[muh-nil-uh] 
| 1. | a seaport in and the capital of the Philippines, on W central Luzon. 1,630,485. Abbreviation: Man. Compare Quezon City. |
| 2. | Manila hemp. |
| 3. | Manila paper. |
[loo-zon; Sp. loo-sawn] | the chief island of the Philippines, in the N part of the group. 26,078,985; 40,420 sq. mi. (104,688 sq. km). Capital: Manila. |
[fil-uh-peenz, fil-uh-peenz] 
) | an archipelago of 7083 islands in the Pacific, SE of China: formerly (1898–1946) under the guardianship of the U.S.; now an independent republic. 76,103,564; 114,830 sq. mi. (297,410 sq. km). Capital: Manila. |
| ab·a·ca also ab·a·cá (āb'ə-kä', ä'bə-) n.
[Spanish abacá, from Tagalog abaka.] |
| ma·nil·a or ma·nil·la (mə-nĭl'ə) n.
|
| Manila The capital and largest city of the Philippines, on southwest Luzon Island and Manila Bay, an inlet of the South China Sea. Founded in 1571, the city was controlled by Spain until it was seized by U.S. troops in 1898 during the Spanish-American War. It was held by the Japanese from 1942 to 1945 during World War II. Population: 1,580,000. |
Republic in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, comprising over seven thousand islands. Its capital and largest city is Manila.
Note: The Spanish held control of the islands until 1898, when they were transferred to the United States after the Spanish-American War.
Note: Named for Philip II, king of Spain during the sixteenth century.
Note: Occupied by the Japanese during World War II, the islands were liberated by Allied troops under General Douglas MacArthur.
Note: Although Philippine independence had long been an important political issue, the country did not gain full independence until 1946.
Note: The country was under the virtual dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos from 1965 until 1986, when he was forced into exile in the United States.
Note: It continues to be plagued by allegations of corruption in high places and by a Muslim insurgency.