Manila: Honoring a glorious past, embracing a bold future

Each year, Araw ng Maynila invites us to pause and reflect on the remarkable journey of the Noble and Ever Loyal City—our capital, our cultural anchor, and the birthplace of countless moments that shaped Philippine nationhood.

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As a proud corporate citizen of Manila, the Manila Bulletin joins the city’s residents and leaders in celebrating this occasion with deep respect for its storied legacy and a determined gaze toward the future.

Founded on June 24, 1571, Manila has stood at the crossroads of empire, resistance, revolution, and recovery. It has been the seat of colonial power and the cradle of national movements. Intramuros, with its walled resilience; Quiapo, with its spiritual devotion; Ermita and Malate, with their artistic flair—all reflect Manila’s identity as a city of paradoxes: resilient yet frayed, historic yet dynamic.

But celebration must also come with clarity and responsibility. Today, Manila faces contemporary challenges that test the strength of its civic and environmental foundations.