--- title: Metro Manila — English Wikipedia · full text with trees description: Wikipedia's «Metro Manila», whole, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics, CC BY-SA 4.0. It begins: Metropolitan Manila (Kalakhang Maynila kalakˌhaŋ maɪˈnilaʔ), commonly shortened to Metro Manila and formally the National Capital Region (NCR; Pambansang Punong Rehiyon), is the capita --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Metro_Manila/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/) / [en](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/) / Metro Manila # Metro Manila From Wikipedia, [«Metro Manila»](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Manila), revision of the 2026-09-01 dump, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The trees and pragmatics of these pages, Mova's parse of that text, are CC BY-SA 4.0 too. The English Wikipedia article «Metro Manila», whole: 53 sections, 544 sentences and 12439 words, its 184 notes at the end. The marks in brackets «[n]» are Wikipedia's own, each leading to its note and source; the small number after every sentence leads to the sentence's own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Metro_Manila/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Metro_Manila/page/3/) [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Metro_Manila/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Metro_Manila/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Metro_Manila/page/6/) | Facts | | | --- | --- | | | **Metro Manila · Kalakhang Maynila · Kamaynilaan** | | | **[Metropolitan area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metropolitan_areas_in_the_Philippines) and [region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_the_Philippines)** | | | National Capital Region | | | Motto(s):; Dangal nitong Bayan!; ("Honor of the Nation!") | | | Anthem: NCR Hymn | | | Metro Manila in the Philippines | | | Coordinates: | | [Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_the_Philippines) | [Luzon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luzon) | | Managing entity | [Metropolitan Manila Development Authority](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Manila_Development_Authority) | | Established | November 7, 1975[\[1\]](page/6/#ref-1 "note 1") (as a public corporation); January 23, 1976 (as a region)[\[2\]](page/6/#ref-2 "note 2"); June 2, 1978[\[3\]](page/6/#ref-3 "note 3") (as the NCR) | | **Government** | | | • Type | [Metropolitan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_area) government under a [decentralized](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decentralization) framework[\[4\]](page/6/#ref-4 "note 4") | | • Body | [Metropolitan Manila Development Authority](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Manila_Development_Authority) | | • [MMDA Chairman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chairperson_of_the_Metropolitan_Manila_Development_Authority) | Romando Artes | | • Metro Manila Council President | [Francis Zamora](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Zamora) | | **Area** | | | • Region | 636.00 km² (245.56 sq mi) | | • Metro | 7,967.95 km² (3,076.44 sq mi) | | **Population ()** | | | • Rank | [2nd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_the_Philippines) region in the Philippines; [10th](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Asian_cities_by_population_within_city_limits) in Asia | | • [Metro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_area) [\[5\]](page/6/#ref-5 "note 5") | 26,700,000 | | • Metro density | 3,350.9/km² (8,678.9/sq mi) | | Demonym(s) | English: Manilan, Manileño;; Spanish: manilense, manileño(-a); Filipino: Manileño(-a), Manilenyo(-a), taga-Maynila | | **GDP (Nominal, 2025) [\[6\]](page/6/#ref-6 "note 6")** | | | • Region | [US$](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US$)152.250 billion | | • Per capita | US$10,984 | | [Time zone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_zone) | [UTC+8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UTC+8) ([PST](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Standard_Time)) | | [Languages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_Philippines) | [Filipino](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipino_language) (official and lingua franca); others | | [HDI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index) | 0.764 ()[\[7\]](page/6/#ref-7 "note 7") | | HDI rank | [1st](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Philippine_provinces_by_Human_Development_Index) (2023) | Metropolitan Manila[\[1\]](page/6/#ref-1 "note 1") (Kalakhang Maynila kalakˌhaŋ maɪˈnilaʔ), commonly shortened to Metro Manila[\[10\]](page/6/#ref-10 "note 10") and formally the National Capital Region (NCR;[\[3\]](page/6/#ref-3 "note 3") Pambansang Punong Rehiyon),[\[11\]](page/6/#ref-11 "note 11") is the [capital region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_region) and largest [metropolitan area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metropolitan_areas_in_the_Philippines) of the [Philippines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines) [corpus](../Philippines/ "in our corpus").[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") It encompasses an area of 636.00 km2 and the [region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_the_Philippines) has a population of as of 2024, making it the second most populous region in the country after [Calabarzon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calabarzon).[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Metro Manila is the [7th most populous metropolitan area in Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metropolitan_areas_in_Asia) and the [8th most populous urban area in the world](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_cities).[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") With [Manila Bay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_Bay) to its west and the [Laguna de Bay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laguna_de_Bay) to its east, Metro Manila lies between the [Central Luzon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Luzon) and [Calabarzon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calabarzon) regions.