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The National Capital Region : Manila & Environs

Metropolitan Manila (Filipino: Kalakhang Maynila) or the National Capital Region (NCR) (Filipino: Pambansang Punong Rehiyon) is the capital of the Philippines and among the world's twenty most populous metropolitan areas. Metro Manila is one of the two defined metropolitan areas in the Philippines, the other being Metro Cebu. Metro Manila is the smallest of the country's administrative regions, but the most populous and the most densely populated, having a population of 9,932,560 (2000 census) in an area only 636 square kilometers large. It is also the only region without any provinces. The region is bordered by the provinces of Bulacan to the north, Rizal to the east, and Cavite and Laguna to the south. Metro Manila is also sandwiched by the Manila Bay to the west and the Laguna de Bay to the southeast with the Pasig River running between them, bisecting the region.

Metro Manila is the metropolitan area that contains the city of Manila, as well as sixteen surrounding cities and municipalities, including Quezon City, the capital from 1948 to 1976. Metro Manila is the political, economic, social, and cultural center of the Philippines, and is one of the more modern metropolises in Southeast Asia. Among locals, particularly those from Manila proper and those in the provinces, Metro Manila is often simply referred to as Manila; however locals from other parts of the metropolis may see this as offensive, owing to city pride and also the fact that some cities are actually geographically closer to the neighboring provinces than to Manila itself. Metro Manila is often abbreviated as M.M..

TOURISM POINTS OF INTEREST IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION.

Historic Fort Santiago Intramuros :  The Walled City of Old Manila is one of the more popular points of interest among visitors to MetroManila.  Just a short walking distance from the main Rizal Park, one of the interesting aspects of Intramuros is the historic Fort Santiago; the Manila Cathedral; and the Casa Manila, among others.

The Manila Cathedral : one of the ecclessiastical landmarks in the country, is within walking distance from within Intramuros.       From atop one of the portions of the walls, one gets a good view of the Manila City Hall with part of the Intramuros Golf & Country Club in the foreground.

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