Metropolitan Manila (Filipino: Kalakhang Maynila, Kamaynilaan), the National Capital Region (NCR) (Filipino: Pambansang Punong Rehiyon),

or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines. It is composed of 16 cities, namely Manila,Caloocan, Las Pias, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas,Pasay, Pasig, Paraaque, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, and Valenzuela, and theMunicipality of Pateros. The region is the political, economic, social, cultural, and educational center of the Philippines. As proclaimed by Presidential Decree No. 940, Metro Manila as a whole is the Philippines' seat of [4] government while the City of Manila is the capital. The largest city in the metropolis is Quezon City, while the largest business district is the Makati Central Business District. Metro Manila is the most populous of the twelve defined metropolitan areas in the Philippines and the 11th most populous in the world. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 11,855,975, comprising [2] 13% of the national population. The sum total population of provinces with a provincial density above 700 people per square kilometer (more than double the national average) in a contiguous zone with Metro Manila is 25.5 million people as of the 2007 census, one way to refer to the conurbation around Metro Manila is Greater Manila. Metro Manila's gross regional product is estimated as of July 2011 to be $149 billion and accounts for [5] 33% of the nation's GDP. In 2011, according toPricewaterhouseCoopers, it ranked as the 28th wealthiest urban agglomeration in the world and the 2nd in Southeast Asia.

[3]

Geography
Located at 1440' N 1213 E, Metro Manila is situated on an isthmus bounded by Laguna de Bay to the south-east and Manila Bay to the west. The metropolitan area lies on a wide flood plain composed mainly of alluvial soil deposits. The area is bounded by Bulacan to the north, Rizal to the east, Laguna to the south and Cavite to the southwest. The swampy isthmus on which the western metropolitan area partly lies has an average elevation of 10 meters. The eastern area lies on a ridge gradually rising towards the foothills of the Sierra Madre and overlooks the Marikina River valley, which is part swamp. The Pasig River bisects the isthmus and links the two bodies of water. From Laguna de Bay, it enters Taguig, and flows east-west through Pateros, Pasig, Makati, Mandaluyong and Manila before draining in Manila Bay. Its main tributary, the Marikina River, originates in the Sierra Madre mountain range in Rodriguez to the northeast of the city. The Marikina River runs north-south and meets with the Pasig in Pateros. Traversing the course of the Marikina River is the Marikina Valley Fault System, part of the seismically active network of fault lines surrounding Metro Manila placing it at serious risk of earthquakes.

CALOOCAN CITY The City of Caloocan (official name: Makasaysayang Lungsod ng Kalookan, The Historic City of Caloocan) is one of the cities and municipalities that comprises theMetro Manila region (National Capital Region) in the Philippines. It is a major residential area inside Metro Manila. Located just north of the capital City of Manila, Caloocan is the country's third most populous city with a population of 1,489,040 as of the 2010 census.

Geography
Caloocan City is divided into two separate areas. Southern Caloocan City lies directly north of the City of Manila and is bounded by Malabon City and Valenzuela City to the north and west, Navotas to the west, and Quezon City to the east. Northern Caloocan City is the northernmost territory of Metro Manila; it lies

east of Valenzuela City, north of Quezon City, and south of San Jose del Monte City, Meycauayan City and Marilaoin the province of Bulacan. Northern Caloocan City is much larger than its southern counterpart.

Barangays
Caloocan City is divided into 188 barangays. The city uses a hybrid system for its barangays - all barangays have their corresponding numbers but only a few - mostly in the northern part - have corresponding names. Among all cities in the Philippines, only Manila, Pasay City and Caloocan City implement the so called "Zone Systems". A Zone is a group of barangays in a district. Although a zone is considered a subdivision in the local government units, the people do not elect a leader for the zone in a popular election similar to the normal barangay or local elections. The zoning system is merely for strategical purposes. Caloocan City has 16 Zones. The biggest zone in Caloocan is Zone 15 located in District 1 (North Caloocan) directly west of the second biggest zone in Caloocan which is Zone 16. Barangay Bagong Silang (176) is the largest barangay in the country with a population of 221,874 people.

Demographics
As of 2010, the city has a population of 1,489,040 people which makes it the third largest city in the [1] Philippines in terms of population. Most of the people speak English and Filipino as their primary language. A considerable number of the population also speak other languages and dialects. Like many other places in the country, Roman Catholicism is the religion with most followers in the city, but there is a significant number of the members of Iglesia ni Cristo and other Christian denominations.

Las Pias
The City of Las Pias (Filipino: Lungsod ng Las Pias) is a city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines with a population of population was 552,573 as of the 2010 Census. It is bounded on the north and northeast by the Paraaque; on the east and southeast by Muntinlupa; on the south by the Imus; on the southwest and west byBacoor; and on the northwest by the scenic Manila Bay. Half of its land area is residential and the remaining half is used for commercial, industrial and institutional purposes. The present physiography of Las Pias consists of three zones: Manila Bay, coastal margin and Guadalupe Plateau. The city is bisected by Real (Spanish for Royal) Street, also known as the Alabang-Zapote Road. It forms part of the Maharlika Highway which spans the whole country. The AlabangZapote Road connects the South Luzon Expressway which passes through Muntinlupa in the east to the Coastal Road along Manila Bay. The Coastal Road, despite its name, is a major tollway which runs the southern length of Metro Manila's shoreline with Manila Bay. It is an important artery for people commuting to and from Las Pias and Cavite to Manila.

In 2004, a new road called "Daang Hari" (Tagalog for King's Way) was completed in the eastern part of Las Pias, which connects the city to the neighbouring cities ofBacoor, Cavite, Muntinlupa, and the municipality of San Pedro, Laguna allowing residents to avoid heavy traffic in the Zapote and Alabang (Muntinlupa) districts. Daang Hari is a popular route for cyclists, especially on weekends. Las Pias currently bans Plastics and Styrofoam for packaging like its neighboring city, Muntinlupa.

The City
Since its establishment as a small fishing port and a major salt-making center during the Spanish Era, Las Pias has grown into an important residential, commercial and industrial suburb of Metro Manila. Las Pias is famous for its Bamboo Organ, located inside the St. Joseph Church of the Parish of Las Pias, formerly known as San Jose Parish Church in the Spanish Period, as the only organ of its kind in the world. Built in 1824 by Catholic priest, Fr. Diego Cera, created out of bamboo, wood, and metal, this famous organ is praised for its unique, rare, and melodious sound. The Sarao Motors factory is also located in Las Pias, the place where Jeepneys are assembled piece by piece in painstaking individual production. The factory remains open to buyers and curious visitors all year round. Las Pias has a large shopping mall named SM Southmall, which has an area of 205,120 square meters and is located along AlabangZapote Road. The newest shopping mall development in the city is SM Center Las Pias, located few meters away from the City Hall. The first high rise building in the city is 16 story residential building Almanza Metropolis. Las Pias, also known as one of the cleanest cities in Metro Manila, is in the list of the "Clean and Green Hall of Fame" awarded by the Philippine Government. It is also the first local government unit in the Philippines that has been honored with the prestigious Global 500 Roll of Honour of the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP). These honors were in recognition of the city's outstanding achievements in the protection and improvement of the environment. Las Pias has recently acquired the status "Most Competitive City" in the Philippines, together with Davao City, Makati, Muntinlupa and Marikina.

