NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION (NCR)

FACTS ABOUT NCR

The capital is City of Manila.

It is among the world’s thirty most populous metropolitan area

NCR is also known as the shopping center of the Philippines ( Mega mall, Mall of Asia, North Edsa), Also known as Metro Manila.
Metro Manila is the seat of government.

Unlike the other 17 Philippine regions, NCR does not have any provinces. Metro Manila is composed of almost all the cultural groups of
the Philippines. The primary language used is Tagalog with English as the secondary language.

DELICACIES

Halo-halo Once summer bears down, Manila's streets are dotted with makeshift counters -- usually staffed by moms or kids -- serving
shaved ice desserts made with evaporated milk and various fruits.

Buko pie stands are almost a roadside attraction.A venerable pasalubong (homecoming gift) to take back to Manila after a trip south --
particularly Laguna, where this humble pie was born -- buko is similar to custard pie but with a denser filling that's made without cream
and sweetened with condensed milk

Kinilaw is Manila's counterpart to Latin America's ceviche and Hawaii's bowls of poke.At its simplest, kinilaw mixes cuts of fresh fish,
onions, garlic, ginger, tomatoes and chilies into a small stream of coconut vinegar and citrus.

CITIES OF NCR

1. CALOOCAN CITY - Divided into two SOUTHERN CALOOCAN CITY and NORTHERN CALOOCAN CITY.

- Called as “The only divided city in the Philippines” •2nd largest city in Metro Manila •Caloocan is the country’s third most populous city

-It was the center of activities for the katipunan, the secret militant society that launched the Philippine revolution
during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines. 1765 Caloocan was found by the Augustinian priest.

-Caloocan comes from the tagalog root word “lo-ok”, kalook-lookan or kaloob- looban means “inner most area”.

TOURIST SPOT

Caloocan Cathedral, known canonically as San Roque Cathedral-Parish, is the cathedral or seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Kalookan, located near the intersection of 10th Avenue and A. Mabini Street in Poblacion, Caloocan, Metro Manila, Philippines.

2. LAS PIÑAS CITY -  is famous for its Bamboo Organ located inside the St. Joseph Parish Church

- March 27, 1907, Las Piñas was proclaimed an independent municipality by virtue of PhilippineCommissionAct No.
1625. • 1960s, with the construction of the South Superhighway, Las Piñas became a first class municipality
- ORIGIN OF THE NAME : Some said that traders from the province of Cavite and Batangas shipped first their piña
(pineapples) for sale to this town before they are distributed in nearby markets. • Others related that it was "Las Peñas" (the rocks)
evident by the quarrying of stones and adobe which were used to construct buildings and bridges.
TOURIST SPOT

Saint Joseph Parish, otherwise known as the Las Piñas Church or Bamboo Organ Church, is a parish church in Las Piñas, just south of
the city of Manila in the Philippines. The church is renowned to house the Bamboo Organ, a pipe organ made mostly with bamboo
pipes.
3. MAKATI CITY- Recently it was called as the Selfie Capital of the world •The city started out as part of the wide municipality of Santa
Ana de Sapa, part of Manila today.
- Most of the tallest skyscrapers in the Philippines are located in Makati such as the Gramercy Residence, PBCom Tower and
G.T. international tower.
-Makati is one of the most well-known shopping hub of Metro Manila
-The first airport was located in the city named Nielson Field now known as the Ayala Triangle.
- ETYMOLOGY When the 1st governor-general of the Philippines, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, exploreda swamp near the
PasigRiver, he asked for the name of the place but, because of the language barrier, it was misinterpretedby the Tagalog people.
Pointing to the receding tide of the PasigRiver, the Tagalog answered, “Makati, kumakati na” literally meaning ebbing tide. Makati
(Maka-ti) means “ebbedtide”

TOURIST SPOT

Makati Coliseum is an indoor sporting arena located in Makati, Philippines.Built and operated by the Makati City Government, the
coliseum has played host to the basketball games of the Philippine Basketball Association, the Philippine Basketball League,
the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the UNTV Cup, the University Athletic
Association of the Philippines, and the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities. It has also been the venue
of major boxing events, as well as conventions, concerts and sports festivals.

4. MALABON CITY- Malabon industries include sugar refinery, patis making, cigar making, fishing and ilang-ilang trees flower extract
production where the distilled perfume is exported
-The city is considered as the local Venice .The city of Malabon is a place famous for its pancit Malabon
-JUNE 11, 1901 Malabon was officialy made a municipality of the newly-created province of Rizal. JANUARY 16, 1906
Philippine Commission act 1441 separated Malabon fromNavotas into 2 district municipalities of the Rizal province. For 70 years,
Malabon was a municipality of Rizal. NOVEMBER 7, 1975 Malabon became part of NCR . APRIL 21, 2001 Malabon became a city.
- ETYMOLOGY: Originally called the town of Tambobong . MAY 21, 1599 Malabon was founded as a “Visita” of Tondo by the
Augustinian friars.

