Manila

The city of Manila is part of the 17 cities that make up Metropolitan Manila. This capital city of Philippines is situated on the eastern shores of Manila Bay. The city is bordered in the north by Navotas and Caloocan, north-east by Quezon City, east by San Juan and Mandaluyong, south-east by Makati and south by Pasay.

The cosmopolitan city of Manila is spread over an expansive area of 38.55 square kilometres. The influence of different cultures is reflected in the presence of Christian churches, Buddhist temples, Jewish synagogues and Islamic mosques in the city. Presently, it is considered to be the Christian city of Asia. It is the second most populous city in South-east Asia. The official language of the city is Filipino, whose vernacular form is Tagalog.

Manila is the eleventh largest metropolitan area and the fifth largest urban area in the world. The city was categorised as a 'Beta+ global city' by the 'Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network' in 2008. The expansive city comprises 16 geographical districts. These include San Andres, San Miguel, San Nicolas, Santa Ana, Santa Cruz, Binondo, Ermita, Intramuros, Malate, Paco, Pandacan, Port Area, Quiapo, Sampaloc, Santa Mesa and Tondo.

The city originated as a settlement on the banks of the Pasig River. Its name was derived from 'Maynilad,' which denoted the mangrove plant. This plant, known as 'Nilad' was abundant in the area. In the 16th century, the city was inhabited by Muslim-Malays. This population was the descendent of Arabs, Indians, East Asians and other South-east Asians.

The Spanish conqueror, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi colonised Philippines in 1571. He established Manila as the capital of this colony. The Spaniards inhabited the county for 327 years. In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, US Commodore George Dewey defeated the Spanish fleet and Manila declared its independence from Spanish rule in 1898.

However, Philippines again came under American rule and remained so until 1935. In 1942, the Japanese landed in Manila and the city was damaged by the bombings of World War II. In 1946, Philippines became an independent country and raised its national flag in Rizal Park.

The city is the oldest Archdiocese in the country. Manila is among the favourite places for holding weddings, owing to its many churches. In this city, one can find religious buildings belonging to both Evangelical Christians and Mainline Protestants. Some of the notable events hosted by the city include The Feast of the Black Nazarene, The Manila Day and others. Specific festivals are organised by each district.

Manila has a typical tropical weather that is characterised by warm and humid conditions. Tourism in the city flourishes from November to April, as the weather is  pleasant during these months.