After Quezon City, Manila is the capital and second-most populated city in the Philippines. Situated on the island of Luzon’s eastern bank of Manila Bay, this city is categorized as heavily urbanized. It is currently the most densely populated city proper in the world as of 2019. Declared as the nation’s first chartered city on July 31, 1901, by Philippine Commission Act No. 183, Manila was established. After Republic Act No. 409 was passed, it gained autonomy.