Metro Manila: Philippines' Defined Metropolitan Area

Metro Manila has gone through a lot of changes that makes it always an exciting and interesting place.

The place is situated on the country’s biggest floodplain area. It is delimited by Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay to the west and southeast respectively. These two bodies of water are actually connected by a 10-mile course of river, called Pasig River.

The city is also surrounded by provinces: Bulacan to the North, Rizal to the east, and Laguna and Cavite to the south and southwest respectively.

Being the Capital of the Philippines, Metro Manila holds the rank of being the 42nd riches urban accumulation in the world having $108 billion GDP. By 2020, it is anticipated that it will sweep the 30th rank with $257 billion GDP. At present time, it is said that the metropolis has a population of around 20 million. Thus, it is considered to be one of the 12 defined metropolitan areas in the tropical country of the Philippines.

What Is It Made Of?

The metropolis is actually a metropolitan area. It is a hub for politics, economics, social and culture of the country and considered to be one of the more advanced and contemporary cities in Southeast Asia. The metropolis contains 17 surrounding urban areas and municipalities. These municipalities include Caloocan, Las Pinas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Pateros, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela and Manila.

Each of these municipalities has a fair share in the history and creation of Metro Manila in general. Each of course has its own population, set of local government units and officials. Every municipality also has history of its own including unique products and famous tourist spots and destinations.

Groups of municipalities have their own alias or alternate name. Manila is also known as the Capital District. Eastern Manila District is composed of Mandaluyong City, Marikina City, Pasig City, Quezon City, and San Juan City. CAMANAVA District on the other hand is an acronym for Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas City and Valenzuela City while Las Pinas City, Makati City, Muntinlupa City, Paranaque City, Pasay City, Pateros, and Taguig City made the Southern Manila District.

Business and Pleasures

Makati City, a district of the metropolis, is home to major businesses in the country. It is in fact considered to be the largest financial and economic centers in the country and coined to be the central business district of Metro Manila. It houses the country's largest companies. Headquarters of different major banks in the Philippines are found on the floor of this city as well.

Following in the rank of having major businesses is the Ortigas Center located at Pasig City. This is considered to be the country's second central business district. Just like Makati City, it is a home to some of the country's finest and huge corporations. It has on its ground San Miguel Corporation, Meralco, and Asian Development Bank headquarters among other company giants.

Other municipalities are now beginning to open its door to a lot of huge businesses that are ready to compete with reverberant hubs. Taguig City has the Bonifacio Global City. Quezon City has the Eastwood City. In Muntinlupa City, you can find the Paranaque, Las Pinas and Alabang Estates, Madrigal Business Park and Filinvest. Pasay City has Manila Bay City Reclamation Area.

World-class shopping centers and mall can also be found all over the 17 municipalities of the metropolis lead by businesses and shopping centers owned by Henry Sy. Big malls like SM Mall of Asia Robinsons, Glorietta, Trinoma, Ayala Center and even traditional wet markets can easily be spotted in the place. All these, you can find in this exciting place of Metro Manila.