Manila

:For other meanings of the word, see Manila (disambiguation).

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Manila (Filipino: Maynila) is the capital city of the Philippines. The city stands on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on the largest and northernmost Philippine island, Luzon. Despite pockets of grinding poverty, it is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world and its metropolitan area is the country's economic, cultural, educational, and industrial center.

Related Topics:
Filipino - Philippines - Manila Bay - Luzon

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Manila is the hub of a thriving metropolitan area of more than 10 million people. The Metro Manila area, to where the City of Manila belongs, is a much bigger metropolis consisting of 17 cities and municipalities. This article discusses the city itself; see Metro Manila for the article on the metropolis.

Related Topics:
Metro Manila

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The city itself is the Philippines' second most populous city at more than 1.5 million inhabitants. Only Quezon City, a suburb and the country's former capital, is more populous. Manila is located at 14°35' North, 121°0' East (14.58333, 121.0). http://earth-info.nga.mil/gns/html/cntry_files.html

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In the 16th century, Manila grew from a Muslim settlement called May Nilad on the banks of the Pasig River into the seat of the colonial government of Spain when it controlled the Philippine Islands for 333 years. In 1898 the U.S. occupied and controlled the archipelago until 1935 and Manila became an internationally-known city in the Orient. During World War II, much of the city was destroyed, but was eventually rebuilt. In 1975, to better manage the affairs of the fast-growing region, the city of Manila and the surrounding towns and cities were incorporated into an independent entity, Metropolitan Manila. This was enacted on November 8, 1975 via Presidential Decree # 824 by former president Ferdinand Marcos calling for a creation of a Metropolitan Manila Commission, its function now being carried out by the Metro Manila Development Authority. Today, the city and the metropolis thrives as an important cultural and economic center. However, overpopulation, traffic congestion, pollution, and crime challenge the city.

Related Topics:
16th century - Muslim - Settlement - Pasig River - Colonial - Spain - 1975 - Ferdinand Marcos - Metropolitan Manila Commission - Metro Manila Development Authority

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The Seal of Manila depicts the words Lungsod ng Maynila and Pilipinas, Filipino for City of Manila and Philippines, in a circle around a shield. The circle also contains six yellow stars representing the city's six congressional districts. The shield, in the shape of pre-colonial people's shield, depicts the city's nickname Pearl of the Orient on top; a sea lion in the middle, in reference to the city's Spanish influences; and the waves of the Pasig River and Manila Bay in the bottom portion. The colors of the seal mirror that of the Flag of the Philippines.

Related Topics:
Filipino - Pasig River - Manila Bay - Flag of the Philippines

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