National Capital Region

• The National Capital Region, more popularly known as Metro Manila, is the Philippines in
microcosm.

• It composed of 14 cities and 3 municipalities comprise the National Capital Region. Its 14 cities
include: Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Makati, Taguig, Pasig, Mandaluyong,
Malabon, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Marikina, and Las Piñas. While the three municipalities are
Pateros, San Juan and Navotas.

 Makati City
 Background

Makati is the financial center of the Philippines; it has the highest concentration of multinational and
local corporations in the country.

According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 582,602 people making it as the 17th-largest city s
the country and ranked as the 41st most densely populated city in the world with 19,336 inhabitants per
square kilometer.

 Geography

The city is bounded on the north by the Pasig River, facing Mandaluyong City, on the northeast by Pasig
City, on the southeast by the municipality of Pateros and Taguig City, on the northwest by the City of
Manila, and on the southwest by Pasay City. Makati has a total land area of 27.36 square kilometers; it
constitutes 4.3 % of Metro Manila's total land area.

 Festivals

1. Bailes Delos Arcos

Bailes Delos Arcos has been dubbed as one the most exciting festivals that the city celebrates every 29th
of June. Its literal translation is “Dancers of the Arch” and this festival both the older and the younger
generations participate. Bailes Delos Arcos is no small time festival since the dancers that perform have
to practice for a whole year for this one day event. Being a devout Christian country and in honor of
Makati’s patron saints Virgen Dela Rosa, St. Peter and St. Paul, the female dances put on a spectacular
performance dedicated to them. Only certain families in Makati perform this and the tradition as well as
the method of dancing Bailes Delos Arcos have been passed on from generation to generation. Bailes
Delos Arcos is performed annually in Barangay Poblacion.
  Architectural Structures
1. Gramercy Residences
Rising 262 meters in Century City, Makati, The Gramercy Residences is currently the tallest building
in the Philippines, dethroning the 259-meter-tall PBCom Tower when the former was officially
opened in 2012.
2. Ayala museum
The Ayala Museum is a museum in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines. It is located in Ayala
Center adjacent to Greenbelt mall and is run privately by the Ayala Foundation.
The museum has been committed to showcasing overseas collections and situating
contemporary Philippine art in the global arena in a two-way highway of mutual cooperation
and exchange with local and international associates.

 Manila City

 Background
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the capital of the Philippines.
he Spanish city of Manila was founded on June 24, 1571, by Spanish conquistador Miguel López
de Legazpi.
The term "Manila" is commonly used to refer to the whole metropolitan area, the greater
metropolitan area or the city proper. The officially defined metropolitan area called Metro
Manila, the capital region of the Philippines, includes the much larger Quezon City and
the Makati Central Business District. It is the most populous region of the country, one of the
most populous urban areas in the world, and is one of the wealthiest regions in Southeast Asia.
 Geography

Manila, lying 1,300 kilometres from the mainland Asia on the western side of the island of Luzon,
occupies a total land area of 38.55 sq. km. It sits on top of prehistoric alluvial deposits but has been
altered substantially by its inhabitants. A big percentage of the capital’s topography has been evened
out to make way for urban development. As Manila became more crowded, the city’s development
expanded to nearby towns which now make up the Metropolitan Manila Area.
 Festivals

1. Aliwan Fiesta
Held annually in the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, it is a celebration of Filipino culture
through dance parades, floats, and pageants. Aliwan Fiesta is organized by the Manila Broadcasting
Company together with the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the city governments of Pasay and
Manila. It is one of the biggest summer events in the capital region.
  Tourist Spots

1. Intramuros
Intramuros is the 0.67 square kilometers historic walled area within the modern city of Manila, the
capital of the Philippines.
Construction of the defensive walls was started by the Spanish colonial government in the late 16th
century to protect the city from foreign invasions.
2. National library of the Philippines
The history of the National Library can be traced as far back as 1887 in the establishyment of the
Museo-Biblioteca de Filipinas (Museum-Library of the Philippines) by the Spanish government.
Its current bibliographic collection consists of over 1.6 million pieces, including over 210,000
books, more than 880,000 manuscripts, and over 170,000 newspaper issues. But perhaps its
most significant claim to fame is that it houses the original copies of Noli Me Tangere, El
Filibusterismo, and “Mi último adios,” the most definitive literary works of national hero José
Rizal.
3. Rizal Park
Luneta Park is famous for being the location of the monument to the Philippines’ national hero, Dr. Jose
Rizal. Because of this, Luneta Park is also known as Rizal Park, but locals mostly refer to it as Luneta Park
or simply “Luneta”.

