Tuesday, 1 May 2012

About Manila history and popular tourist attractions


About Manila

Manila the capital of the Philippines under Spanish rule Manila was called and was also known as the pearl of the orient the jewel of the Spain Empire in the pacific.  Metro Manila is located on the Island of Luzon the largest island in the Philippines.  Manila is the centre of the country’s largest metropolitan area.  It is the manufacturing centre of the Philippines, textile and garment industries, cigarette factories; it also has food- and hemp-processing plants, pharmaceuticals, and other chemical products. The citizens of the city speak Tagalog, but most Filipinos also speak and are fluent in English, which is a language taught in the public schools. The vast Majority of Filipinos are descendants of Malays and Chinese. More Than 100 cultured minority groups are scattered throughout the country. Language Filipino and English and about 90 other languages are spoken throughout the country Religion Predominantly Roman Catholic. Manila city has a lot of 16th century Building and churches and many more great tourist attractions  Manila contains many of the country's largest and most prestigious universities. Many of the country’s oldest and most beautiful churches and buildings and is also home to the National Library and the Filipinas heritage library.   A splendid walled city the intramuros tragically most of this city was destroyed in world war two


Manila, Luzon, the Philippines, Asia

Founded: 1571; Combined into metropolitan Manila: 1975
Location: Eastern shore of Manila Bay in South western Luzon, the Philippines,
Time Zone: 8 pm in Manila = (GMT)
Indigenous Composition: Mainly Filipino, with approximately 7% Chinese
Climate: warm and humid most of the year. Rainy season is May through November.
Average high temperature: 31.73 ° C (89° F) Average Daily mean 27.43° C (81° F) Average daily low 23.14° C (73° F)
Average Annual rain fall: 81.3 inches (208.5 cm), falling mostly between May and November Average rainy days per year = 104
Telephone Area Codes: 02 (city code for Manila); 63 (country code for the Philippines)
Government: Mayor, Vice-Mayor, 36 elected Councillors
Weights and Measures: Metric System
Currency: Philippine Peso (P) = 100 centavos

San Agustin Church and Museum one of the oldest building in Manilla

History

Manila was founded on June 24, 1571 by three conquistadors: Martín de Goiti, Juan de Salcedo and Miguel López de Legazpi. Spain had control over the Philippines and Manila for three centuries, from 1565 to 1898. At the beginning of Spain occupation in Manila the construction of Intramuros was started. The Intramuros is a walled city that covers an area of 160 acres design by military engineers and built by soldiers. Intramuros is a fortress city that was built on the same area occupied by the Tagalog village Maynila  
Because of its ideal location, between China and the west coast of North America, Manila became the centre of Spanish activity the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade Philippine trade – route linking the Philippines and Acapulco, Mexico to Manila the Spanish trading ships sailed once or twice per year across the Pacific Ocean between Manila in the Philippines and Acapulco, Mexico bringing Silver that was mined in Mexico and Peru to be traded in south east Asia for Chinese silk, Indian gems porcelain, ivory, and the spices of the East Indies to be sold in European markets. The trade generated business income for Spanish colonists living in the Philippine Islands. The Manila galleon a Spanish galleon ship sailed the Pacific for 250 years. Manila became known as the pearl of the orient because the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade became very lucrative. 
The Philippine revolution
Dr Jose Rizal   an amazing man credited for inspiring the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. José Rizal was a writer, and his two books Noli me Tangere and El Filbusterismo are said to have started to unite the Philippine people and fight for a single cause to rid the Philippines of the brutal and unjust rulers of their country.  These two books were banned in the Philippines for exposing Spanish government and rulers and their treatment of the Filipino people.  Dr Jose Rizal fled the country to live in exile in Dapitan, where he worked as an agriculturist, as well as a scientist. He fled the Philippines to avoid being associated with the revolution; he was caught by the Spanish treating patients with yellow fever in Cuba, and sent back to the Philippines for trial. He was held in fort Santiago before his trial and was convicted and condemned to death for encouraging the revolution and rebellion He was sentenced to death and executed by a firing squad on December 30, 1896 Dr Jose Rizal tomb is now guarded by traditional soldiers near to the place of his execution Rizal park monument in Rizal park once known as luneta park. 
In 1898, Spain surrendered the Philippines to the United States due at the end of the Spanish-American War the Americans secretly entered into a pact with the Spanish governor-general in which he later agreed to fight a fake battle before surrendering Manila to the Americans.  The Spanish unwillingly agreed to sell the Philippines to the United States for 20 million dollars and turn over Puerto Rico and Guam this ended, Spanish rule in the Philippines.



