METROPOLITAN MANILA, the Philippines' National Capital Region. is a Mega-Metropolis covering an area of 633.3 square kilometers wim an estimated thirteen (13) million population. The region which was named after the City of Manila, the nation's capital, was created in November 1975 by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos by virtue of Presidential Decree 824.

Bounded by the Manila Bay and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna, Metro Manila is an urban wallow of sixteen (16) modern cities and a municipality, each with its own distinct and interesting characteristics. An aggregate of adverse distinctions, the region is an intriguing blend of the past and the present, of striking contrasts and contradictions. Blessed with significant historical and cultural destinations, it is likewise enriched with skyscraping edifices, world-class convention facilities, state of the art shopping malls and entertainment venues, and strips of restaurants that serve international gastronomic delights.