Manila, the capital of Philippines, was established by the Spanish conquerors in 1571. The Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi made it the capital of their colony “Felipinas.” For 327 years, the Spanish kept Philippines as their colony. After a bloody revolution that saw hundreds of men die in the battlefield, the US took over the country until they granted Philippines independence in 1935.
The city is known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ and is located in the southern Luzon, the largest of the more than 7,000 islands that make up the nation known as the Philippines. Manila is rich with natural resources. its greatest asset is the protected harbour upon which it sits, the finest in all of Asia. The city profits from fish, shells and salt it gets from the sea. The people of the country, with their high literacy rate and facility with languages, are another source of Manila’s wealth. The city offers various shopping experiences ranging from colourful open-air markets to air-conditioned shopping malls.
Basketball is the most popular sport in Manila. It is also the land of music and arts. Artists of international repute frequent the city for musical performances and live theatre. One of the most important tourist attractions of the city is the Rizal Shrine, a monument that honours the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.
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