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Metro Manila is made up of sixteen [highly urbanized cities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cities_of_the_Philippines#Legal_classification): [Manila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila) [corpus](../Manila/ "in our corpus")—the [capital city](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_of_the_Philippines)—[Caloocan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caloocan), [Las Piñas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Piñas), [Makati](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makati), [Malabon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malabon), [Mandaluyong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandaluyong), [Marikina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marikina), [Muntinlupa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muntinlupa), [Navotas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navotas), [Parañaque](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parañaque), [Pasay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasay), [Pasig](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasig), [Quezon City](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quezon_City), [San Juan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Juan,_Metro_Manila), [Taguig](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taguig), and [Valenzuela](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valenzuela,_Metro_Manila), along with one independent municipality, [Pateros](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pateros).[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Metro Manila is a [global center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_city) of [finance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_centre) and [commerce](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_Philippines), [culture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_the_Philippines), [technology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_tech), entertainment and [media](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_media_in_the_Philippines), [academics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_Philippines), the arts and fashion, [politics and governance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_the_Philippines), and international diplomacy.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") The region accounts for 36% of the [gross domestic product](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_domestic_product) (GDP) of the Philippines.[\[12\]](page/6/#ref-12 "note 12")[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") [Greater Manila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Manila_Area), the contiguous urbanized region surrounding the metropolis, is the [fourth largest ASEAN country subdivision by GDP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ASEAN_country_subdivisions_by_GDP), after [Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore) [corpus](../Singapore/ "in our corpus"), and the [Jakarta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakarta_metropolitan_area), and [Bangkok](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangkok_Metropolitan_Region) metropolitan regions.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1975, in response to the need to sustain and provide integrated services to the growing population, the [built-up area centered on Manila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Manila_Area) was formally recognized as a metropolitan area through Presidential Decree No. 824.[\[1\]](page/6/#ref-1 "note 1")[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") A year later, Presidential Decree No. 879 established Metro Manila as an administrative region, retaining its earlier status as a metropolis, and designated it as Region IV, with the remainder of the [Southern Tagalog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Tagalog) region being designated as Region IV-A.[\[2\]](page/6/#ref-2 "note 2")[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") Finally, in 1978, Metro Manila became the National Capital Region (NCR) of the Philippines, discontinuing its numerical designation and reverting Southern Tagalog to its original designation.[\[3\]](page/6/#ref-3 "note 3")[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") Metro Manila, as the center for international diplomacy of the Philippines, is where all of the embassies of other countries are located.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") It hosted the 1987, [2017](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_ASEAN_Summits), and [2026](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_ASEAN_Summits) ASEAN summits.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") It is also home to the [Asian Development Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Development_Bank) and the [World Health Organization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organization) Western Pacific Regional Office.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Etymology See also: [Nicknames of Manila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicknames_of_Manila) The name Manila is derived from the Filipino term Maynilà, which is commonly interpreted as either "where indigo plants are abundant" (may-nilà) or "where nilad plants are abundant" (may-nilad).[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") The term nilà is believed to originate from the [Sanskrit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit) word nīla (नील), meaning "indigo," and by extension referring to various plants used in producing natural [indigo dye](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigo_dye).[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") It is thought that the name Maynilà was given due to the presence of such dye-producing plants in the area surrounding the early settlement, rather than because of an established trade in indigo.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") Notably, indigo dye production only became economically significant in the region during the 18th century, several centuries after the settlement had already been established and named.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") Over time, Maynilà underwent Hispanicization during the [Spanish colonial period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Philippines_%281565–1898%29), eventually adopting the name Manila.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") ### May-nilà Nilà is derived from the [Sanskrit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit) word, which refers to [indigo dye](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigo_dye) and, by extension, to [several plant species](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigofera) from which this natural dye can be extracted.