Etymology
The story about the true origin of the city's name, "Las Pias", varies. Some said that traders from the province of Cavite and Batangas shipped first their pia (pineapples) for sale to this town before they are distributed in nearby markets. Others related that it was "Las Peas" (not Las Pias) evident by the quarrying of stones and adobe which were used to construct buildings and bridges. The name could have also originated from two political groups that ruled the place at that time. But an inscription in an old church bell that has been preserved inside the museum of the Las Pias Parochial Church, stated "Siendo Cura-del Pueblo de las Peas el M.R.P. Padre Diego Cera se Fundio este equilon ano de 1820". It shows that even during the time of Fr. Diego Cera, the town's first parish priest, the town has been called "Las Peas" until after sometime that the spelling of the town's name was changed into "Las Pias".

MAKATI
The City of Makati (/mkt/ m-KAH-tee; Filipino: Makati), in the Philippines, is one of the 17 cities that make up Metro Manila, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines. As the host of various embassies, it is also an important center for international affairs. With a population of 529,039, Makati is the 16th largest city in the country and ranked as the 41st most densely populated city in the world with 19,336 inhabitants per square kilometer. According to tradition, the first Governor-General of the Philippines Miguel Lpez de Legazpi, while exploring a swamp near the Pasig River, asked for the name of the place but, because of the language barrier, was misinterpreted by the Tagalog people. Pointing to the receding tide of Pasig River, the Tagalogs answered, Makati, kumakati na, literally meaning ebbing tide. Makati became the financial center of the Philippines during the 1960s. Makati is home of the Philippine Stock Exchange and the Makati Business Club. Although the city is noted for its cosmopolitan culture, it faces internal tensions owing to the wealth gap between residents, workers in and visitors to the newer part of city in the west, which contains the central business/financial district, and residents of the older part in the east, which is largely poor and where most of the slums are located.

Cityhood
By January 2, 1995, Makati became an independent city by virtue of Republic Act 7854 and in the June 30, 1998, The Lone District of Makati City was separated and divided into 2 districts. Lone district Rep. Joker Arroyo became the representative of the first district, while Senator Agapito Aquino was elected representative of second district. Elenita Binay served for only three years (one term) as the first and only female city mayor so far. By the start of the 21st century, the city was once again highlighted in media due to the political revolt against the government of then-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In July 27, 2003, the Oakwood Mutiny was staged at the Oakwood Hotel by the Magdalo soldiers. An accidental methane gas explosion ripped apart a section of the Glorietta Mall occurred on October 19, 2007 at 1:30 PM, killing 11 people.

In a continuation of events stemming from the Oakwood Mutiny, 25 Magdalo officers led by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Brigadier General Danilo Lim overtook the Manila Peninsula Hotel on November 29, 2007 in what has been referred to as the Manila Pen Siege. [edit]Geography Makati is located within the circle of 1440 north and 1213 E right at the center of Metro Manila. The city is bounded on the north by the Pasig River, facing Mandaluyong City, on the northeast by Pasig City, on the southeast by the municipality of Pateros and Taguig City, on the northwest by the city of Manila, and on the southwest by Pasay City. Makati has a total land area of 27.36 square kilometers; it [citation needed] constitutes 4.3% of Metro Manila's total land area .

Economy and Infrastructure

Skyline of Makati at day

Skyline of Makati at night

Ayala Avenue, the "wall street of the Philippines".

Makati is known for its developed business district making it one of Asia's important financial, commercial and economic centers. The financial district of Makati is bounded by EDSA, Gil Puyat Avenue, Antonio Arnaiz Avenue/Pasay Road, and Chino Roces Avenue. It mainly encompasses Legazpi Village, Salcedo Village, the Ayala Center, and parts of the Bel-Air neighborhood. Makati is known for its cosmopolitan culture, major shopping centers, condominiums, financial hubs, hotels, and entertainment hubs are located around Makati. The Ayala Triangle is a sub-district of the Makati central business district, comprising the parcel of land between Ayala Avenue, Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas, as well as the buildings on those streets. Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas also house the distinction of being the runways of the former Nielson Field, Metro Manila's main airport in the 1930s. Makati is being known for its cosmopolitan culture, major shopping centers, condominiums, financial hubs, hotels, and entertainment hubs are located around Makati. The fifty tallest skyscrapers in the Philippines are all located in Makati such as the PBCom Tower and G.T. International Tower. The skyscrapers of Metro Manila are, for the most part, clustered in many locations although three areas are distinct for having the largest clusters in the metropolis. The first and biggest is the Makati Business District, followed by the Ortigas Center Business District in Pasig. The newest to rise is the Bonifacio Global City Business District in Taguig. PBCom Tower along Ayala Avenue is the country's tallest building, reaching up 259 meters. It is the headquarters of the Philippine Bank of Communications, or PBCom. One of the trading floors of thePhilippine Stock Exchange is housed in Ayala Tower One and at the old Makati Stock Exchange Building, both also along Ayala Avenue. The Philippine Bank of Communications Tower, more commonly known as PBCom Tower, is an office skyscraper that currently holds the title, since 2000, of the tallest building in the Philippines. It has a [3] total ground to architectural top height of 259 metres (850 ft), with 52 storeys including an 8-level radio tower.

MALABON

The City of Malabon is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manilain the Philippines. [1] Located just north of Manila, the city has a population of 353,337 as of 2010. It is primarily a residential and industrial town and is one of the most densely populated cities in the metropolis. It has a total land area of 19.714 square kilometers. Malabon is part of the sub-region of Metro Manila informally called CAMANAVA. CAMANAVA consists of Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas City, and Valenzuela City. Caloocan lies to the south and east, Navotas to the west, and Valenzuela to the north. Malabon also borders the town of Obando in the province of Bulacan to the northwest.

History
Malabon, per legend, came from the words maraming labong which means "plenty oflabong", the edible bamboo shoots. Originally called the town of Tambobong, Malabon was founded as a Visita of

Tondo by the Augustinian friars on May 21, 1599 and remained under the administrative jurisdiction of the province of Tondo from 1627 to 1688. The newspaper La Independencia was first printed in Malabons Asilo de Huertanos, where orphaned [2][3] children due to a plague in 1882 were housed. Malabon was officially made a municipality of the newly-created province of Rizal on June 11, 1901 by [4] virtue of Philippine Commission Act No. 137. When Act No. 942 was promulgated, Malabon was [5] merged with Navotas under a new government. On January 16, 1906, Act No. 1441 separated Malabon from Navotas into two distinct municipalities of the Rizal province. The first Mayor of Malabon was Don Agustin Salamante, a Spanish mestizo originally from Cavite. For 70 years, Malabon was a municipality of Rizal, until November 7, 1975, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 824, when Malabon became a part of Metropolitan Manila or the National Capital Region. Malabon became a city on April 21, 2001, under Republic Act No. 9019 when Malabon was 407 years old. Former Mayor Tito Oreta, who died in office in 2012, was credited with building some of Malabon's most important modern infrastructure projects, including the new eleven-story Malabon City Hall, the Malabon [6] City Sports Complex Building and a Government Center Annex.

