Metro Manila

Introduction

University of Santo Tomas

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Metro Manila encompasses the National Capital Region of the Philippines which is a political subdivision of the greater metropolitan area for Manila. This metro region, composed of 17 cities and municipalities including Manila, has become one of the most populous metro areas in the world.

Geography

Metro Manila lies on an isthmus bounded by Manila Bay on the west and Laguna De Bay to the southeast and is divided by the Pasig River which connects both bodies of water. It is situated on a flood plain with some cities on the banks of Laguna Bay and on the shores of Manila Bay being prone from flooding due to the rise and fall of tides.

Cities and Municipalities

• Caloocan
• Las Piñas
• Makati. The nation's financial capital.
• Malabon
• Mandaluyong
• Manila. The nation's political capital
• Marikina
• Muntinlupa
• Navotas
• Parañaque
• Pasay
• Pasig
• Pateros
• Quezon City. Former capital city and most populous city.
• San Juan
• Taguig
• Valenzuela

Sights and Activities

Metro Manila being the center of commerce and trade in the country, plus its historical background offers a variety of activities. The cities within the metro, specially Makati and Manila are best spots for shopping clothes, souvenirs, and a lot more. Historical locations like Intramuros and Fort Santiago may be located in the city of Manila.

Events and Festivals

• The Feast of the Black Nazarene is held every ninth of January in Quiapo, Manila. It is a grand festival honoring the image of the Black Nazarene where devotees flock to the streets on bare feet during its procession.

• Flores De Mayo or the Santacruzan is held all around the Philippines during the festive month of May. It's a parade of a town's beautiful ladies on procession to commemorate St. Helena's search for Christ's cross

Other major Philippine festivals are listed in the Events and Festivals in the Philippines section.

Weather

Getting There

By Plane

Metro Manila is serviced by the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for all international flights to major cities around the world while the Manila Domestic Airport connects the metro to most airports in the country. Both airports are located in the city of Parañaque.

By Train

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) connects Metro Manila to other cities south of Manila. The rail line is currently undergoing rehabilitation to revive the northern section of the railway to connect to Clark in Angeles and the southern section up to Legaspi.

By Car

Major expressways connect Metro Manila with neighboring provinces on the north via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and the McArthur Highway. While the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) and the Coastal Expressway connects the metro to southern cities and provinces. Towns and cities east of the metro may use radial roads and avenues to get into the metro.

By Bus

Different provincial buses provide services for passengers coming from different parts of country from the northernmost part of Luzon up to Mindanao. Most Provincial Bus terminals are located in Cubao area of Quezon City, Taft Avenue in Pasay City, and in Monumento area of Caloocan City.

Here are some provincial buses found in the metro.

• Autobus Transport Systems: Trips to Baguio, Banaue, Tuguegarao, and Dagupan in the north.
• Baliwag Transit: Trips to Bulacan and Cagayan Valley provinces in the north.
• Fariñas Transit: Trips to Laoag and Vigan in the northern Ilocos region.
• JAM Transit: Trips to the southern provinces of Batangas, Laguna, and Quezon.
• Philippine Rabbit Bus Lines: Trips in the northern provinces of Abra, Ilocos, La Union, and Tarlac.
• Philtranco: Trips in the Bicol peninsula, upto Davao City via ferry and through Samar and Leyte.
• Tritran Transit: Trips to Batangas and Quezon provinces.
• Victory Liner: Trips to Baguio and the northern provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, Zambales, Cagayan and Tarlac.

By Boat

Metro Manila is connected to other Philippine islands through the Port of Manila on Manila Bay. Passenger ferries from different island ports in the south and international cargo vessels dock on this port.

Getting Around

By Train

Currently the Philippine National Railways (PNR) line, which runs from Manila to Legaspi City in the south, has stations that pass through the cities of Caloocan, Manila, Pasay, and Muntinlupa from north to south.

Metro Manila also has 3 light rail transits services that connect the central cities.

• LRT1 (yellow line). Runs from Caloocan to Pasay.
• LRT2 (purple line). Runs from Manila to Pasig.
• MRT3 (blue line). Runs from Quezon City to Pasay.

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

The Pasig River Ferry provides passenger services along the Pasig River. It has stations in Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig and Marikina cities.

Eat

Drink

Sleep