NCR: NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

Capital: City of Manila

Languages: Tagalog, English
Geographic Location: The smallest region in the Philippines is found on the largest
island of Luzon. It shares borders with only two other regions, Central Luzon Region or
Region 3 and Calabarzon Region or Region 4a. The province of Bulacan in Central Luzon
Region is the north.
Sharing a border to the northeast is Rizal Province, which is part of Calabarzon Region.
Also, from Calabarzon Region are the provinces of Cavite and Laguna which are to the
south of the National Capital Region.
To the east and the west, you have water, Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay respectively.
Both these bays are joined by the Pasig River.
Towns and Cities: There are sixteen cities and one town, which make-up the National
Capital Region or Metro Manila,
MaPasMakQC: Manila, Pasay City, Makati City, and Quezon City
CaMaNaVa: Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas City, and Valenzuela City
PaMaMariSan: Pasig City, Mandaluyong City, Marikina City, and San Juan City
MuntiParLas-TaPat: Muntinlupa City, Paranañaque City, Las Piñas City, Taguig City, and
the Municipality of Pateros
PROFILE OF NCR
The National Capital Region (NCR), also known as Metropolitan Manila, is the country’s
political, economic, and educational center. The smallest region in the Philippines, it is
the most densely populated region which is a home to over 12 million Filipinos. The
National Capital Region (NCR) is the only region in the country without any province. It is
subdivided into 17 local government units (LGUs) comprising of 16 cities and one (1)
municipality: Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Quezon
City, Marikina, Pasig, Taguig, Makati, Manila, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las
Piñas, Muntinlupa; Pateros is the lone municipality in the region .

PHYSICAL

Most multi-national company offices and embassies are situated in Makati, the country’s
financial center for business and economic opportunities. Located in the heart of Makati
the famous Philippine Bank of Communications (PBCOM) tower, Ayala Center,
composed of Glorietta and Greenbelt, and the Rockwell Center. Lucrative location for
industries in NCR also includes Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Ortigas Business Center
straddling in the cities of Mandaluyong and Pasig, Alabang in Muntinlupa, Triangle Park
and Eastwood City in Quezon City, and Manila Bay City Reclamation Area in the cities of
Pasay.
A city of great diversity, Metro manila is also a place of attraction rich in historical, cultural,
and religious influences. Interesting places include Rizal Park, The National Museum,
Manila Bay, the walled city of Intramuros, the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Makati,
Quezon City Memorial Circle and Ninoy Aquino Wildlife Center, and as well as the
shopping centers in Ortigas Center.

DEMOGRAPHICS
Metro Manila is bordered by the provinces of Bulacan to the north, Rizal to the east, and
Cavite and Laguna to the south. Metro Manila is also sandwiched by Manila Bay to the
west and the Laguna de Bay to the southeast with the Pasig River running between them,
bisecting the region. It is the smallest of the country's administrative regions, but the most
populous and the most densely populated, having a population of 9,932,560 (2000
census), (nighttime population) in an area only 636 square kilometers large. It is also the
only region without any provinces.
The term Metro Manila should not be confused with the metro rail system of the region,
and the word metro itself always describes the metropolitan area (as in the metro). The
railways are called by their abbreviations, such as the LRT and the MRT, also known as
Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit, respectively.
CITY OF MANILA
Manila, capital and chief city of the Philippines. The city is the centre of the country’s
economic, political, social, and cultural activity. It is located on the island of Luzon and
spreads along the eastern shore of Manila Bay at the mouth of the Pasig River. 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. In 1975, by
presidential decree, Manila and its contiguous cities and municipalities were integrated to
function as a single administrative region, known as Metropolitan Manila (also called the
National Capital Region); the Manila city proper encompasses only a small proportion of
that area.

PASAY CITY

An explanation says that Pasay got its name from a princess named Dayang-dayang
Pasay. She was a princess of the Namayan Kingdom that existed around year 1175. She
owned the lands now comprising the territories of Culi-culi, Pasay and Baclaran.

