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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
SAN JUAN CITY
San Juan City is the smallest highly urbanized city by land area of 5.95 square kilometers divided into 21 barangays across two legislative districts. It is bounded by Quezon City on the north and east, Mandaluyong on the south, and the City of Manila on the west.
It is formerly called San Juan del Monte ("St. John of the Mountain") after its hilly terrain and patron saint, St. John the Baptist. It is known as the site of the Battle of San Juan del Monte (Pinaglabanan), the first major battle of the Katipunan against the Spanish Empire in 1896. It was converted from municipality into a highly urbanized city in 2007.
It is where Greenhills Shopping Center is located, a famous commercial district known for its retail shops, tech gadgets, and bargain tiangge (bazaar) famous for pearls. Another landmark it has, is the Pinaglabanan Shrine, a historic park and monument dedicated to the heroes of the Philippine Revolution. It is also known for its Santolan Town Plaza, a modern lifestyle and dining hub.
The imposing skyscrapers of San Juan City (Photo credit: UP Philippines)
TAGUIG CITY
Taguig City is a major financial, commercial, and residential center in Metro Manila with a total land area of 45.21 square kilometers divided into 38 barangays. It is situated on the western shore of Laguna de Bay. It is known for blending historic origins as a fishing community with modern, high-density urban zones.
It is noted for the following features:
- Bonifacio Global City (BGC): A premier financial and lifestyle district filled with corporate headquarters, high-end malls, and public art.
- Mc McKinley Hill: An upscale residential and commercial township featuring European-inspired architecture, notably the Venice Grand Canal Mall.
- Parks and Recreation: Offers urban green spaces and recreational hubs like Bonifacio High Street and local city parks.
VALENZUELA CITY
Valenzuela City is a busy, first-class, highly urbanized city in Metro Manila located about 14 kilometers north of the capital city of Manila with an area of 47.02 square kilometers divided into 33 barangays. This city is known as the "Northern Gateway to Metropolitan Manila" because the MacArthur Highway and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) pass through it.
This city started as a small fishing community and was founded as the town of Polo in 1623 when it separated from Meycauayan, Bulacan. The town was later renamed after Dr. Pio Valenzuela, a famous local hero and leader of the Katipunan revolutionary society. It was chartered as a highly urbanized city in 1998.
The city is a major center for manufacturing and trade, featuring factories that produce food, plastics, metals, and textiles. Its local government is recognized nationally for good financial governance and smooth business processes.
It has the popular Valenzuela City People's Park - a popular public park with open spaces, exercise areas, and fountains. It also has the Museo Valenzuela, a cultural center highlighting local history and art. It also houses the major religious landmark National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima.
An aerial view of Valenzuela (Photo credit to Philippine Tourism)
THANKS FOR READING!
