From Wikitravel

Metro Manila (Filipino: Kalakhang Maynila) is the National Capital Region and the prime tourist destination in the Philippines. The metropolis is the Philippines' center of commerce, education, and entertainment. It is located on the island of Luzon, bordered by the province of Bulacan on the North, Rizal on the east, Laguna in the south and Manila Bay in the west. Though it is the smallest region in the country, Metro Manila has the highest population with almost 15 million inhabitants.

[edit] Cities

• City of Manila
• Quezon City also has its share of large shopping malls, and electronic and automotive parts discount centers. The Ortigas Center at the confluence of Quezon City, Mandaluyong and San Juan is also a shopper's paradise.
• Caloocan City the main hub of people from the Northern Philippines. Known to be one of the 4 original cities of Metro Manila, along side Manila, Quezon City, and Pasay City.
• Pasay City
• Pasig city
• Makati City - Metro Manila's business district with tall buildings, luxurious hotels, vast shopping malls, lively entertainment spots, and numerous restaurants.
• Mandaluyong City
• Marikina City
• Valenzuela City
• Muntinlupa City
• Parañaque City
• Las Piñas City
• Malabon City
• Taguig City

[edit] Other destinations

• Pateros
• San Juan
• Navotas
• Alabang

[edit] Understand

Locals refer to Metro Manila simply as Manila. However, the City of Manila forms only the city proper of Metro Manila. Consist of 17 cities and 3 municipalities in 630 square kilometers, the metro is an ideal destination to consider. As the national capital region, Metro Manila is the center of Philippine culture, arts, commerce, industry, and tourism.

[edit] Talk

Communication with the locals is easy. English is the primary language of trade, government, media and education not only in Metro Manila but in the whole Philippines as well. Spanish-speakers will also find it easy to understand the local dialect, Tagalog, since 40% of its vocabulary is Spanish-derived.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By air

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Filipino: Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Ninoy Aquino) (IATA: MNL) (ICAO: RPLL) Metro Manila is the primary gateway to the Philippines. This airport, caters to regular flights from China, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, United States, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.

From overseas, most visitors arrive by plane. Manila is served by three international airports. Philippine Airlines (PAL) has its own terminal, called Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 (NAIA 2), that serves both international and domestic flights. PAL usually provides seamless transfers between their international and domestic network whereas you would generally not be given this service on other carriers.

All other international airlines use NAIA Terminal 1, which is due to be replaced by the newly built modern NAIA Terminal 3 (NAIA 3) in 2007; while other domestic airlines use the old domestic airport which is about a 5 to 10 minute ride from Terminal 1. Be wary of this if you have a connection between a domestic and international flight arriving/departing from these airports.

Coupon (pre-paid) taxis are available at the airports to bring you to your hotel or wherever you may be going. Rates are fixed and dependent on the destination and generally are more expensive compared to what you would pay in a metered taxi. Coupon taxi counters usually are found immediately after exiting customs in both Terminals 1 and 2. Expect to pay somewhere between 10 to 15 USD for destinations within Metro Manila. The usual metered taxis are generally not allowed at the Arrival Terminal so you would either need to catch one unloading at the Departure Area or outside the airport complex. This may be easier said than done however, particularly when lugging around kilos upon kilos of baggage.

Apart from taxis, there are no regular public transport services to the airports except for buses and jeepneys plying routes that pass nearby. It will take a few minutes' walk however before you get to a place where you can board and all this effort may not be worth the hassle so most opt to take the coupon taxis.

Low cost carriers such as Air Asia[1] and Tiger Airways utilize the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, Pampanga, which is a 2-hour drive north of Manila. These airlines have dedicated bus transfer services that transport passengers to and from the DMIA via newly renovated toll roads. You can catch the bus by Philtranco [2] either from it's terminal in Pasay City, Manila or from SM Megamall (behind building A) in Mandaluyong, Manila. From Pasay the fare is 350 pesos and from SM Megamall 300 pesos. Departure tax for this airport has been increased to 500 peso.

[edit] By boat

• Ferries run all over the Philippines, but should you not reserve a first class cabin be prepared for uncomfortable cramped conditions. There seems to be lax enforcement of Western safety standards.