In year 1727, the name,of the place was changed from Pasay to Pineda in honor of Don
Cornelio Pineda, a Spanish horticulturist who requested for guardias civiles for protection
from bandits. The name was used as the name of the place until the early 20th century.
MAKATI CITY

The present Makati City has its roots as a pre-Hispanic settlement in the swamplands
near Pasig River led by Lakan Tagkan and his wife Bouan. Don Manuel Lopez de
Legaspi, founder of Manila and the first Governor General of the Philippines discovered
the area and was told that the river''s tide was ebbing by the residents - “Makati na, Kumati
na.” Legaspi thought this was the response to his query as to what the place is called.
The settlement was renamed San Pedro de Makati after its patron saint. A visita of Santa
Ana de Sapa, Makati was under the jurisdiction of the Franciscan friars from 1600-1700.
Two (2) of the earliest Catholic churches - Nuestra Señora de Gracia in Guadalupe and
the Church of Saints Peter and Paul - are located in Makati. In 1890, San Pedro de Makati
was decreed a public town of Manila.

After the Americans took over the control of the island of Luzon from the Spaniards at the
turn of the 20th century, San Pedro de Makati was incorporated into the province of Rizal
under Commonwealth Act No. 137 in June 11, 1901. In the same year, the Americans
established Fort William McKinley as a military reservation. In 1902, the Americans
described the town as “a pueblo on the south shore of Pasig River,” known for a “resort
for convalescents,” with a population of 3,921. A year later, a town administrator was
installed to supervise community affairs. San Pedro de Makati remained a third-class
agricultural town wherein the primary means of livelihood came from the cultivation of rice
and horse fodder. In 1914, Philippine Legislature Act No. 2390 shortened the name of the
town to its present name of Makati. During the birth of commercial aviation before the
Second World War, Nielson Airport opened in what is now the Ayala Triangle, the first
airport in the country.

A master-planned mixed-use community was established in the 1950s in Makati. Makati

in the 1970s was a financial and commercial center and part of the National Capital
Region (Metro Manila). Makati became a City with the enactment of Republic Act No.
7854 and a plebiscite approval in 1995 during the term of former Mayor Jejomar C. Binay-
--now the Vice President of the country. Makati has been described as a City of three
areas: the Central Business District, the Old Town or Poblacion area, and the Fort
Bonifacio area.

QUEZON CITY

The establishment of a national capital of the Philippines in the manner of Washington

D.C. in the United States was conceived by President Manuel L. Quezon after seeing the
successful creation of a workers community known as Barrio Obrero, in what is now
Kamuning district in Quezon City.

On 12 October 1939, the National Assembly passed Commonwealth Act No. 502,
creating Quezon City. Ten days later on 22 October 1939, the city was formally
inaugurated with five districts.

From 1,600 hectares the city area was increase to the present 15,159 hectares. President
Quezon himself assumed the duties of the city mayor. serving in this capacity from 12
October to 4 November 1939. Tomas B. Morato, originally appointed the city’s chief of
police, was subsequently named mayor. On 24 June 1977, the President of the
Philippines issued a Presidential Decree 940 ordaining: “the capital of the Philippines is
hereby designated to be Manila and area prescribed as Metro Manila under Presidential
Decree 824 shall be the permanent seat of the national government.”

Quezon City thereby lost its pre-eminence as the national capital but being part of Metro
Manila as the seat of the national government it continues to be the center of much activity
of national import. The National legislative building is located here. So are the
headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Army, and the
Philippine National Police.The State University of the Philippines is located here, along
with many other educational institutions.

CALOOCAN CITY

From its beginning as a humble barrio of the town of Tondo located in a ‘libis’ (lowland),
it became known as ‘Libis Espina’ or ‘Aromahan’.
Originating either from the Tagalog word ‘look’ meaning bay or ‘sulok’ meaning
corner. Caloocan might have meant ‘nasa sulok’ or in the corner since Caloocan is
located where the ends of the old town of Tondo and Tambobong (now Malabon) meet.
In 1815, Caloocan was separated from Tondo and became an independent
municipality. Its original territory extended to the foothills of Marikina, San Mateo and
Montalban in the east; from Tinajeros, Tanza and Tala Rivers in the North; San Francisco
del Monte, Sampalok, Sta. Cruz and Tondo in the south; and Dagat-Dagatan or
Aromahan in the west. On August 30 1896, the Katipuneros led by Gat Andres Bonifacio
aided them in the rebellion against their oppressors in what is now known as the “Cry of
Balintawak”. In 1901, under the American Regime, Caloocan became one of the towns
of the Province of Rizal. Due to the consolidation of several municipalities, Novaliches
became part of Caloocan pursuant to Act 942, as amended by Acts 984 and 1008 of the
Philippine Commission.
In 1939, pursuant to Commonwealth Act 502, which created Quezon City as Capital of
the Philippines, Caloocan lost the following barrios or sitios, namely: Balingasa, Kaingin,
Kangkong, La Loma, Malamig, Matalahib, Masambong, San Isidro, San Jose, Santol and
Tatalon.
MALABON CITY
This was originally called as Tambobong and was founded by the Augustinian friars as a
“Visita” of Tondo on May 21, 1599. It remained under this administrative jurisdiction from
1627 to 1688.

