Considering its population density you might wonder. Is Manila truly the heart of the Philippines? It absolutely is.
Manila officially the City of Manila is the nation’s capital. It stands as the second-most populous city after Quezon City. Imagine a place teeming with 43611 inhabitants per square kilometer. That’s Manila.
Manila’s story is deeply woven into the fabric of Filipino history. The city is located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on Luzon Island. It is a highly urbanized zone. Manila holds the distinction of being the world’s most densely populated city proper. It was the first chartered city in the country. This designation came via Philippine Commission Act No 183 on July 31 1901.
Manila achieved autonomy through Republic Act No 409. This is also known as “The Revised Charter of the City of Manila”. The act occurred on June 18 1949. Manila’s commercial networks were the first to span the Pacific Ocean. They linked Asia with the Spanish Americas through the galleon trade. This established the first uninterrupted global trade route.
By 1258 a Tagalog polity named Maynila existed. It stood where modern Manila is today. Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi arrived. It was June 24 1571. He began building Intramuros after defeating Rajah Sulayman. The Spanish name Manila comes from the older settlement’s name. Manila became the capital of the Spanish East Indies. Mexico City controlled it for the Spanish crown.
Today “Manila” often means the entire metropolitan area. This includes Quezon City and Makati. The Pasig River divides Manila into northern and southern parts. Manila comprises 16 districts.
The city’s name Maynilà comes from may-nilà. This means “where indigo is found”. Nilà derives from the Sanskrit word nīla. This refers to indigo dye. The name likely came from indigo plants near the settlement.
An antiquated theory suggests may-nilad as the origin. This means “where nilad is found”. Nilad incorrectly refers to water hyacinth. However this plant came recently from South America. Another theory says nilad is a mangrove tree. Linguistic analysis makes this unlikely.
Manila’s history stretches back to 3000 BC with the Angono Petroglyphs. Negritos lived here before Malayo-Polynesians arrived. Maynila and Tondo traded with China. During the 12th century Brunei invaded Manila.
On June 24 1571 Miguel López de Legazpi declared Manila a territory of New Spain. He established a city council in Intramuros. Manila became the capital of the Spanish East Indies. In 1574 Chinese pirate Lim Hong besieged Manila.
Manila played a key role in the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade. Silver from Mexico and Peru exchanged for Chinese silk and spices. Manila was the only place where Japanese and Chinese could openly trade. The city became wealthy. It was at the crossroads of the Silk Road the Spice Route and the Silver Way. Armenians facilitated trade between Europe and Asia.
Great Britain captured Manila in 1762. The British occupied the city for twenty months. They withdrew per the Treaty of Paris in 1763. Some Indian soldiers settled nearby.
After Mexico’s independence in 1821 Spain directly governed Manila. Banking industry and education grew. The Suez Canal opened in 1869. This boosted trade with Spain. The city attracted people and liberal ideas grew. Manila was one of the first eight provinces to rebel against Spain.
After the 1898 Battle of Manila Spain ceded the city to the United States. The First Philippine Republic fought the Americans. The U.S. won and recognized Manila’s eleven districts in 1901.
Under U.S. control Daniel Burnham created a plan for Manila. It included better transit systems and parks. Only some buildings were completed before World War II.
During the Japanese occupation Manila became an open city. Japanese forces occupied Manila on January 2 1942. In 1945 Manila suffered heavy destruction. American and Philippine troops recaptured Manila.
After the war Manila was rebuilt. In 1948 the government moved to Quezon City. Manila regained its pre-war glory. It was once again the “Pearl of the Orient”. Today Manila remains a vital and bustling capital. It is a city rich in history culture and resilience.