• Supercats and fastcrafts connect short distances between islands on high-speed air-conditioned hydrofoil crafts. Not only do they provide a faster option than ordinary ferries, they are also much better maintained and have a remarkable safety record. Among the major routes serviced by fastcrafts in and around Manila are: Manila-Bataan, Manila-Cavite and Batangas-Puerto Galera.

[edit] By bus

• The Strong Republic Nautical Highway has made inter-island travel by bus possible. Major islands are connected by Roll On - Roll Off ferries which can carry cars, buses and cargo trucks. An example is the Manila to Boracay route which goes via Batangas, Calapan and Roxas in Mindoro then Caticlan. Philtranco [3] serves various inter-island routes and has a terminal in Cubao, Quezon City. Needless to say however that these trips can take quite a bit of time and may not be worth the savings if you have only a few days to spend in the Philippines.

• Normal provincial buses serving other parts of Luzon also have terminals in various portions of Metro Manila. The Cubao area in Quezon City and the Bonifacio Monument area in Kalookan City is where buses serving the northern portions of Luzon (e.g. Baguio, Zambales) have their terminals.

• The Buendia Ave. cor Taft Ave. intersection in Makati and the area near the Taft Ave. and EDSA intersection in Pasay is where buses from the south (e.g. Batangas, Laguna) have their terminals.

[edit] Get around

[edit] By car

The metropolis has an extensive system of highways connecting the various cities and municipalities. The major roads include ten radial roads, which branch out from central Manila and five circumferential roads which form concentric arcs around downtown Manila. Most of these roads are very important transportation arteries. One is the C-4 (Circumferential Road 4) also called Epifanio de los Santos Avenue or more popularly known as EDSA. Some other other important roads are R-1 (Radial Road 1) or Coastal Road/Manila-Cavite Road; R-3 or South Luzon Expressway (SLEX); R-7, which consists of Espana Avenue, Quezon Avenue, and Commonwealth Avenue; R-8 or the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX); and C-5 going from Bicutan to Libis (simply referred to as C-5).

However, driving in a private car is not recommended for people who are unfamiliar with Manila because many drivers there ignore such things as stoplights and lane markings and most also have no idea what right of way means (although this behavior has been decreasing significantly over the years). Public transport is very cheap however but may get very crowded during the rush hours in the morning and early evening (7 AM to 10 AM and 4 PM to 7 PM). Traffic also tends to crawl during these times so best avoid being on the move in these occasions. Another fact to take note is, just like any city in South-East Asia, drivers in Manila tend to be reckless, but road signages are very common, though some are not that visible, and are also well abided and respected by at least 75% of Manila drivers despite the fact that this signages are quite different from international standards because of its very dominant pink color.

When driving, be cautious of pedestrians crossing illegally. Be also aware when driving in narrow streets, where children usually play, given Manila is a crowdy metropolis. Be also aware of the existing Number-Coding Scheme, where some vehicles are not allowed to ply Metro Manila streets from 7AM to 10AM, and from 3PM to 7PM, Mondays to Fridays, i.e. cars with license plates ending in numbers 1 and 2 should not go out of the street on the said schedule every Mondays, 3 and 4 every Tuesdays, and so on and so forth.

[edit] By jeepney

Jeepneys are evolved versions of the Jeep which American Armed Force units used as utility vehicles during the war years. Usually built with a reconditioned surplus diesel engine from Japan coupled to a locally fabricated chassis, jeepneys come in a wide range of colors and decorations that are limited only by the owner's/driver's imagination and taste. Over time, it has become the most common means of public transport in the Philippines. Recently however, the introduction of more modern buses as well as the more efficient LRT and MRT have lessened the importance of the jeepney. They still do travel all over the city, particularly in routes which are too small to be serviced by buses - but know exactly where you are headed before getting on. Once inside, pay directly to the driver by telling him where you want to get off and how many people you are paying for. The fare structure begins with a minimum fare for the first four kilometers and increases every additional kilometer thereafter. As of Jan '06 minimum fare is P 7.50 (14 US cts) while the per kilometer additional fare is P 1.25. You can also request the driver to inform you that you are near to your destination. Note that loading and unloading zones for jeepneys are rarely followed so people hop on and get off practically at will. Caution - Jeeps are designed to carry small people - and can get very cramped for anyone over 6ft tall particularly if the jeepney is fully loaded! Jeepneys can usually sit anywhere from 12 to 14 people.

