Fast Facts
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Full Name
Manila
Area
636 sq km
246 sq miles
Population
12,000,000
Time Zone
GMT/UTC +8 ()
Daylight Saving Start
not in use
Daylight Saving End
not in use
Languages
Pilipino (Tagalog) (official)
English (official)
Currency
Philippine Peso (P)
Electricity
220V 60HzHz
Electric Plug Details
European plug with two circular metal pins
Japanese-style plug with two parallel flat blades
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General Information
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Fascination is an understatement of the feeling that one gets by visiting Manila, a lively metropolis commanding a magnificent view of the world-famous Manila Bay and its golden sunset. Historic, bustling, awe-inspiring, the “Philippine Cosmopolitan Capital” is a blend of cultures and flavors that offers an endless serving of places to see, sights to behold, and experiences to never forget.
Right in the heart of Manila is found the “Walled City” – Intramuros. Constructed in 1571, during the period of Spain’s colonization of the Philippines, it comprised of European buildings and churches that have been replicated in different parts of the archipelago. It had been one of the world’s best preserved medieval cities. Here, dungeons and old churches share space with art galleries, theaters, a nature park.
At the center of Intramuros is the grand Manila Cathedral, the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Manila. Then there is San Agustin Church, the oldest stone church in Metro Manila and one of the four Philippine Baroque Churches inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Marking its entrance at the northwestern tip is Fort Santiago, one of the oldest fortifications of Intramuros. Built in nearly 150 years through Filipino forced labor, it now houses a lush park with flowering trees, homing pigeons, and rides aboard horse-drawn carriages.
Manila is home to Malacañang Palace, the official residence of the highest chief executive of the country and one of the most historic structures in the Philippines, and the National Museum of the Philippines, the official repository and guardian of the Philippine cultural, historical, and natural heritage. Along the northern bank of the historic Pasig river is Chinatown, a symbol of the long history of Chinese presence in the Philippines long antedating the arrival of the Spaniards. Today it is an important trade and business center, and a primary bargain shopping destination.
Five-star hotels and restaurants, some of them housed in historic buildings, make the perfect party place in the city. The nightlife offers everything from dazzling cultural shows to futuristic discotheques, lively casinos, sensational entertainment lounges, and fashionable cafes. The popular districts of Malate and Ermita showcase a wild variety of restaurants, clubs, bars, cafes, art and antique shops – truly, the ultimate cosmopolitan paradise.
Manila is geographically advantaged. It is an hour or two away from full-day excursions to Cavite and Corregidor Island, Batangas, and Laguna, replete with exceptionally beautiful beaches, stunning views, and local color. The city is over 17 hours away by air from Los Angeles, less than five hours from Tokyo, and seven and a half hours from Sydney. Wherever you are, you are less than a day away from one of Asia’s greatest cities – Manila. |
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Attractions
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Historical
Plaza San Luis
Named after one of the barrios of old Intramuros, this is a cultural-cum-commercial complex currently composed of five houses: Casa Manila, Casa Blanca, Casa Urdaneta, Los Hidalgos, and El Hogar Filipino. Plaza San Luis will eventually consist of 9 houses representing different eras in Filipino-Hispanic architecture. Aside from gift and specialty shops, the complex has a museum at Casa Manila, containing late 19th century and early 20th century furniture found in a typical Filipino illustrado, or the privileged class, home.
Fort Santiago
Marking its entrance at the northwestern tip to Intramuros, Fort Santiago was one of the oldest fortifications of Intramuros started in 1571 and completed nearly 150 years later by Filipino forced labor. The pre-Spanish settlement of Rajah Sulayman, the last Filipino ruler before the coming of the Spaniards, was a wooden fort, on the ashes of which was built the Spanish fortress which was Spain’s major defense position in the islands. It looked out on the sea, towards which its canons were trained to ward off pirates and invaders. It is also known as the “Shrine of Freedom,” in memory of the heroic Filipinos imprisoned and killed here during the Spanish and Japanese eras. Partly rebuilt from the ruins of World War II, it is now a park and promenade housing a resident theater company, PETA, which used ramparts, an old garrison, and a small chapel as theaters for both traditional and modern plays.