World war two
Just ten hours after the attack on Pearl Harbour the Japanese launched a surprise attack on the Philippines on December 8, 1941 the defending Philippine and United States troops were under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. The aircraft under General Douglas MacArthur command were destroyed; the naval forces in the area were ordered to leave making, reinforcement and resupply of his ground forces near impossible. Under the pressure of superior numbers, the defending forces withdrew to the Bataan. In April 1942 Philippine forces and American troop’s finally surrendered living behind 80,000 soldiers that were capture by the Japanese and became prisoners of war. The Japanese march the malnutrition and battle tired troops 105 kilometres to the north to a Quezon prison camp it is estimated about 10 000 men weekend due to disease and malnutrition that were left behind to die or where executed by their captors now known as the infamous Bataan Death March. MacArthur was ordered to Australia, where he started to plan for a return to the Philippines. But before MacArthur left he promised the Philippine people he shall return.  On October 20, 1944 MacArthur's Allied forces landed on red beach Tacloban the island of Leyte to liberate the Philippines from the Japanese invaders.   Philippine Guerrilla forces rose up and helped then allied troops for the final offensive. The Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945
The battle of Manila
Destruction of the city the carnage and devastation resulting in the lost of irreplaceable cultural and historical treasure was the price the Philippine people paid for freedom and independence remembered today as a national tragedy Churches, Countless government buildings, Fort Santiago, Intramuros is the oldest district of Manila was decimated by bombing during the battle of Manila. 16,665 Japanese dead were counted within Intramuros alone 1,010 U.S. soldiers were killed and 5,565 were wounded. An estimated 150,000 Filipinos civilians were killed, both deliberately by the Japanese and from friendly artillery and aerial bombardment by the U.S. air force.

 

Tourist attractions in Manila

San Agustin Church and Museum

The only building left fully intact after the destruction of the Intramuros from the battle of Manila.  San Agustin Church built between 1587 and the early 1606 is the oldest church in the Philippines. Admission to this church includes entry to the San Agustin Museum a treasure house of antiquities

Fort Santiago

A very old Spanish fort of military might the place of Dr Jose Rizal memorial and museum giving you a good insight of his final days before his execution Baluaritllo De San Francisco Javier Built in 1663 houses the Intramuros visitors centre providing information and maps and a historical video of the intramuros.  Parks and picnic areas have transformed this once most feared fortress in all Asia into a relaxing place to spend a leisured day strolling around the gardens of Plaza Morioners and enjoy the greenery and historic ruins of Plaza de Armas.  The Jose Rizal shrine a reconstruction of the colonial barracks Where Dr Jose Rizal jailed and confined during his trial for treason. This museum houses mementoes and historical information of the national hero that can be viewed.  Baluarte De Santa Barbarra. Almacenes Reales the royal store houses used by the Spanish American and Japanese military forces during their occupation of the Philippines. The museum shop houses a Intramuros antique collection and souvenir items and books and much more     

Rizal Park

Once known as Luneta park monument to many Filipino heroes ornament gardens including Japanese gardens and Chinese gardens open lawns and a very beautiful water fountain display Rizal monument the site of Dr Jose Rizal execution. Also near Rizal Park and the waterfront restaurants is the Museo ng Maynila this museum has a photo exhibition of Manila during the American period

National gallery of art

Showing a display of many Philippines artist works and treasures

Quiapo Church

The home to the black Nazarene a life size statue carved from ebony Manila the black Nazarene Procession is one of Manila biggest religious festivals there are two annual processions when the statue is brought out for public viewing and paraded through the streets

Intramuros

 A Spanish walled city and fortress built on the mouth of the Pasig River. Intramuros is a fortress city that was built on the same area occupied by the Tagalog village Maynila as it was once called before Spanish rule. From its founding in 1571 it was the home of the Spanish ruling classes. Within the massive walls Homes, Churches, government buildings, schools hospitals. The Intramuros was invaded by Chinese pirates attacked and threatened by Dutch forces and held by the British, Americans and Japanese at different times throughout the history and occupation of the walled city. At its height Intramuros was a mighty European city the only one of its kind in Asia and was most fear by the enemies of Spain.  Unfortunately the Intramuros was all most completely destroy during the battle of Manila the walls were almost all that remained despite the devastation from the battle of Manila one can still feel a strong sense of history when they visit this once very proud city

