City Hall, Manila

The Manila City Hall, situated in Ermita, Manila, serves as the central hub of the city's government. It houses the Mayor's offices and the chambers of the Manila City Council. Originally envisioned in the early 1900s as part of a larger government complex by Daniel Burnham, the City Hall is one of the structures built within this plan, alongside the Old Legislative Building (now the National Museum of Fine Arts), and the former buildings for the Departments of Agriculture and Finance (now the National Museum of Anthropology and National Museum of Natural History).

Designed by architect Antonio Toledo, the Manila City Hall showcases Neoclassical architecture. Initially proposed in Art Deco style by Juan Arellano, the design evolved under Toledo's guidance. Upon completion, the City Hall boasted a significant size and accommodated various governmental functions within its approximately 200 rooms.

The building is located on a trapezoidal lot, flanked by the Legislative and Post Office buildings. Its main entrance, marked by a balcony with three arches supported by Corinthian columns, faces south. The north, east and west sides share a similar aesthetic, featuring pediments and an octagonal clock tower topped by a dome. This clock tower, completed in the 1930s, is the largest in the Philippines and serves as a prominent landmark, especially at night when it lights up and chimes hourly.

In 2019, the National Museum of the Philippines recognized the cultural significance of Manila City Hall by designating it as an Important Cultural Property. This recognition was further highlighted in 2023 when the National Historical Commission of the Philippines unveiled a marker on the City Hall grounds, emphasizing its historical and architectural importance to the nation and its capital.