:''For other meanings of the word, see Manila_(disambiguation).''
Image:Manila_Baywalk.png
'''Manila''', official named the '''City of Manila''' ''(Filipino: Lungsod ng Maynila'') is the capital city of the Philippines. The city stands on the eastern shore of Manila_Bay on the largest Philippine island, Luzon. Despite pockets of grinding poverty, it is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world and its metropolitan area is the country's economic, cultural, educational, and industrial center.
Manila is the hub of a thriving metropolitan area of more than 10 million people. The ''Metro_Manila'' area, to where the City of Manila belongs, is a much bigger metropolis consisting of 17 cities and municipalities. This article discusses the city itself; see Metro_Manila for the article on the metropolis.
The city itself is the Philippines' second most populous city at more than 1.5 million inhabitants. Only Quezon_City, a suburb and the country's former capital, is more populous. Manila is located at 14°35' North, 121°0' East (14.58333, 121.0). http://earth-info.nga.mil/gns/html/cntry_files.html
In the 16th_century, Manila grew from a Muslim Settlement on the banks of the Pasig_River into the seat of the Colonial government of Spain when it controlled the Philippine Islands for 333 years. In 1898 the U.S. occupied and controlled the archipelago until 1935 and Manila became an internationally-known city in the Orient. During World War II, much of the city was destroyed. In fact, it was the second most devastated city in the world during that time next to Warsaw, Poland.
Manila got its name from "May Nilad"; whereas "may" means Tagalog for "has/have/with/there is"; and "nilad" is a type of grass that grew in abundance in the area. Hence, Manila or Maynila or Maynilad means 'with grass'.
In 1975, to better manage the affairs of the fast-growing region, the city of Manila and the surrounding towns and cities were incorporated into an independent entity, Metropolitan Manila. This was enacted on November 8, 1975 via Presidential Decree # 824 by former president Ferdinand_Marcos calling for a creation of a Metropolitan_Manila_Commission, its function now being carried out by the Metro_Manila_Development_Authority. Today, the city and the metropolis thrives as an important cultural and economic center. However, overpopulation, traffic congestion, pollution, and crime challenge the city.
{{Infobox Philippine city |
infoboxtitle = City of Manila |
sealfile = Image:Ph_seal_ncr_manila.png |
region = National Capital Region |
province = — |
founded = June_24, 1571 |
cityhood = June_10, 1574 |
pop2000 = 1,581,082 |
popden2000 = 41,014 |
areakm2 = 38.55 |
coordinates = 14°35' N 121° E |
barangays = 897 |
districts = 1st to 6th districts of Manila |
class = 1st class city; highly urbanized |
mayor = José "Lito" L. Atienza, Jr. |
locatormapfile = Image:Ph_locator_ncr_manila.png |
}}
==The city==
Manila lies at the mouth of the Pasig_River on the eastern shores of Manila_Bay, which is on the western side of Luzon. It lies about 950 kilometers southeast of Hong_Kong and 2,400 kilometers northeast of Singapore. The river bisects the city in the middle. Almost all of the city sits on top of centuries of prehistoric alluvial deposits built by the waters of the Pasig River and on some land reclaimed from Manila Bay. The layout of the city was haphazardly planned during Spanish Era as a set of communities surrounding Intramuros. Intramuros is the original walled-city of Manila. During the American Period, some semblace of city planning using the architectural designs by Daniel_Burnham, was done on the portions of the city south of the Pasig River.
Manila is bordered by several municipalities and cities in Metro_Manila: Navotas and Caloocan_City to the north, Quezon_City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong_City to the east, Makati_City to the southeast, and Pasay_City to the south.
===The City Seal===
The Seal of Manila depicts the words ''Lungsod ng Maynila'' and ''Pilipinas'', Filipino for ''City of Manila'' and ''Philippines'', in a circle around a shield. The circle also contains six yellow stars representing the city's six congressional districts. The shield, in the shape of pre-colonial people's shield, depicts the city's nickname ''Pearl of the Orient'' on top; a sea lion in the middle, in reference to the city's Spanish influences; and the waves of the Pasig_River and Manila_Bay in the bottom portion. The colors of the seal mirror that of the Flag_of_the_Philippines.
===Districts===
The city is divided into 16 geographical districts. Only one district was not an original town - Port Area. The eight districts north of the Pasig are Binondo, Quiapo, Sampaloc, San Miguel, San Nicolas, Santa Cruz, Santa Mesa, and Tondo.