MANDALUYONG

The City of Mandaluyong (Filipino: Lungsod ng Mandaluyong) is one of the cities andmunicipalities that comprise Metro Manila in the Philippines. Located at the approximate geographical centre of Metro Manila, it is bordered on the west by the country's capital, Manila, to the north by San Juan City, to the east by Quezon Cityand Pasig City, and by Makati City to the south. Its nicknames are "Tiger City of the Philippines", "Metro Manila's Heart", and the "Shopping Mall Capital of the Philippines".{cn} Among the many attractions in the city is the western half of the Ortigas Center, one of the major centers of business and commerce in the metropolis (the eastern half is in Pasig City). Found within the [citation needed] Mandaluyong portion of the Ortigas Center is the main headquarters of the Asian Development [2][3] Bank, Banco De Oro, and the headquarters of San Miguel Corporation, Southeast Asia's largest food and beverage company. One of the most prominent pharmaceutical laboratories and factories, Unilab, is [citation needed] located here.

MARIKINA

The City of Marikina (Lungsod ng Marikina, in Tagalog), in the Philippines, is one of the 17 cities that make up Metro Manila, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. Marikina was former capital of the province of Manila during the declaration of Philippine Independence. The city divided into two districts and composed of 16 barangays, located along the eastern border of Metro Manila, it is

bordered on the west by Quezon City, to the south by Pasig City and Cainta, Rizal, to the east by Antipolo City, the capital of Rizal Province, and to the north by San Mateo also in Rizal Province. Marikina is one of the most populous cities and wealthiest local government unit in the country. Marikina was given the title the Shoe Capital of the Philippines because of its notable shoe industry, being the biggest manufacturer of shoes in the Philippines, producing almost 70% of shoe production in the country. Shoemakers in the city recently finished creating the World's Largest Pair of Shoes and it was only recently that the Guinness World Records recognized this feat. The Shoe Museum houses part of the famous shoe collection of the former First Lady Imelda Marcos, shoes of the world leaders, past presidents, famous people, and shoes of different countries around the world, and making it the largest collection of pair of shoes in the world. Marikina is noted as one of tourism and cultural hub in Metro Manila, it is also the home of Philippine Footwear Federation. Marikina is one of the wealthiest local government units in the Philippines. Aside the traditional shoe and leather industry, many places in Marikina are now recognized for its eco-friendly points, balance of industry, people and nature. Among this, the residents satisfies the basic services and transparent governance of the city. The city features typically many spacious parks, museums, tree-lined streets, bike-lanes, traffic signs, crossings, walkways, churches, antiquated houses and commercial establishments. Despite the latter, most of the city is classified as residential and industrial. The city also considered as one of the healthiest and livable cities within the Asia-Pacific, awarded Hall of Fame for its cleanest and greenest city, most awarded city in Metro Manila and most competitive city in the Philippines. The people of Marikina are amongst the most disciplined in the Philippines. Del De Guzman is the incumbent mayor of Marikina.

Clockwise from top left: Cityhood Park, Largest Pair of Shoes in the world, Marikina Sports Park, Riverbanks Center, Marikina City skyline, Our Lady of the Abandoned Church, Shoe Museum, Marquinton Residences, Marcos Highway, Roman Garden at Marikina River Park, Sentrong Pangkultura ng Marikina

MUNTINLUPA
The City of Muntinlupa (Filipino: Lungsod ng Muntinlupa) is the southernmost city in Philippine National Capital Region. It is bordered on the north by Taguig City; to the northwest by Paraaque City; by Las Pias City to the west; to the southwest by the city of Bacoor; by the city of San Pedro, Laguna; and by Laguna de Bay to the east, the largest lake in the country. It is classified as a Highly Urbanized [1] [2] City with a population of more than 400,000 and is given the nickname "Emerald City of the [citation needed] Philippines" by the tourism establishment. Muntinlupa was once notoriously known as the location of the national insularpenitentiary, the New Bilibid Prison, where the country's most dangerous criminals were incarcerated. Consequently, Muntinlupa or "Munti" became synonymous with the national penitentiary although it has largely shaken-off this negative image to become one of the most progressive cities in the country. Muntinlupa is also home to some of the best commercial establishments in the metropolis and is the location of Ayala Alabang Village, one of the country's biggest and most expensive residential communities, where many of the wealthy and famous live. Muntinlupa is also the first city in the Philippines to ban the use of plastic bags andStyrofoam for [citation needed] packaging. Barangay Alabang, part of the second district of Muntinlupa, has undergone tremendous growth mainly due to a development boom in the late 1990s. The development of two large scale commercial real estate projects namely; the Filinvest Corporate City and Ayala Land's Madrigal Business Park, changed the landscape of Muntinlupa City from what was once vast fields of cow pasture in the late 1980s, into a supercity that houses new residential, business, industrial and commercial establishments. It was a transformation reminiscent ofMakati City's development boom some 30 years prior. Some of the country's premier shopping centers, including the Alabang Town Centerand the Festival Supermall, the towering Insular Life Towers, the Asian Hospital and Medical Center, and the Northgate Business District, which specializes in hosting information and technology industries, are important places of interest and landmarks of the city. Nightlife is still relatively staid compared to those of its neighbors, and younger residents often flock to other cities in Metro Manila, particularly Makati, Taguig, or Manila, during the weekend to enjoy the night out. This city has recently acquired the status "Most Competitive [citation needed] City" and the "Most Improved City" in the Philippines.

NAVOTAS

The City of Navotas (Filipino: Lungsod ng Navotas) is a 1st class city in Metro Manila,Philippines. The city occupies a narrow strip of land along the eastern shores of Manila Bay. Navotas is directly north of Manila, west of Malabon City, and south of Obando, Bulacan. Dubbed as the "Fishing Capital of the Philippines", Navotas is considered to be a very important fishing community with 70% of its population deriving their livelihood directly or indirectly from fishing and its related industries like fish trading, fish net mending, and fish producing having marginal percentage of

inter-Island fish producers. Navotas occupies a portion of the Metropolitan Manila bound in the west with shoreline of Manila Bay, which is a strategic coastal front and suitable for all kinds of vessels. Navotas is part of the informal subregion of Metro Manila called CAMANAVA. This subregion, aside from Navotas, includes the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, andValenzuela. Navotas is perceived to be prone to flood especially during the rainy seasonand during high tide, but the national and local government are trying to alleviate the problem. Pollution and overpopulation are other problems that the government is trying to solve. Navotas is famous for fish sauce and shrimp paste (patis and bagoong inTagalog respectively). Navotas celebrates its foundation day every January 16 and it became a city after a plebiscite was held [1] on June 24, 2007.