TOURIST SPOT

San Bartolome Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Poblacion, Malabon, Metro Manila, Philippines. The church's titular is
Malabon's patron saint, Saint Bartholomew the Apostle whose feast day falls on every 24th day of August.

5. MANDALUYONG CITY- Also known as the shopping capital of the Philippines. It is home to a cluster of shopping centers which
stand side by side.
-Mandaluyong was 1st known as a Barrio of Sta. Ana de Sapa which was part of the district of Paco .1841 it was named San
Felipe Neri by the Spaniards in honor of the patron saint of Rome, it was separated from Sta. Ana de Sapa.
-  The city also boasts of its Shoe Museum which homes the famous shoes of the former First lady Imelda Marcos.

TOURIST SPOT

The Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, Our Lady of EDSA, or more popularly, the EDSA Shrine is a small church of the Roman
Catholic Archdiocese of Manila located at the intersection of Ortigas Avenue and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Barangay Ugong
Norte, Quezon City.

6. MANILA CITY- It is the capital and 2nd largest city of the Philippines •Manila is the economic and political heart of the Philippines,
home to extensive commerce and some of the most historically and culturally significant landmarks in the country.
-Known as pearl of the orient
-It is the 2nd most populous city in the country
-Manila serves as the chief seaport of the country
-Manila is a major publishing center in the Philippines.
 -Manila derived its name from 2 Tagalog words “May” meaning “there is” and “Nilad” the name of a shrub that originally grew
abundantly along the shores of the Pasig River and Manila Bay.

TOURIST SPOT

Rizal Park, also known as Luneta Park or simply Luneta, is a historical urban park in the Philippines. It was formerly known as
Bagumbayan in the era of colonialism under the Spaniards.

7. MARIKINA CITY- Known as shoe capital of the Philippines •Marikina is the biggest manufacturer of shoes in the Philippines •It is
also the largest exporter of leather shoes throughout the world

ETYMOLOGY •From a young lady called “Maria Cuina” it is said that before the Spaniards came to Marikina, a beautiful,
virtuous, polite and intelligent lade named Maria Cuina was residing the town.

TOURIST SPOT

Marikina Sports Center, also known as Marikina Sports Park and formerly known as Rodriguez Sports Center, is a sports
complex located in Marikina, at the corner of Shoe Avenue and Sumulong Highway in Metro Manila, Philippines.

8. MUNTINLUPA CITY- Known as Emerald City of the Philippines •Muntinlupa is the very first city in the Philippines to ban the use of
plastic bags and Styrofoam for packaging.

ETYMOLOGY The name Muntinlupa came from at least 3 versions,First, it’s association with the thin topsoil in the area.
Second, residents purportedly replying to a question by Spaniards in the 16th century what the name of their place was said “Monte sa
lupa” apparently mistaking the question for what card game they were playing •Third, the topoghrapical nature of the area, where the
term monte or mountain was expanded to Muntinlupa or mountain land.

TOURIST SPOT

Jamboree Lake is a small recreational lake in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila, the Philippines. At 1.5 hectares, it is the smallest
natural lake in the country located within the 587-hectare New Bilibid Prison Reservation.

9. NAVOTAS CITY- Known as fishing capital of the Philippines .Navotas was originally a contiguous part of Malabon and was not
separated from it by a body of water.

ETYMOLOGY This natural phenomenon seemed to be the origin of the name that today is associated with this area.
Continually referred to as “nabutas” which over the time gradually evolved into “navotas” literally meaning “pierced through”

TOURIST SPOT

Navotas Fish Port It is a traditional landing place of commercial fishing boats operating in various fishing grounds in the
Philippines situated on a 47.5-hectare reclaimed land at the Northeastern section of Manila Bay. Within the complex is a thriving fishing
industry, supplying fish to major markets of Metro Manila.

10. PARANAQUE CITY- Known as the Fashion Capital of the Philippines and the City of Lights

ETYMOLOGY : Palanyag was its original name which mean “my beloved”

TOURIST SPOTS

-Bird Sanctuary – where migratory birds from neighboring countries such as China and even as far as Siberia stay during the
winter season. The best months to view these birds are from August to March.
 -Baclara Churnch – also known as the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. This church has quite the number of visitors and
has a seating capacity of 3,000. In addition, it can accommodate a standing capacity of about 9,000.

11. PASAY CITY- Known as the premier gateway to the Philippines .It is the 3rd smallest political subdivision in the Philippines.