The other eight are Ermita, Intramuros, Malate, Paco, Pandacan, Port Area, San Andres, and Santa Ana. San Andres was previously part of Santa Ana, and Santa Mesa was once a part of Sampaloc.
All of these districts, with the exception of Port Area, have their own churches, and several of the these districts have achieved recognition in their own right. The district of Binondo is the city's Chinatown. Tondo is the poorest, while the districts of Ermita and Malate are well-known and popular with tourists, having many bars, restaurants, five-star hotels, and shopping malls.
===Parks and open areas===
Directly south of Intramuros lies Rizal Park, the country's most significant park. Also known as ''Luneta'' (Spanish term for "crescent or moon") and previously as ''Bagumbayan'', the 60 hectare Rizal Park sits on the site where José_Rizal, the country's national hero, was executed by the Spaniards on charges of subversion. A monument stands in the park for his honor where Rizal was buried. A marker just west of the Rizal Monument is Kilometer Zero for road distances on the island of Luzon. Some attractions of Rizal Park include the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, the Department of Tourism, the National Museum of the Filipino People, The National Library of the Philippines, the Planetarium, an open-air auditorium for cultural performances, a relief map of the Philippines, a fountain area, a children's lagoon, a chess plaza, a light and sound presentation, and the Quirino Grandstand.
Another famous open space in Manila is the ''Baywalk''. This promenade lies in front of the Manila Bay where you can experience one of the breathtaking sunsets of the world. Coconut trees, giant kaleidoscopic lamp posts, al fresco cafès and restaurants, and live acoustic bands dot this two-kilometer stretch of ample space beside Roxas Boulevard.
Aside from Rizal Park, Manila has very few other open public spaces. Rajah Sulayman Park, Manila Boardwalk, Liwasang Bonifacio, Plaza Miranda (the site of the infamous Plaza_Miranda_bombings), Paco Park, Adriatico Circle, Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden, and the Malacañang Garden are some of the other parks in the city. In the northernmost part of the city lies the three cemeteries of Loyola, Chinese, and Manila North Green Park.
==People==
===Demographics===
====Ethnic Groups====
The majority of Manila's residents are composed of Filipinos, primarily the Tagalog. Other significant Filipino populations include the Visayans, Bicolanos, Ilocanos, and Maranaos. Non-Filipino ethnicities include the Chinese, one of the longest residents of the city. Also included in this group are Americans, Spaniards, Arabs, Indonesians, and Koreans. Many Filipinos have intermingled with the Foreign ethnicities, giving Manila a distinct cosmopolitan charm as the rendezvous between the East and the West.
====World's most densely populated city====
With a population of 1,654,761 recorded in 1995 and a land area of 38.52 km², it has the highest population density of any city in the world with 43,258 people/km² (with district 6 being the most dense with 68,266, followed by the first two districts (Tondo) with 64,936 and 64,710, respectively, and district 5 being the least dense with 19,235). A million more transients are added during daytime as students and workers come to the city.
Manila's population density dwarfs that of Paris' (20,164 inhabitants per km²), Shanghai's (16,364 people/km², with its most dense district of Nanshi's 56,785 density); Buenos_Aires' (2,179 people/km², with its most dense inner suburb Lans' 10,444 density); Tokyo's (10,087 people/km²); Mexico_City's (11,700 people/km²); and Istanbul's (1,878 people/km², with its most dense district Fatih's 48,173 density).
===Languages===
The main language is Filipino which is a mixture of all the dialects on the country, Tagalog dominating. Manileños are very proficient in the English_language, which attracts students of English, and fuels a Call_Centre industry.
===Religion===
====Catholicism====
Image:Manila_cathedral_2.jpg]]
Image:Sanagustin2.gif, Intramuros, Manila]]
Being the seat of the Spanish colonial government in past centuries, Manila has been used as the base of numerous Catholic missions to the Philippines. Among the religious orders that have gone to the Philippines include the Dominicans, the Jesuits, the Franciscans, and the Augustinians (which includes the Recollects).
Intramuros is currently the seat of the Archdiocese of Manila, one of the oldest archdioceses in the country. The archdiocese's offices is located in the Manila_Cathedral (Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception) in Intramuros.
Other notable churches and cathedrals in the city include San Agustin Church in Intramuros, a favorite wedding place of notable people and the only fully air-conditioned church in the city; Quiapo_Church, also known as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, site of the annual January Black Nazarene procession; Binondo Church, also known as Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz; Malate Church (Our Lady of Remedios Church); and San Sebastian Church or the Minor Basilica of San Sebastian, the only all-steel church in Gothic style in Asia. Many of the other districts of Manila have their own notable churches.
