About Manila
Metro Manila is one of Asia’s premier regions composed of 16 cities and 1 municipality, with major central business districts in the capital Manila, Makati, Quezon City, Parañaque, Pasay, Muntinlupa and Taguig City with its Bonifacio Global City dubbed the Metro’s lifestyle hub.
Blending charming Spanish colonial architecture, world-class museums and galleries and the world’s oldest Chinatown with some of the biggest and best shopping malls on Earth. The vibrant bay side Filipino capital Manila is also a foodie paradise that was much revered by celebrity chef, author and travel documentarian Anthony Bourdain.
From bamboo-bike tours to artisan shopping, and from contemporary art venues to casinos, the Philippine capital is a world in itself, with something to appeal to all ages and tastes when it comes to things to see and do.
Manila packs a lot of culture into a small space – many of its major sites are in the walled Intramuros, including the Spanish-era Fort Santiago with its shrine-museum to José Rizal, Manila Cathedral, UNESCO-listed San Agustin Church (the Philippines’ oldest), Casa Manila museum of Spanish colonial furniture and art, and Rizal Bagumbayan Light and Sound Museum of colonial and modern history. Other venues in which to learn about Filipino history and culture and art are the Bahay Tsinoy museum of Chinese history, Ayala Museum of Filipino history and artifacts, National Museum of Anthropology, Malacañang Palace presidential museum, and National Museum of Fine Arts, while for kids there’s the Exploreum science museum, Museo Pambata children’s museum and the National Museum of Natural History.
Climate
Tropical Manila is hot and humid year-round, with daytime temperatures averaging 19-39°C. The dry season lasts from late November to early March, the wet season the rest of the year features short intense spells of rainfall. The coolest months are January to February and the hottest are March to May.
Visa Requirements
Many passport holders traveling to the Philippines for business and tourism purposes are allowed to enter the Philippines without visas for a stay not exceeding thirty (30) days, provided they hold valid tickets for a return journey.
For further VISA information please visit here.
Things to do in the Philippines
The Philippines is an island country of Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. It is an archipelago consisting of more than 7,000 islands and islets lying about 500 miles (800 km) off the coast of Vietnam. Manila is the capital, but nearby Quezon City is the country’s most-populous city. Both are part of the National Capital Region (Metro Manila), located on Luzon, the largest island. The second largest island of the Philippines is Mindanao, in the southeast.
If you are considering arriving earlier, or staying later during the conference - please visit here for some of the best available tours and activities around the Philippines.