Makati

The Sta. Ana Racetrack, which actually part of the City of Manila, beside Pasig River in the northern part of the city, is one of the two centers of horseracing in the country. The other is in the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite. Along the south-eastern border of Makati beyond Forbes Park is the Manila Golf Club and the Manila Polo Club. The Manila Golf Club features an 18-hole golf course amidst the lush greenery of the city. The Manila Polo Club counts among its polo enthusiasts some of the country's wealthiest people. The Makati Sports Club in Salcedo Village is another popular place for sports people. The Makati Coliseum is another famous sports landmark in the city, where some of the biggest sports gatherings are held.

The Ayala Center also features aside from its shopping malls the Ayala Museum. This museum is most noted for its series of dioramas depicting major events in Philippine history, from the Battle of Mactan, to the EDSA Revolution.

Makati has many Spanish-era churches, such as the Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Nuestra Señora de Gracia (Our Lady of Grace) in the old town. At the Greenbelt Park stands the modern-style domed chapel of the Sto. Niño de la Paz. Between Forbes Park and Dasmariñas Village is the Santuario de San Antonio, a popular church for weddings in the Makati area. The National Shrine of the Sacred Heart is located in San Antonio Village. At the northern part of the city is the 25-hectare Manila South Cemetery. Every All Saints Day, thousands of people flock to the cemetery to pay their respects to their deceased loved ones.

Port of Manila History

The Port of Manila and the area dates back to Spanish and pre-Spanish rule of the Philippine Islands.It is recorded that Manila and the Philippines had trade relations with most neighbouring countries going back to the 9th to 12th centuries. Major trading partners included China and Japan, with ties to India through neighboring, present-day Malaysia and Indonesia. The port frequently traded with Arab countries and merchants during the Spanish Period of rule. The Spanish-controlled pot of Manila conducted trade primarily with China and other East Asian countries, with Mexico and directly with Spain, from the 16th until the mid 19th century, when the port was opened to all tradeships.

Manila Port was also the staging point for the Manila galleons, a state-monopoly shipping line running to Acapulco and back, which lasted in virtually continuous operation from the 16th to the early 19th century.

Manila bay was the setting for the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898 between United States and Spanish forces, and for the siege of Corregidor Island by invading Japanese forces in 1942.

Battle of Manila Bay

In recognition of George Dewey's leadership during the Battle of Manila Bay, a special medal known as the Dewey Medal was presented to the officers and sailors under Admiral Dewey's command. Dewey was later honored with promotion to the special rank of Admiral of the Navy; a rank that no one has held before or since in the United States Navy. Building on his popularity, Dewey briefly ran for president in 1900, but withdrew and endorsed William McKinley, the incumbent, who won.

Dewey's flagship, the Olympia, is preserved as a museum ship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the Independence Seaport Museum (formerly the Philadelphia Maritime Museum).

Sleep in Sampaloc

Windsor Inn is located in Maceda Street near corner Amoranto Street (formerly Retiro Street), almost across the 7-11 convenience store along Dimasalang Street. It is affordable and is a former 4-storey classical architecture mansion of an old-rich Filipino family, which has been transformed into an affordable inn. For reservations or inquiries, email them at gh_realty@yahoo.com or just walk in to check in 24 hours. Sampaloc area is one of the oldest residential areas of old pre-colonial Manila, and today retains much of its uniquely Filipino atmosphere. Private room at Windsor Inn is only P350 pesos or less than US$7 dollars per night, nice and clean, probably the cheapest private rooms in Manila!