Geography
Navotas is a coastal town in the northwest part of Metro Manila. It is a narrow strip of land with an aggregated shoreline of approximately 4.5 km. In the north, Navotas shares a common border with the town of Obando, Bulacan, along Sukol Creek. Along the eastern border runs the Binuangan River, the Daang Cawayan River, the Dampalit River, the Batasan River, the Navotas River, the Bangculasi Channel, the Malabon Channel and the Estero de Maypajo. It is bordered on the north by Obando, Bulacan along Sukol Creek; on the south by the city of Manila; on the east by Daang Binuangan River, Bangkulasi Channel, Malabon Channel and Estero de Maypajo; and on the west by Manila Bay.

PASAY
The City of Pasay (Filipino: Lungsod ng Pasay) is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by the country's capital, Manila, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east by Taguig City, and Paraaque City to the south. Pasay City was one of the original four cities of Metro Manila. Due to its proximity to Manila, it quickly became an urban town during the American Period.

Etymology and Early history

This section does not cite anyreferences or sources. (May 2012)

There are many

[which?]

conjectures as to the origin of the name "Pasay".

In one version, the name of the municipality came from the wail of a brokenhearted swain. Jos and Paz were in love with each other and were intent on a life together, but Jos's father was a mere tenant of the hacienda of Paz's father. For this reason, their love was forbidden and Jos was ordered to stay away [citation needed] from Paz. Unable to bear her misfortune, Paz died.

At her funeral, the elite came to mourn and pray as Jos watched from a distance. As soon as everyone left, Jos dug a tunnel into the earth to be with Paz. Once joined, he let out a sharp and anguished cry "Paz-ay!" In sorrow and regret, the parents of Paz named their hacienda Paz-ay. In time, the town [citation needed] came to be known simply asPasay. Historians have another explanation for the origin of the name of the city. It is said that back in the day, Pasay was thick with pasaw, a plant with an exotic aroma. It was said that a Spanish botanist, Antonio [disambiguation needed] Pineda, frequented a place called Basal in the vicinity of San Rafael to [citation needed] gather pasaw. The version deemed to be most credible is that Pasay was named after a princess of the Namayan Kingdom, Dayang-dayang Pasay. The Namayan Kingdom was a confederation of barangays that began to peak in 1175 and extended from Manila Bay to Laguna de Bay. Dayangdayang Pasay inherited the lands now comprising the territories of Culi-culi, Pasay and Baclaran. The [citation needed] royal capital of the kingdom was built in Sapa, known today as Santa Ana. The natives brought their products to the capital of Namayan. Trading flourished during the 12th to the 14th centuries. Merchants from Japan, China, Moluccas, Java, Borneo, Sumatra, India, Siam, and Cambodia came to trade with the natives. Pasay's name may also have originated from the Spanish Paso hay meaning there is a pass. This [citation needed] referred to the paths cleared among the grass leading to the southern portions from Manila. In 1727, the name of the Pasay settlement was changed to Pineda in honor of Don Cornelio Pineda, a Spanish horticulturist who requested for guardias civiles for protection from bandits. The name Pineda, [citation needed] along with Pasay, was used as the name of the place until the early 20th century.

Pasay Today
In the middle of 1997, Vice Mayor Wenceslao Trinidad took over the reins of government from an ailing Mayor Pablo Cuneta. Cuneta had been in the driver's seat for thirty-seven years. Between 1949 when he was appointed city mayor by President Elpidio Quirino, and 1997, only twice for a total of about eight years was the incumbent at City Hall, Pasay's repository of political power, a man other than Cuneta. Dr. Jovito O. Claudio assumed office as Pasay City's Chief Executive in 1998 after winning the local elections. He carried out his duties and responsibilities as City Mayor until it was cut short due to failing health. His term of office lasted for only two (2) years. And because of this a Recall Election was held in the City where Mr. Wenceslao "Pewee" Trinidad was proclaimed as the City Chief Executive. Providing the basic necessities alone of the swelling population is a huge task. Pasay has long exceeded the limits of its ability accommodate the influx of migrants. In terms of meeting the people's health requirements, Pasay has been up to the task. The Pasay City General Hospital, founded in 1977, has been in a progress leapfrom a simple two-story squat building on P. Burgos Street into an imposing people's health caretaker at its new building. In line with the national government's policy, Pasay City places education first on its list of priorities. In pursuit of the national goal of nation building, it maintains a local educational system that promotes a close tie-up between the public and private sector. On May 21, 2006, SM Mall of Asia was opened in Bay City as then the 2nd largest mall in the Philippines. [edit]Location

In terms of area, Pasay City is the third smallest political subdivision in the National Capital Region. It is adjacent to the City of Manila and is bounded to the south by Paraaque, to the northeast by Makati and Taguig and to the west by Manila Bay. The city is located at latitude 14 32' and longitude 121 00'. The City has a total land area of 18.50 square kilometers of which 5.5050 square kilometer is the City proper, 9.5 square kilometers is being occupied by the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) complex, which include the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Villamor Air Base and the rest of the reclamation area with 4.00 square kilometers. Thus, among the local government in the region, Pasay has the greater area devoted to utilities covering 51.35% of its total land area or 9.50 square kilometers. The City is known for its entertainment business-restaurants, coffee shops, and clubs, particularly those located along Roxas Boulevard, facing Manila Bay. A large part of Metro Manila's "tourist belt" is located in the City. Pasay is composed of seven (7) districts, divided into twenty (20) Zones, with a total of 201 Barangays. Zone 19, Covering Barangays 178 and 191, is the largest among the zones with an area of 5.10 square kilometers. Zone 1, on the other hand, is the smallest covering Barangays 1 to 3 and 14 to 17 with an area of 100,000 square meters (0.1 km.). Most of the attractions in the city are on the CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines) Complex, on which the massive main CCP building, Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas (formerly Folk Arts Theater), Manila Film Center, Coconut Palace, Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines(PDDCP), Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), World Trade Center-Metro Manila(WTCMM), Cuneta Astrodome, and theme parks such as Star City, Nayong Pilipino, andBoom na Boom are all located. Terminal 2 and the recently opened Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, as well as the terminal of the Manila Domestic Airport is located in Pasay City. Villamor Airbase of the Philippine Air Force is also located here. Other national government offices could be found in Pasay: Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Senate of the Philippines, the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry's export promotions agency the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) located in the International Trade Complex's Golden Shell Pavilion, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). The main office of the Philippine National Bank, led by its president taipan Lucio Tan, is located in the City. Pasay City is home to the headquarters of the SM Group of Companies and the SM Mall of Asia, touted as the 2nd biggest mall in the Philippines which opened on May 21, 2006 and Mall of Asia Arena will be opened this 2012 which will be the biggest sports arena in the Philippines with the seat capacity of 20,000 and the new home of University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Also interesting is a budding strip of restaurants at the corner of EDSA Extension and Pres.

Diosdado Macapagal Ave. It will also be the house of booming call center business industry in the Philippines due to vast land space available located in the reclamation area.

