1 The capital of the Philippines , Manila gets its name from the nilad plant , a flowering shrub .
1 capital and chief city of the Philippines .

1 The capital of the Philippines , Manila gets its name from the nilad plant , a flowering shrub .
4 The city's name , originally Maynilad , is derived from that of the nilad plant , a flowering shrub adapted to marshy conditions , which once grew profusely along the banks of the river; the name was shortened first to Maynila and then to its present form .

2 The city was first known as Maynilad , but the name was later shortened .
4 The city's name , originally Maynilad , is derived from that of the nilad plant , a flowering shrub adapted to marshy conditions , which once grew profusely along the banks of the river; the name was shortened first to Maynila and then to its present form .

3 Manila is located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay , lying on the low , narrow plain of the Pasig River .
3 It is located on Luzon Island and spreads along the eastern shore of Manila Bay at the mouth of the Pasig River .

3 Manila is located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay , lying on the low , narrow plain of the Pasig River .
11 Manila lies on the eastern shore of Manila Bay , a large inlet with access to the sea through a channel 12 miles wide to the southwest .

3 Manila is located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay , lying on the low , narrow plain of the Pasig River .
12 It occupies the low , narrow deltaic plain of the Pasig River , which flows northwestward to Manila Bay out of a large lake , Laguna de Bay , southeast of the city .

4 The river runs through the middle of the city , dividing it into two sections .
24 The city is bisected by the Pasig River .

5 The two parts are linked by a number of bridges .
28 The two sections of the city are connected by several bridges .

6 The Malacan~ang Palace used to be the home of the president .
30 San Miguel is the site of Malacan~ang Palace , the presidential residence; several universities are located in Sampaloc .

7 The ruins of the Spanish fortress city of Intramuros ( the name means "within walls" ) is known for the San Agustin Church and other historic sites .
32 Intramuros is renowned for its 16th-century San Agustin church as well as for the ruins of its old walls and of Ft .

8 Rizal Park , the main area for outdoor recreation , features several gardens and a playground .
108 The foremost outdoor recreational area is Rizal Park , with a Japanese garden , a Chinese garden , an open-air theatre , a playground , a grandstand , and a long promenade adjacent to Manila Bay .

9 Other public parks include the Manila Zoological and Botanical Gardens , the Mehan Garden , and Paco Park .
109 Other areas include the Manila Zoological and Botanical Gardens , the Mehan Garden , and Paco Park .

10 Major theaters in Manila include the Folk Arts Theater , the Metropolitan Theater , and an open-air theater in Rizal Park .
105 There is also the Folk Arts Theater , facing Manila Bay , the renovated historic Metropolitan Theatre , and an open-air theatre in Rizal Park .

11 The National Library , the National Museum , and the National Institute of Science and Technology are other cultural centers .
106 The many libraries and museums include the National Library and the National Museum , known for its anthropological and archaeological exhibits; the National Institute of Science and Technology , with a scientific reference library and large collections of plants and animals; the geological museum of the Bureau of Mines and Geosciences; the Planetarium; Ft .

12 The University of Santo Tomas was established in 1611 and is the oldest university in the Far East .
103 There are several universities sponsored by religious bodies , including the University of Santo Tomas ( founded in 1611 ) , as well as nonsectarian institutions such as the University of the East and the Far Eastern University .

13 There are many other universities in the city as well .
103 There are several universities sponsored by religious bodies , including the University of Santo Tomas ( founded in 1611 ) , as well as nonsectarian institutions such as the University of the East and the Far Eastern University .

14 Manila is a center for trade and commerce .
61 Manila is the centre of commerce and finance in the Philippines .

15 The city is home to textile , publishing and printing , and food industries .
58 The diverse manufacturing activities of Manila include textile production , publishing and printing , food processing , and the production of paints , drugs , aluminum articles , rope and cordage , shoes , cigars and cigarettes , coconut oil , soap , and lumber .

