Metro Manila

The Spanish first visited Manila in 1570 after hearing about a prosperous Muslim community in Luzon and forcefully took control of the area. Manila province was created in 1571 but later renamed Tondo, which at one point covered almost all of Luzon. The British occupied Manila during 1762 - 1764 in the Seven Years War. Tondo province was renamed back to Manila province in 1859. Manila was one of the eight provinces that were put under martial law to suppress the revolution for Philippine independence from Spain. In 1901, Manila province and the Monrong district were merged to form the Rizal province. During WWII, Greater Manila was created consisting of the City of Manila, Quezon City, Kaloocan, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay and Parañaque. Greater Manila was reduced to ruins during liberation and was dissolved at the end of WWII. The National Capital Region (Metropolitan Manila) was created on November 7, 1975, by Presidential Decree No. 824 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos.

City of Manila

The Spanish first arrived in Manila in 1570 as Governor-General Legazpi was searching for a new capital site and had heard of a settlement known as Maynilad, a prosperous Muslim settlement. Manila or Maynila (in Tagalog) derives from may (there is) and nilad (a shrub that once grew abundantly around the shore areas of Manila). Trade with the Chinese and other Southeast Asian merchants had already been established. In June 1570, the Spanish attacked and captured Manila. Legazpi returned to Manila in 1571 and construction of a fortress began. The Chinese revolted in 1574 due to restrictions placed upon them by the untrusting Spanish. The walled city Intramuros was established and in 1595, Manila was officially made capital although it had been serving this purpose since 1571. The Chinese revolted again in 1602, 1662 and 1686. The Dutch unsuccessfully tried to enter Manila Bay in 1617 and 1646. During the Seven Years War, the British captured and occupied Manila during 1762 - 1764. In 1896, the revolution for Philippine independence from Spain had broken out. Manila was one of the eight provinces placed under martial law to suppress the revolution. In 1898, Spain ceded the Philippines to the US and the American military government established the City of Manila on July 31, 1901. With the outbreak of Word War II, Greater Manila was formed from the City of Manila and its neighbouring towns and declared an open city. Greater Manila was destroyed and flattened during the liberation of the city in 1945 and was dissolved soon after. On July 17, 1948, Manila ceased to be the capital city. Once again, Manila became capital city on May 29, 1976, by Presidential Decree No. 940, issued by President Ferdinand Marcos.

Intramuros and Fort Santiago

The No. 1 Victoria Street marker indicates the former headquarters of General McArthur and the US Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). Used as barracks by the Japanese and destroyed in 1945 during the liberation of Manila. (April 2006)

The wall of Intramuros was originally surrounded by a moat on the outside. When the Americans arrived, it was converted to a golf course as the moat was a breeding ground for mosquitoes. (April 2006)

The San Agustin Church, the most expensive to church to have a wedding. After the liberation of Manila in WWII, this was possibly the only building still standing and intact. (November 2002)

The San Agustin Church is the final resting place of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi (1502 - 1572). He was the leading Spanish conquistador and first Spanish governor-general of the Philippines. (April 2006)

The San Agustin Church also has a vast museum containing many religious artefacts. There is also a large courtyard garden area. (April 2006)

The Battle of Manila cost the lives of about 100,000 Filipino civilians. Many had been killed in the cross fire between the Americans and Japanese. (November 2002)

Manila Cathedral. Located in Intramuros, quite close to the San Agustin Church. (November 2002)

Manila Cathedral has been rebuilt several times due to fires and earthquakes. The history of the cathedral is outline briefly by this historical marker. (April 2006)

This marker by the Intramuros Administration also gives a brief history of the cathedral with an illustration. (April 2006)

A rear view of Manila Cathedral with the dome section visible. (April 2006)

On this site once stood the Palacio del Gobernador, the official residence of the Spanish governor-generals from 1654 but destroyed by an earthquake in 1863. Malacañan Palace then became the official residence. (April 2006)

The main gate to Fort Santiago in the old Spanish citadel of Intramuros. Fort Santiago was the headquarters of the Spanish forces, the British in the Seven Years War and the Japanese in WWII. (April 2006)

Next to the Fort Santiago Gate is an Intramuros Administration historical marker which gives a brief history of Fort Santiago. (April 2006)