PASIG

The City of Pasig (Filipino: Lungsod ng Pasig) is one of the city-municipalities ofMetro Manila in the Philippines and was the former capital of the province of Rizal prior to the formation of this grouping of cities designated as the National Capital Region. Located along the eastern border of Metro Manila, Pasig is bordered on the west byQuezon City and Mandaluyong City; to the north by Marikina City; to the south byMakati City, Pateros, and Taguig City; and to the east by Antipolo City, the municipality of Cainta and Taytay in the province of Rizal. Pasig is primarily residential and industrial but has been becoming increasingly commercial in recent years. Pasig is one of the three municipalities appointed by thediocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines (as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pasig), making the Pasig Cathedral (formerly The Immaculate Conception Cathedral) the landmark coincide to its township in 1573. The name Pasig is believed to come from the Sanskrit word passis or sand which refers to the [1] community on the sandy river bank. Some historians trace the name of Pasig to the Tagalog word mabagsik which means violent action which can describe the river which currents brought logs from Montalban to Manila It was also called mapaksik by Chinese in Binondo, Manila. Mapaksik later became "Pasik" and then "Pasig". It may also come from "pasigan" which means riverbank. According to Jose Villa Panganiban, former director of The Institute of National Language, "Pasig" is old Sanskrit meaning river flowing from one body of water to another, which briefly describes the river because the river flows from Laguna de Bayto Manila Bay. HISTORY On June 11, 1901 the province ofRizal was created through Act No. 137 of Philippine Commission. Pasig was incorporated into the province of Rizal, and was designated as the capital of the new province. In 1975, Pasig was carved out of Rizal province and became part ofMetro Manila when the Metro Manila Commission (pre-cursor of Metro Manila Authority and later Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) was created by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos through Presidential Decree 824. In July 1994, Pasig was converted into a highly urbanized city through Republic Act 7829. And in December 1994, President Fidel V. Ramos signed it into law, which was ratified through a plebiscite on January 21, 1995. On February 4, 2006, the ULTRA Stampede happened due to First Anniversary Celebration of ABSCBN's Noontime Show: Wowoweebecause of the prizes that will be given away where 71 people died. The anniversary of the show will be held on PhilSports Arena but the event has been already canceled due to the tragedy.

On September 26, 2009, the city was one of the areas strucked by high flood created by Typhoon Ondoy. Most notable was along Ortigas Avenue and the east side of the Manggahan Floodway. It is the most destructive flood in Philippine history. Pasig is accessed by the Pasig River, wherein the waters of Marikina River channeled and the Manggahan Floodway routed to Laguna de Bay.

PARAAQUE
The City of Paraaque (Filipino: Lungsod ng Paraaque), or simply Paraaque (pop. 552,660; 2007 Census), is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is located at 12101 longitude and 1430 latitude and is bordered to the north by Pasay, to the northeast by Taguig, to the southeast byMuntinlupa, to the southwest by Las Pias, and to the west by Manila Bay. Like the rest of Metro Manila, Paraaque experiences a tropical climate with only two distinct seasons, wet (July to September) and dry (October to June). The city enjoys an annual rainfall of 1.822 mm and an average temperature of 34.4C. Due to its proximity to the sea, Paraaque is one of the major trade and business centres in the Philippines.

Etymology
This article's factual accuracy is disputed. Please help to ensure that disputed statements are reliably sourced. See the relevant discussion on the talk page. (May 2012) Palanyag, as Paraaque was then known, is loosely translated to mean "my beloved", referring to the residents' affection for their hometown. The name could also come from the combination of the terms "palayan" and "palalayag", the former pertaining to the city's once-abundant rice fields, and the latter pertaining to the sailing and fishing occupation of many of its residents. The name was a sign of cooperation and goodwill between the two major working sectors of the town, the farmers and the [citation needed] fishermen.

The name "Paraaque" is derived from the phrase "para na aque", which was commonly used in the past when people wished to disembark from kalesas (horse-drawn carriages). The phrase literally means "stop now, boy": "para" from the Spanish parar(to stop), "na" from the Tagalog word for "now" or "already," and "aque" from the Tagalog word for boy, lalaki". An alternative meaning of "para na aque" could be "stop here," with "aque" being derived from the Spanish aqu ("here"). The phrase "para na aque" was used so [citation needed] often that it eventually evolved into a term pertaining to a place, thus, Paraaque. According to tradition, it was when a Spanish soldier told the driver of his caruaje or horse-drawn carriage, to "Para aqui, para aqui!" ("Stop here, stop here!") that the name stuck. The driver, uncomprehending, kept on prodding his horse to go on while the soldier angrily repeated his instruction: "Para aqui, para aqui!" The incident spread around town and the locals, amused, began calling the place [citation needed] Paraaque. Another tradition speaks of an imposing balete tree at the mouth of the Paraaque that looked like a boat sailing slowly and majestically, earning it the Tagalog nicknamepalanyag, a corruption of "palayag" which means "point of navigation". Further adulteration of the term resulted in "palanyaque" and later, [citation needed] Paraaque. A historian believes the town's name may have come from the term "palaas" which means a "broad flat plain," a geographic description of the area. Other origins of the name are "palaac" (with no special meaning), "patanyag" ("popularity contest"), and "paraac", (a native term for the shell product that used [citation needed] to be the livelihood of the natives of the town at one time). Whatever the correct origin of the name of Paraaque, the various terms strongly suggest the town's [citation needed] storied and mosaic past.
[who?]

Paraaque today
Today, Paraaque is a blossoming city. Due to its strategic location, it is an important centre for trade and business in Metro Manila.Baclaran, where a large number of dry goods stores are located, is one of the busiest markets in the country. Small fishing villages called fishermans wharves are also situated alongside Barangay La Huerta, where the famous DAMPA, a seaside market with numerous restaurants serving fresh seafood, is found. The countrys international airport as well as the Baclaran Church, one of the most active parishes in Manila, and the Duty Free, where one can buy imported goods, can be found here. [edit]Timeline

Welcome marker

Another view of the entrance to the City

In November 8, 1975, Paraaque was a municipality of Rizal, until November 7, 1975, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 824, when Paraaque became a part of Metropolitan Manila or the National Capital Region. In February 15, 1998, Paraaque was converted as the 11th city in Metro Manila (after sister city Las Pias in 1997), and was chartered and urbanized by Former President Fidel V. Ramos during the celebration of the city's 426th Founding Anniversary. In May 2001, SM City Sucat, (formerly SM Supercenter Sucat) was formally launched, becoming the first SM Mall franchise in Paraaque. In November 2002, SM City Bicutan, the second SM City Mall in Paraaque was launched, becoming one of the most popular malls in Paraaque after Uniwide Coastal Mall. In the same month, Paraaque celebrated its 430th Founding Anniversary as a municipality. In February 2003, the City of Paraaque celebrated its fifth Cityhood Anniversary. In June 2005, Toyota Bicutan Paraaque was opened and formally launched the 1st Toyota branch in Paraaque. In November 2007, Paraaque celebrated its 435th anniversary of a former municipality now a city. In February 2008, the City of Paraaque celebrated its 10th Cityhood Anniversary. In February 2009, Speedworld Motorcross Racing Park was formally opened beside SM Bicutan in West Bicutan, Paraaque. In June 2011, MGV Bookstore and Gift Shop formally opened, located at the heart of the Marcelo Green Village Commercial Complex in Paranaque. In spite of the rapid growth in infrastructure and the revenue that the city has been gaining in the last few years, Paraaque has yet to go back to its "subdivision" roots and address the rising reports in crime burglary, hold-ups, rape and street gang violence. Most recently, the city has been plagued with crimes involving current call center workers in and around the city. With the upswing in the call center business in

last 2 years, Paraaque has yet publicly come out and identify contingencies measures and visibility to protect these wave of employees who are mostly graveyard (9:00 PM to 9:00 AM) shift workers.

