Manila, Philippines

Manila is the capital of the Philippines, it is a dynamic metropolis that has a mixture of old and new buildings, Manila is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world and its metropolitan area is the country's economic, cultural, educational, and industrial center.

Shopping in Manila is a way of life. Almost everywhere you go are stores, shops, boutiques from the small corner store to the giant malls that you can find almost everywhere you go in Metro Manila.

The walled city of Intramuros is a one of the tourist attraction. Within its walls are the centuries old Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church & Museum. Also inside its walls is Fort Santiago, a Spanish fortress and garrison -now a park. Located at the mouth of Pasig River, Intramuros was built to defend Manila from invaders. Today, inside the walled city are houses from the Spanish times that have survived. Some have been converted into cozy restaurants, museums, dormitories and souvenir shops.

Manila Ocean Park, located at the back of Quirino Grand Stand in Rizal Park, Manila. It is a multi-million, state-of-the-art oceanarium complex with an open water marine habitat, restaurants, function rooms and marine research facilities.

 

Malacañang Palace - The official residence of the president of Philippines. It also houses some government offices, the Malacañang Museum and the Presidential Museum. The palace is an 18th century villa along the Pasig river located in the center of Manila. It was purchased by the Spanish government in 1825 and  has been renovated and expanded through the decades. Malacanang Palace was first used as the Spanish Governor-General's summer residence. In 1937 became the official residence of the Philippine President. Manuel L. Quezon was the first Filipino chief executive to live in Malacañang Palace. 

At the center of Manila, every 9th of January is the Feast of the Black Nazarene. Central to the feast is the largest procession in the country. A life-size, image of Jesus Christ, venerated through the centuries (made of Blackwood) is paraded through the streets of Quiapo District beside China Town. The mammoth procession is a daylong event. It is an occasion much anticipated by devotees and some tourist. So if you are uneasy with large crowds, avoid the area on that date, the traffic within the Quiapo area and beyond comes to a halt. But to the religious or the daring, it is a sight to behold.

Manila's nightlife is alive. There are unnumbered bars, restaurants, discos, Karaoke lounges, piano bars and cafés. For the free spirit, the Malate district would be an ideal place to hang out, for the more cosmopolitan and trendy, the Greenbelt and the Fort in Makati is the place to be or try Libis and Tomas Morato in Quezon City. There are also 3 casinos in Manila -if one is inclined to take a bet. The possibilities are endless, one just have to discover what Manila has to offer.