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Manila ( of the Philippines . The city is located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on Luzon , the country's largest island. Manila is considered one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. Manila is the hub of a thriving metropolitan area home to over 10 million people. The Metro Manila area also known as the National Capital Region (NCR), of which the City of Manila is a part, 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. Manila is the second most populous city proper in the Philippines, with more than 1.5 million inhabitants. Only nearby Quezon City , the country's former capital, is more populous. It is currently included in the roster of Global Cities of the world. Manila got its name from ''may nilad'', Tagalog for "there is nilad," in reference to the tall grass that grew on the marshy shores of the bay. In the 16th Century , Manila (then ''Maynilad'') 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 more than 3 centuries. In 1898 the United States occupied and controlled the archipelago until 1946. During World War II, much of the city was destroyed. The Metropolitan Manila region was enacted as an independent entity in 1975. Today, the city and the metropolis thrives as an important cultural and economic center. However, overpopulation, traffic congestion, pollution, and crime challenge the city. THE CITY , featuring most of the skyline of the Makati and Ortigas Center CBD 's.]] 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 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. 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 Bukid , 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 these districts have achieved recognition in their own right. The district of Binondo is the city's Chinatown . Tondo is the densest, largest but 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 at Rizal Park ]] 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 his honor where Rizal's remains were buried. The big flagpole west of the Rizal Monument is Kilometer Zero for road distances on the island of Luzon and the rest of the country. Other attractions in Rizal Park include the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, the Department of Tourism building, the National Museum of the Filipino People, The National Library of the Philippines, the Planetarium, the Orchidarium and Butterfly Pavilion, 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 most 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, Remedios Circle, Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden, and the Malacañang Garden are some of the other parks in the city. In the northern most part of the city lies the three cemeteries of Loyola, Chinese, and Manila North Green Park, the largest public cemetery in Metropolitan Manila. PEOPLE Demographics Ethnic Groups The original settlers of Manila were the Tagalog s. Throughout the centuries, there has been a constant migration of Visayans , Bicolano s, Ilocano s, Maranao s, Chinese and Spaniards . There are also Americans, Arabs, Indonesians, Indians, and Koreans in Manila. Intermarriage between ethnic groups are not uncommon in the Philippines. World's most densely populated city With a population of 1,581,082 and a land area of 38.55 km², it has the highest population density of any city in the world with 41,014 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 km&2), Shanghai (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 Lanus' 10,444 density), Tokyo (10,087 people/km²), Mexico City (11,700 people/km²), and Istanbul (1,878 people/km², with its most dense district Fatih's 48,173 density). Languages The main language is Filipino , the lingua franca of the Metro Manila region, which is based on Tagalog . In addition, most Manileños are very proficient in the English Language , which attracts students of English, and this fuels a Call Centre industry. A small percentage of the Manila elite, in fact that of the whole Philippines, are as well proficient in Spanish Language , owing to Manila's Spanish heritage. Religion Roman Catholicism Being the seat of the Spanish colonial government in past centuries, Manila has been used as the base of numerous Roman 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 UN World Heritage Site is a favorite wedding place of notable people and one of two fully air-conditioned churches 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, and The Golden Mosque is located there. In Ermita is a large Hindu temple for the Indian population, while on U.N. Avenue, there is a Sikh Temple. In Malate, along Quirino Avenue, there once was a 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 or ''U-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 , the University Of The Philippines - Manila , and the University Of Santo Tomas . Other notable institutions include the Colegio De San Juan De Letran , the Far Eastern University , the Mapua Institute Of Technology , San Beda College , St. Paul University Manila , the city-owned Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Maynila , the Polytechnic University Of The Philippines , and the University Of The East . Manila is also home to several popular basic education institutions and science high schools. The National Museum Of The Philippines , where the Spoliarium of Juan Luna is housed, the Metropolitan Museum, the Museong Pambata (Children's Museum), 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 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 Philippines from 5am to 8pm daily. Roads Main Article: Major Road In Metro Manila The main roads of Metro Manila are 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 (R-2) and Rizal Avenue (R-9). A second line also starts from Claro M. Recto Avenue (C-1) 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 Manila is part of the service areas of electric utility Meralco and water utility Maynilad Water Services, Inc. The city's telecommunications systems are provided by PLDT , Eastern Telecoms, Bayantel and cellular networks Smart Communications , Globe Telecom and Sun Cellular . 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 Barangay s, 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. PLACES OF INTEREST |