Festivals
Paraaque is famous for its lively festivals, such as the caracol, a festival that revolves around boats. Paraaque is also known for thesunduan, a festival held every November during the Araw ng Paraaque (Paraaque Day) celebration. The city also stages the cenaculo, a re-enactment of the passion of Christ, during Holy Week, the Pasko ng Pagkabuhay during Easter, and the Santacruzan, a procession reenacting the search of the True Cross of Christ, in May. Shortly thereafter, the colorful Flores de Mayo, a festival commemorating the discovery of the cross by Queen Elena (mother of St. Constantine) is held. Paranaque also celebrated a Sambalilo Hat Festival which held every February 13 for the cityhood of Paranaque's anniversary held every year. An outstanding feature of this historic town by the bay is the cultivation of its cultural traditions such as the komedya and bati-bati, among others, that continue to attract local and foreign tourists alike, especially during the summer months. Paraaque is also known for sabong, a form of cockfighting constrained in coliseums.

QUEZON CITY

Quezon City (Filipino: Lungsod Quezon) is the former capital (19481976) and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City (popularly known to Filipinos as QC) is one of the cities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L. Quezon, President of the Philippines, who founded the city and developed it to replace Manila as the country's capital. Quezon City is not located in and should not be confused withQuezon province, which was also named after the president. Having been the former capital, many government offices are located in the city, including the Batasang Pambansa Complex, the seat of the House of Representatives, which is the lower chamber in the Philippine Congress. The main campuses of two noteworthy universities, the Ateneo de Manila University and the country's national university, the University of the Philippines Diliman, are located in the city.

HISTORY
Before Quezon City was created, it was composed of small individual towns. These were San Francisco del Monte, Novaliches, and Balintawak. On August 23, 1896, the Katipunan led by Andres Bonifacio declared a revolution against Spain in the house of Melchora Aquino in Pugad Lawin (now known as Bahay Toro, Project 8). In the early 20th century, President Manuel L. Quezon dreamt of a city that would become the future capital of the country to replace Manila. It is believed that his earlier trip to Mexico influenced his vision. In 1938, President Quezon created People's Homesite Corporation and purchased 15.29 km (6 sq mi) from the vast Diliman estate of the Tuason family (This piece of land became known as Bario Obrero
2

"Home of the Middle Workers" before a name change to Quezon City). The National Assembly of the Philippine Commonwealth passed Commonwealth Act 502 known as the Charter of Quezon City originally proposed as Balintawak City, Assemblymen Narciso Ramos (father of President Fidel V. Ramos) and Ramon Mitra, Sr. (father of Speaker Ramon Mitra, Jr.) successfully lobbied the assembly to name the city after the incumbent president. President Quezon allowed the bill to lapse into law without his signature on October 12, 1939, thus establishing Quezon City. After the war, Republic Act No. 333 which redefined the Caloocan-Quezon City boundary was signed by Elpidio Quirino on July 17, 1948 declaring Quezon City to be the republic's capital, and specifying the 2 city's area to be 156.60 km (60 sq mi). Baesa, Talipapa, San Bartolome, Pasong Tamo, Novaliches Poblacion, Banlat, Kabuyao, Pugad Lawin, Bagbag, Pasong Putik which formerly belonged to Novaliches and had an area of about 8,100 hectares, were taken from Caloocan and ceded to Quezon City. This caused the division of Caloocan into two separate parts, the South section being the urbanized part, the North section being sub-rural. On June 16, 1950, the Quezon City Charter was revised by Republic Act 2 No. 537, changing the city's boundaries to an area of 153.59 km (59 sq mi). Exactly six years after on June 16, 1956, more revisions to the city's land area were made by Republic 2 Act No. 1575, which defined its area as 151.06 km (58 sq mi). The website of the Quezon City 2 government states that its present area is 161.12 km (62 sq mi) On October 1, 1975, Quezon City was the actual site of the "Thrilla in Manila" fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. On November 7, 1975 the promulgation of Presidential Decree No. 824 of President Ferdinand Marcos established Metro Manila. Quezon City became one of Metro Manila's 17 cities and municipalities. The next year, Presidential Decree No. 940 transferred the capital back to Manila on June 24, 1976. On March 31, 1978, President Ferdinand Marcos ordered the transfer of the remains of President Manuel L. Quezon from the Manila North Cemetery to the erected Quezon Memorial Monument within the Quezon Elliptical Road. Manuel L. Quezon Monument and the City Hall. On February 22, 1986, the Quezon City portion of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue became the venue of the bloodless People Power Revolution. On February 23, 1998, Republic Act. No. 8535 was signed by President Fidel V. Ramos. The Act provided for the creation of the City of Novaliches comprising the 15 northernmost barangays of Quezon city. However, in the succeeding plebiscite on October 23, 1999, an overwhelming majority of Quezon City residents rejected the secession of Novaliches. Quezon City is the first local government in the Philippines with a computerized real estate assessment and payment system. The city government developed a database system that now contains around 400,000 property units with capability to record payments.

Clockwise from top left : C-5 Road going to Libis,Quezon Memorial Circle, Katipunan Avenue, SM City North EDSA, People Power Monument

SAN JUAN

The City of San Juan (Filipino: Lungsod ng San Juan) or simply San Juan is a city inMetro Manila in the Philippines. Before the creation of Metro Manila, it was part of RizalProvince. Currently the smallest city in the region and the country in terms of area, San Juan is one of the smallest among the cities and municipalities in the metropolis, second only to Pateros. This was the site of the first battle of the Katipunan, the Filipino revolutionary organization, against the Spanish colonizers.

Etymology
"San Juan City" is a contraction of the city's longer official name: San Juan del Monte(English: "St. John of the Mountain"). It is named in honour of St. John the Baptist, the city's patron saint, and the hilly terrain the city is situated on. [edit]Location It is bordered by Quezon City on the north and east, Mandaluyong City on the south, and the City of Manila on the west. The territory of San Juan was once much larger than it is presently, stretching all the way to Caloocan City. Parts of what are now Districts 1, 2 and 4 of Quezon City as well as parts of Mandaluyong were originally within the San Juan territorial boundaries. This explains why the San Juan Reservoir is in the nearby Horseshoe Village, a subdivision under the jurisdiction of Quezon City.

