The document provides information about the National Capital Region of the Philippines, also known as Metro Manila. It discusses the geography, population, culture, climate, facilities, and famous tourist attractions of Metro Manila. Some of the major tourist attractions mentioned include Intramuros, Manila Bay, Coconut Palace, Cultural Center of the Philippines, SM Mall of Asia, and heritage churches. The region has excellent infrastructure and is the center of business and government in the Philippines.

1. Philippine Culture,
Tourism & Geography
National Capital Region
By: Prof. Mary Kristine Laurilla, MBA

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Identify the location of
the provinces where
tourist attractions are
located on the
Philippine map.
• Identify the major
gateways or entry points
into different
provinces.
• Understand the political
structures, cultural,
historical, religious,

3. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
The National Capital
Region or NCR is the
center of Luzon and the
capital region of the
Philippines. The
Cordillera Mountains
form its boundary on the
east, Laguna de Bay on
the southeast, Central
Luzon on the north and
Southern Tagalog region
on the south.

4. It is composed of
the cities of:
1. Manila
2. Kalookan
3. Las Pinas
4. Makati
5. Mandaluyong
6. Marikina
7. Paranaque
8. Muntinlupa
9. Pasay
10.Pasig
11.Quezon City
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
Pending ratification
for city hood through
plebiscites by their
respective residents
are the municipalities
of:
1. Taguig
2. Valenzuela
3. Novaliches in
Quezon City
4. Navotas
5. Malabon
6. Pateros

5. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
Its total land area of 636,100 square
kilometers includes residential, industrial,
institutional, and agricultural areas and an
unclassified public forest. Metro Manila is
divided into 6 (six) zones:
1. Manila Bay
2. Coastal Margin
3. Laguna de Bay
4. Guadalupe Plateau
5. Marikina Valley
6. Laguna Lowland

6. POPULATION
In the year 2000, the region’s population was
10,492,000 which increases to more than 13
million during the daytime due to a large
workforce residing in the areas adjoining the
metropolis but working in the City.

7. CULTURAL GROUPS
Metro Manila is composed of almost all the
cultural groups of the Philippines. The
principal language used is Tagalog with
English as the secondary language.

8. CLIMATE
The dry season
is from November
to May and the
rainy season is
from June to
October.
April and May
are normally its
warmest months.

9. FACILITIES
The metropolis has one of the first-class
harbors in Asia. The Manila bay opens out
into the South China Sea and is a gateway to
Asia.
Metro Manila is considered the country’s
premier business region with adequate
facilities and services in transportation,
housing, and commercial infrastructure,
communications, power supply, and
recreational facilities. It has world-class
malls and commercial centers.

10. FACILITIES
It has excellent seaport facilities and an
international airport supplemented by the
seaports of international standards in
Batangas City and Subic Bay, Olongapo, and by
the Clark International Airport in Angeles
City. The government has envisioned an
integrated road network and mass-based rail
transport system within the metropolis.
Makati City is the premier business and
financial district, although other areas are
being developed such as the Ortigas Center in

11. FAMOUS TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

12. Philippine Museum of Ethnology -
Pasay
One of Nayong
Pilipino’s several
museum. The Philippine
museum of Ethnology
exhibits the different
cultural attractions
in the country. It
showcases ethnological
objects and artifacts
which form part of the
Philippine’s rich and
diverse cultural
heritage.

13. Cultural Center of the Philippines
- Pasay
Built to symbolize the
country’s national
cultural development,
the CCP is an
institution mandated by
Philippine laws to
preserve and enhance the
Filipino people’s
cultural heritage. Built
on reclaimed land in
Manila Bay, the CCP was
designed by leading
Filipino architect
Leandro Locsin. It
houses the main theater,
little theater, and

14. Folk Arts Theater - Pasay
The theater was built in
90 days and was designed
by Leandro V. Locsin in
1974. The building was
officially authorized by
First Lady Imelda Marcos
for the Miss Universe
Beauty Pageant in 1974,
which was to be held in
Manila in the same year.
The theater, named after
Filipino poet Francisco
Balagtas, has a seating
capacity of 8,458 in 10
sections and features a
broad fascia with a

15. Coconut Palace
The Coconut
Palace showcases
Filipino artistry
in the use of
coconut tree.
Over 70% of the
structure is made
from different
parts of the
coconut tree. The
Palace consists
of 7 suites with
each unit

16. Makati Shangri-la Manila
Is a 5-star hotel
located in Makati
City, Philippines and
one of the three
hotels managed by
Shangri-la Hotels and
Resorts located in
Metro Manila,
Philippines. It is
also the largest
Shangri-la hotel in
terms of room number
with 699 guest rooms

17. New World Hotel – Makati City
A luxurious 4-star
property set in a
prime location in
the centre of
Manila. Located in
the financial and
commercial hub of
Manila, nearby the
fashionable
Glorietta and
Greenbelt Lifestyle
shopping complexes,
the hotel is a