Intramuros Visitors centre open 8 am to 5 pm located at the entrance of fort Santiago here you will find maps and information on the Intramuros 

Manila cathedral

The church that stands today is actually sixth building on this site Manila cathedral with its impressive Spanish architecture started out as a church back in 1571 church of Manila as it was originally called was built in the intramuros district of the city. In 1579 this magnificent church was declared a cathedral. The original structure of the church was built from native building materials such as bamboo wood and nipa. The cathedral was totally destroyed by the 1583 fire this was the first of many misfortunes the cathedral had to endure.

The second cathedral was built in 1592 which was made and constructed with stone and was destroyed by an earthquake in 1600 so the construction started on the third cathedral but unfortunately this church was destroyed by another earthquake in 1645. So rebuilding of the cathedral started again in 1671 this magnificent and very beautiful Manila cathedral was completed. 1871 the church was not totally destroyed but it was severely damaged by a very strong earthquake in 1863. In 1880 the Manila cathedral became tower less due to another earthquake and reconstructed once again this time it took nine years to build and less than a day to reduce to rumble due to the battle of Manila in world war two 1945. The magnificent building you see today standing was constructed from 1945 ten year after it was destroyed by the bombs of the war and was completed in 1958 under the supervision of architect Fernando H. Ocampo read more about Manila




Rizal park the most famous park in the Philippines history

More Manila tourist attractions a list of most popular attractions


Museo Pambata located near Rizal Park a museum for children hands on exhibition for children where your kids can have lots of fun leaning about Manila. Museo Pambata

Manila ocean park impressive eco-conscious aquarium the first marine park in the Philippines the park exhibition has over 5000 varieties marine life from all over the world and over 300 varieties of marine life indigenous to the Philippines. Manila ocean park

Manila zoo located in the middle of the city with a diverse collection of animals this zoo has a petting area where you can hold different types of animals and take photos a must do activity if you have children. Manila zoo

National Museum of the Filipino people the museum houses vast collections of exhibitions Filipinos sculptures and paintings there is also a section dedicated to the early indigenous inhabitants and also plate’s jewellery and coins recovered from the wreck of San Diego. National Museum of the Filipino people

National gallery of art located near the National museum of Filipino people many of the Philippines most treasured art works including Juan Luna Spoliarium providing information on the time of Spanish rule.

China town here you will find many Chinese souvenirs tea houses goldsmiths’ shops selling incense and tradition Chinese herbs. There are numerous places for a meal all light snacks

Culture centre of the Philippines inside is an art gallery a museum of musical instruments and a library and three theatres regularly present musical performances from local and visiting artist. Culture centre of the Philippines

Ayala Museum contains archaeological exhibitions on Filipino art culture and history including an excellent exhibition tracing the nation violent history. Ayala Museum

 

Traveling the city
Travelling around Manila city for any one travelling around this city for the first time I recommend they get a good map and always ask questions at their hotel in which there are staying. This city is a very densely populated and sometimes can be had to find your way. But if you have someone with you that speaks Tagalog and knows the city locations a little bit a Jeepney is a very cheap way to travel around the Philippines and Manila. You can travel on a jeepney a long way for 20 peso less than 50 cents Australian. Disadvantage time consuming travelling everywhere on jeepney. But if you have the time I suggest you spend some time finding your way around in a jeepney because it is experience defiantly worth while trying. If you are in staying in the Malate or Ermita area you are centrally located and very close to most Tourist locations. Using the taxi service is convenient and cheap especially if you are sightseeing. One thing to remember is that the city taxi service is a lot cheaper than the yellow cabs from the airport. If you are concerned about what the price a taxi driver should charge just ask someone at your hotel the receptionist usually they know the area and are always willing to help in any way they can.
Manila hospitals and services there are several large private hospitals and medical services located within metro Manila that have a very good reputation these include
Makati medical centre

Manila medical centre
Manila doctors Hospital
Emergency Phone numbers Ambulance 9111121 police 117

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