====Other faiths====
The Quiapo district is home to a sizable Muslim population in Manila. The Golden Mosque is located here. In Ermita is a large Hindu temple for the Indian population. In Malate, along Quirino Avenue, is the only remaining synagogue for the small Jewish community in the Philippines. (See Jews_in_the_Philippines.)
===Education and culture===
Manila is home to majority of the colleges and universities in Metro Manila. The University Belt, informally located in the districts of Malate, Ermita, Intramuros, Paco, San Miquel, Quiapo, and Sampaloc is the colloquial term for the high number of institutions of higher education that are located in the city. Among them are De_La_Salle_University and the University_of_Santo_Tomas, both consistently among the top-tier universities as recognized by the Commission on Higher Education and the Professional Regulatory Commission.
Other notable institutions include the Mapua_Institute_of_Technology, a recognized engineering school; San_Beda_College, noted for their top-class law program; Far_Eastern_University, known for its accountancy and medicine, University_of_the_East, and the city-owned Pamantasan_ng_Lungsod_ng_Maynila.
The National_Museum_of_the_Philippines, where the Spoliarium of Juan_Luna is housed, as well as the National_Library_of_the_Philippines is also in Manila, located within Rizal Park.
==Economy==
===Commerce===
Every district in the city with the exception of Port Area has its own public market, locally called the ''pamilihang bayan''. Public markets are often divided into two, the dry goods section and the wet goods section. Commerce in these public markets are in full swing, especially in the early morning. Under the urban renewal program of the incumbent administration, some of the public markets had been refurbished and given a fresher look, like the Sta. Ana public market. It is one of the more advanced markets in the city featuring a modern 2-story building with an escalator.
The tropical climate in Manila plus the facilities of its world-class malls continue to attract Filipinos to the shopping malls. Modern shopping malls dot the city especially in the areas of Malate and Ermita. SM City Manila, part of the country's largest chain of malls, stands behind the Manila City Hall. One of the popular malls that lies at the heart of Manila is Robinson's Place Ermita. In the southern part of the city in Malate district is Harrison Plaza, one of the city's oldest shopping malls.
For the adventurous shoppers, you may venture beyond the hotel/shopping complex package and combine other interesting destinations for cheap buys such as in Divisoria and Quiapo districts. Bargaining is the major part of your shopping experience when you pass by on these areas, as it sells goods at rock-bottom prices. In Divisoria, there is already a shopping mall that caters to the adventurous shoppers. Tutuban Center in Divisoria gives a little comfort to the shoppers as it offers air-conditioned mall, but the price of the goods here is still very similar to the goods bought outside. In Quiapo, one unique spot is the marketplace under the bridge. It sells indigenous Filipino crafts and delicacies. Raon Center is famous for its cheap electronic products. Though through the changing times, department stores began sprouting the Quiapo area, but still the flea market of Quiapo is still vibrant and very much popular among the average Filipinos.
===Manufacturing===
===Transportation===
====By Air====
Ninoy_Aquino_International_Airport (NAIA) outside the city proper serves Manila and the metro area, over 30 airlines provide daily service to over 26 cities and 19 countries worldwide. Approximately 14 million travellers use NAIA a year straining what was originally a domestic airport built in the 1930's, that a second airport, the Terminal 2 or the Centennial Airport was built with American, Korean, Japanese & German investments and opened in October 1999. The International flag-carrier Philippine_Airlines now uses this terminal for both its domestic and international and while all other international flights use NAIA.
There is a small domestic airport approximately 1.5 miles from NAIA on Domestic Road that is the main hub of Asian_Spirit, Cebu_Pacific, South_East_Asian_Airlines and Air_Philippines. These regional carriers use Boeing 737 & 757 airplanes as well as small two-engine propeller planes. The domestic airport serves every major city throughout the Philipines from 5am to 8pm daily.
====Roads====
The main roads of Metro Manila is organized around a set of radial and circumferential roads that radiate and circle in and around Manila proper. Roxas Boulevard, easily the most well-known of Manila's streets, line the southern shores of Manila with Manila Bay. The boulevard is part of the ''Radial Road 1'' that leads south to the province of Cavite. Another well-known radial road is España Boulevard (part of ''Radial Road 7'') that starts in Quiapo and ends at the Welcome Rotunda along the border with Quezon City. Pres. Sergio Osmeña Sr. Highway, part of the South_Luzon_Expressway or ''Radial Road 3'' is the most important highway linking Manila with the provinces of southern Luzon.
