city hall building along F. Sevilla Blvd. in Barangay San Agustin, was inaugurated by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Malabons 7th City anniversary. It was dubbed as a potential business center of the city, a one-stop shop for government transactions, due to its state-of-the-art facilities such as 3 high-speed elevators and the new city hall building and its offices' digital system.[7][8] The Sangguniang Kabataan Federation which leaded by Von Paulo Oreta III (grandson of mayor Tito Oreta) developed system of the politics became the key to acceleration of the development of cities with the help the other chairman. The city's representative to National Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of the Philippines is Dan Angelo Miranda of Navotas, whereby the city has won the awards of "BEST IMPLEMENTING RULE AND OBJECTION OF THE YEAR".

Barangays[edit]

Political map of Malabon

Before the present-day Malabon, the town was originally composed of sitios (barangay) and others were further divided into two or more purok(zone).

Baritan Bayan-bayanan Concepcion Dampalit Hulong Duhat Hulong Flores Ibaba Maysilo Panghulo San Agustin Ugnatan Puntod Taong Tonsuya Niugan Longos Tinajeros Katmon La Penya

Potrero

Malabon City is now divided into 21 barangays. District I

Baritan Bayan-bayanan Catmon Concepcion Dampalit Flores Hulong Duhat Maysilo Muzon Niugan Panghulo San Agustin Santolan

District II

Acacia Longos Potrero Tinajeros Tonsuya Tugatog

Demographics[edit]
Population census of Malabon
Year 1990 1995 2000 2007 2010 Pop. 280,027 347,484 338,855 363,681 353,337 % p.a. +4.41% 0.50% +1.02% 0.96%

Source: National Statistics Office[9]

The Image of La Purisima Concepcion or so called by folks as "Impong Maria" ofIglesia Filipina Independiente

Religion[edit]
Roman Catholicism - Malabon belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalookan. Almost 80% of the people here adhere to this religion. The seat of the Bishop of Kalookan in Malabon is in San Bartolome Parish, is one of the oldest Augustinian church in the Philippines dating back to 1700. Today there are eight Roman Catholic Parish in Malabon: San Bartolome, Sto. Rosario, Immaculate Conception, Exaltation of the Cross, San Antonio de Padua, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Heart of Mary and Sts. Peter and John. Another parish church, Santa Clara of Assisi in Barangay Longos, is under planning stages. Iglesia Filipina Independiente - known as the Aglipayan Church; located along C. Arellano St. They have one parish belongs to the Diocese of Rizal and Pampanga: The Parish of La Purisima Concepcion, home to the renowned image of the Immaculate Conception that the folks called it "Impong Maria." Malabon International Baptist Church - Dr. Pio Tica leads Laging May Pag-asa Foundation (LAMPF) and in the creation of Malabon Ministers for Moral Values (MMMV). He is currently the National Capital Region Chaplain Director of the National Auxiliary Chaplaincy Philippines (NACPHIL). Jesus the Living Stone Assembly of God - in barangay Panghulo led by Rev. Andy Alcoba. Currently, Chaplain Rev. Andy Alcoba is the CEO/President of International Auxiliary Chaplaincy Association (Macau-Philippines) Inc.. Iglesia ni Cristo - Another notable religious group here is the Philippine based (Church of Christ). Members Church of God International - A group led by Bro. Eli Soriano (Ang Dating Daan) they have a small community here (local ng Tugatog).

Economy[edit]
Malabon industries include sugar refinery, patis making, cigar making, fishing and Ilang-ilang trees flower extract production where the distilled perfume is exported.

