Manila Bay is considered the finest and most beautiful harbor in the far east. The famous mock-battle of Manila Bay was fought here between the Americans and the Spaniards in 1898. Many tourists come here to watch the sunset and dine on the several restaurants surrounding the bay.
Behind Rizal Park in the Old Congress Building on Padre Burgos Street is the National Museum (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm; tel 02/527 1215 or 527 1242; P30), with some dusty but fascinating archeological, botanical and anthropological displays and a priceless selection of Filipino masters, including the renowned Spolarium by Juan Luna, an immense oil painting that shows fallen gladiators being dragged from a Roman arena. Another museum in the area is the Metropolitan , usually known as the Met, at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, Roxas Boulevard (Mon-Sat 10am-6pm; P50). This fine arts museum, a Filipino mini-Guggenheim, also houses the Central Bank's collection of prehistoric jewellery and coins. Roxas Boulevard ends at the Manila Hotel, home from home in Manila for the likes of General Douglas MacArthur (who has a suite named after him), Michael Jackson and Bill Clinton |