When Philippine Commission Act 942 was promulgated, Malabon was combined with
Navotas under a new government. On January 6\, 1906, Philippine Commission Act 1441
separated Malabon from Navotas into two distinct municipalities of the Rizal province.
For 70 years, Malabon was a municipality of Rizal, until November 7, 1975 by the virtue
of Presidential Decree No. 824, when Malabon became a part of Metropolitan Manila or
the National Capital Region.

NAVOTAS CITY

The whole Navotas was once part of Malabon. According to a legend, there was once a
long and narrow delta extended unbroken from north to south along the seashore. The
strip of land between the former district of Tondo and this town was eaten away by the
sea until as opening was made. Water started to flow through the opening. The change
in the place made the residents to refer to the place as “butas”, “nayon ng butas” or
“nabutas”, Tagalog words that mean breached or pierced through. In the next years, the
place became known as “Nabotas”, then “Navotas”.

The place was also known as hacienda de Navotas and was owned by the Dominican
friars until it was sold to the Pascual family during the early days of the American
occupation and developed into a residential estate.

Its locality was named as “San Jose de Navotas” after its patro saint “Saint Joseph”. On
June 11, 1859, a “Superior Decreto” established a new parish and municipality under the
supervision of Friar Matias Navoa. The people were divided into two groups: the naturales
(locals) and the mestizos. The city has an incomplete and limited records regarding the
next history of this.

In 1904, the town was merged with Malabon with Bernardo Dagala as the elected
municipal president. Two years after, Navotas became a separate and independent
municipality with the enactment of Act No. 1442 which separated it from Malabon. And
on June 24, 2007, the municipality became a city after a plebiscite was conducted.

VALENZUELA CITY

The city traces its long colorful history to the Old Town of Polo, then part of the province
of Bulacan, which was established in 1623. It began as a tiny settlement of fishermen
along the coast of Manila Bay. Polo was later renamed Valenzuela, in honor of its most
famous son, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, one of the triumvirates of the Katipunan (revolutionary
movement during the Spanish occupation). In 1975, it formed part of Metropolitan Manila
after its creation. It became a city in 1998 when President Fidel V. Ramos signed RA
8526, an act passed by congress, as authored by the late Congressman Antonio M.
Serapio, classifying Valenzuela as a highly urbanized city

Valenzuela, The Vibrant City, once a quaint provincial town during the colonial times, is
now regarded as one of the country's most liveable cities, and among the preferred
residential, cultural and business destinations.

Today, it is considered as a hub of governance best practices and innovations as evident

by the accolades it has been receiving from numerous reputable award-giving institutions;
such as the Galing Pook Awards, Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index, Seal
of Good Financial Housekeeping, and Most Business-Friendly City Award, among others.
PASIG CITY

Pasig is one of the oldest towns in the Philippines. The Augustinians created it in 1572.
In June 1901, Act No. 137 of the Philippine Commission incorporated Pasig in the newly
created Province of Rizal. It became the Provincial Capital of Rizal until 1975 when the
Metro Manila Commission was created under Presidential Decree No. 824.
On 26 July 1994, the Senate and the House of Representative enacted Republic Act 7829
converting the Municipality of Pasig into a highly urbanized city. On 8 December 1994,
President Fidel V. Ramos signed it into law. The people of Pasig ratified this through a
plebiscite on 21 January 1995.
MANDALUYONG CITY
There are lots of sources of where this city got its name. Some claim that the place got
its name from the Tagalog terms “mga” which means many and “daluy” which means
flowing in the reference to the tall grasses that grow in the land many years ago. Another
also claimed that it got its name from the incident when Acapulco, a navigator, saw that
the rolling hills were frequently lashed at by “daluyong” or big waves from the sea. Hence
the residents gave an answer to those who inquired about the name of the place as
“madaluyong”. Later, the Spaniards affixed a consonant “n” to it thus making it
Mandaluyong.

