Manila

I

Introduction

Manila, capital, largest city, and chief seaport of the Philippines. The city is located on central Luzon Island, on the eastern shore of Manila Bay, at the mouth of the Pasig River, just west of Quezon City. It is the commercial, administrative, and cultural center of the Philippines. The Manila metropolitan area, or Metro Manila, officially called the National Capital Region, comprises an area of 636 sq km (246 sq mi) and includes Manila proper, Quezon City, Pasay, Caloocan, Makati, and the municipalities of Las Piñas, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinglupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasig, Pateros, San Juan del Monte, Taguig, and Valenzuela. A small Muslim settlement named Maynilad was located in the vicinity of present-day Manila when the Spaniards arrived in 1571. The city's name, shortened first to Maynila and then to Manila, is thought to have been derived from the nilad plant, a flowering shrub that once grew extensively on the banks of the Pasig River. Mountains surround Manila on three sides. Because of its picturesque location, Manila is often called the Pearl of the Orient.

II

Population

Manila is by far the largest metropolitan area in the Philippines, and the second largest in Southeast Asia after Jakarta, Indonesia. About 12 percent of the population of the Philippines is concentrated in the Manila metropolitan area; by comparison, the population of the nation's second largest metropolitan area, Cebu, is only about one-eighth that of Manila.

The metropolitan area has experienced rapid population growth through heavy rates of migration from rural areas, especially since the end of World War II (1939-1945). During the 1960s and 1970s annual rates of population growth in metropolitan Manila approached 5 percent, compared to national growth rates of less than 3 percent. While the overall growth rate slowed to 2.8 percent during the 1980s (compared to the national rate of 2.3 percent), most of the outlying suburban areas of metropolitan Manila grew much more rapidly. Manila proper actually lost population to the suburbs during this period. Such rapid population growth has led to overcrowding, traffic congestion, pollution, and housing shortages. By some estimates, for example, between one-quarter and one-third of the city's population lives in slums and squatter housing. In 2000, Manila proper had a population of 1,673,000, and the metropolitan area registered 10.4 million people (2003).

Almost all of Manila's population is Roman Catholic. Tagalog, the indigenous language of central Luzon, is spoken in 93 percent of the city's households. English is used in businesses, schools, and by the national media.

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III

Economy

Philippine manufacturing is highly concentrated in or near metropolitan Manila, with area firms employing more than one-half the country's manufacturing industry workers. This is due to a number of factors, including Manila's role as the principal port of entry for imported raw materials and other goods; the city's excellent harbor, which is deep and sheltered; the existence of a large local market; a pool of skilled labor; and the presence of the nation's major financial, governmental, and cultural institutions. Manufactures include textiles, clothing, and electronic goods; the latter two are the nation's leading exports. Watches, iron and steel, food and beverages, cigars and cigarettes, leather goods, and shoes are also manufactured here. Additionally, local entrepreneurs (often with foreign financial partners) continue to process primary commodities for export, including plywood, refined sugar, copra, and coconut oil.

Manila is also the major destination for tourists who visit the Philippines. Numerous points of interest in the city attract about 1 million visitors annually from all over the world. Many of Manila's tourist sites are found in the old downtown area and along Roxas Boulevard, which parallels Manila Bay.

A rail system connects Manila with the city of Legaspi on the Bicol Peninsula in southern Luzon and extends north to San Fernando in La Union Province. A light rail transit system known as Metrorail was opened in Manila in 1985 to help reduce traffic congestion. Approximately 250,000 passengers are served daily by Metrorail. Other major modes of transportation include buses; taxis; pedicabs; horse-drawn carriages; and jeepneys, brightly-colored jeeps often outfitted with tassels and decorative horns and mirrors. The inexpensive jeepneys transport about one-third of the city's commuter traffic. The Manila International Airport, located in Pasay, accounts for about two-fifths of the nation's total passenger traffic.

Manila's population and economy are often disturbed by natural disasters, as the area lies astride the so-called Ring of Fire, an area in the Pacific where earthquakes and volcanic activity are common. Two well-known volcanoes that have been active in recent years, Mount Pinatubo and Taal Volcano, are each about 80 km (about 50 mi) from Manila. The city lies within the typhoon belt and thus destructive storms are frequent, often causing flooding and loss of life.

IV

The Urban Landscape

Intramuros, the original city founded in 1571 by the Spanish, is located on the southern bank of the Pasig River. It includes examples of 17th-century Spanish architecture and an encircling wall that was begun in 1590. Near Intramuros is the port area and Rizal Park, which was designed by the American architect and urban planner Daniel H. Burnham. The United States Embassy is located in the area, and nearby tourist hotels and government buildings on Roxas Boulevard face Manila Bay. The Manila Yacht Club, Manila Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Philippine Cultural Center, Folk Arts Theater, and Philippine International Convention Center are all located within two blocks of Roxas Boulevard. The newer suburbs include Quezon City, Pasig, and Makati. Makati, located northwest of Manila proper, is a modern center with shopping malls, the Philippine Stock Exchange, international corporations and banks, hotels, and exclusive residential subdivisions, including Forbes Park and Bel Air Village. New government buildings, medical centers, and the University of the Philippines (1908) are located in Quezon City. The poor live in numerous slums and squatter areas which are interspersed throughout the periphery and in some older areas of the city. Tondo, located north of Intramuros near the North Harbor area, is one of the largest slums.

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