Malakanang Palace - the official residence of the President of the Philippines. It is located on the street Jose Laurel in a house built in 1750 in the Spanish colonial style. During the American control over the Philippines for the country's government was built another building - Kalayaan Hall, later converted into a museum.

There are several versions of the origin of the name of the palace. According to one, the word comes from the Tagalog Malakanang phrase "Lacan Mei Dian", which means "noble lives here." On the other hand, the word "mamalakaya" called by local fishermen, who laid out their catch on the bank of the river Pasig, where today stands the palace. Finally, in the Tagalog word "malakanan" means "right", and the palace is just on the right bank of the river.

The building of the palace was built in the 18th century as a summer residence of the Spanish nobleman Don Luis Rocha. Then it was bought by Colonel Jose Miguel Formenti, and in 1825 - the government of the colony. Since then, the Palace was Malakanang temporary residence every governor-general. Later, when the control of the Philippines moved to the United States, the palace was restored and was built next to a host of other administrative buildings. Emilio Akuinaldo, the first president of the Philippines, was the only head of state who does not live in Malakanange. Several times the rebels seized the palace, and even bombed during such seizures.

The fame of the palace was during the reign of President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda, who lived here from 1965 to 1986. First Lady personally oversee the reconstruction of the palace in accordance with their extravagant taste. In the 1970s, after a student rebellion access to the palace was forbidden. And when in 1986 President Marcos was dismissed, the palace was stormed by local residents, and the Western media put on display interior of the house Marcos, including the famous shoe collection of Imelda thousands of pairs of shoes.

After a popular uprising 1983-86 years the palace was reopened to the public and turned into a museum. Corazon Aquino and Presidents Fidel Ramos took home located near Arlekui. Only in 2001, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo returned Malakanangu title of the governmental residence. However, the current President of the Philippines Benigno Aquino meets third at Villa Bahay Pangarap, and Malakanang again acts as a museum.

Visitors get into the palace through the hall, whose floor and walls lined with marble Filipino .  Opposite the entrance - the grand staircase on the left - prayer room, to the right - Hall of Heroes .  On the door leading to the grand staircase, the characters depicted Philippine mythology Malakas (Strong) and Magande (Beautiful) - the first man and woman emerged from a huge bamboo stalks .  On each side doors are sculptures of lions .  Along most of the grand staircase hang portraits of the Spanish conquistadors Hernan Cortes, Sebastian del Cano, Ferdinand Magellan and Cristobal Colon .  To the right of the lobby is a Hall of Heroes, in a passage that leads to the famous images of 40 Filipinos, written in 1940 .  The most important treasure of the reception hall are the three Czechoslovakian chandelier, bought in 1937 .  During the Second World War they were disassembled into parts and is securely hidden .  On the walls are portraits of all the presidents of the Philippines .  The largest room of the palace is the ceremonial hall, also known as the Ballroom .