16 Its factories produce paints , medicines , aluminum items , rope , shoes , coconut oil , soap , and lumber .
58 The diverse manufacturing activities of Manila include textile production , publishing and printing , food processing , and the production of paints , drugs , aluminum articles , rope and cordage , shoes , cigars and cigarettes , coconut oil , soap , and lumber .

17 A number of banks are based in Manila .
64 Financial institutions headquartered in Manila include such establishments as the Development Bank of the Philippines , the Philippine National Bank , the Philippine Veterans Bank , the Government Service Insurance System , the Social Security System , and many private commercial and developmental banks .

18 In the late 16th century , Manila was a walled Muslim settlement .
112 In the late 16th century , Manila was a walled Muslim settlement whose ruler levied customs duties on all commerce passing up the Pasig River .

19 In 1571 , the Spanish destroyed the settlement and founded Intramuros .
113 Spanish conquistadors under the leadership of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi -- first Spanish governor general of the Philippines -- entered the mouth of the river in 1571 .

19 In 1571 , the Spanish destroyed the settlement and founded Intramuros .
114 They destroyed the settlement and founded the fortress city of Intramuros in its place .

20 Manila became the capital of a new Spanish colony .
115 Manila became the capital of the new colony .

21 Some scattered villages stood outside the city walls , each ruled by a local chief .
116 Outside the city walls stood some scattered villages , each ruled by a local chieftain and each centred on a marketplace .

22 As the Spaniards established colonial rule , churches and convents were built .
117 As Spanish colonial rule became established , churches were built near the marketplaces , where the concentration of population was greatest .

23 Manila was invaded by other countries several times .
122 At various periods Manila was seriously threatened , and sometimes occupied , by foreign powers .

24 The Chinese invaded the city in 1574 , and the Dutch raided it in the mid-17th century .
123 It was invaded by the Chinese in 1574 and raided by the Dutch in the mid-17th century .

25 In 1762 , the city was captured and held by the British , but it was returned to Spain a year later .
124 In 1762 , during the Seven Years ' War , the city was captured and held by the British , but the Treaty of Paris ( 1763 ) resulted in its restoration to Spain .

26 Manila became the center of anti-Spanish feelings in the 1890s .
126 The Manila area became the centre of anti-Spanish sentiment in the 1890s , and the execution of Filipino patriot Jose Rizal in the city in December 1896 sparked a year-long insurrection .

27 The execution of a Filipino patriot , Jose Rizal , in 1896 started a rebellion against the Spanish that lasted for a year .
126 The Manila area became the centre of anti-Spanish sentiment in the 1890s , and the execution of Filipino patriot Jose Rizal in the city in December 1896 sparked a year-long insurrection .

28 In August 1898 , United States forces captured the city during the Spanish American War .
127 During the Spanish-American War the Spanish fleet was defeated at Manila Bay on May 1 , 1898 , and on August 13 the city surrendered to U.S . forces .

29 Shortly after that the United States took control of the whole country and made Manila their headquarters in the Philippines .
128 It subsequently became the headquarters for the U.S . administration of the Philippines .

30 The city developed into a major trading and tourist center .
132 The city developed into a major trading and tourist centre .

31 During World War II , the Japanese captured Manila .
133 Upon the outbreak of World War II , Manila was declared an open city and was occupied by the Japanese in January 1942 .

32 The city was destroyed when United States forces successfully fought to get it back in 1945 .
134 The city suffered little damage during the Japanese invasion but was levelled to the ground during the fight for its recapture by U.S . forces in 1945 .

33 In 1946 , Manila became the capital of the independent Republic of the Philippines , and the city was rapidly rebuilt with aid from the United States .
135 Manila was in shambles when in 1946 it became the capital of the newly independent Republic of the Philippines .

33 In 1946 , Manila became the capital of the independent Republic of the Philippines , and the city was rapidly rebuilt with aid from the United States .
136 The city was rapidly rebuilt , however , with U.S . aid .