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Metro Manila

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Metro Manila is the most important region in the Philippines.

Metro Manila in the Philippines
Metro Manila in the Philippines

It sits on the eastern shore of Manila Bay. The region lies between the Central Luzon and Calabarzon regions.

Metro Manila Elevation Map
Metro Manila Elevation Map

It is a very large and busy area. It is the largest metropolitan area in the country. The region is also the most crowded place in the Philippines. It ranks as the 7th most populous metropolitan area in Asia. It is even the 8th most populous urban area in the whole world.

This region acts as a center for many important things. It is a hub for arts, entertainment, and education. Many people come here for school or to work in government. It is a global power city that affects many other places. The region has a huge impact on fashion, media, and new technology. It also handles much of the country's money and trade. Because of this, it is the premier center for finance. All the foreign embassies in the Philippines are located here.

The history of this place goes back a very long time. Long ago, a place called Maynila was a center for trade.

Map of Manila 1570
Map of Manila 1570

Some experts believe its name comes from a word for indigo. In the 1500s, it was the capital of the Kingdom of Luzon. It was a walled and fortified city during that time. The ruling class used the Malay language for foreign business. Many nearby kingdoms knew about its trade. Even places in China and Japan knew of it.

Things changed when the Spanish arrived in the 1500s. After a battle in 1570, the Spanish built a new walled city.

Puerta De Santa Lucia Manila Philippines
Puerta De Santa Lucia Manila Philippines

This walled city became the capital of the Spanish East Indies. Later, the Manila galleon ships sailed across the Pacific Ocean. They brought goods and culture between Asia and Mexico. In 1901, during American rule, much of the area became part of the province of Rizal. Eventually, the modern region we see today began to take shape.

Metro Manila has many different parts that work together. It is made of sixteen highly urbanized cities.

Districts of Metro Manila
Districts of Metro Manila

These include Manila, Quezon City, and Makati.

Ayala Avenue (Makati; 04-15-2022)
Ayala Avenue (Makati; 04-15-2022)

There is also one independent municipality called Pateros. In 1975, the area was formally organized into a single metropolitan area. By 1978, it officially became the National Capital Region. Today, it remains the heart of the nation's economy and culture.

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🖼️ Images & Media (38)
File:Map of Manila 1570.png
Map of Manila 1570.png
File:Puerta De Santa Lucia Manila Philippines.jpg
Puerta De Santa Lucia Manila Philippines.jpg
File:Manila Province.jpg
Manila Province.jpg
File:City of Greater Manila map.jpg
City of Greater Manila map.jpg
File:Metro Manila Elevation Map.png
Metro Manila Elevation Map.png
File:Pasig-marikina_river_drainagebasin.png
Pasig-marikina_river_drainagebasin.png
File:ManggahanFloodwayOndoy.jpg
ManggahanFloodwayOndoy.jpg
File:Rizal Park - Jose Rizal Monument with grass, right side (Manila; 01-01-2020).jpg
Rizal Park - Jose Rizal Monument with...
File:View from the pathway at Paco Park.JPG
View from the pathway at Paco Park.JPG
File:05805jfQuezon Memorial City Circlefvf 32.JPG
05805jfQuezon Memorial City Circlefvf 32.JPG
File:Malacañang Palace (local img).jpg
Malacañang Palace (local img).jpg
File:Batasan front qc.jpg
Batasan front qc.jpg

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