TAGUIG

The City of Taguig (Tagalog pronunciation: [ta'i], (Tagalog: Lungsod ng Taguig), (formerly spell as Tagig), is a highly urbanized city located in south-eastern portion ofMetro Manila in the Philippines. From a thriving fishing community along the shores ofLaguna de Bay, it is now an important residential, commercial and industrial center. The recent construction of the C-5 highway and the acquisition of the Fort Bonifaciodevelopment area has paved the way for the cityhood of the municipality. It will also be accessed by the future C-6 Road. Taguig City lies on the western shore of Laguna de Bay and is bordered by Muntinlupa City to the south, Paraaque to the southwest, Pasay to the west, Cainta and Taytayon the northeast and Makati, Pateros, and Pasig to the north. Taguig River, a tributary of the Pasig River cuts through the northern half of the municipality and Napindan River, also a tributary of the Pasig forms the common border of Taguig with Pasig City. The city ranked first among Philippine cities in the Ease of Doing Business Index, conducted by the World [2] Bank's International Finance Corporation.

Origin of the Name

The original 800 farmer-fishermen settlers of the area were good at threshing rice after harvest. Hence they were referred to as "mga taga-giik," and their settlement as "pook ng mga taga-giik." Spanish friar Fray Alonso de Alvarado, together with conquistador Rey Lopez de Villalobos who crossed Pasig River to

reach Taguig in 1571 found "taga-giik" difficult to pronounce, and could only produce the word sounding like "tagui-ig." So many mispronouncements later, "tagui-ig" was shortened to the present day "Taguig."

Landmarks and recreation

The Bonifacio High Street

Bonifacio Global City

Fort Bonifacio - The National Headquarters of the Philippine Army and the Marine Bases of the Philippine Navy and Philippine Marine Corps. Bonifacio Global City - A marvel on its own, this 440 hectare Global City is based on a Master Plan that has been molded after the functionality of Seoul, the excellent systems of Singapore, the innovation of Vancouver and the Visionary outlook of Paris. It is both a quiet residential paradise with areas designed for international educational tourism and is also the heart of Asian Commerce. Food Terminal, Inc. (FTI) - the business center that boasts of over 300 medium scale companies in food manufacturing, electronics, garments and service industries. Camp Bagong Diwa - The camp is in Lower Bicutan, it is where NCRPO headquarters, prison complex and drug rehabilitation centers are located. Department of Science and Technology - A mini forest and eco-tourism park in Bicutan suitable for camping and bivouac activity. It is the national headquarters of the DOST. Taguig Veterans' Museum|Veterans' Museum - A museum where war stories in life-sized tableaus are retold using all forms of art fused with high-end technology. The Blue Mosque - A religious center and a socio-civic rendezvous for both Filipino and foreign Muslims in Maharlika Village.

Bantayog ng Bayani - A fitting tribute to the heroes of Taguig during World War I at Fort Bonifacio. Shrine of St. Anne - Built in 1587 in Sta. Ana, one of the Philippines' oldest churches. Dambanang Kawayan - A century old church in Tipas made of pure, native bamboo. It was inaugurated as a parish in 1969, comprising barangays Ligid-Tipas, Ibayo-Tipas, Calzada, and Palingon. Museo de Sta. Ana - A museum at the Shrine of St. Anne. The repository of artifacts detailing the rich religious culture and history of Taguig since 1857. Parola - Built in the 17th century, it stands guard at the mouth of Napindan Channel where the Pasig River crosses into the Laguna Lake. It became the secret rendezvous point of the Katipunan as it planned its moves to achieve Philippine's Independence. The Parola was chosen by KKK Supremo, Gat Andres Bonifacio, as a meeting place because of its strategic location being the most accessible channel from Tondo, Manila and from the Municipios along the Pasig River and the Province of Laguna.

VALUENZUELA
Valenzuela (helpinfo) ( /vlnzjul/; Filipino: Valenzuela [blenzuwel]), officially known as [15] [10] the City of Valenzuela (Filipino: Lungsod ng Valenzuela) (ISO: PH-00; PSGC: 137504000 ) or simply Valenzuela City is the101st largest city of the Philippines and one of the sixteen cities that along with the smaller municipality of Pateros comprise the region of Metro Manila, located about 14 km (7.9 miles) north of Manila. Valenzuela is categorized by virtue of Republic Act Nos. 7160 and 8526 as a highly urbanized, first-class city based on income classification and number of [16][17][18] population. A chartered city located on the island of Luzon, it is bordered by Meycauayan (Bulacan) in the north, Quezon Cityand northern Caloocan to the east; by Obando (Bulacan) to the west; by Malabon,southern Caloocan and Tullahan River to the south. With a 2 land mass of 44.59 km and a population of almost 600,000 in August 2010, Valenzuela is the 10th most populous city in the Philippines. Valenzuela's population is composed of 72% Tagalog people followed by 5% Bicolanos. Small percentage of foreign nationals reside in the city.
[n 1]

Valenzuela was named after Po Valenzuela, a doctor and a member of Katipunan. The town preceding Valenzuela that was originally called Polo was formed in 1621 due to religious separation movements from parishes of Meycauayan (Catanghalan). Polo has been occupied twice by foreign armies other than colonial powers Spain andUnited States: first during the Seven Years' War by the British and by the Japanese during the Second World War. In 1960, President Diosdado Macapagal ordered the creation of the municipality of Valenzuela carved from few territories of Polo and is independent from the provincial government of Bulacan. However in 1963, another law was issued ordering the reversal of the previous edict and reunifying the towns of Polo and Valenzuela under the single name of Valenzuela. In 1975, Valenzuela was named as an independent municipality from the government of Bulacan and incorporated under the administration of Metropolitan Manila Authority. On 14 February 1998, President Fidel V. Ramos signed Republic Act 8625, or the Valenzuela City Charter, which elevated the status of Valenzuela as a highly urbanized, chartered city. Under the Local Government Code of 1991, Valenzuela has a similar government system to other chartered cities of the Philippines. It is governed by a city mayor and vice-mayor elected through popular vote. The city is divided into two congressional districts and each is represented by a congressional

district representative at thePhilippine Congress. The vice-mayor heads the 12-manned city council: each district elects six councilors. The current mayor is Sherwin T. Gatchalian. There is no known tourist spot in the city except for the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, the Philippine apostolate to the Our Lady of Fatima of Portugal. Valenzuela is traversed by two major roads in the country: MacArthur Highway and North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), with NLEx being connected to Circumferential Road 5 at segments 8.1 and 9. Major transportation modes include buses and jeepneys that founded terminals at the northern points of the city. Owing to the cross migration of people across the country and its location as the northernmost point of Metro Manila, Valenzuela has developed into a well-mixed, multicultural metropolis. A former agricultural rural area, Valenzuela has grown into a major economic and industrial center of the Philippines when a [19] large number of industries relocated to the central parts of the city.

