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.

Kalookan City

Kalookan was established as a municipality in 1815 from a barrio of Tondo. In 1896, the people of Kalookan led by Andres Bonifacio revolted against Spanish authority over the Philippines. The Spanish surrendered to the Americans in 1898, but in the following war between Filipinos and Americans, Kalookan was reduced to rubble. Reconstruction of the town began, but suffered again during the Japanese occupation in World War II. Kalookan became a city on February 16, 1962. Kalookan can also be seen spelt as Caloocan. As a general rule, Caloocan is the original spelling and Kalookan is the present spelling. However, there are still some language-based disputes as to which is the correct spelling.

Andres Bonifacio Monument

The Andres Bonifacio monument in Monumento. The monument has an octagonal base which is raised by three steps representing the eight provinces that were placed under martial law for revolting against Spanish rule which lasted over three centuries. (June 2003)

Andres Bonifacio was the founder and leader of the Katipunan. He was shot and buried in the Maragondon mountains in 1897. In 1918, his remains and belongings were placed in the old Congress building, but were destroyed by fire in 1945 during liberation in WWII. (June 2003)

City of Las Piñas

Las Piñas was established as a town 1762 - 1797. In 1896, it became a major battleground of the revolution and was occupied by General Emilio Aguinaldo's forces. In 1901, the Las Piñas municipality was placed under the Rizal province. In 1903, Las Piñas was combined with Parañaque until March 27, 1907, when it once again became an independent municipality. Las Piñas became a city on March 26, 1997.

Bamboo Organ

The St. Joseph Church of Las Piñas. Inside the church is the only bamboo organ in the world. (June 2003)

Construction of the Bamboo Organ began in 1816 as the St. Joseph Church was in the final stages of construction. The organ was constructed by Fr. Diego Cera and completed in 1824. (June 2003)

City Of Makati

When the Spanish first discovered Makati, they asked native Filipinos the name of the place. They misinterpreted the Spanish and answered Makati na or Kumati na, which means ebbing tide. San Pedro de Makati, a name derived in honour of its patron saint, was a district of Santa Ana de Sapa 1578 - 1670. In 1914, San Pedro de Makati was officially renamed Makati which became the City of Makati on February 4, 1995. Today, Makati is often referred to as the Business Capital of the Philippines. It is here that many companies have their head office and it also here where the Philippine Stock Exchange is situated.

Central Business District

Makati City is the financial capital of the Philippines. It is in Makati City where the Philippine Stock Exchange is located. (March 2003)

Behind me are jeepneys, the typical mode of public transport in the Philippines. (November 2000)

City of Parañaque

The town of Palanyag (later known as Parañaque) was founded in 1572 and was recognised as an independent town on May 11, 1580. The inhabitants of Palanyag remained loyal to the Spanish during the British invasion and occupation of Manila. During the revolution against Spain, Parañaque produced a number leading revolutionary figures. When the Americans arrived, Parañaque was one of the first towns to have a municipal government. On February 13, 1998, Paranaque was converted to a city by Republic Act No. 8507.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Ninoy Aquino International Airport is named after Senator Ninoy Aquino and it is his outline on the black marker. He was assassinated upon his return to the Philippines on August 21, 1983. (April 2006)

Pasay City

The name Pasay comes from Princess Pasay who was one of the two heirs of Rajah Soliman. Before his death, Soliman divided his realm between his two children. In 1727, Pasay was annexed to Malate from Santa Ana. In 1863, residents of Pasay petitioned for the opportunity to govern themselves. As a result, Pasay became independent. On June 21, 1947, the municipality of Pasay became Rizal City, later renamed Pasay City on June 7, 1950.

Coconut Palace and Manila Film Centre

A project of Imelda Marcos, the Coconut Palace is partly made of coconut shells and coconut timber. Thought to have been constructed for Pope John Paul II's 1981 visit, he refused the offer to stay there, advising Imelda to spend money more wisely. (April 2006)

The Manila Film Centre was another project of Imelda Marcos. It is believed to be haunted after workers were buried alive in wet concrete after scaffolding collapsed due to rushed construction. (April 2006)

Senate of the Philippines

The GSIS building on Roxas Boulevard is the current home of the Senate of the Philippines. (April 2006)

A photograph of the Senators of the 13th Congress. (April 2006)

The official seal of the Senate of the Philippines. (April 2006)

