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BEACH
I DIVING I SNORKELING I WILDLIFE
I
HERITAGE
I
GOLF
I
ACTIVITIES |
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Brief
Description
 Fascination
is
an
understatement
of
the
feeling
that
one
gets
by
visiting
Manila,
a
lively
metropolis
commanding
a
magnificent
view
of
the
world-famous
Manila
Bay
and
its
golden
sunset.
Historic,
bustling,
awe-inspiring,
the
“Philippine
Cosmopolitan
Capital”
is a
blend
of
cultures
and
flavors
that
offers
an
endless
serving
of
places
to
see,
sights
to
behold,
and
experiences
to
never
forget.
Right
in
the
heart
of
Manila
is
found
the
“Walled
City”
–
Intramuros.
Constructed
in
1571,
during
the
period
of
Spain’s
colonization
of
the
Philippines,
it
comprised
of
European
buildings
and
churches
that
have
been
replicated
in
different
parts
of
the
archipelago.
It
had
been
one
of
the
world’s
best
preserved
medieval
cities.
Here,
dungeons
and
old
churches
share
space
with
art
galleries,
theaters,
a
nature
park.
At
the
center
of
Intramuros
is
the
grand
Manila
Cathedral,
the
seat
of
the
Catholic
Archdiocese
of
Manila.
Then
there
is
San
Agustin
Church,
the
oldest
stone
church
in
Metro
Manila
and
one
of
the
four
Philippine
Baroque
Churches
inscribed
in
UNESCO’s
World
Heritage
List.
Marking
its
entrance
at
the
northwestern
tip
is
Fort
Santiago,
one
of
the
oldest
fortifications
of
Intramuros.
Built
in
nearly
150
years
through
Filipino
forced
labor,
it
now
houses
a
lush
park
with
flowering
trees,
homing
pigeons,
and
rides
aboard
horse-drawn
carriages.
Manila
is
home
to
Malacañang
Palace,
the
official
residence
of
the
highest
chief
executive
of
the
country
and
one
of
the
most
historic
structures
in
the
Philippines,
and
the
National
Museum
of
the
Philippines,
the
official
repository
and
guardian
of
the
Philippine
cultural,
historical,
and
natural
heritage.
Along
the
northern
bank
of
the
historic
Pasig
river
is
Chinatown,
a
symbol
of
the
long
history
of
Chinese
presence
in
the
Philippines
long
antedating
the
arrival
of
the
Spaniards.
Today
it
is
an
important
trade
and
business
center,
and
a
primary
bargain
shopping
destination.
Five-star
hotels
and
restaurants,
some
of
them
housed
in
historic
buildings,
make
the
perfect
party
place
in
the
city.
The
nightlife
offers
everything
from
dazzling
cultural
shows
to
futuristic
discotheques,
lively
casinos,
sensational
entertainment
lounges,
and
fashionable
cafes.
The
popular
districts
of
Malate
and
Ermita
showcase
a
wild
variety
of
restaurants,
clubs,
bars,
cafes,
art
and
antique
shops
–
truly,
the
ultimate
cosmopolitan
paradise.
Manila
is
geographically
advantaged.
It
is
an
hour
or
two
away
from
full-day
excursions
to
Cavite
and
Corregidor
Island,
Batangas,
and
Laguna,
replete
with
exceptionally
beautiful
beaches,
stunning
views,
and
local
color.
The
city
is
over
17
hours
away
by
air
from
Los
Angeles,
less
than
five
hours
from
Tokyo,
and
seven
and
a
half
hours
from
Sydney.
Wherever
you
are,
you
are
less
than
a
day
away
from
one
of
Asia’s
greatest
cities
–
Manila.
Geography
The
city
of
Manila
is
located
on
the
west
coast
of
the
Philippine
main
island
of
Luzon
and
surrounded
by
fertile
plains.
The
city
straddles
at
the
delta
of
the
Pasig
river,
a
short
navigable
stream
that
connects
the
fresh
water
lake
of
Laguna
de
Bay
with
Manila
Bay
and
the
South
China
Sea.
It
occupies
a
total
land
area
of
38.3
square
kilometers. |
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Manila
City
Is
Famous
For...
Walking
Tour
through
Intramuros
Right
in
the
heart
of
Manila
is
found
the
"Walled
City"
-
Intramuros.
Constructed
in
1571,
during
the
period
of
Spain's
colonization
of
the
Philippines,
it
comprised
of
European
buildings
and
churches
that
have
been
replicated
in
different
parts
of
the
archipelago.
Although
the
Pacific
War
of
the
1940s
took
its
tool
on
Intramuros,
it
had
been
one
of
the
world's
best
preserved
medieval
cities.
The
site
is a
timeless
journey
through
forts
and
dungeons,
old
churches,
colonial
houses,
and
horse-drawn
carriages.
San
Agustin
Church
One
of
the
four
Philippine
Baroque
Churches
inscribed
in
UNESCO's
World
Heritage
List,
the
oldest
stone
church
in
Metro
Manila
was
built
in
1586
and
completed
in
1606.
An
intricately
carved
door
opens
to
the
church.
Of
great
interest
are
the
XIXth
century
chandeliers,
the
pulpit,
the
side
chapels,
the
tombstone
on
the
floorings,
and
an
18th
century
pipe
organ.
Like
an
impregnable
fortress,
San
Agustin
has
withstood
the
ravages
of
time
both
brought
by
nature
and
by
man;
earthquakes
and
typhoons,
Chinese
and
Dutch
attacks,
the
British
Occupation
Force
and
the
Philippine-Spanish
War,
Dewey's
bombardment,
the
bloody
and
destructive
Japanese
Occupation,
and
the
equally
devastating
return
of
MacArthur's
troops.