 Muntinlupa
Also known as the “Emerald City of the Philippines”
 Background
 The history of the name “Muntinlupa” comes from at least three stories.
 First, its association with the thin topsoil in the area.
 Second, residents, purportedly replying to a question by Spaniards in the 16th century
what the name of their place was, said “Monte sa Lupa”—apparently mistaking the
question for what card game they were playing.
 Third, the topographical nature of the area, where the term Monte or mountain was
expanded to Muntinlupa or mountain land.

 Geography

It is bordered on the north by Taguig; to the northwest by Parañaque; by Las Piñas to the west; to the
southwest by the cities of Bacoor and Dasmariñas in Cavite; by the city of San Pedro, Laguna; and
by Laguna de Bay to the east, the largest lake in the country.

 Products
 E-Jeepneys
Muntinlupa City is fast shaping up as the greenest city in the country, its reputation built
around its advocacy to deploy electric jeepneys in various sites in the city. Along this
line, they can already stake claim to the title of the “E-Jeepney Capital of the
Philippines”.
  Marikina City

 Background
Marikina is also considered one of the wealthiest local government units in the Philippines.
Marikina was given the title "Shoe Capital of the Philippines" because of its notable shoe industry,being
the biggest manufacturer of shoes in the Philippines, producing almost 70% of shoes manufactured in
the country.
 Geography
Marikina lies on the so-called Marikina Valley, which extends to the south toward Pasig City and Cainta,
Rizal. Sierra Madre mountains lie to the east and Quezon City hills to the west. Marikina River runs
through the mid-west portion of the city, with its tributary including Nangka River. Nangka River runs
through the north slicing between Marikina and San Mateo, while the small waterway called Sapang
Baho Creek slicing the southeast between Marikina and Cainta and Antipolo City.

 Product
Shoes
They produce 70% of local made shoes in the country.
 Festivals
1. Sapatos Festival
Sapatos Festival is a three-month long festival that usually begins in September.  It showcases the
creativity, craftsmanship, style and quality of shoes, a product Marikina is known for. The festival
features parades, cultural presentations, trade fairs featuring shoes made in the city, visits to the shoe
museum, among other fun activities.
Among the highlights of the festival is the Tour de Takong, where participants are required to wear
stilettos with at least three inches in height instead of the usual running shoes. Since the race started in
2011, it has attracted a multitude of participants from all over the country, and is one of the highly-
anticipated events in the city.

 Quezon City
 Background

The Quezon City is the largest city in Metro Manila as well as the largest city in the Philippines. It
has a population of about 2.68 million people. Recently, it has become the hub of information
technology as well as its entertainment industry in the Philippines. The city was named after
former Philippine president Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina. Quezon City was the country's capital
from 1946 until 1972, when the seat of government was officially returned to neighboring
Manila
.
 Geography

The city lies on the Guadalupe Plateau, a relatively high plateau at the northeast of the metropolis
situated between the lowlands of Manila to the southwest and the Marikina River Valley to the east. The
southern portion is drained by the narrow San Juan River and its tributaries to Pasig River, while running
in the northern portions of the city is the equally-narrow Tullahan River.
Quezon City is bordered by Manila to the southwest, by Caloocan and Valenzuela City to the west and
northwest. To the south lie San Juan and Mandaluyong, while Marikina and Pasig border the city to the
southeast. To the north across Marilao River lies San Jose del Monte in the province of Bulacan, while to
the east lie Rodriguez and San Mateo, both in the province of Rizal.
The city can be divided into a number of areas. The southern portion of the city is divided into a number
of districts including Diliman, Commonwealth, the Project areas, Cubao, Kamias, Kamuning, New Manila,
San Francisco del Monte, and Santa Mesa Heights. The northern half of the city is often called
Novaliches and contains the areas of Fairview and Lagro. Most of these areas have no defined
boundaries and are primarily residential in nature.

 Tourist Spots
1. Quezon City Memorial Circle
This national shrine/plaza/park is a definite must see when going to Quezon City. Aside from being
home to the late president Manuel Quezon and his wife’s remains, the park is also a haven for park
goers who want a nice place to chill and play.
2. La Mesa Eco Park and Watershed
It provides potable drinking water to around 12 million residents in Metro Manila. The 33-hectare
family-friendly eco park offers tons of activities for guests.
3. Edsa Shrine
The EDSA Shrine was built to commemorate the 1986 People Power Revolution. It was also the site for
the second peaceful demonstration that overthrew the former president Joseph Estrada.
4. UP Diliman
The 493-hectare university campus is mish mash collection of college buildings, sports facilities,
theatres, museums, churches, retail shops, food stores, dormitories, and open greeneries. During the
famous UP Fair, both students, faculty, and guests from outside the university can listen to local bands
perform while enjoying good food and great vibes.
5. Art in Island
This unique destination located in the hipster neighborhood of Cubao Expo has been dubbed as the
world’s first selfie museum. The beautiful 3D paintings encourage guests to take selfies with themselves
as the center piece.