Every country has its own beating heart, a vital organ that is the key to keeping the nation alive and well, and perhaps no other city expresses this importance more than the city of Manila in the Philippines, and has done so since the Spanish ruled the islands. Dubbed as the Pearl of the Orient, its unique architecture and colonial history blend together to create a picturesque landscape that few others can replicate.

As one walks through the city and looks around, concrete American tenements sit next to ancient Spanish forts and villas, forming a mosaic that makes the city a window to the past with a touch of modernity that completes it.

On top of these sights are reminders of the last war, but one would have to squint to find them. Layered on top of the destruction wrought by the war are the influences of the Japanese occupation. Skyscrapers, temples and starburst flags can be seen all over the city. A sense of unease hangs in the air, a silent plea that Manila be spared the trials that surely await.