Composed of 14 cities and 3 municipalities, Metro Manila is home to roughly 20 percent of the country's 85 million Filipinos. The capital, Manila, is situated at the mouth of a natural harbor -- the Manila Bay of world-famous sunsets. Malacanang Palace, the official residence of the Philippine President, stands regally on the banks of the Pasig River, which meanders through the length of the metropolis.

The country's premier business district, Makati, throbs with a different life. Busy sidewalks and avenues lead to hushed office sanctums, sparkling malls, elegant shops, swank galleries and boutiques, and some of the most valuable residential real estates in the country. Evenings, this classy entertainment city pulsates with the thousand and one lights of discos, pubs, bistros, restaurants, music lounges, jazz bars, karaoke bars and 24-hour diners.