But prior to the Spanish conquest, Mandaluyong was already an organized place. It was
part of what was once the Kingdom of Sapa of the Great Madjapahit Empire or “Anka
Widyaya” and was ruled by Prince Balagtas, around 1300. More than a century later,
about 1470, it expanded and was called the Kingdom of Namayan with Lakan Takhan as
its ruler. The kingdom was made up of what are now Pandacan, Malate, Quiapo, Sta.
Mesa, San Miguel, Paco and Sta. Ana in Manila, and Mandaluyong, Makati, San Juan,
Pasay, Taguig, Pateros, Parañaque and parts of Pasig and Quezon City up to Diliman.

Mandaluyong was first known as a barrio of Sta. Ana de Sapa which was part of the
District of Paco, Province of Tondo. It was then named as by the Spaniards as San Felipe
Neri in honor of the Patron Saint of Rome. Year 1841, it was separated from Sta. Ana de
Sapa.

When the Americans came, San Felipe Neri was consolidated with the municipality of
San Juan del Monte. For several months in 1904, San Felipe Neri became the capital of
Rizal. After its separation from San Juan del Monte in year 1907, San Felipe Neri became
an independent municipality. It was then renamed as Municipality of Mandaluyong by
virtue of the House Bill No. 3836. It became a city year 1994.

MARIKINA CITY
Marikina was founded three hundred righty-three years ago when the Jesuits arrived in
1630. They called the area Jesus dela Peña (Jesus of the Rocks). It was later called
Mariquina and a parish was established there in 1687. Fishing and farming were the main
source of livelihood. In 1901, the town was officially named Marikina by the First Philippine
Commissioner, Trinidad Pardo de Tavera replacing the Hispanidad “q” with the vernacular
“k”. Later in 1977, the town was officially made a part of the newly-created Metro Manila
area.

The significant year for Marikina was in 1887. It was in this year when shoemaking started
to flourish through the efforts of Don Laureano "Kapitan Moy" Guevarra. From this year,
the growth of the place economically becomes dynamic due to shoemaking

SAN JUAN CITY

Before the Spaniards came, San Juan was just a village and was part of the Kingdom of
Namayan and ruled by King Lacantagean and his wife Bouan. When the Spaniards took
possession of the kingdom, they renamed it to Sta. Ana de Sapa, the village was still a
part of it but became a small encomienda by 1590.

The first battle of the Philippine Revolution that achieved independence from Spain,
began in San Juan in 1898.

On June 16, 2007, voters in San Juan ratified the conversion of the municipality into a
highly urbanised city, pursuant to Republic Act No. 9388 (“An Act Converting the
Municipality of San Juan into a Highly Urbanized City to be known as the City of San
Juan”). Then congressman Ronaldo B. Zamora sponsored the Cityhood Bill at the House
of Representatives and worked for its approval.

MUNTINLUPA CITY

The origin of the name "Muntinlupa" came from at least three versions. First, its
association with the thin top soil in the area thus the term Muntinlupa. 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 topographical nature of the area, where the term Monte or
mountain was expanded to Muntinlupa or mountain land.

As early as 1601, Muntinlupa was under the religious supervision of the Augustinians.
The religious education of the residents was under the convent of the Guadalupe
Sanctuary until one Quijano Bustamante bought from the residents the land of
Muntinlupa. In 1869, the project of forming a town out of the barrios of Muntinlupa was
approved by the Civil Government.

In 1901, Muntinlupa was one of the districts of Morong. On November 25, 1903, by Act
1008 of the Philippine Commission, the Municipality of Muntinlupa was included within
the boundary of Laguna Province and placed under Binan along with San Pedro.
Muntinlupa protested against this Act, through Marcelo Fresnedi, the head of the
Municipality.
With the creation of the Metropolitan Manila Commission, Muntinlupa was proclaimed on
November 7, 1975 as one of the 17 municipalities and cities comprising the Metro Manila
area.

On February 16, 1995, House Bill No. 14401 converting the Municipality of Muntinlupa
into a highly urbanized city was approved by the House of Representatives. Muntinlupa
formally became a charter city when President Fidel Ramos signed Republic Act 7926
proclaiming Muntinlupa as a city. Bunye became the first representative of Muntinlupa
City in Congress.