[\[13\]](page/6/#ref-13 "note 13")[\[14\]](page/6/#ref-14 "note 14")[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") The name Maynilà was probably bestowed because of the indigo-yielding plants that grew in the area surrounding the settlement rather than because it was known as a settlement that traded in indigo dye.[\[13\]](page/6/#ref-13 "note 13")[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Indigo dye extraction only became an important economic activity in the area in the 18th century, several hundred years after [Maynila settlement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajahnate_of_Maynila) was founded and named.[\[13\]](page/6/#ref-13 "note 13")[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") Maynilà eventually underwent a process of [Hispanicization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanicization) and adopted the Spanish name Manila.[\[15\]](page/6/#ref-15 "note 15")[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") ### May-nilad This etymology arose from the observation that, in [Tagalog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagalog_language), nilad or nilar refers to a shrub-like tree ([Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scyphiphora_hydrophyllacea); formerly Ixora manila Blanco) that grows in or near [mangrove](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangrove) swamps.[\[13\]](page/6/#ref-13 "note 13")[\[16\]](page/6/#ref-16 "note 16")[\[17\]](page/6/#ref-17 "note 17")[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") However, Baumgartner explained that it is unlikely that native Tagalog speakers would completely drop the final consonant /d/ in nilad to arrive at the present form Maynilà.[\[13\]](page/6/#ref-13 "note 13")[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") As an example, nearby [Bacoor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacoor) retains the final consonant of the old Tagalog word bakoód ("elevated piece of land"), even in old Spanish renderings of the placename (e.g., Vacol, Bacor).[\[18\]](page/6/#ref-18 "note 18")[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Linguist Vic Romero contends that it is actually not impossible for final consonant /d/ to shift into a glottal stop such as in mapalad to pinagpalà and hangád to hangà.[\[19\]](page/6/#ref-19 "note 19")[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") The earliest known reference to this etymology was in the third volume of [John Ray's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ray) Historia Plantarum in 1704, originally lifted from the Herbarium aliarumque Stirpium in Insula Luzone Philippinarum primaria nascentium... by Fr.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") Georg Josef Kamel, and he mentioned that:[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") Nilad arbor mediocris, rarissimi recta, ligno folido, et compacto ut Molavin, ubi abundant Mangle, locum vocant Manglar, ita ubi nilad, Maynilad, unde corrupte Manila (Nilad is an average tree, very rare straight, leafy wood, and compact like Molavin, where Mangle abounds, the place is called Manglar, so where nilad (abounds), Maynilad, whence the corruption Manila).[\[19\]](page/6/#ref-19 "note 19")[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Examples of popular adoption of this etymology include the name of a local utility company, [Maynilad Water Services](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maynilad_Water_Services), and the name of an underpass close to [Manila City Hall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_City_Hall), the Lagusnilad (meaning "Nilad Pass").[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") ## History See also: [History of Manila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Manila) Further information: [Capital of the Philippines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_of_the_Philippines) ### Kingdom of Maynila Further information: [Maynila (historical polity)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maynila_%28historical_polity%29) [Manila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila) [corpus](../Manila/ "in our corpus"), to the extent that it has this placename, was likely founded in the [Middle Ages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages), in the early 16th century[\[20\]](page/6/#ref-20 "note 20") due to the Sanskrit origin of the component "nila" in its name which refers to "indigo",[\[13\]](page/6/#ref-13 "note 13") and the prevalence of the placename during the rule of [Rajah Matanda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajah_Matanda), the old king of [Maynila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maynila_%28historical_polity%29), who was born somewhere between the late 15th century to the early 16th century.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") The earliest evidence of Hinduism and Sanskrit influence in [Maritime Southeast Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_Southeast_Asia) is in Sanskrit inscriptions from the late 300s in eastern [Kalimantan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalimantan) ([Borneo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borneo)).[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") This analysis of the placename is supported by many other nearby placenames in the Tagalog region with the prefix "may-".[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") [Manila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila) [corpus](../Manila/ "in our corpus") has historically been a [global city](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_city) due to its role in international trade.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") During the 15th and 16th centuries, Manila was a walled and fortified city and was capital of the Kingdom of Luzon.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") Its institution, government, and economy were associated with the [Tagalogs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagalog_people) and the [Kapampangans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapampangan_people), and the Malay language was extensively used for foreign affairs as customary in much of Southeast Asia at the time.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") It was also well known in other Southeast Asian kingdoms such as Cebu, Brunei, Melaka, other Malay kingdoms, and Ternate, and its existence as a center of trade was widely known in [East Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Asia) as far as China and Japan.