The Map Moved
For 27 years, the capital was not Manila
Quezon City was the capital for 27 years, and Metro Manila was only put together in 1975: four cities and thirteen towns. Even Manila's name has two competing stories.
0:59 · Metro Manila · October 9, 2026
The story
For twenty-seven years, the capital of the Philippines was not Manila. Even its name is argued over. One old account says manilad, a place full of nilad shrubs. Another says Maydila, the place that has a tongue.
The walled city dates to 1571, on the site of Rajah Soliman's kingdom. In 1939 a new city was carved out of five Rizal towns. In 1948 a law made Quezon City the capital and permanent seat of government.
It held the title for twenty-seven years, until a 1976 decree gave it back to Manila. By then, a 1975 decree had joined four cities and thirteen towns, including Valenzuela from Bulacan, into Metropolitan Manila. In 1978 it was declared the National Capital Region.
Which city do you call home? Does your lola still call it all Maynila? Tell us in the comments.
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