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What is the city of Manila like?

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The city of Manila is located on the west of Luzon – the largest island in the Philippines. About 950 km south and east of Hong Kong and 2,400 km north and east of Singapore, Manila sits just at the mouth of the Pasig River, and the river actually runs down the middle of the city. The other Philippine cities that lie closest to Metro Manila are Novotas, Caloocan City, Quezon City, San Juan, Mandaluyong City, Makati City, and Pasay City.

With over 1.5 million people in its mere 38.55 km², the city of Manila is more densely populated than any other in the world. Plus, more than a million workers and students enter and exit the city every day. Manila is made up of 16 districts – Pasig and Binondo, Quiapo, Sampaloc, San Miguel, San Nicolas, Santa Cruz, Santa Mesa, Tondo, Ermita, Intramuros, Malate, Paco, Pandacan, Port Area, San Andres Bukid, and Santa Ana – each having its own unique personality. Binondo, for example, is Manila’s Chinatown; Tondo is the biggest and poorest district; and Malate’s shopping centers make it a popular tourist destination.

Manileños travel through their city and beyond in many different ways. Here are some of them:

• The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) serves the whole Manila metro area with more than 30 airlines. About 14 million people every year use NAIA.
• Manila’s roads are organized to facilitate travel through Manila and to other provinces in Luzon. Buses and jeepneys are the most common types of transportations opportunities for the public. Tricycles and Pedicabs are also options for distances that are not too lengthy.
• The railways on Luzon all meet in Manila, and so the Philippine Nation Railways is an excellent way to travel. Another rail system in Manila is the Manila Light Rail Transit System.
• Since Manila is located on an island, one popular way of travel throughout the Philippines is by sea. Manila is actually the chief seaport of the country, so the harbors get a lot of business, especially during holidays.

Finally, a big influence on the city of Manila is its commerce which happens to be a high point of Manila’s economy. In plain English – this means great shopping! All districts in Manila except for one have their own public markets which have dry goods and wet goods. In the mornings, sales here are heavy with business from locals and tourists. Also, the pleasant weather in Manila allows Filipinos to enjoy Manila’s modern shopping malls. Devoted shoppers go beyond these shopping complexes, however, to the cheapest buys in Manila at the bargaining “flea-market” shops in Divisoria and Quiapo. Indigenous crafts and desired products from throughout the Philippines can be found here at fractions of the normal prices. Even as department stores and other modern shopping become popular, these markets are still very popular among Manileños.

Next Page: What are most Manilenos like?

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