The most common types of public transportation are buses and the Jeepney. Tricycles are used for short distances. Pedicabs are biciycles attached with sidecars, where the drivers uses foot pedals to propel the vehicle.
The Pasig River is crossed by a number of bridges in Manila. Eastward they are Roxas Bridge (commonly referred to as the Del Pan Bridge), Jones Bridge, McArthur Bridge, Quezon Bridge, Ayala Bridge, Nagtahan Bridge (also known as Mabini Bridge), Pandacan Bridge, and Lambingan Bridge.
====Railways====
Manila is the hub of a railway system on Luzon. The main terminal of the Philippine_National_Railways is in the Tondo district. Railways extend from this terminal north to the city of San Fernando in Pampanga and south to Legazpi_City in Albay, though only the southern railway is currently in operation.
Manila is also serviced by the Manila_Light_Rail_Transit_System along the length of Taft Avenue and Rizal Avenue. A second line also starts from Claro M. Recto Avenue and ends in Santolan in Pasig_City.
====Seaports and Piers====
The City of Manila is the chief seaport of the Philippines. North Harbor and South Harbor experience busy periods during long holidays such as Holy_Week, All_Saints_Day and the Christmas holidays.
===Communication===
===Public Services===
==Government==
Like all Cities_of_the_Philippines, Manila is governed by a mayor who heads the executive department of the city. The current mayor for the 2004-2007 term is Jose "Lito" L. Atienza, Jr., who has been re-elected for his third term in the 2004 elections. The city mayor is restricted for three consecutive terms (nine years), although he can be elected again after an interruption of one term.
A vice-mayor heads the legislative arm which is composed of the elected city councilors, six from each of the city's six congressional districts.
The city is divided into 897 Barangays, which are 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 and which are further grouped into 16 administrative districts. These zones and districts have no form of local government.
The city further has six representatives popularly elected to the House of Representatives, the lower legislative branch of the Philippines. Each representative represents one of the six congressional districts of Manila.
==Interesting places==
[[Image:Ph_map_manila_large.png|thumb|300px|Map of Manila (click for
larger version)]]
===General landmarks===
*Luneta_Park, officially ''Rizal Park''
*Intramuros, the walled-city of built by the Spaniards as their official residence
*Fort_Santiago
*Malacañang_Palace, the official residence of the President_of_the_Philippines
*The Supreme_Court_of_the_Philippines
*Manila Baywalk
*Rajah Sulayman Park
*Manila Boardwalk
*Ermita and Malate Districts, a place for Bohemian night life
*Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden (Manila Zoo)
*National Library of the Philippines
*Paco Park, the location of the hit ''Paco Park Presents''
*University Belt Area
*Chinatown (Binondo district)
===Malls and shopping centers===
*Ayala Malls, Manila
*SM City Manila
*SM Centerpoint (SM City Sta. Mesa)
*SM Department Store Quiapo
*SM City San Lazaro
*Robinson's Place Manila
*Harrison Plaza
*Ever Gotesco Mall Recto
*Isetann Department Store
*Divisoria Flea Market
*Tutuban Center
*Quiapo Bargain Center, home for endless bargain goods
*Palengke or Pamilihan sa ilalim ng tulay (literally means "a marketplace under the bridge), a center for indigenous Filipino products
===Churches===
*Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Manila_Cathedral)
*Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church)
*San_Agustin_Church
*Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz (Binondo Church)
*Our Lady of Remedios Church (Malate Church)
*Minor Basilica of San Sebastian (San Sebastian Church), the only all-steel church in Gothic style in Asia
*Santa Cruz Church
===Sports centers===
*Rizal_Memorial_Sports_Complex (RMSC)
===Educational institutions===
Image:nicanorhall.jpg]]
Image:Lyceum2.jpg]]
Image:mapua-intra.jpg]]
Image:Human_rainbow.jpg' Human_rainbow, the biggest human rainbow ever assembled.]]