[edit] By taxi

Taxis are very affordable by western standards but pretty expensive for locals and almost all are now air-conditioned and use a meter to compute for the final fare. The taxi rates start at PHP 30 (USD 0.67) for the first 500 metres and an extra PHP 2.5 (USD 0.06) for every succeeding 300-metres or 2 minutes of stopping. In addition to this, due to rising petroleum prices, PHP 10 (USD 0.22) will be added to the figure on the metre to get the final fare. For example, if the meter reads PHP 125, you will need to pay PHP 135.

Some drivers may take advantage of tourists, but closer regulation by authorities and even by mall operators, are curbing this practice slowly. Many taxis are in a poor state of repair and drivers drive erratically. When hiring a taxi, make sure that the meter starts at 30 Pesos. The LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) has now instituted hotline numbers to report erring drivers. Just take note of the cab name and number. Mall operators also closely monitor the operations of taxis that use their taxi racks by ensuring that cab drivers do not choose only passengers bound for nearby destinations. Do not hire taxis waiting at bus terminals; they will charge much higher fare (100% more than normal fare). Just walk out from any main bus terminal, and you will find plenty of cabs. Be wary especially during traffic as drivers will ask for a minimum fare higher than what the meter requires you to pay. Also during rush hour (both morning and evening), it is not unusual to see taxi drivers hesitant to drive you if your destination involves crossing EDSA.

[edit] By bus

Buses are common in the major thoroughfares of Metro Manila and most will pass through EDSA. The common routes are as follows:

• Baclaran-Navotas (via EDSA and Ayala or via EDSA alone)
• Baclaran-SM Fairview (via EDSA and Ayala)
• Baclaran-Malanday (via EDSA and Ayala)
• Baclaran-Novaliches (via EDSA and north Luzon Expressway)
• Baclaran-Sta. Maria Bulacan (via EDSA and Ayala and North Luzon Expressway or MacArthur Highway)
• Grotto-NAIA (the airport in Paranaque and will pass through EDSA and SM Fairview)
• Malanday-NAIA (via EDSA)
• Alabang/Pacita-Navotas (via south Luzon Expressway and EDSA)
• Alabang-Malanday (via south Luzon Expressway and EDSA)
• Alabang-SM Fairview (via south Luzon Expressway and EDSA)
• Alabang/Pacita-Novaliches (via south Luzon Expressway, EDSA and north Luzon Expressway)

There are both ordinary and air-conditioned buses available. Conductors collect your fare once on board and they are ready with change although it is suggested you have coins during morning rush-hours ready. Just tell him/her where you want to get off. Like the jeepneys, buses do not have route numbers identifying their routes and often do not observe loading and unloading areas except for some highly regulated zones where they are bound to get a ticket for not doing so. As such, it is not uncommon for people to get on and off in odd places. Buses sometimes load and unload in the middle of the road and couldn't care less about the traffic they may cause. Furthermore, they don't have a timetable for when to stop at a particular area although buses bound to the same place stop at a particular area seconds from each other. The fare structure of buses is almost the same as that of jeepneys where a fare matrix is provided and fares increase at a constant rate per kilometre after the first few kilometres. While EDSA has a bus lane (two lanes wide on each side), these are generally packed with buses from city/provincial routes funneling down the thorughfare, and are rarely followed. If your route/destination is along EDSA, it is best to take the MRT (see below) to avoid the traffic.

[edit] By minivan

FX (minivans) are a relatively new transport mode available now. They are more expensive than jeepneys, but cheaper than taxis. FX follow the jeepney practice of having a fixed route but like taxis are usually air-conditioned. You likely will have to share the ride as the FX can take up to 10 passengers at a time, but it's reasonably comfortable.

[edit] By tricycle

Tricycles (motorcycles with modified side cars) These are common for short trips in areas where jeepneys do not travel. In Manila proper you are unlikely to see any. However, in outlying suburbs and towns they are more common. Another variant is the pedicab which is merely a bicycle with a side car.