Nayong Filipino

The Nayong Filipino is a park containing miniature versions of various landmarks from around the country. This is Mayon Volcano. (September 2006)

Appropriately, next to the Mayon Volcano miniature is the Cagsawa ruins miniature. (September 2006)

A Vigan house. Vigan is best known for its old Spanish streets and houses.(September 2006)

A scene similar to that of Bangaan in Banaue, Ifugao. Rice terraces and Ifugao huts. (September 2006)

Manila Domestic Airport

Flying over Metro Manila heading towards the Manila domestic airport in Pasay City. (June 2003)

At the Manila domestic airport in Pasay City. In the distance, the impressive Makati City skyline can be seen. (November 2000)

The airport runway can be seen shortly after take off. (April 2006)

Overlooking the skyscraper populated skyline of central Metro Manila (Makati City and surrounding areas) as seen from the air. (April 2006)

Overlooking southern Metro Manila. The airport runway can be seen as can Manila Bay in the background and Laguna de Bay in the foreground. (April 2006)

Quezon City

On October 10, 1938, late President Manuel Quezon purchased 1,529 hectares from the vast Diliman Estate of the Tuason Family. This officially became Quezon City on October 12, 1939. Like the City of Manila and other nearby surrounding towns, Quezon City was very much in ruins after the liberation from the Japanese in World War II. On July 17, 1948, Quezon City became the capital city of the Philippines, a title it lost on June 24, 1976. The size of Quezon City was enlarged to an area of 15,359 hectares on June 16, 1950. On October 23, 1999, an overwhelming majority of the residents of Quezon City voted against the creation of the City of Novaliches from the 15 northernmost barangays of Quezon City.

EDSA Shrine

The EDSA Shrine in Quezon City. EDSA is an abbreviation for Epifanio de los Santos Avenue. The 1986 EDSA Revolution ended the rule of Ferdinand Marcos, late Philippine dictator. (March 2002)

The 2001 EDSA Revolution saw the fall of another president, the corrupt Joseph Estrada. (March 2002)

People Power Monument, Camp Aguinaldo

The People Power Monument at Camp Aguinaldo, the Ministry of Defence, where the EDSA revolutions actually took place. This commemorates the 1986 EDSA Revolution. (March 2002)

The various Philippine flags (left) starting with the Katipunan flags right up to the present day national flag (centre). Note the shelter structure to the left of the photograph. (March 2002)

A closer look at the various Philippine flags. A few can be identified from the photograph. (March 2002)

The shelter structure to the left of the flags gives a brief illustrated history of the Philippines. The board on the left shows the election of late President Marcos and proclamation of martial law. (March 2002)

Quezon Memorial Circle

The earlier Philippine flags can also be seen at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City, named after the late President Manuel Quezon. (March 2002)

The Quezon Monument. It was President Quezon who achieved Philippine independence from the US. He died before his vision of independence became reality. (March 2002)

At the base of the Quezon Monument is the Manuel Quezon Museum which contains various items collected by Quezon throughout his life. The monument is also his final resting place. (April 2006)

West Avenue

An unexpected encounter with Robin Padilla on West Avenue, Quezon City. (April 2006)

Andres Bonifacio Monument, Balintawak

The monument at Balintawak. It was here where Andres Bonifacio issued the call to arms, the Cry of Balintawak. The Philippine war against Spain had begun. (June 2004)

San Juan, City of

San Juan (San Juan del Monte) was the site of the first battle between the Spanish authorities and the Katipunan on August 30, 1896. After the Spanish discovered the Katipunan and its aims, Andres Bonifacio attacked the powder depot in The Battle of Pinaglabanan. It was also here where the Philippine-American war of 1899-1901 began when an American soldier shot a Filipino revolutionary for trying to cross the San Juan bridge. On June 16, 2007, voters approved Republic Act No. 9388 by plebiscite and so San Juan became a city.

Club Filipino

Founded on November 6, 1898, Club Filipino is a very exclusive club in Green Hills, San Juan. It was also here where Corazon Aquino took her oath as president at the height of the 1986 EDSA revolution. (April 2006)

This large painting is at the entrance of the club. It depicts the events of EDSA and there are two historical markers on either side. (April 2006)

This is the room where Corazon Aquino took oath as president. (April 2006)

A commemorative marker indicates the exact spot where Aquino was sworn in as president. (April 2006)

The commemorative marker. (April 2006)

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