Image:pgh.jpg]]
*Adamson_University
*Arellano_University
*Centro_Escolar_University
*City_College_of_Manila
*Colegio_de_San_Juan_de_Letran
*College_of_the_Holy_Spirit
*College of St. Benilde
*De_La_Salle_University
*Emilio_Aguinaldo_College
*Far_Eastern_University
*La_Concordia_College
*La_Consolacion_College
*Lyceum_of_the_Philippines
*Manila High School
*Manila Science High School
*Manuel_L._Quezon_University
*Mapua_Institute_of_Technology
*National_College_of_Business_and_Arts
*National_Teachers_College
*National University
*Pamantasan_ng_Lungsod_ng_Maynila
*Philippine_Christian_University
*Philippine Cultural High School
*Philippine_Normal_University
*Philippine_Women's_University http://www.pwu.edu.ph/
*Polytechnic_University_of_the_Philippines
*San_Beda_College
*San_Sebastian_College_-_Recoletos
*St._Paul_University_-_Manila http://spumanila.edu.ph/
*St._Scholastica's_College_Manila http://www.ssc.edu.ph/
*Technological_Institute_of_the_Philippines http://www.tip.edu.ph/
*Technological_University_of_the_Philippines
*University_of_Manila
*University_of_Santo_Tomas
*University_of_the_East
*University_of_the_Philippines,_Manila
===Museums===
*National Museum of the Filipino People
*Museo Pambata (Children's Museum)
*Museo ng Maynila (Museum of Manila)
*Intramuros Light and Sound Museum
*UST Museum of Arts and Sciences
===Cemeteries===
*Manila North Cemetery
*Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
*La Loma Cemetery
*Chinese Cemetery
==History==
===Pre-Spanish times===
Manila began as a Muslim settlement at the mouth of the Pasig_River along the shores of Manila_Bay. The name came from the term ''maynilad'', literally "there is nilad." Nilad is a white-flowered mangrove plant that grew in abundance in the area.
In the mid-16th_century, the areas in present-day Manila was governed by three ''rajahs'', or Muslim community leaders. They were Rajah_Sulayman and Rajah_Matanda who ruled the communities south of the Pasig, and Rajah_Lakandula who ruled the community north of the river. Manila was then the northernmost Muslim sultanate in the islands. It held ties with the sultanates of Brunei, Sulu, and Ternate in Cavite.
===Arrival of the Spanish===
In 1570, a Spanish expedition ordered by the Conquistador Miguel_López_de_Legazpi demanded the conquest of Manila. His second on command, Martín_de_Goiti departed from Cebu and arrived in Manila. The Muslim Tagalogs welcomed the foreigners, but Goiti had other plans. The Spanish force of 300 soldiers marched through Manila and a battle was fought with the heavily armed Spaniards quickly defeating and crushing the native settlements to the ground. Legazpi and his men followed the next year and made a peace pact with the three rajahs and organized a city council consisting of two mayors, 12 councilors, and a secretary. A walled City known as Intramuros, at the southern banks of Pasig_River was built to protect the Spanish colonizers. On June_10, 1574, King Philip II of Spain gave Manila the title of ''Insigne y Siempre Leal Ciudad'' ("Distinguished and Ever Loyal City"). In 1595, Manila was proclaimed as the capital of the Philippine Islands and became a center of the trans-Pacific Silver trade.
===The Philippine Revolution===
===U.S. Occupation===
Image:EscoltaManila1899.jpg view, 1899]]
The headquarters for USAFFE were located here as were the U.S._31st_Infantry_Regiment and the U.S._808th_Military_Police_Company. The headquarters and bulk of the Philippine_Division was located just to the south, at Fort_William_McKinley. The headquarters for the Far East Air Force was on the outskirts of town, at Nielson_Field. Nearby, at Nichols_Field was the U.S._20th_Air_Base_Group. A battalion of the U.S._12th_Quartermaster_Regiment was located in the port area and training was conducted there for quartermasters of the Philippine_Army.
There were 6 Airfields, for the Far East Air Force, within 130 km of Manila, notably Clark, Nichols, and Nielson fields.
===World War II===
After American combat units were ordered withdrawn from the city on December_31 , 1941, Manila was declared an open city by President Manuel_L._Quezon and was occupied by Japanese forces on January_2, 1942, but on February_5, 1945 American General Douglas_MacArthur fulfilled a promise to return to the Philippines (see Battle_of_Leyte). From February_3 to March_3, after the climactic battle at Intramuros ended, the thoroughly devastated city of Manila was officially liberated. Allied troops did not reach the city in time to prevent the Manila Massacre though.
===Manila and Security===
Manila has been subject to militant attacks. The metropolis have been targeted twice by groups Moro_Islamic_Liberation_Front and Abu_Sayyaf. In addition, Al-Qaida cells have been discovered in the metropolis.
Project Bojinka, which was a large-scale attack being planned in late 1994 and early 1995, was being planned in Manila. The project was abandoned after the night of January_6, 1995 and the morning of January_7, when an apartment fire led investigators to a laptop computer containing the plans.
==External links==
{{commons|Maynila}}
* Official Website of Manila
* Manila Travel Information
* Manila Hotels Promotions
* Satellite picture by Google Maps
{{Metro Manila}}
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