Ortigas Area

You'll find plenty of natural wonders in the Philippines dramatic waterfalls, beautiful beaches, ancient rice terraces and reefs teeming with aquatic life. Manila can be chaotic and confusing to the first-time visitor. This sprawling city of 10 million people (the second-largest city in Southeast Asia) is a riot of traffic jams, crowded shops and markets, street-side hustlers, and the colorful, horn-honking jeepneys. The best way to deal with Manila's medley of sensory experiences is to surrender yourself to its rhythm.
Revel in Manila's contrasts. The city is Catholic to its core yet bursting with wildly hedonistic nightspots. Steel and glass skyscrapers overlook a sadly polluted Pasig River. Built from the ashes of WWII, Manila is a thriving metropolisyet the homes of many Manila residents have no running water or electricity.

Although Manila was founded in the 16th century, in recent years it has come to resemble a new Gotham City. You won't find the ancient pagodas and wats (temples) found elsewhere in Asia, but there are parks and antique shops, Spanish forts, and ornate cathedrals. Manila's nightlife is probably the most picturesque daily festival in Asia. Manila may baffle or frustrate you, but it will never fail to entertain.

Metropolitan Manila is divided into districts which alleviate the task of negotiating a path through the urban sprawl. Ermita, located beside the harbor of Manila Bay, is the main district for visitors. Makati is the commercial center of Manila; its Ayala Avenue is often called the Philippine Wall Street. Modern shopping centres and fine restaurants are located in Makati.

Manila's Summer swelters from March to May, with temperatures ranging from 30 to 36ºC (86 to 97ºF). The wet season lasts from June to October, bringing monsoon rains, typhoons, and an average temperature of 27ºC (80ºF). November to February is relatively dry and cool, with temperatures at about
23 to 28ºC (73 to 82ºC). Most people prefer to visit between December and mid-February, when the daily maximum is about 29ºC (84ºF).