The Philippines' largest city, Manila is a social conglomerate and a melting pot of cultures. The city has seen tremendous growth in the last century, and the population is growing at an average rate of 0.44% annually. By 2020, most of the world's megacities will be in Asia, and Manila is one of them. The city's population is predicted to reach 20 million.
The city is divided by the Pasig River, creating 17 separate districts. Most of these neighborhoods developed out of the original fortress city of Intramuros, which included thirteen villages outside the walls. Today, two-thirds of Manila's districts lie north of the Pasig River, while the remaining third are located south. Several bridges connect these two sections. The city is home to some of the country's oldest buildings and most museums, which were built during the Spanish era.
There are many different kinds of businesses in Manila. The city's diverse manufacturing sector includes publishing, textiles, tobacco, chemicals, lumber, wood items, rope, cord, soap, and many other products. In addition to manufacturing these products, Manila also has transportation infrastructures, including railroads and truck terminals. Heavy industry is located in areas such as Pandacan, Paco, and Santa Ana.
The city was named after a flowering mangrove plant, which grew abundantly in the marshy shores of Manila Bay. The city was ruled by three rajahs in the mid-16th century: Rajah Sulayman ruled the communities south of the Pasig River, rajah Matanda ruled those north of the river, and rajah Lakandula ruled the lands north of it. Manila had contacts with sultanates in Sulu, Brunei, and Cavite.