[edit] By rail

Travelling by rail is so far, the safest option. Here are some options to choose from:

• MRT The Metro Rail Transit [4] is a light rail transit system that runs along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue or EDSA, one of the main thoroughfares in Metro Manila. The MRT runs from the North Avenue Station in Quezon City to the Taft Avenue Station in Pasay City. Fares are cheap (15 pesos for the entire length) and it is air conditioned albeit quite crowded during the morning and early evening rush hours. Entering the system requires a ticket which like other countries, must be inserted onto the turnstile.

• There is also the LRT which is run by the Light Rail Transit Authority or LRTA [5]. The LRT has two lines. Line 1 runs along Taft Avenue from Baclaran in Paranaque to the Bonifacio Monument in Kalookan City. Line 2 runs from Santolan in Pasig to Recto in the heart of downtown Manila. There 1 transfer between both lines (Dorroteo Jose/Recto station), Line 1 and the MRT (EDSA/Taft Avenue station), and Line 2 and the MRT (at the Araneta Centre-Cubao station). However, unlike most other city mass transportation systems, to transfer you will have to exit the system and pay another full fare ticket to enter the other line's system. Fares and the ticketing system are similar with the MRT but you can't use a Line 1 ticket at a Line 2 ticket and vice versa.

[edit] On foot

It is not recommended to walk in Manila since many street sides are infested with vendors and peddlers. If walking is inevitable, just remember that you should always walk on areas were pedestrians walk (common sense), and crossing a street is not a problem, if you know how to cross the street correctly.

Walking at night is not also recommended, especially for women. Walking in groups is a safe option if you are going at night.

[edit][add listing] See

One should see Metro Manila's numerous attractions.

[edit] Plazas, Parks and Nature Reserves

• Jaro, Leyte Park
• Luneta Park
• Manila Zoological and Botannical Gardens
• Ninoy Aquino Wildlife Center
• La Mesa Dam EcoPark
• Quezon Memorial Circle
• Greenbelt Park
• Plaza de Roma
• Plaza de Goiti
• Plaza Miranda
• Ocean Park

[edit] Churches

• Manila Cathedral (Basilica Minore de la Immaculada Concepcion)
• San Agustin Church
• Baclaran Church (Redemptorist Church)
• Malate Church (Remedios Church)
• Binondo Church (Basilica Minore de San Lorenzo Ruiz)
• Quiapo Church (Basilica Minore de Jesus Nazareno)
• Sanctuario de San Antonio
• Epifanio de los Santos Shrine

[edit] Museums

• The National Museum of the Filipino People
• Metropolitan Museum
• Filipinas Heritage Library
• Ateneo Art Gallery
• Ayala Museum
• Lopez Museum
• The Museum at De La Salle University-Manila
• Museum of Contemporary Art and Design at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

[edit] Monuments

• Monumento de la Revolucion
• Rizal Monument
• People Power Monument
• Quezon Monument
• Bonifacio Monument

[edit] Itineraries

[edit][add listing] Buy

There are generally two kinds of shopping destinations in Manila: the mall and the tiangge ("chang-ghe"). The Manila mall is more than just a shopping experience but a cultural destination as well. The largest malls in Metro Manila are practically their own cities within the city: complete with boutiques, supermarkets, department stores, restaurants, cinemas, medical facilities, hotels, schools, offices, gyms, serviced apartments, spas, convention centers, art galleries, bowling alleys, museums, ice skating rinks, and even a chapel for Sunday masses.

There are numerous malls around Metro Manila. Most of them are actually in the heart of the city and commercial districts which on the positive side makes them so accessible. Due to their location, they also tend to create huge traffic jams.

In Pasay City, near the waterfront is SM Mall Of Asia, which, by most accounts, is the second largest in Asia and the third largest mall in the world. In Manila itself, SM City Manila is a stone's throw away from Manila City Hall. It is a short jeepney or cab ride away from the Rizal Park and Baywalk areas. LRT Line 1 passes in front of the mall, and Central Terminal is a short distance away. A short walk away from the Pedro Gil station of LRT Line 1 is Robinson's Place.

In Makati, there is the sprawling Ayala Center: an interconnected shopping complex comprised of Glorietta Shopping Mall, Landmark, Shoemart and Greenbelt. Ayala Center is accessible via the MRT Ayala Station. Several major hotels such as the Makati Shangrila, Hotel Intercontinental, Mandarin and Manila Peninsula are within a short distance away from the Ayala Center. You should allocate at least half a day for this shopping area as it is much larger than you think. It appears that the interconnected malls are much larger than SM Mall of Asia.

