Overview
Manila, or more correctly, Metro Manila is the National Capital Region (NCR) of the Philippines. Unlike other regions of the country, this region is not subdivided into provinces, but rather composed of 16 cities and one municipality. With more than 11 million residents, Metro Manila is one of the most densely populated urban areas in the world. Metro Manila is not to be confused with the City of Manila, the original settlement that is now just one of the cities, which make up NCR.
Metro Manila is the hub of finance, commerce, education, culture, and transport in a country of more than 7,000 islands. Many visitors who arrive here may find the chaos and the crush of people a bit overwhelming, but these are precisely what constitute the charm of the city.
Ninoy Aquino International Airport is the main entry point for those arriving in the Philippines. With four terminals, the airport has connections throughout the globe from regional hubs such as Hong Kong and Singapore to global hubs such as Dubai and Doha and even Sydney, Los Angeles, Vancouver, and London. To get around the city, visitors can take cabs, city buses, jeepneys (the gaudy, colorful, and very local minibus), or the metro with two north-south lines and one east-west line.
A visit during the months of January to March is a good idea. Weather is relatively pleasant with temperatures on the side of bearable. December is a good time to visit, too, if only to witness Christmas festivities. However, traffic gets a little chaotic during this time of the year. While April and May weather is also pleasant, the temperatures in the city can soar to the low 100s (Fahrenheit) made worse by the high humidity.
What to See
There was already a settlement in what was to become Manila even before the Spaniards came. Sadly, there are no more remnants of this pre-colonial era to speak of. The walled district of Intramuros is the colonial settlement founded by the Spanish in 1571. Though much of Intramuros was leveled by Japanese and American bombs during World War II, parts of it such as the perimeter wall and the old garrison of Fort Santiago remained intact.
While in Intramuros, visitors should also see the Manila Cathedral and the San Agustin Church. Both are national treasures with the latter a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well. To see the entire historic district, visitors can go on a very novel activity: a biking tour using locally produced bamboo bikes.
Across the river from Intramuros is one of the oldest Chinatowns in the world: Binondo. The area was also heavily bombed during the war, so very few old buildings remain. Despite this, it is still an area of interest for shopping and authentic Chinese food. Worth seeing here is Binondo Church, the place of worship for the Christianized Chinese of the area.
Close to Binondo is Rizal Park. The area is dedicated to the national hero Jose Rizal, who through his writings opposed the Spanish occupation helping to ignite the revolution. The area is a local favorite with its green patches, gardens, monuments, and fountains. Not far from this park is the historic Manila Hotel, which is worth a visit.
Those looking to escape the chaos and noise of downtown Manila can take the metro towards the campus of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. The campus has wide-tree-lined avenues, vast green areas, quiet benches, and nice cafes.
What to Do
Being the largest city in the Philippines, Metro Manila offers a lot of activities for visitors. Foodies staying in downtown Manila can do a food tour of Manila’s Chinatown Binondo. Here, visitors will not only taste authentic Chinese food such as dumplings, noodles, and spring rolls but also fusion dishes such as the sweet chocolate rice porridge called champorado.
A lot of eating can also be done in the various foodie districts of Metro Manila. In Pasig City, visitors can head to the Kapitolyo area for steaks, authentic Japanese ramen, barbecue, and ice cream. In Quezon City, visitors can go to Maginhawa, a long, wide, and otherwise residential street lined with various restaurants and cafes serving Filipino, Japanese, Indonesian, Persian, and American food.
For many tourists, one highlight is the shopping. Many malls and commercial areas offer cheap goods from clothing to houseware. While bargaining in the malls of Makati is not possible, in the shopping areas of Greenhills or Divisoria, bargaining is the norm.
The nightlife in Metro Manila is also something worth experiencing. The best bars of the city can be found in Eastwood and Timog, both located in Quezon City. In Makati, visitors can head to Makati Avenue. In the City of Manila, there is Malate, also considered the capital’s red light district.
Those looking to give back can get in touch with the Gawad Kalinga charity organization. One highly recommended activity is a day trip to the Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm located just north of Metro Manila in the province of Bulacan. The farm is a grassroots initiative of the organization to educate local farmers about the different aspects of agriculture and entrepreneurship.
Local Culture
Although an administrative region by itself, Metro Manila is located in the Southern Tagalog region. Thus, the language spoken in Metro Manila is Tagalog. However, being a highly commercialized city with a very strong American colonial legacy, English is widely spoken. It is used everywhere from street signs and business establishments to media, commerce, and education. Chinese, specifically Southern Chinese languages Hokkien and Cantonese, are spoken by the Chinese of Binondo as a first or second language.
A great time to visit Metro Manila is during the months of January and February if only to witness two large festivals taking place this time of the year. The Chinese New Year is a big celebration in Binondo featuring dragon and lion dancers, fresh fruits for sale (for good luck), and a lot of fireworks.
Another spectacle to behold is the Feast of the Black Nazarene, which takes place every ninth of January in the very busy area of Quiapo in the City of Manila. The statue of a dark-skinned Jesus Christ carrying the cross is paraded through the streets amidst an ocean of the most faithful devotees seeking to pray to the religious icon.
Central Luzon Philippines Luzon is the Philippines’ largest island and home of the capital Manila. Central Luzon is home to big cities, some nice beaches, majestic mountains, large picturesque lakes, and a good infrastructure.