PARAÑAQUE CITY

There are many versions on how the name Parañaque came to be. But one version goes
like this; The name “Parañaque” is derived from the phrase “para na aque”, which was
commonly used in the past when people wish to disembark from kalesas (horse-drawn
carriages). The phrase literally means “stop now, boy”: “para” from the Spanish word
parar (to stop), “na” from the tagalog word for “now” or “already” and “aque” from the
tagalog word for boy, lalaki. An alternative meaning of “para na aque” could be “stop here”
with “aque” being derived from the Spanish aqui (“here”).

Year 1572, Parañaque was officially founded by the Augustinian Missionaries. Fr. Diego
de Espiñar, an Augustinian Missionary who was appointed to be the local priest,
established mission house there. May 11, 1580, a meeting was held called as the Council
of the Definitors was held that made Palanyag, as Parañaque was then known, to be an
independent town.

LAS PIÑAS CITY

The story about the true origin of the city's name, "Las Piñas", varies. 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" (not Las Piñas) evident by the quarrying of stones and adobe which
were used to construct buildings and bridges. The name could have also originated from
two political groups that ruled the place at that time.

But an inscription in an old church bell that has been preserved inside the museum of the
Las Piñas Parochial Church, stated "Siendo Cura-del Pueblo de las Peñas el M.R.P.
Padre Diego Cera se Fundio este equilon ano de 1820". It shows that even during the
time of Fr. Diego Cera, the town's first parish priest, the town has been called "Las Peñas"
until after sometime that the spelling of the town's name was changed into "Las Piñas".

Las Piñas was one of the earliest fishing settlements on the shores of Manila Bay and was
proclaimed a town either in the year 1762 or 1797. Its exact date of creation cannot be
ascertained because historical records vary. Cavada, a Spanish historian and Fr. Juan
Medina placed it at 1762 while Buzeta recorded the date at 1797.
Besides being famous for its Bamboo Organ, which was built by Fr. Diego Cera and
completed in 1824, the town of Las Piñas was also a major war theater during the
1896 Philippine Revolution, as it was occupied by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo's forces. It was also
occupied by the Japanese during the Second World War, the town was during the liberation
period between the combined Filipino and American soldiers fought the Japanese
Imperial forces until the end of war.

In 1901, the Municipality of Las Piñas was incorporated in the newly created province
of Rizal pursuant to Philippine Commission Act No. 137. Two years later, it was combined
with Parañaque, the latter being the seat of a new municipal government.

It became a separate municipality from Parañaque on March 27, 1907 by virtue

of Philippine Commission Act No. 1625. Then, with the founding of the Metropolitan
Manila Area (now Metro Manila) in 1976, Las Piñas became one of the municipalities
making up the region.

On February 12, 1997, President Fidel V. Ramos signed the bill declaring Las Piñas a new
city. A plebiscite held a month after found the residents in approval of cityhood and Las
Piñas became the 10th city of Metro Manila on March 26, 1997.

TAGUIG CITY

The original 800 farmer-fishermen settlers of the area were good at threshing rice after
harvest. Hence they were referred to 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.” So many mispronouncements later, “tagui-ig” was
shortened to the present day “Taguig.”
Before the Spanish colonization, Taguig was part of the Kingdom of Tondo ruled by Rajah
Soliman. It was said that the area’s population at that time was 800 consisting of the locals
and various Chinese settlers. The town produced more than enough rice for their
consumption but had less sugar cane to mill. The men lived through fishing while women
wove cotton cloth and “sawali” from bamboo strips.

Year 1571, Spain dominated the country. They Christianized the whole village and was
recognized as part of the encomienda of Tondo under Alcalde mayor, Captain Vergara.
It was 1587 when Taguig was proclaimed as an independent town under the province of
Manila with 9 barrios. Captain Juan Basi served as its first Kapitan from 1587 to 1588.

It was until 1998 that a bill was passed in the Congress pushing for the cityhood of Taguig.
A plebiscite was conducted, however it showed that the people were against its cityhood.
The petition was sent to the Supreme Court, petitioning for a recount. February 19, 2004
the Supreme Court ordered the Commission on Elections to conduct a recount. The
recount showed that the residents did want the municipality of Taguig to become a city
with its count: 21,105 on “yes” and 19,460 on “no”. Subsequently, Taguig became a city
on December 8, 2004.

