Manila Travel Guide, Philippines

Colorful Manila

Perhaps there is no city in the world as unique as Manila or Maynila as it is known to the locals.  The Philippine’s capital offers a distinct blend of sights and sounds that can leave any tourist curious and entertained.  Beneath its busy streets lies a deeply rooted culture that lingers to this day.  It’s always a refreshing journey to visit colorful Manila.

A City By the Bay

The city of Manila can be found at the mouth of the Pasig River which is located east of the scenic Manila Bay.  This river is what divides the city from the center.  Manila’s closest neighbors are Hong Kong, which is 950 kilometers southeast of this island city and Singapore, which 2,400 kilometers north of this country.  Manila owes its haphazard layout from the Spanish Era when small communities started to develop around its walls, which was why it was called Intramuros or the walled city during that time.  The city’s layout has since been organized by the noted American architect, Daniel Burnham.  

Manileños

Manila is considered to have the highest population density of any city in the world.  It is also the second most populous city in the Philippines.  But despite all this, Manila remains to be a friendly city whose residents respect its rich history and culture.

The language of the people is Filipino or Tagalog but almost everyone can speak English, which is the language used in education and business.  On the other hand, the Filipino-Chinese residents in the city speak Hokkien Chinese.

Within the City’s Walls

Old Manila used to be encased in concrete walls hence the name Intramuros, which means within the walls.  It was designed that way by the Jesuits to protect the city from attacks of invading Chinese pirates and rebellions from locals.  The city was made into the capital of the Spanish colonies and was occupied by Spain for three hundred years.

The British took over the Philippines for two years during which the capital was moved to Pampanga.  By this time, Manila was considered a thriving seaport.  Through the Treaty of Paris, the Americans ceded the Philippines from the Spaniards and the country remained under American rule for forty years.  By the end of the Second World War, Manila was a ravaged city.  It was during this time that the Philippines gained its independence from the Americans and soon Manila declared itself an independent city in 1975.

 

Historic Wonders

Manila is home to a lot of beautiful historic sites due to the Spanish occupation of three hundred years.  Some noteworthy places to visit are Intramuros, San Agustin Church and Fort Santiago.  

Intramuros features the ruins of the walled city which were originally built in 1571.  Much of the city’s streets and landmarks can take you back to Spanish times.  

Not much farther away is the San Agustin Church, which is the oldest church in the Philippines.  This UNESCO world heritage site, features a beautiful baroque architecture and houses a museum that showcases Filipino, Spanish, Chinese and Mexican art treasures,

Also nearby there  is Fort Santiago which was built at the same time as Intramuros and is known to be the Shrine of Freedom in memory of the heroic Filipinos who were executed during the Spanish and Japanese occupations.