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") In the current territory of Metropolitan Manila, there were several lordships that were either sovereign or tributary such as [Tondo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Tondo) (Tundun), [Navotas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navotas) (Nabútas), [Tambobong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malabon) (Tambúbong), [Taguig](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taguig) (Tagiig), [Parañaque](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parañaque) (Palanyág) and [Cainta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cainta_%28historical_polity%29) (Kaintâ).[\[21\]](page/6/#ref-21 "note 21")[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") Shortly after Rajah Matanda's birth, sometime around the early 16th century while he was rajahmuda or [heir apparent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heir_apparent), his father, the King of Luzon, died, leaving his mother as the [queen regent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regent) of Luzon.[\[22\]](page/6/#ref-22 "note 22")[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") By 1511, Luzonians had been carrying out large-scale trade at least within maritime Southeast Asia with Luzonians being hired as officials in Melaka and merchants gaining royal favors in Brunei.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") It was in Melaka that Luzonians met the Portuguese before their eventual conquest of Melaka in 1511.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") Rajah Matanda, in 1521, was known in Maritime Southeast Asia as the son of the King of Luzon.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") He married a princess of Brunei and served as an admiral for his grandfather, the [Sultan of Brunei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_of_Brunei), in an attack near [Java](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java) in exchange for soldiers and a fleet of ships.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") On the way home, he met and had an encounter with a Castilian fleet.[\[23\]](page/6/#ref-23 "note 23")[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") Some Luzonians in the 1500s had also been taking part in mercenary work in other kingdoms.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") The Luzonians' commercial influence also reached as far as [Butuan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butuan_%28historical_polity%29).[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") By the 1570s, the ruling class of Manila together with the international Luzonian merchants were Muslim and Islam was spreading through the freemen and the slaves.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Spanish rule On May 24, 1570, the [Battle of Manila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Manila_%281570%29) was fought between the Kingdom of Luzon, under the command of the heir apparent Prince Sulayman, and the [Crown of Castile](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_of_Castile), under the command of field marshal [Martín de Goiti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martín_de_Goiti) who was aided by some foreign forces.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") Manila was burned and destroyed in the battle,[\[21\]](page/6/#ref-21 "note 21") and afterwards the Spanish set up a settlement to secure the territory on the same site for the Spanish ruler.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") Initially enclosed in wood, much later in stone, a new walled city of Manila became the capital of the [Spanish East Indies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_East_Indies).[\[21\]](page/6/#ref-21 "note 21")[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") After Manila was conquered by the Spaniards, the settlements of [Maynila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maynila_%28historical_polity%29), [Namayan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namayan) and [Tondo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tondo_%28historical_polity%29) were consolidated to form the province of [Manila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_%28province%29).[\[21\]](page/6/#ref-21 "note 21")[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") [Miguel López de Legazpi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_López_de_Legazpi) declared the area of Manila as the new capital of the Spanish colony on June 24, 1571, because of its strategic location and rich resources.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") He also proclaimed the [sovereignty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereignty) of the [Monarchy of Spain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Spain) over the [whole archipelago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Empire).[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") [King](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Spanish_monarchs) [Philip II of Spain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_II_of_Spain) delighted at the new conquest achieved by Legazpi and his men, awarding the city a [coat of arms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms) and declaring it as: Ciudad Insigne y Siempre Leal ([English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language): "Distinguished and Ever Loyal City").[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") It was settled and became the political, military, and religious center of the [Spanish Empire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Empire) in Asia.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") The city was in constant danger of natural and man-made disasters and worse, attacks from foreign invaders.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1574, a fleet of Chinese pirates led by [Limahong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limahong) attacked the city and destroyed it before the Spaniards drove them away.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") The colony had to be rebuilt again by the survivors.[\[24\]](page/6/#ref-24 "note 24")[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") These attacks prompted the construction of the wall.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") Outside the [Walled city of Manila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intramuros) has become the city's suburbs known as Extramuros (Outside the wall) made up of several pueblos, altogether making up the province known as Tondo which was established in January 1571 and would later on, be renamed as the province of Manila in 1859 with the city of Manila (Intramuros) as its capital.