PATEROS

The name Pateros most likely derived from the duck-raising industry. The Tagalog word
(of Spanish origin) for "duck" is pato and pateros means "duck-raisers". Another theory,
though less known, is that the name may allude to the town's small shoe-making industry.
The Tagalog word for "shoe"—also of Spanish origin—is sapatos and shoemakers are
called sapateros.

Before 1770, Pateros was only a barrio of Pasig until the Spanish Governor-General in
the Philippines issued a decree making Pateros an independent municipality. On March
29, 1900, Pateros became one of the towns in the newly-created province of Rizal, by
virtue of General Order No. 40, Act No. 137 of the Philippine Commission, which was
promulgated on June 11, 1901. Then on October 12, 1903, Act No. 942 combined
Pateros, Taguig and Muntinlupa into a single municipality under Pateros. The municipality
was renamed Taguig on March 22, 1905, through Act No. 1308. Executive Order No. 20
dated February 29, 1908 separated Pateros from Taguig. Pateros then regained its
independent status as a municipality on January 1, 1909 by Executive Order No. 36. On
November 7, 1975, Pateros became a part of the new Metropolitan Manila Area through
Presidential Decree No. 824.

PEOPLE

• The population of the National Capital Region (NCR) as of 01 May 2020 is

13,484,462 based on the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (2020
CPH). This accounts for about 12.37 percent of the Philippine population in
2020.

• The 2020 population of the region is higher by 607,209 from the population of
12.88 million in 2015, and 1,628,487 more than the population of 11.86 million
in 2010. Moreover, it is higher by 3,551,902 compared with the population of
9.93 million in 2000.

Residents in Metro Manila are relatively young who belong to the working group.

RELIGION

Majority (89.10 percent) of the population of the National Capital Region were Roman
Catholics. Iglesia ni Cristo (2.89 percent) and Evangelicals (1.74 percent) followed.
FESTIVALS

1. Sinulog Festival- Inspired by the Ati-Atihan festival, the now much bigger festival
of Sinulog is celebrated in Cebu City. The festival honours the baby Jesus, or
Santo Niño in the Philippines. One of the largest festivals in the country, Sinulog
features an all-day-long parade and party. It takes place on the third Sunday of
January.
2. Feast of Black Nazarine- Celebrated twice a year in Quaipo, Manila on 9 January
and Good Friday. The Festival celebrates a 200 year old statue of a black Christ.
3. Pamaypay ng Caloocan Festival - One of the highlights of Caloocan Foundation
Day, showcasing the use of the "Pamaypay"/fan as traditional tool to the surging
heat as exhibited in techno-modern folk street dancing competition.
4. The Pangisdaan Festival is held on 16 January every year to celebrate the
founding of Navotas City, sometimes referred to as the “Fishing Capital of the
Philippines”. The celebrations include boat races, street dancing performances,
and floating parades—not to mention, of course, the fish markets.
5. The City of Pasig celebrates the Bambino Festival to highlight the importance
of the Blessed Child to the lives of Pasig residents, which also coincides with the
arrival of the Spanish friars in Maybunga, Pasig on January 17, 1572 and the feast
of San Antonio Abad.
6. The Caracol Festival- was originally held to be a combined celebration of three
ethnic festivals but over the years has evolved to be a unique festival in its own
right. It was made the official festival of Makati in 1991 and is today held in Makati's
central business district.
7. Pahiyas Festival-
This Lucban Festival is an annual celebration to pay homage to the patron saint of
farmers, San Isidro Labrador, for a bountiful harvest in town.
8. Pancit festival- The Pancit Malabon Festival, formerly called Luglugan, is an annual
event in the city showcasing the renowned culinary treat. The festival also marks the end
of the celebration of the feast of the Immaculate Concepcion.

9. Higantes Festival- Held just outside the greater Manila region in November,
Angono in Rizal hosts the annual celebration for the patron saint of fishermen, San
Clemente. The Higantes, or giants, are huge papier maché people paraded in the
street to honour the saint.
10. Cinemanila Festival- Cinemanila is an international film festival held annually in
Manila. The central features of the festival are Philippine and Southeast Asian
cinema.
11. Marikina Sapatos Festival- A month-long annual celebration that takes place from
mid-October. The Festival was developed to promote the local talent of Marikina, the shoe
capital of Philippines. The Festival features a trade caravan that travels from city to city
around Manila. One highlight of the festival is the giant mobile shoe that travels with the
caravan.