Manila
Cathedral
At
the
center
of
the
"Walled
City"
of
Intramuros
is
the
grand
Manila
Cathedral.
The
seat
of
the
Catholic
Archdiocese
of
Manila,
the
present
cathedral
is
the
sixth
to
rise
on
the
site
since
1581.
Fort
Santiago
Marking
its
entrance
at
the
northwestern
tip
to
Intramuros,
Fort
Santiago
is
one
of
the
oldest
fortifications
of
Intramuros.
Its
construction
started
in
1571
and
it
was
completed
nearly
150
years
later
by
Filipino
forced
labor.
The
pre-Spanish
settlement
of
Rajah
Sulayman,
the
last
Filipino
ruler
before
the
coming
of
the
Spaniards,
was
a
wooden
fort,
on
the
ashes
of
which
was
built
the
Spanish
fortress
which
was
Spain's
major
defense
position
in
the
islands.
It
looked
out
on
the
sea,
towards
which
its
canons
were
trained
to
ward
off
pirates
and
invaders.
It
is
also
known
as
the
"Shrine
of
Freedom,"
in
memory
of
the
heroic
Filipinos
imprisoned
and
killed
here
during
the
Spanish
and
Japanese
eras.
Partly
rebuilt
from
the
ruins
of
World
War
II,
it
is
now
a
park
and
promenade
housing
a
resident
theater
company,
PETA,
which
used
ramparts,
an
old
garrison,
and
a
small
chapel
as
theaters
for
both
traditional
and
modern
plays.
Plaza
San
Luis
Named
after
one
of
the
barrios
of
old
Intramuros,
this
is a
cultural-cum-commercial
complex
currently
composed
of
five
houses:
Casa
Manila,
Casa
Blanca,
Casa
Urdaneta,
Los
Hidalgos,
and
El
Hogar
Filipino.
Plaza
San
Luis
will
eventually
consist
of 9
houses
representing
different
eras
in
Filipino-Hispanic
architecture.
Aside
from
gift
and
specialty
shops,
the
complex
has
a
museum
at
Casa
Manila,
containing
late
19th
century
and
early
20th
century
furniture
found
in a
typical
Filipino
illustrado,
or
the
privileged
class,
home.
Rizal
Park
Considered
as
one
of
the
largest
parks
in
Southeast
Asia,
it
has
an
area
of
58
hectares
which
runs
from
Taft
Avenue
up
to
the
walls
of
the
famous
Manila
Bay.
It
was
known
as
the
Bagumbayan
field
during
the
Spanish
era
since
this
was
where
the
Filipino-Moslems
took
refuge
after
the
Spaniards
occupied
Intramuros
in
1571.
It
was
also
called
"Luneta,"
which
means
Little
Moon.
For
74
years,
it
was
used
as
an
executing
ground
by
the
Spaniards
for
Filipino
rebels
and
mutineers.
By
1902,
Daniel
Bumham,
architect
and
city
planner,
chose
Bagumbayan
as
the
site
of
the
proposed
American
government
center.
He
designed
a
U-shaped
composition
of
buildings,
but
only
three
were
constructed:
the
Executive
House,
the
Department
of
Tourism
building,
and
the
Department
of
Finance
building.
It
acquired
its
present
name
Rizal
National
Park
in
dedication
to
the
Philippine
national
hero,
Dr.
Jose
P.
Rizal,
whose
mortal
remains
were
interred
in
the
cornershore
of
the
Rizal
Monument
in
1912.
Malacañang
Palace
/
Museum
Malacañang
Palace
is
considered
to
be
one
of
the
most
historic
structures
in
the
Philippines.
It
has
been
the
official
residence
of
the
highest
chief
executive
of
the
country
since
1863.
Located
next
to
the
Pasig
River,
it
served
as a
summer
residence
for
the
Spanish
governor-general
during
the
early
1800s.
Governor-General
Rafael
de
Echague
moved
the
seat
of
government
to
Malacañang
Palace
after
an
earthquake
devastated
the
Palacio
del
Gobernador
in
Intramuros.
Since
then,
it
has
been
witness
to
the
numerous
challenges
that
have
faced
the
nation
and
the
events
that
have
defined
our
history.
President
Glorial
Macapagal
Arroyo
holds
office
in
the
Palace
and
receives
her
official
callers
and
state
visitors
at
the
Presidential
Function
area.
A
wing
of
the
Palace
is
open
to
the
public
as a
Philippine
Presidential
Museum.
Under
the
management
of
the
Malacañang
Heritage
Foundation,
the
palace
tour
focuses
on
all
former
Presidents
of
the
Philipines.
On
exhibit
are
presidential
memorabilia
which
highlight
the
terms
of
office
of
the
country’s
former
chief
executives.
It
is
one
of
the
most
visited
historical
landmarks
in
the
country
today.
Malate
&
Ermita
The
popular
cosmopolitan
lifestyle
districts
of
Malate
and
Ermita
in
Manila
showcase
a
wild
variety
of
restaurants,
clubs,
bars,
cafes,
art
and
antique
shops,
and
shopping
complexes.
The
nightlife
offers
everything
from
partyhopping,
clubbing,
lounging
to
theme
festivals
and
parades,
or
quietly
chilling
at
art
and
fashion
cafes
-
discover
your
own
hole-in-the-wall.
Organizing
exciting
shopping
expeditions
could
not
be
simpler
- as
countless
bargain
opportunities
are
offered,
including
the
handicrafts
of
the
different
regions,
in
the
numerous
shopping
complexes,
from
sleek,
air-conditioned
department
stores
to
open-air
bazaars.
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