Culture[edit]
The city is considered as the local Venice, due to year long floods and gradual sinking. The City of Malabon is a place famous for its Pancit Malabonand its predominantly Atlantic ambience. It is also famous for other variety of foods, such as puto sulot, puto bumbong, sapin-sapin, broas, bibingka andcamachile. The culinary delights are abundant in its specialty eateries such as Nanays Pancit Malabon, Rosys Pancit Malabon, the Pescadores Restaurant and the Balsa sa Niugan, a floating restaurant with 350 seats. Malabon is also the home of the famous Dolor's Kakanin. It is also known for the Bulungan at Taong Market, the "bulungan" system or whispered bidding in fish trading.[10] Its most famous festival is the "Pagoda-Caracol", a fluvial procession with street dancing to commemorate the Feast of the Immaculate Conceptionevery 8 December. The city of Malabon is also home for famous personalities. It includes Epifanio de los Santos (historian and hero), Timoteo Paez (hero), Nonoy Marcelo (cartoonist), Ildefonso Santos (poet), Gregorio Sanciangco (writer), Loren Legarda (senator), Angelika de la Cruz (artist), Erik Santos (artist and singer), Rochelle Pangilinan (artist), Phil Younghusband (football player)Jha Tamiyana aka boy kape in FB (pusher/famous adik/junkie).

Heritage houses[edit]
Malabon houses several old homes of historical value: the Dionisio family home, the Rivera house, the Villongco house, the Luna house, the Martinez house, the Chikiamco house, the Rojas-Borja house, the Santos-Lapus house, the Luna house, the Pantaleon Bautista house, the SyJuco (formerly Gaza) house, and the Raymundo house, considered to be the oldest located on Cayetano Arellano Street. Other old but well preserved heritage houses in Malabon include the Asilo de Hurfanos, the Paez House, and the Nepomuceno House.[11]

Education[edit]

The De La Salle Araneta University is the seventh campus of De La Salle Philippines. It was formerly known as the Gregorio Araneta University Foundation which was established in 1946 as the Araneta Institute of Agriculture in Bulacan, then transferred to Malabon the year after. In 1978 it was renamed as the Gregorio Araneta University Foundation. Integration of the university to the DLS System started since 1987 and in 2002 became an official member of the system. The university specializes in Veterinary Medicine and Agricultural Sciences.

As an agricultural University - Salikneta Farm (formerly known as Saliksik-Araneta)located at the City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. Its total land area is 64 hectares of farm land owned by Gregorio Araneta University Foundation (now known as De La Salle Araneta University). The wide farmland is used for forestry and agricultural operations for student training purposes.

Aside from serving as a laboratory and research facility, an agricultural-forestryecology- tourism-integrated farm complete with recreational facilities such as horse back riding, carabao cart-pulling for passengers, fishing, camping, mini-zoo and conference area is envisioned in Salikneta. The City of Malabon University or CMU is the city university and the only government-owned tertiary school. It is located in Barangay Longos, Malabon City. On the other hand, Malabon National High School or MNHS is the pilot secondary school and the most populous school in the city while Malabon Elementary School or MES for the primary school. They are both located in M. Naval st., Barangay HulongDuhat, Malabon City. There are other eight secondary schools in Malabon namely the Malabon National High School-Acacia Annex, Concepcion Vocational Technical High School, Longos National High School, Panghulo National High School, Potrero National High School, Tanong National High School, Tinajeros National High School, and Tugatog National High School.

Jose F. Oreta Hall of Justice Courts, Br. 73 & Br. 74, (presided by now SC Justice Bienvenido L. Reyes from 1990-2001) RTC (Catmon)

Malabon City Jail, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (Catmon)

Office of the City Prosecutor (Catmon)

Halls of Justice Building, Br. 55 & Br. 56, Metropolitan Trial Courts of Malabon City & Navotas (Golden Dale Subdivision, Tenejeros)

Halls of Justice Building, RTC, Brs. 72, 73, 74, 169, 170 & Office of the Clerk of Court (Tenejeros)

Court room, sala of Br. 73, RTC (presided by Hon. Carlos M. Flores)

Sister cities[edit]
Local[edit]

Navotas, Philippines Quezon City, Philippines

International[edit]

Akita, Japan Taipei, Taiwan