18. Philippine Army Museum – Taguig
City
It is a repository
of antique guns,
cannons, tanks,
and other relics
of WWII as well as
captured
paraphernalia,
ammunition, and
weapons of the New
People’s Army
(NPA). A special
feature is a
tunnel with

19. Museo ng Makati
Primarily a
municipal museum,
it is the
reservoir of the
artifacts,
treasures, and
relics of the
town’s glorious
past. It is also
a venue for
various exhibits
showcasing the

20. Ayala Museum
The museum is a unique
show window of
Philippine History and
Culture. It features 60
dioramas (tri-
dimensional portraits)
depicting significant
events of Philippine
history and scaled-down
reproductions of native
boats and foreign
ships.

21. Thomas Jefferson Cultural Center –
Makati City
Established in 1945,
this library provides
accurate, up-to-date,
and comprehensive
information about the
United States. It is a
place where lecturers
and seminars are held.
Film screenings and
videotape recordings
are done here as well.
It is likewise a venue
for visiting

22. Makati Park and Garden
Considered the city’s
main garden park, it has
well-lighted park walks
around fully landscaped
gardens, a man-made
lagoon and waterfalls, a
gazebo and ornamental
islet lighted fence,
adjoining park spaces,
and an amphitheater for
cultural shows like the
performing arts of
ballet, folk dances,

23. Dambanang Kawayan – Taguig City
A century old church
with altar, wall
sidings, ceiling and
benches that are made of
pure, native bamboo.
This symbol of Filipino
design and artistry
stood in history as the
site where over 500 men
were gathered and
brutalized during the
tragic “sons” of
December 1, 1944

24. Sumborio - Taguig
Lying as the
centerpiece of Sta.
Ana Catholic Cemetery
is the Simboryo.
Erected by Filipino
labor and supervised
by Spanish friars in
the year 1700. The
dome is made of tiles
and the walls of
stones. The structure
is 12 meters in
diameter. It has

25. The Blue Mosque – Taguig City
This religious center,
designed by renowned
architect Angel Nakpil,
is also a socio-civic
meeting place for both
Filipino and foreign
Muslims. It houses a
conference room, three
madrasa classrooms, a
library, clinic, a
secretariat and Imam’s
office. The geometrical
design of this building

26. The Bantayog ng mga Bayani ng Tipas
– Taguig City
This is an
endearing monument
in memory of
hundreds of men
from Tipas who were
captured, brought
to, and killed by
the Japanese in the
prison cells in
Intramuros, Manila.
Names of the
victims are carved
on the statue.

27. DOST Mini Forest and Eco Park –
Taguig City
Located within
the National
headquarters
and office of
the Secretary
of the
Department of
Science and
Technology,
this mini
forest is
suitable for
camping and

28. Libingan ng mga Bayani – Taguig
City
The memorial ground of
33,520 Filipino
soldiers who were
killed in Bataan,
Corregidor, and on
other battlefields
throughout the
Philippines during the
latest World War. It
lies side by side with
the American War
Memorial. War widows
and orphans come here

29. Church of the Immaculate Conception
– Pasig City
The parish was
established on 30 March
1575, in a tri-annual
meeting held in Manila.
The Philippine province
of the most Holy Name of
Jesus of the order of
Saint Agustine accepted
the convent of Pasig
under the title
“Conventus Visitationis
Maria de Pasi”. During
this meeting, the

30. Bahay na Tisa – Pasig City
For more than 150
years, the Bahay na
Tisa in Pasig City
has literally
withstood the test
of time – from two
world wars to
hundreds of natural
disasters.

31. SM Megamall – Ortigas City
Asia’s
largest,
with over
400 shops.

32. Our Lady of EDSA Shrine
Known as the
Shrine of Mary,
Queen of Peace
(Our Lady of
EDSA). It is
dedicated to our
lady who has
miraculously
interceded to
oust the
dictatorship in
a peaceful and
bloodless

33. San Felipe Neri Church –
Mandaluyong City
One of the oldest
churches in the
metropolis. It was
run by hostile
Spanish friars. For
sometime, it was the
site of bloody
encounters between
Filipino
revolutionaries and
Spanish soldiers.
Its façade has a

34. Camp Crame – San Juan City
San Juan is home to Camp Crame, the
headquarters of the Philippine National
Police.

36. REFERENCES
Department of Tourism. (2018). Tourism Guidebook and
Manual.
Retrieved from
http://www.tourism.gov.ph/Guidebook_Manual/TourismGuideboo
k.pdf
So, P. L. (2018). Philippine Tourist Destinations. Manila,
Philippines: Accumicro I.T. Solutions.
Domingo, B. B. (2017). Philippine Tourism. Foreign Service
Institute.
Libosada, C. M. (2017). Domestic Tourism. Pasig City,