Home to over 15 million people Manila is the capital of the Philippines and has the unwanted label of being one of the most polluted cities in the world.  The wealthy of Forbes City live only a stones throw from the shanty town of Paco.  This is a city where driving is a nightmare as taxis fight for limited road space with the Jeepnees, trishaws and bicycles.


This city started life as a Muslim enclave on the Pasig River which flows into Manila Bay.  The Spanish conquered and occupied the area in the late 15th century until the short lived British occupation from 1762 - 1764.  With the desertion of the Sepoy division of the British army the Spanish regained control until Manila was invaded by U.S. troops in 1898.  After much ado in the halls of diplomacy, Spain sold the country including its capital to the USA for some twenty million dollars which brought to an end the 333 Spanish rule.

From 1942 until the end of World War II the Philippines and Manila was occupied by the Japanese.  After the war the Philippines was once more established as an independent sovereign republic but under the watchful eye of the Americans who maintained military and naval bases because of the country's strategic location in Asia. 

Manila is a good entry and exit point for tourists travelling to the Philippines using it as a base from which to travel to places such as Bagguio high in the mountains and the fabulous beach and reef resort of Bora Cay.