[\[25\]](page/6/#ref-25 "note 25")[\[26\]](page/6/#ref-26 "note 26")[\[27\]](page/6/#ref-27 "note 27")[\[28\]](page/6/#ref-28 "note 28")[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") In the short-lived [First Philippine Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Philippine_Republic), the province included the walled city of Manila and 23 other municipalities.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") [Mariquina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marikina) also served as the provincial capital of Manila from 1898 to 1899.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") However, despite almost the entirety of the territory being occupied by Philippine forces, the walled city of Manila remained under Spanish control.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") ### American rule and early 20th century Main article: [History of the Philippines (1898–1946)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Philippines_%281898–1946%29) After the [1898 Battle of Manila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Manila_%281898%29), Spain [ceded](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Paris_%281898%29) the city of Manila with the islands to the [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) [corpus](../United_States/ "in our corpus").[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") The [First Philippine Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Philippine_Republic) based in nearby [Bulacan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulacan) fought against the Americans for control of the city.[\[29\]](page/6/#ref-29 "note 29")[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") The Americans defeated the First Philippine Republic and captured [President](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_Philippines) [Emilio Aguinaldo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emilio_Aguinaldo), who subsequently pledged allegiance to the U.S. on April 1, 1901.[\[30\]](page/6/#ref-30 "note 30")[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") In drafting a new charter for Manila in June 1901, the U.S. officially recognised the city of Manila as comprising Intramuros and its surrounding arrabales (neighbourhoods).[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") The new charter defined Manila as comprising eleven municipal districts merged into one city: Intramuros, Binondo, [Ermita](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ermita), [Malate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malate,_Manila), [Paco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paco,_Manila), [Pandacan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandacan), [Sampaloc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampaloc,_Manila), [San Miguel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Miguel,_Manila), [Santa Ana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Ana,_Manila), [Santa Cruz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Cruz,_Manila), and [Tondo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tondo,_Manila).[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") Five parishes of the [Catholic Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_in_the_Philippines) were also recognized as part of Manila: Gagalangin, Trozo, Balic-Balic, [Santa Mesa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Mesa), and Singalong; Balut and [San Andrés](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Andres,_Manila) were later added as parts of the city.[\[31\]](page/6/#ref-31 "note 31")[\[32\]](page/6/#ref-32 "note 32")[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") Under U.S. control, a new, civilian-oriented [Insular Government](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insular_Government) headed by [Governor-General](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor-General_of_the_Philippines) [William Howard Taft](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Howard_Taft) invited city planner [Daniel Burnham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Burnham) (founder of the "[City Beautiful Movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Beautiful_Movement)") to adapt Manila to modern needs.[\[33\]](page/6/#ref-33 "note 33")[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") The 1905 [Burnham Plan of Manila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnham_Plan_of_Manila) recommended improving the city's transit systems by creating diagonal arteries radiating from the new central civic district into areas at the outskirts of the city.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") It included the development of a road system, the use of waterways for transportation, and the beautification of Manila with waterfront improvements and construction of parks, parkways, and buildings.[\[34\]](page/6/#ref-34 "note 34")[\[35\]](page/6/#ref-35 "note 35")[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") The planned buildings included a government center occupying all of Wallace Field, which extends from [Rizal Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rizal_Park) to [Taft Avenue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taft_Avenue).[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") The Philippine capitol was to rise at the Taft Avenue end of the field, facing the sea.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") Along with buildings for government bureaus and departments, it would form a quadrangle with a central lagoon and [the monument](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rizal_Monument) to [José Rizal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/José_Rizal) at the seaward end of the field.[\[36\]](page/6/#ref-36 "note 36")[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") Of Burnham's proposed government centers in [Luneta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luneta), only three units—the Legislative Building, and the buildings of the Finance and Agricultural Departments—were completed before [World War II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II).[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Metro_Manila/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Metro_Manila/page/3/) [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Metro_Manila/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Metro_Manila/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Metro_Manila/page/6/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Metro_Manila/page/2/) - ↑ back to [English Wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/)