The original Fort Santiago Gate was built in 1714 but destroyed in 1945 during the liberation of Manila. The Intramuros Administration restored the gate in July 1982. (April 2006)

After Manila was liberated from the Japanese in WWII, the dungeons of Fort Santiago were found to contain remains of 600 victims of Japanese atrocities. (April 2006)

It was in Fort Santiago that Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the national hero, was found guilty of inciting rebellion and sedition for which he was sentenced to death. (November 2002)

Ermita and Rizal Park

Manila City Hall. Not so far form this point are universities, the museum, the old congress building, the old Spanish citadel of Intramuros and Fort Santiago. (March 2002)

A monument to Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan, the revolutionary organisation determined to overthrow Spanish rule in the Philippines. (March 2002)

The Katipunan war banner flags to the side of Katipunan monument with Manila City Hall clock tower in the background. (March 2002)

The National Museum consists of the old Congress, Department of Tourism and Department of Finance buildings. (November 2002)

The old Congress building, now part of the National Museum. The old Congress building appears on the reverse side of the red PHP 50 bill. (November 2002)

A monument to Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino. There is another monument to Ninoy in Makati City and in the Tarlac province. Ninoy appears on the front side of the yellow PHP 500 bill. (November 2002)

Rizal Park (also known as Luneta). This monument is to honour the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. There are armed guards by the monument. (March 2002)

There are many monuments around Rizal Park including many Filipino heroes. These statues show Rizal's execution by firing squad. (June 2003)

The Supreme Court (centre) and the Department of Justice (left), located in Ermita. (November 2002)

Another building which is part of the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land. (November 2002)

Malate

The historical Malate Church, only metres from Manila Bay. It was not far from here that the British when they landed in Manila during the Seven Years War. (November 2002)

Malate Church was greatly damaged by an earthquake in 1863 and had to be rebuilt. (June 2003)

A plaque in commemoration of those that were killed as a result of Japanese atrocities and the American shelling during the liberation of Manila. (June 2003)

A monument to Lapu-Lapu, the first Philippine hero. (November 2002)

Sunset as seen looking into Manila Bay. (November 2002)

A monument to General Vicente Lim, the first Filipino graduate from the US Military Academy at West Point and one of the founders of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. He appears on the front side of the blue PHP 1,000 bill. (November 2002)

A monument to the late President Elpidio Quirino. He rebuilt the battered post-war economy throughout his term. (November 2002)

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is the central bank of the Philippines. The BSP complex appears on the reverse side of the purple PHP 100 bill. (November 2002)

Malacañan Palace

This eagle monument was erected in recognition of liberation from the Japanese by the Americans in WWII. It is on the opposite side of the road from the Malacañan Palace Compound. (June 2003)

An entrance to the compound. Malacañan Palace (commonly and erroneously Malacañang Palace) is the official residence of the President and Malacañang is the Office of the President. (March 2002)

Within the Malacañan Palace Compound grounds. This building is Kalayaan Hall. (June 2003)

Although currently part of the palace museum, Kalayaan Hall was previously used for various executive purposes. (June 2003)

This chair was used by late President Ferdinand Marcos. He was sat on this chair while addressing the nation why martial law was required. (June 2003)

In addition to the chair, Marcos was also fond of the Kalayaan Hall building and used it as the Executive Office. (June 2003)

This desk was used by some of the earlier Philippine presidents, such as Quezon and Magsaysay. (June 2003)

Once the Presidential Library, this room was converted to a press room by former President Joseph Estrada. (June 2003)

Plaza Miranda

Quiapo Church and the Plaza Miranda. (June 2003)

Quiapo Church houses the Black Nazarene, a life-size highly worshipped representation of Christ. (June 2003)

The Plaza Miranda where the Liberal Party held a fateful rally on the night of August 21, 1971. (June 2003)

A plaque in commemoration to ten killed and over a hundred injured in the Plaza Miranda bombing. (June 2003)

University of Santo Tomas

This arch leading to the University previously had statues of Dr. Jose Rizal and late President Manuel Quezon - two former students of the University of Santo Tomas. (June 2003)

The University began within Intramuros as a school founded in 1611. It was elevated to the rank of university in 1645. The University moved to Sampaloc in 1927 due to increasing enrolment. (June 2003)

The University of Santo Tomas is the oldest existing university in Asia. With regards to student population, it is also the largest Catholic university in the world. (June 2003)

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