A Short History.

Originally known as Maynilad this Fillipino city's name was later shortened to Manila. It was historically a Muslim settlement before it was captured by the Spanish forces under the command of governor Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1571. The Spanish built numerous spanish style houses, monasteries, churches and schools. For almost three centuries it was known as intramuros - "The ever loyal and distinguished city of Spain in the orient". It was controlled by the United states from 1898 until 1946 and was one of the most destroyed citys on earth during the bombing of world war 2. Manila gained independence in 1975 and has since attempted to develop its infrastructure to its former position. Despite its historical upheavals Manilans are renowned for their unflappability and remains a fascinating a place to visit.

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About Manila

The capital of Phillipines is the intriguing and vibrant city known as Manila. Situated in the North of the Phillipines this city is the biggest and most advanced of all in this far eastern nation. It was founded in 1571 and contains historical buildings and places of interest. The old Spanish walled city is clearly the most famous attraction amongst tourists, offering an insight into manilas history.

Manila is a crowded city, crammed full of people and cars, making the atmosphere quite polluted and manic. With numerous museums, libraries and theatres to visit, Manila is also home to university of the Phillipines. Rescued from Japanese occupation in 1945, Manila has grown into an industrial metropolis filled with avenues sporting the most palacial of homes to the shanty towns home to those less fortunate.

Tourists visiting these islands are more often than not obliged to visit the capital of the Phillipines. This is because travelling to the outlying regions requires taking a charter flight from Manila to the other regions of the Phillipines. Luzon is an adjacent island popular with tourists to visit whilst in the region. One of the most intriguing sights in Manila is the bay sunset. This is a spectacular light show created out of the unique weather conditions and the cloud gatherings over the harbour. The sunset can be viewed well from various locations in the city, best of which is by taking a cruise boat around the bay during that time period.

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Intramuros

The most ancient part of Manila is the Spanish enclave known as Intramuros situated on the south bank of the adjacent river. Heavy investment into this area has allowed development of numerous parks, art galleries, restaurants and theatres. This has ensured that tourists make it a must see on their agenda when they visit this region. With numerous historical buildings to peruse, Fort Santiago for example, is an old structure used to hold political prisoners from the spanish through to the Japanese. Today this area is full of tourists enjoying the natural scenery via horse drawn carriages. There are also numerous old style colonial houses which have been restored to display their former glory.

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San Augustin Church

The San augustin church is also worth a visit, famous for being the oldest stone church within Manila. Built in 1606 this building has withstood the test of time survivng through various wars and invasions. Sporting intricate carvings and an impressive eighteenth century organ this structure somewhat reflects the peoples passionate religious commitment. A museum is situated aside the church displaying various peices of religious art and paintings. Also in the area is a tomb containing numerous notables from Phillipines eventful past.
The church is situated within Intramuros and is open daily from 7am to 7:30pm. The museum is open to the public from 9am to 5pm. shutting for 1 hour in the middle of the day from 12 - 1 pm.

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Rizal Park

Within the Rizal park is based the most famous museum within the Phillipines known as "The National Museum". Within this set of two large buildings is showcased the history and heritage of this collection of islands. Also displayed within the museum are the remains of the oldest human ever found in this region known as "the Tabon man". Other subjects covered in the museum range from art and anthropology to geology amd botany. Another interesting highlight of the museum is the treasure discovered in the waters of the Phillipines, found on board an ancient Spanish ship which sank in the year 1600.
The museum is free to enter and is open from tuesday to sunday. Opening times are from 9am to 5pm.

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Malacanang Palace

Malacanang Palace. The home of the current president and the official seat of government is named after the phrase, translated in english as "there lives the noble man". Built in the eighteenth century this house was originally owned by a spanish aristocrat. Taken over by the government in 1825 it eventually evolved into the permanent seat of power. There is also a museum in the palace showcasing the histories of the various Phillipino presidents. The museum is open from 9am to 5pm, monday to friday.

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American Cemetary

A popular location for a spot of peace, quiet and reflection is the The American cemetary close to the makati commercial centre. A popular stopping point for tourists, this site contains thousands of marble crosses marking the location of those who gave their lives in active service. For those missing in action, a circular memorial is dedicated to them, listing all of their names. With a small chapel located within the grounds there are also huge mosaics depicting various events from Phillipines involvemnet in world war 2.

Another attraction worth paying a visit to is the memorial dedicated to Filipino and american troops situated on Corrigor island. Shapad like a tadpole, this island is one of the largest in the Phillipines, located approximately twenty six miles from the city centre.

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The Taal Volcano

The Taal volcano is a unique natural phenomenon, seated on its very own island situated in tagaytay city. The breathtaking views and numerous entertainment facilities make this one of the hottest tourist destinations around. Quality hotels and restaurants abound due to this location being a favourite amongst locals particularly in the summertime.

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Banaue Village

Banaue village is a fascinating experience, transporting the visitor back in virtual time to see how the former generations used to live. This village situated in the northern area of Luzon is and has for the major part been unaffected by western civilisation. The star of this area are the amazing rice terraces, dubbed by locals as the eighth wonder of the world. Erected three thousand years ago, these terraces reach thousands of feet in the air and employ a clever irrigation system consisting of a complex collections of streams and channels. Also at a place called Sagada, there are ancient caves prepared for the deceased, it is still possible to see the famous hanging coffins, resting on various outcrops.

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Puerto Galera

If you are looking for a good selection of beach resorts then Puerto Galera is the place for you. Numerous towns have melted together on this island which resembles a whales tail. This naturally formed harbour has been used historically by the Spanish for numerous centuries for various different reasons. It is currently a protected area under the unesco programme due to it being an important location for marine life and coral. It is a particular favourite amongst scuba divers, being one of the most sought after location for enthusiasts the world over. The area boasts a total of thirty diving sites within ten minutes of the three largest beaches, allowing you to discover various deep underwater diving falls, a shark cave and many fascinating ship wrecks.

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Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Your first experience of Manila will be flying into the Ninoy Aquino international airport. The airport is situated approximately four miles from the centre of Manila. Getting a taxi to the city centre is not a problem however it is better advised to arrange this prior to leaving the airport via one of the taxi offices inside. This will ensure acquiring a metered taxi which upon presenting a receipt to the desk outside of the airport. There is also a bus service which transports passengers to various locations within Manila, one leaving every 15 minutes. As far as the airport is concerned it is generally quite humid and chaotic, there is however welcome relief in the area known as the Manila lounge, offering clean toilets, shower facilities and refreshments for only $11.

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