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| MANILA SITES AND TOURS
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Malacañang
Palace
Seat of the head of the Government of the
Philippines since Spanish times, officially stands
on the north bank of the Pasig River whose legendary
beauty celebrated in song.
Malacañang,
from the vernacular "May Lakan Diyan"
meaning "There lives a noble man", expansion
of the city's free educational system and health care
delivery and maintenance of the city government's
strong financial position through intensified revenue
generation and judicious fiscal management. Inspite of
its my raid problems, city executives, councilors,
civil servants and peace officer unite to achieve the
vision of peace and good quality of life for its
people.
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Manila
Bay
Considered
the finest harbor in the far east where the famous
"Battle of Manila Bay" was fought between
the Americans and the Spaniards in 1898. Many
historians believed that the Manila-Acapulco Galleon
Trade between Philippines and Mexico thieved
principally because of the strategic location of
Manila Bay. The Galleon Trade lasted for 244 years.
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Intramuros
Intramuros, located on the southern bank of the Pasig River, is the original city in Manila founded by the Spaniards in 1571. A poorly defensible site, Intramuros was the center of many wars and invasions pre-dating the modern independence of the Philippines, which culminated in the ferocious Battle for Manila in 1945 during the Second World War, between U.S. and Japanese forces, resulting in the deaths of some 100,000 locals. A substantial section of Intramuros’ encircling wall remain intact, together with some decorated gates, historic precinct buildings, Spanish colonial-era townhouses and cobbled streets.
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Fort Santiago
One of the oldest and most fascinating Spanish-colonial buildings in the Philippines is Fort Santiago. Its oldest sections date back to 1571 when the Spaniards constructed it. The Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, spent his last days in captivity here until his execution by the Spaniards in 1896. During World War II, Philippine freedom fighters clashed with Japanese imperial forces here. At one of the cell blocks here, American Prisoners-of-War were left by the Japanese to drown under the rising tide, and it is at Fort Santiago that local myth claims that the legendary hidden gold treasure, known as Yamashita’s Gold, was hidden here by the Japanese. For many years to come, some have speculated that countless treasure seekers in their quest for the gold have disturbed both the site and the POWs’ final resting.
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University
of Santo Tomas
The oldest university in the Philippines and in
Asia, Founded on April 11, 1611 be Reverend Father
Miguel de Benavides. Originally opened as the
College of Our Lady of Rosary. The University has
been bestowed the title "Royal" by King
Charles III of Spain in 1758, while Pope Leo XIII
granted the title "Pontificial" in 1902.
Located originally in Intramuros, it was only
transferred to its present site in 1911. Owned by
the Spanish Dominicans which is governed by the
Board of Trustees until the late 19th century, the
university only accepted students of Spanish
parentage. Women were first admitted in 1927. UST
campus served also as an interment camp for
Americans, British, Canadian and other allied
nationals by the Japanese Occupation Forces from
January 1942 - February 1945. More than 10,000
people were imprisoned although it never held more
than 4,000 at one time.
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National Museum of the Philippines
Opened in 1901, the National Museum of the Philippines hosts the national baseline collections in the sciences and humanities, emphasizing in the fields of Philippine history and environment. The entire Museum is actually divided into two sections; the National Museum housed within the Old Congress Building of the Philippines, and the National Museum of the Filipino People, housed in the former Finance Building. These museums are host to archaic treasures of the San Diego, a Spanish galleon ship that sunk in Philippine waters after an accidental collision in 1600.
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Rizal Park
Manila’s 143-acre Rizal Park, also known as Luneta Park, is one of the largest parks in Southeast Asia. Its centerpiece is the Rizal Monument, in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal, the noble Philippine anti-colonial fighter and intellectual. In 1912, Dr. Rizal’s remains were interred in the Rizal Monument. Among the several gardens here is a re-creation of the Philippine archipelago in the eastern ponds, as well as an Orchidarium, a Chinese garden and a Japanese garden. In the morning, many locals assemble here to do their daily exercises, such as Philippine stick fighting and tai chi. A free “Concert at the Park” is held on most Sundays in an open-air auditorium.
Sunset over Manila Bay
A primary attraction in Manila, the famous Manila Bay sunset is a result of the Philippines’ high humidity forming splendid cloud effects over the city’s great harbor. Some say that this is an important distraction for spectators to turn their backs on the fast pace of the city life. Superb venues for sunset spectators include Manila’s long Roxas Boulevard and the Rizal Park.
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Walking Tours
The colonial atmosphere of Intramuros is best experienced through a walking tour. The Intramuros Visitors Center in Fort Santiago (tel: (632) 527-2961 and other Manila-based tourist agencies offer guided tours for interested visitors. They also offer leaflets laying out in detail the highlight points of interest throughout Intramuros for walkers who wish to explore on their own. Free guided walking tours of 30, 60 and 120 minutes are offered, which begins at the Intramuros center with an exhibition and audio-visual presentation.
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Bus Tours
The official Manila City Tour is organized by Asia Travel (tel: (632) 635-3909) and operates four hours daily from 0900 and costs around P800 with pick-ups from all major hotels within Manila. The tour itinerary includes downtown Manila, Fort Santiago, Rizal Park, the Cultural Center Complex and the Makati suburbs.
Other tour agencies are Southeast Travel Corporation (tel: (632) 524-5676) and Danfil Discovery Tours (tel: (632) 525-3788.
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