Varieties of chilli for sale at Quiapo market
Look past the grimy surfaces and you'll find Manila's hidden treasures.
Modern Manila is a teeming metropolis, with huge tower blocks crowding the few examples of colonial architecture that survived the bombing of the city during WWII. Many people use it only as a base for further travel, but the more adventurous will discover its friendliness and charm.
Give the place a chance - it has a lot to offer and those who stop to explore the city on their way to destinations in other parts of Luzon or other islands often find a few treasures hidden among the urban chaos of the capital. Some come to find the city addictive.
Coconut Palace, built by Ferdinand Marcos for visit by Pope John Paul II
Late night traffic in one of most polluted cities in the world
Over 1.5 million people live in Manila's shantytowns
Chinatown: crowded with market stalls, goldsmiths and many, many teahouses
