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Manila is the capital of the Philippines and the largest city in the 7,641-island country.
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One of the most beautiful countries is also one of the most dangerous. Not only have decades of unsteady leadership followed centuries of foreign occupation, but its capital is the most vulnerable urban area to natural disasters on Earth. Conditions have become so challenging that the national government may leave. But most of the 25 million people living here will stay and carry on, as is their way. Fortunately, some major improvements are in the works. This is Manila, the island megacity.

Key sources and videos quoted:
What commuting in Manila is like [video]    • What Commuting in Philippines' Capita...  
Urban Renewal Study https://www.researchgate.net/publicat...
Exploring Manila (BBC doc)    • BBC Travel Show - Exploring Manila (W...  
https://www.britannica.com/place/Manila
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_M...
WW2 Footage of Manila    • Harrowing Footage of the Manila Invas...  
A trip through Manila 1931    • Video  
Parts Unknown, Manila    • Video  

There is no subway here, only very limited above-ground rail, and a bus network that mostly consists of uncomfortable Jeepney’s. So everyone who can afford to drives, creating the most gridlocked city in Asia, if not the world. Commute times can reach an unfathomable six hours roundtrip. That’s how long it takes Emico to navigate the multiple stages of her commute into her office in Metro Manila each morning and back home to Rizal each night, even though they are just 19 kilometers apart.

The situation - thankfully - is improving. Thousands of electrified Jeepnys have hit the road, and construction has begun on what locals call the “Project of the Century”--the Metro Manila Subway. When fully operational in 2028 it could serve more than 1.5 million trips a day.

But not all developers have abandoned Manila. The new Bonifacio Global City that has gone up over the last two decades provides a safe, clean bubble for foreigners and wealthy Filipinos. By looks and design, it seems to rival many of the world’s other new luxurious steel and glass cities. Of course, similar to Delhi’s Gurgaon, it is mostly walled off from the extreme poverty existing just meters away.

Chapters:
0:00 Welcome to Manila
0:40 Geography of the capital
0:57 Spanish Manila
1:23 Philippine independence movement
2:08 War with the United States
3:22 American design
4:00 Manila in WW2
4:42 Modern Manila's challenges
6:06 Transportation system
6:30 A six-hour roundtrip commute
7:00 Metro Manila Subway
7:22 Most vulnerable city to natural disasters
7:55 Government moving to New Clark City
8:15 Bonifacio Global City

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Manila, the Philippines' MEGACITY: History of an Island Capital
Manila, the Philippines' MEGACITY: Capital of 7,641 Islands