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 As the capital city of the
Philippines and also its heart and soul is Manila. It
sets the rhythm of life in this archipelago and
is a pulsating hub that blends the Oriental with
the Occidental, the quaint with the modern, the
mundane with the extraordinary. An anchor
tourist destination, Manila is the very core of
the 7,000 times more islands that make up the
Philippines. It is a centre for the performing
arts in Asia and its main attractions include
great museums, excellent shopping, dining and
nightlife.
Manila is the main
gateway of the Philippines and is readily
accessible from the travel capitals of the
world. Greater Manila is
where the country's most prestigious business
addresses and the trendiest leisure
establishment are found. By day, it hums with
the bustle of commerce and by night, it throbs
with the excitement of varied, high-class
entertainment and this city has Photo: Fort
Santiago
some of Philippines's famous tourists
attractions.
 Makati is the business hub of the
Philippines while a variety of excellent
restaurants have mushroomed in inner-city
neighborhoods like Ermita and Malate. The
transportation system is quite good here and
tourist can take a Metrorail train or bus along
the Epifanio De Los Santos Ave (EDSA) to Makati
or shopping centres in Ortigas to buy their
souvenirs.
Around Intramuros
and its old walled city, stone and brick Spanish
buildings could be seen surrounding this
heritage building whereby Spanish dialects are
still being used in certain suburbs. The famous
Fort Santiago can still be seen standing at the
mouth of the Pasig River. Another main tourist
attraction here is the Rizal Shrine Museum which
displays rare exhibits of items belonging to
Jose Rizal, the national hero of Philippines.
Another popular
attraction among the locals here is Rizal Park, also known as Luneta, whereby it is
the perfect place for jogging or to take
Photo: Manila Cathedral
a
stroll in the existing tranquil atmosphere.
Other interesting landmarks and tourists
attractions here are the Rizal
Memorial, the planetarium, a Chinese garden and
also a Japanese garden.
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