Etymology
Valenzuela, in Spanish is a diminutive form of Valencia, Spain which means "little Valencia". The name Valenzuela is also the surname of Po Valenzuela, a Tagalog physician who was among the leaders of the Katipunan. He was one of the triumvirate of the Katipunan that started the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial authorities and was the former provisional chairman for the [21][22] Katipunan. Originally, Valenzuela was called Polo. The name Polo was derived from the Tagalogterm pul meaning island, though the area was not an entirely island for itself. The original town of Polo was blessed by the rivers from the north and Tullahan River on the south. Hence, the enclosed land was thought to be an island, so the early townsmen regarded the place as Pul which later evolved into Polo done byhispanicization of the word. Today, the term Polo only applies to the barangay of Polo, the birthplace of Dr. Pio Valenzuela himself, which is found in the city's first congressional district.
[20]

GEOGRAPHY
Valenzuela is located at 144058N 120581E and is about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) north of country's capital, Manila. Manila Bay, the country's top port for trade and industry is located about 16.3 kilometres (10.1 mi) west of the city. Valenzuela is bordered in the north by the town of Obando and the city of Meycauayan in Bulacan, the city of Navotas in the west, Malabon in the south and Quezon City and northern portion of Caloocan in the east. The highest elevation point is 38 metres (125 ft) above sea level. Having a surface gradient of 0.55% and a gentle slope, hilly landscape is located in the industrial section of the city in Canumay. The average [8] elevation point is 2 metres (6.6 ft) above sea level. Apart from the political borders set by the law, Valenzuela and Malabon is also separated by the 15[47] kilometer Tenejeros-Tullahan River or simply Tullahan River. The river obtained its name from tulyaor [48] clam due to the abundance of such shellfish in the area. Tullahan is a part of the Marilao-Meycauayan[49] [50] Obando river system of central Luzon. It is now considered biologically dead and one of the dirtiest [49] [51] river system in the world, though the city government believes the river is not dead. Tullahan riverbanks used to be lined with mangrove trees and rich with freshwater fish and crabs. Children used to [49] play in the river before it was polluted by developing industries near it.

In an effort to save the river, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the local governments of Valenzuela and Malabon signed partnerships with [47][50][51] private and non-government organizations to dredge the area.

PATEROS
The Municipality of Pateros (Filipino: Bayan ng Pateros) is a First-class municipality in Metro Manila, Philippines. This small town is famous for its duck-raising industry and especially for producing balut, a Filipino delicacy that is boiled duck egg. Pateros is also known for the production of red salty eggs and "inutak," a local rice cake. Moreover, the town is known for manufacturing of "alfombra," a locally-made footwear with a carpet-like fabric on its top surface. Pateros is bordered by Pasig City to the north, Makati City to the west, and Taguig City to the south. Pateros is the only municipality and the smallest, both in population and in land area, in Metro Manila, but it is the second most densely populated at around 27 thousand people per square kilometer after Manila.

History
Before 1770, Pateros was only a barrio of Pasig until the Spanish Governor-General in the Philippines issued a decree making Pateros an independent municipality. On March 29, 1900, Pateros became one of the towns in the newly-created province of Rizal, by virtue of General Order No. 40, Act No. 137 of the Philippine Commission, which was promulgated on June 11, 1901. Then on October 12, 1903, Act No. 942 combined Pateros, Taguig and Muntinlupa into a single municipality under Pateros. The municipality was renamed Taguig on March 22, 1905, through Act No. 1308. Executive Order No. 20 dated February 29, 1908 separated Pateros from Taguig. Pateros then regained its independent status as a municipality on January 1, 1909 by Executive Order No. 36. On November 7, 1975, Pateros became a part of the new Metropolitan Manila Area through Presidential Decree No. 824. [edit]Etymology The name Pateros most likely derived from the duck-raising industry. The Tagalog word (of Spanish origin) for "duck" is pato and pateros means "duck-raisers". Another theory, though less known, is that the name may allude to the town's small shoe-making industry. The Tagalog word for "shoe"also of Spanish originis sapatos and shoemakers are called sapateros. [edit]Barangays Pateros is politically subdivided into 10 barangays: Aguho Magtanggol Martires Poblacion - this barangay serves as the town's commercial center San Pedro San Roque Sta. Ana

Sto. Rosario - Kanluran Sto. Rosario - Silangan Tabacalera

MANILA

Manila (English: /mnl/; Tagalog: Maynila, [majnila]) is the capital city of thePhilippines. It is one of the sixteen cities (along with the municipality of Pateros) that comprise the national capital region of Metro Manila. The city of Manila is located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay and is bordered by the cities of Navotas and Caloocan to the north; Quezon City to the northeast; San Juanand Mandaluyong to the east; Makati to the southeast, and Pasay to the south. Manila has a total population of 1,652,171 according to the 2010 census. Manila is the second most populous city in the Philippines, behind its neighbor, Quezon City. The populace inhabit an area of only [5] 38.55 square kilometers, making Manila the most densely populated city in the world. Metro Manila is the most populous metropolitan area in the Philippines and the 11th in the world with an estimated
[3]

population of 16.3 million. The greater Metro Manila area is the fifth-most populous in the world with an [4] estimated population of 21,951,000. The city is divided into six legislative districts and consists of sixteen geographical districts: Binondo, Ermita, Intramuros, Malate, Paco, Pandacan, Port Area, Quiapo,Sampaloc, San Andres, San Miguel, San Nicolas, Santa Ana, Santa Cruz, Santa Mesa and Tondo. Bustling commerce and some of the most historically and culturally significant iconic landmarks in the country, as well as the seat of the executive andjudicial branches of the government are found in the city. Manila is also home to many scientific and educational institutions, numerous sport facilities, and other culturally and historically significant venues. The earliest written account of the city is the 10th-century Laguna Copperplate Inscription which describes a context of an Indianised kingdom maintaining diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Medang. The city was invaded by Brunei's Sultan Bolkiahand was already Islamized by the 15th century when the Spanish explorers first arrived. Manila eventually became the center of Spanish activity in the Far East and one end of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade route linking Latin America and Asia. The city would eventually be given the moniker of the "Pearl of the Orient," as a result of its central location in the vital Pacific sea trade routes. Several Chinese insurrections, local revolts, a British Occupation and a Sepoy mutiny also occurred shortly thereafter. Manila also saw the rise of the Philippine Revolution which was followed by the arrival of the Americans who made contributions to the city's urban planning and development only to have most of those improvements lost in the devastation of World War II. Since then the city has been rebuilt.

Geography
Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila bay, which rests on the western shores ofLuzon. The [22] city lies 800 miles (1,300 kilometres) from mainland Asia. The Pasig Riverbisects the city. Almost all of the city sits on top of centuries of prehistoric alluvial deposits built by the waters of the Pasig and on some land reclaimed from Manila Bay. The city's land has been altered substantially by human intervention, with considerable land reclamation along the waterfronts since the American colonial times. Some of the natural variations in topography have been evened out due to the urbanization of the city. The city occupies an area of 38.55 square kilometers and was divided into 897 barangays, the smallest unit of local government in the Philippines. Each barangay has its own chairperson and councilors. For administrative convenience, all the barangays in Manila are grouped into 100 zones and which are further grouped into 16 geographical districts. These zones and districts have no form of local government. These 16 geographical districts are further grouped into the sixlegislative districts of Manila.

(From top, left to right): Manila skyline, Paco Park,Manila City Hall, Rizal Park, Roxas Boulevard, Fort Santiago, Manila Bay, Cultural Center of the Philippines.