Palacio del Gobernador
Formerly the home of Manuel Estacio de Venegas, a governor’s aide, the two-storey structure was expropriated and subsequently made the official residence and office of the Spanish governor generals in 1645 until an earthquake brought it down in 1863. It lay in ruins for almost a century until the Land Bank of the Philippines built an 8-storey building on the site in 1978. The office of the Intramuros Administration is presently housed here.
Bonifacio Shrine
It showcases selected periods of Bonifacio’s biography, which represent the events and personalities involved in molding our history.
Religious
Manila Cathedral
The seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Manila, it is presently the 6th cathedral to rise on the site since 1581.
Man-Made
Malacañang Palace / Museum
Malacañang Palace is considered to be one of the most historic structures in the Philippines. It has been the official residence of the highest chief executive of the country since 1863. Located next to the Pasig River, it served as a summer residence for the Spanish governor-general during the early 1800s. Governor-General Rafael de Echague moved the seat of government to Malacañang Palace after an earthquake devastated the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros. Since then, it has been witness to the numerous challenges that have faced the nation and the events that have defined our history. President Glorial Macapagal Arroyo holds office in the Palace and receives her official callers and state visitors at the Presidential Function area. A wing of the Palace is open to the public as a Philippine Presidential Museum. Under the management of the Malacañang Heritage Foundation, the palace tour focuses on all former Presidents of the Philipines. On exhibit are presidential memorabilia which highlight the terms of office of the country’s former chief executives. It is one of the most visited historical landmarks in the country today.
Chinese Cemetery
It was founded in the mid-1850s by Lim Ong and Tan Quien Sien to accommodate the many Chinese who were not allowed to be buried in Spanish cemeteries. The cemetery covering 54 hectares has streets lined with mausoleums which are richly adomed with marble and wrought iron, some with stained glass windows. Imposing mausoleums serve the dual purpose of honoring the dead and exhibiting the socioeconomic status of the family. The crematorium is opposite the temple. A nearby building houses ashes on 2 floors and the 3rd floor, the bones of those who will be returned to mainland China. The poor are buried in terraces to the left of the Buddhist Temple.
Museo Pambata
It is the first hands-on, interactive children’s museum in the Philippines. It is an exciting learning center with six theme areas, namely: Kalikasan (Environment), Maynila Noon (Old Manila), Tuklas (Science), Paglaki Ko (Career Option), Katawan Ko (Body Works), and Bata Sa Mundo (Children in the Global Village), a reading resource center and children’s playground. The museum is also a venue for programs and activities for the public, especially for underserved children, such as storytelling, puppet shows, workshops on visual arts, health, etc.
Bahay Tsinoy
It is a museum showcasing the Chinese in Philippine life, some fine artifacts and coins, a gallery of rare prints and photographs, and a collection of porcelain unearthed from all over the Philippines.
Archdiocesan Museum of Manila
In 1987, His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin set up an eclesiastical museum with the theme, “History of the Catholic Church in the Philippines.” The collection includes ecclesiastical, liturgical, and various antique items.
Paco Park
The park is formerly a municipal cemetery enclosed with a circular stone wall occupying approximately a space of 4,500 square yards. It was completed in 1822 and had by then been used for two years. It was here on the night of December 30, 1896 that the Philippine national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal was interred by Spanish soldiers following his dawn execution at Bagumbayan (now Rizal Park). At present, the park serves as a regular venue for intimate musical and cultural concerts featuring local and international artists bringing art to the masses. Weddings, garden receptions, holy masses, and family gatherings are likewise being held here.
Japanese Garden
The Japanese Garden Project was initiated by the National Parks Development Committee together with the Japanese Community. The 9,000 square meter garden is an authentic Japanese Garden in miniature where one can likewise view rare local foliage, vines, trees, grasses, hedges, and other ornamental plants such as camias, camachile, and bituing marikit endemic to Philippine soil. The garden not only gives us a glimpse of Japanese culture but also promotes friendship and mutual understanding between the Japanese and the Filipino people.
Economic
Central Bank Money Museum
The Central Bank Money Museum was established in January 3, 1974 from the donations of illustrious collectors and dealers and collection of the bank’s possession. It aims to collect Filipino coins and notes to trace the monetary history of the Philippines and assemble a fine collection of rare and unusual coins from all over the world.
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Reservation: reservation@lmho.net 