12. San Juan Town Fiesta (wattah wattah)- The basaan or “Wattah Wattah”
Festival commemorates the city's patron saint and namesake, St. John the Baptist,
with the usual parade of firetrucks drenching boisterous residents in water meant
to invoke the frequent baptisms he was said to have performed in the Jordan River.

LITERACY RATE IN NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

EDUCATION 2019 2015 2013

Simple literacy rate 8/ (10 years old and over; 96.5 98.3 96.5
basic reading and writing skills) (in percent)

2019 2013 2008

Functional literacy rate (10 to 64 years old; 91.6 90.3 86.4
basic reading, writing, and computational skills)
(in percent)
CUISINES AND DELICACIES OF NCR
Pateros balut
Balut, a fertilized duck embryo boiled as a
delicacy, is one of the most prominent exotic
food the Philippines is known for. Pateros,
being the last municipality in the National
Capital Region (NCR), was once host to a
multitude of duck farms and balut houses that
use the traditional method of incubating egg.
 Pancit Malabon
Pancit Malabon is a Filipino dish that is a type
of pancit which originates from Malabon,
Metro Manila, Philippines. It uses thick rice
noodles. Its sauce has a yellow-orange hue,
attributable to achuete, shrimp broth, and
flavor seasoned with patis and taba ng
talangka.

Tipas Hopia
A popular brand of pastry
originating from the Chinese.
Belen Flores founded Tipas
Bakery in her hometown
of Ibayo-Tipas in Taguig City to
compete with hopia produced by
the Chinese, hoping to out-bake
them with her own version. Her
first product which persists today
and remains a cheap and popular
snack is the hopia mongo,a flaky
version of the hopia filled with sweet split mung bean paste.

Inutak

Sticky rice (galapong), coconut

milk (gata), and sugar baked
with charcoal fire. make up
this unique dessert. Think of it
as a very smooth, ube-
flavored bibingka with an
almost-mochi type of
consistency and would go
perfectly well with vanilla ice
cream. You can also have
Inutak with Salabat or Coffee on the side.
 Putong Pulo – Delicacy of
Valenzuela

Puto is one of the most loved rice

cakes of Filipinos. With its
versatility, which means it can go
well with a number of dishes, puto
became so popular in the country
that made it a staple in many tables.
It is best paired with savory dishes
such as Dinuguan or Pancit. Puto is
believed to be derived from Indian
puttu of Kerala origin. But then,
Filipinos started to develop and
create different versions of puto or Filipino rice cake. One example of it is Putong Pulo.

Marikina Everlasting
Everlasting, also known as the Marikina
meatloaf, is a Filipino steamed meatloaf
originating from Marikina. It is made with
ground pork, Chorizo de Bilbao sausages,
carrots, bell peppers, raisins, pickle relish,
tomatoes, onions, and eggs.

TERSTOCK

Atchara of Makati City

Atchara is the famous Filipino green
papaya pickle usually enjoyed as a
condiment alongside authentic
Filipino dishes. Next to long strips of
unripe papaya, it can employ a
variety of other vegetables such as
carrots, onions, daikon radish, and
bell peppers or chili peppers.
TOURIST ATTRACTION

Intramuros

Fort Santiago

Manila Cathedral
 San Agustin Church

Casa Manila

Baluarte de San Diego

 Rizal Park

National Museum
Complex

Binondo Church
SM Mall of Asia

Manila Baywalk

Quiapo Church
 Ocean Park

https://www.planetware.com/philippines/top-rated-tourist-attractions-things-to-do-in-manila-phi-
1-2.htm
https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=festivals&find_loc=NCR%2C+Metro+Manila
https://nnc.gov.ph/component/k2/49-nnc-ncr-showcases-delicacies-metro-manila-lgus-are-
known-for
https://www.dti.gov.ph/regions/ncr/profile/

https://psa.gov.ph/content/highlights-national-capital-region-ncr-population-2020-
census-population-and-housing-2020
https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/quickstat/national-quickstat/all/*