In Mandaluyong City, there is the Shangri-La Mall and the extremely vast SM Megamall. These malls are a short walk away from the MRT Shaw Boulevard Station. A block away at Ortigas Avenue is another mall, Robinson's Galleria, which is nearer to the MRT Ortigas Station. A short jeepney or cab ride from Robinson's Galleria is the Greenhills Shopping Center, which has both a mall and tiangge within its shopping complex. At the northern end of the MRT in Quezon City is the historic Araneta Center (MRT Cubao - Araneta Center Station) and SM City North Edsa (MRT North Avenue Terminal).

In February 2006, Manila upped the ante on shopping malling with the opening of the gargantuan SM Mall of Asia exactly adjacent to Manila Bay, said to be the largest mall in the region. Simply put, shopping malls abound in Metro Manila, and the shopping experience is second to none, even by western standards.

However, if you wish to experience the "ultimate Manila shopping experience", one has to shop at a tiangge. Tiangges are small makeshift stalls clustered together that sell anything and everything you can imagine. But at bargain basement prices. In these places, one has to haggle, particularly if you are buying wholesale (defined as at least six pieces of the same item). The best tiangge complexes are in the Greenhills Shopping Center, Tiendesitas, Market! Market!, St. Francis Square, Tutuban Center Mall, Divisoria Mall, and 168 Mall. Go crazy buying quality clothes and shoes, pretty fashion jewelry and things for the house at very reasonable prices!

• Ayala Center
• SM Mall of Asia
• Ortigas Center
• Greenhills
• Divisoria
• SM North EDSA

Metro Manila is by-far the most expensive urbanized area in the Philippines, but cheaper compared to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Brunei, but pricier than Jakarta and Bangkok.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Greenbelt Lifestyle Center
• Tomas Morato
• The Promenade at Greenhills
• Baywalk
• Eastwood
• Fort Strip at Taguig
• Serendra located in Global City

[edit][add listing] Drink

The epicenter of Metro Manila's famous nightlife is the Greenbelt in Makati where some of the city's best restaurants, cafes, bars and karaoke joints cluster around a park in the middle of the main business district. Bohemian Malate and the adjoining Baywalk contain a variety of venues serving a combination of food, comedy, alcohol and live music. Other nightlife clusters in the Metro are Eastwood, Araneta Center, Marikina and Timog.

The introduction of American hip hop music has had a noticeable effect on Philippine night life, serving as the soundtrack to a high-spirited Manila youth culture. Many nightclubs now rival first-world standards both in terms of luxury and vibrancy.

Additionally, there are numerous venues in which to catch elements of an active Philippine alternative rock community. Some venues, such as saGuijo Cafe in Makati, have risen to some prominence.

[edit] Stay safe

Aside from pickpockets and cellphone-snatching, Manila is relatively safe for almost all tourists, especially Caucasian-looking people, and nowadays, Koreans. Tourists are expected to receive warm welcome from locals if they are somewhat connected to the locals (for example, your are married to a local, or you have a boyfriend/girlfriend who is a local).

Violent crime is quite evident in some parts of the metro, but this usually happens among locals, and tourists shouldn't be worry, since police visibility is very high, with frequent police patrol cars plying within Metro Manila, especially touristy areas.

Bag-snatching is also common, but of course, common sense will do good. This incidents are of less frequency to tourists compared to neighboring cities, notably Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, and most victims are locals.

Be also aware of stray dogs, but they are very very rare in Manila City proper and Makati CBD, and can only be seen in residential outskirts and non-commercialized suburbs of Metro Manila.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• A. Venue Hotel Suites Avenue Hotel Suites, Antel Lifestyle City, Makati Avenue, Makati City, Philippines, ☎ (632) 757.2615. A luxury hotel located right in the heart of Makati’s business district. It offers world class restaurants, function rooms, and comfortable accommodations. Starts at Php3,800.

• Nichols Airport Hotel Quirino Avenue, Paranaque, Metro Manila. Nichols Airport Hotel provides comfortable air-conditioned accommodations with room service, airport and city transfers, and other travel-friendly services.

[edit] Get out

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