-Philippines Airlines is headquartered in the Philippines National Bank Financial Center beside the World Trade Center Manila
in Pasay .National government offices found in Pasay include DFA, Senate of the Philippines and OWWA.

-ETYMOLOGY: Came from “pasaw” a plant with an exotic aroma, that used to grow abundantly there •Most credible
explanation is that Pasay was named after Princess Dayang-dayang Pasay of the Namayan Kingdom, who inherited lands now
compromising modern-day Makati, Pasay and Baclaran.

TOURIST SPOT

-SM Mall of Asia, also abbreviated as SM MoA or simply MoA, is a large shopping mall in Bay City, Pasay, Philippines, near
the SM Central Business Park, the Manila Bay, and the southern end of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue

12. PASIG CITY- It is former capital of the province of Rizal.

-The name Pateros most likely derived from the duck-raising industry •Tagalong word for “duck” is pato and Pateros means
“duck-raises”

-ETYMOLOGY: Dr. Jose Ville Panganiban said that “Pasig” is an old Sanskrit word referring to a “river flowing from one body
of water to another”.

TOURIST SPOT

13. PATEROS CITY- Known as Balut Capital of the Philippines. Famous for its duck-raising. Pateros is also known for the production of
red salty eggs and “Inutak” a local rice cake

-ETYMOLOGY: The name Pateros most likely derived from the duck-raising industry. Tagalong word for “duck” is pato and
Pateros means “duck-raises”

TOURIST SPOT

-Alfombra Slippers - Slipper manufacturing is one of the specialties of the people of Pateros. Store outlets are along M.
Almeda and B. Morilla Streets.
-Caloocan Cathedral, known canonically as San Roque Cathedral-Parish, is the cathedral or seat of the Roman Catholic
Diocese of Kalookan, located near the intersection of 10th Avenue and A. Mabini Street in Poblacion, Caloocan, Metro
Manila, Philippines.
-The cathedral is dedicated Saint Roch, known as San Roque in the Philippines

14. DULONG BAYAN MONUMENT-Known as the city of the stars. It is the largest city in Metro Manila .The city was named after
Manuel L. Quezon .Quezon City is home to the Philippines major broadcasting networks.

ETYMOLOGY: Name after the former president MLQ

TOURIST SPOT

The Quezon Memorial Circle is a national park located in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The park is located inside a large
traffic circle in the shape of an ellipse and bounded by the Elliptical Road and is the main park of Quezon City.

15. SAN JUAN CITY- Known as the heart of Metro Manila because San Juan located at the very core of the metropolis •Smallest city in
the country in terms of land •San Juan is notably the site of the 1st battle of the katipunan
 -San Juan was once the municipality of San Juan del Monte. Before the creation of Metro Manila, it was part of Rizal Province.
1783 San Juan became independent as a separate barrio of Sta. Anna. MARCH 27, 1907 San Juan gained its independence as a
municipality

-ETYMOLOGY San Juan derived its name from San Juan de Bautista or St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of the locality.

TOURIST SPOT

-Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine is a Filipino national shrine and park along Pinaglabanan Street in the city of San Juan, Metro
Manila, Philippines. Prominent within the shrine is a statue of elongated figures known as "Spirit of Pinaglabanan" created by Eduardo
Castrillo.

16. TAGUIG CITY- Known as Metro Manila’s probinsyudad •The city ranked 1st among Philippine cities in the ease of doing world
bank’s international corporation

ETYMOLOGY: Farmer fishermen referredto as “mga taga-giik” and their settlement as “pook ng mga taga-giik” •Spanish friar
Fray Alonso de Alvarado, together with conquistador Rey Lopez de Villalobos who crossed Pasig River to reach Taguig in 1571 found
“taga-giik” difficult to pronounce and could only produce the word sounding like “tagui-ig”

TOURIST SPOT

Heroes' Cemetery, officially known as Libingan ng mga Bayani, is a national cemetery within Fort Bonifacio in Western Bicutan, Taguig,
Metro Manila, Philippines.

17. VALENZUELA CITY- Known as the city of discipline •119th largest city of the Philippines. Originally called Polo

 ETYMOLOGY :Valenzuela means “Little Vacencia” in Spanish and is also the surname of Dr. Pio Valenzuela, a Filipino physician and
patriot who was among the leaders of the Katipunan that started the Philippine revolution against Spain after which the city was named.

TOURIST SPOT

Arkong Bato is one of the constituent barangays in the city of Valenzuela, Metro Manila, Philippines. Arkong Bato is a
historical barangay named after the famous stone arc landmark that demarcates the boundary between the barangay and Santolan of
Malabon.