METROPOLITAN MANILA

METROPOLITAN MANILA with a land area of 636 square kilometers, is widely known as METRO MANILA, which is consist of 16 Highly Urbanized Cities:  (1) Caloocan, (2) Las Pinas, (3) Makati, (4) Malabon, (5) Mandaluyong, (6) Manila - the capital city, (7) Marikina, (8) Muntinlupa, (9) Navotas, (10) Paranaque, (11) Pasay, (12) Pasig, (13) Quezon City, (14) San Juan, (15) Taguig, and (16) Valenzuela; and a municipality of Pateros.

MAKATI CITY

Makati City is the leading financial, commercial, and business center of the Philippines, which is a part of Metropolitan Manila.   It serves as the premier economic hub and financial capital of the country, hosting major corporate headquarters, banks, and foreign embassies.  It covers a land area of about 21.57 square kilometers, bordered by the Pasig River to the north, Taguig to east, and Pasay to the west.  It comprises 33 barangays, featuring the prominent Makati Central Business District (CBD), the historic Poblacion district, and affluent enclaves like Forest Park.  It boasts one of the largest and most dense collections of skyscrapers in the Philippines.  It is founded in 1670 as San Pedro de Makati, it evolved from an agricultural town and the site of the nation's first airport into a modern metropolis.

The Glorietta Malls of Makati Business District captured from One Ayala Mall balcony

The festive Christmas at Ayala Triangle Gardens

MANDALUYONG

Mandaluyong City is a highly urbanized, progressive economic center located at the heart of Metropolitan Manila, widely known as the "Tiger City".   It has an area of 9.29 square kilometers consisting of 27 barangays which is divided into 2 political districts.  It is bordered by Manila to the west, San Juan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, Pasig to the east, and Makati across the Pasig River to the south.

It shares the bustling Ortigas Center business district with Pasig City, featuring soaring corporate skyscrapers and commercial zones.  It is home to world-class shopping complexes like SM Megamall and Shangri-La Plaza, as well as major corporate headquarters including the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and San Miguel Corporation (SMC).   Its major thoroughfares like EDSA run directly through the city, connecting commuters to the rest of the capital region via multiple MRT-3 stations.

With the backdrop of the massive and modern building of Mandaluyong City Hall

SM Mega Tower (left) and BSA Twin Towers (right)

Archdiocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy

MANILA

The City of Manila is the historic capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines, which is divided into 16 administrative districts, including Intramuros, Binondo, and Quaipo.  It is located in the eastern shore of Manila Bay at the mouth of the Pasig River.  It is famous for its attractions like the historic Walled City featuring Fort Santiago and the Manila Cathedral, Rizal Park and Binondo - the oldest Chinatown in the world, famous for its food and heritage.

The Pasig River with the background of Sta. Cruz and Quiapo buildings

At the poolside of Sofitel Hotel in CCP Complex

Skyscrapers in Manila and the Manila Bay as viewed from the Sofitel Hotel from CCP Complex

Manila Bay coastline as captured from Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex(Model: my son)

Bayview Park Hotel Manila

Quiapo Bridge captured from Arroceros Forest Park (Model: my son)

The historic and symbolic Manila Cathedral

Palacio del Governador: A Hispanic Legacy
T.M. Kalaw Avenue: A busy district of Ermita
Welcome Rotonda: Separates Manila and Quezon City

MUNTINLUPA CITY

Muntinlupa is a highly urbanized, first-class city in the southernmost part of the Metro Manila, known as the "Gateway to Calabarzon".   Calabarzon is Region IV-A, one of the 18 administrative regions of the Philippines, which stands for the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.  It has an area of 39.75 square kilometers consisting of 9 barangays and that includes the most progressive business district of Ayala Alabang.  It borders Taguig, Paranaque, Las Pinas, Cavite (Dasmarinas, Bacoor), Laguna (San Padro), and Laguna de Bay.

It is home to major business and lifestyle districts like Alabang (including Filinvest City and Alabang Town Center).   It is famous for upscale communities like Ayala Alabang Village.  It also has the main national penitentiary New Bilibid Prison which is managed by the Bureau of Corrections.  It is often referred to as the "Emerald City" due to its notable green spaces compared to other dense areas in the metropolis.

Alabang Business District

Posadas Village Clubhouse in Sucat, Muntinlupa City

PARANAQUE CITY

Paranaque is a coastal, highly urbanized city in Metro Manila, known for its entertainment complexes, major transportation hubs, and rich cultural heritage with a land area of 46.57 square kilometers divided into 16 barangays, bordered by Pasay, Taguig, Muntinlupa, Las Pinas, and Manila Bay.

It is noted for being an entertainment city with massive beachfront tourism and gaming district home to luxury resorts like Solaire Resort & Casino, City of Dreams Manila, and Okada Manila.  It is the cradle of Baclaran Church - a formally known National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, famous for being an international pilgrimage site.   It is also home to Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Aseana City and the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), a major multi-modal public transport terminal.

The Skyway above South Expressway with the backdrop of Azure Urban Resort Residences

PASAY CITY

Pasay City is a major urban center in Metro Manila, famous for housing the main international gateway, Ninoy  Aquino International Airport (NAIA) with a land area of 13.97 square kilometers consisting of 201 barangays divided into 20 zones across 2 legislative districts.

It is where SM Mall of Asia (MOA) is located, one of the largest shopping malls globally, featuring an arena, amusement rides, and scenic Manila Bay sunsets.  Newport Worlds Resorts - a major entertainment and commercial complex located across from NAIA Terminal 3 is also a part of this bustling city.  Star City - a popular family amusement park situated near the harbor area is also one of its attractions.

The city hosts the majority of NAIA's terminals and major bus lines.  It also boasts a highly dynamic business and tourism activity featured thru reclaimed land developments along Bay City like the SM Central Business Park.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway (NAIAX) cutting through the Newport City

Newport City functions as a mixed-use commercial and business district near Ninoy Aquino International Airport and is a part of the progressive Pasay City.

Sea Residences of SM Central Business Park
SM Central Business Park boasts several high-end hotels and staycation suites as part of its real estate development expansion.  The location is favorable as the airports (domestic and international) are located within the city. 

QUEZON CITY

Quezon City, situated in the northeast part of Metro Manila,  is the most populous and largest city by land area in Metro Manila covering 161.11 square kilometers consisting of 142 barangays divided politically into six congressional districts.  It was founded on October 12, 1993, by President Manuel L. Quezon, after whom the city is named.  It is distinct from Quezon Province.

It served as the official capital of the Philippines from 1948 to 1976 before capital status returned to Manila.  The city is designed as a planned community to relieve congestion in Manila.

The busy major commercial and business district of Cubao

Cubao District as captured from Cubao MRT Station (Models: My wife and son)

A train approaching Cubao MRT Station

The Sunken Garden of the University of the Philippines Diliman Campus

TAGUIG CITY

The modern business district of Bonifacio Global City (BGC)