The capital of the Philippines is very often the place where you set foot for the first time when you arrive in the archipelago. Manila’s NAIA airport is one of the country’s main airports and has a bad reputation due to its congestion and dilapidation. Not to mention the difficulties related to transfers between the 4 terminals.
For the record, NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) was named in 1987 following the assassination of the leader of the opposition to Marcos, Benigno Aquino Junior, in 1983, as he got off his plane on his return from the United States.
Today, a project for a new airport is underway, in Bulacan, which is more out of the way. A project that is part of the development of infrastructure in a country that is sorely lacking it. This is how the metro, road, motorway and rail network is being deployed.
Manila, the capital of the Philippines, has about 1.8 million inhabitants on less than 40km², making it one of the most densely populated cities in the world. It is the second-largest city in the country by population. Naturally, it is part of the metropolitan region of Manila, Metro Manila, which includes 17 cities and has a population of around 20 million.
This monster, therefore, seems scary, but by looking into it a bit and spending some time there, you grow fond of it, despite the traffic issues, as it’s one of, if not the most congested city in the world. It’s an opportunity to try jeepneys, the most common mode of transport in the Philippines, currently on the verge of disappearing.
Historically, while the Spanish first landed in Cebu, Manila was chosen as the capital of the country due to its geographic location, being situated in a bay which greatly facilitated its protection. During World War II, it was the most heavily bombed city on the Pacific front.
The most interesting places to visit include Intramuros, the fortified old Manila, where you can find San Agustin Church, the oldest stone church in Manila, Casa Manila (a reconstructed colonial mansion), Fort Santiago, the city walls, and next to Intramuros, Rizal Park. Roxas Boulevard runs along Manila Bay and offers a beautiful view of Bataan, especially at sunset. Also worth visiting are Malacañang Palace (equivalent to the Élysée Palace), Quiapo, Chinatown, the Chinese cemetery with its particularly lush graves, and more.
There are of course many other things to say about Manila… It could fill a book.
After exploring the Intramuros neighborhood and its history during your stops in Manila, you can:
- Admire the wonderful firefly show in Puerto Princesa
- Take in the sights on a boat tour to discover the wonders of El Nido
For more information, do not hesitate to contact us.