This list of historical markers installed by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) in Metro Manila is an annotated list of people, places, or events in the region that have been commemorated by cast-iron plaques issued by the said commission. The plaques themselves are permanent signs installed in publicly visible locations on buildings, monuments, or in special locations.
While many Cultural Properties have historical markers installed, not all places marked with historical markers are designated into one of the particular categories of Cultural Properties.
Markers in Manila were first to be installed, following the establishment of the Philippine Historical Research and Markers Committee (PHRMC), the earliest predecessor of the NHCP. These were markers installed in 1934 for Church of San Agustin, Fort Santiago, Plaza McKinley, Roman Catholic Cathedral of Manila, San Sebastian Church, Concordia College, Manila Railroad Company, Dr. Lorenzo Negrao, Church of Nuestra Señora de Guia, and University of Santo Tomas (Intramuros site). The installation of markers were first limited to identify antiquities in Manila. Many markers were destroyed or lost due to World War II, along with the structures they represent, and many have been replaced by post-war markers.
In 2002, during the unveiling ceremony of the marker National Federation of Women's Club in the Philippines in Manila Hotel, former president Fidel Ramos joked that the curtain raising reminded him of striptease, and everybody laughed. That was the last time that the curtains were pulled upward, and from then, the unveiling has involved curtain pulling instead.
Following the move to relocate the marker of the first shot of the Filipino-American War from San Juan Bridge to the corner of Sociego and Silencio, Santa Mesa, Manila, former NHI Chairperson Ambeth Ocampo was declared persona non grata in San Juan. The NHCP then issued a replacement marker on the bridge, indicating it as a boundary between Filipino and American soldiers during the war, instead of it being the site of the first shot.
A 2023 study done by Ronnie Miravite Casalmir however placed the correct location of the first shot of the Philippine-American War at the corner of Sociego St. and Tomas Arguelles St., not at Sociego-Silencio where they erroneously have the marker. The Ronnie Miravite Casalmir Study debunks the previous findings of Dr. Benito Legarda which was the basis for the erroneous placement of the marker at Sociego-Silencio. According to Ronnie Miravite Casalmir, the smoking gun for the Sociego-Arguelles corner is the presence of Blockhouse 7 in the background of Grayson's reenactment photo. The orientation of this Blockhouse 7 image lines up with the corner of Sociego and Arguelles when compared with the known photo of Blockhouse 7 taken from the same direction. In addition, the distance estimate of Lieut. Whedon placed the 100-yard distance from Santol at Sociego-Arguelles, not Sociego-Silencio. This meant that when Lieut. Whedon ordered the detachment at Santol to patrol 100 yards, he meant them to patrol all the way to Sociego-Arguelles. Col. Stotsenburg corroborated Lieut. Whedon's distance estimate. Prof. Ambeth R. Ocampo calls the evidence presented by Ronnie Miravite Casalmir as new and compelling. Prof. Ocampo agrees that this evidence shows that the marker should be moved one block away, from Sociego-Silencio to Sociego-Arguelles. Maj. Lillian A. Pfluke (Ret.), West Point Class of 1980, and founder of the American War Memorials Overseas Inc. also agrees and has a note on their U.S. War Memorials website that the proper placement of the marker should be at the adjoining intersection of Sociego Street and Arguelles Street where the incident actually occurred.
The marker concerning the First Congress of the Republic of the Philippines 1946-1949 was the biggest marker made, measuring at 52x72 inches. The 1946 marker was replaced on January 27, 2010, when governor Carlos Padilla of Nueva Vizcaya asked why his father, Constancio Padilla was missing from the list of the legislators. Luis Taruc, Jesus Lava, and Amado Yuson of the Democratic Alliance were not in the marker even though they appeared in the Congressional Records, while Luis Clarin, Carlos Fortich, and Narciso Ramos were in the 1946 marker, but not in the present Congressional Records. The Taruc, Lava, and Yuzon were dismissed from Congress, although the latter moved to the Nacionalista Party. Fortich died before completing his term and was replaced by his widow, Remedios Ozamis Fortich. Ramos won as the congressman for the 5th district of Pangasinan, but was appointed soon after to the United Nations, and was replaced by Cipriano Allas.
The historical marker (installed in 1939) of the Jesuit institution La Ignaciana in Santa Ana, Manila was stolen. A replacement marker was planned to be installed by the end of 2014, but this never took place.
The historical marker dedicated to Patricio Mariano in Escolta, Binondo received social media attention regarding its then derelict state. On January 28, 2015, on the occasion of Mariano's 80th death anniversary, the Escolta Revival Movement wrote to the NHCP regarding the situation of the marker. The NHCP renovated the marker the day after.
Days before the Bonifacio Day of 2017, reports surfaced of the demolition of the Bonifacio centennial monument in Makati, along with its historical marker (entitled "Memorare"). This was done by the Department of Public Works and Highways to build a bridge connecting Ortigas and Bonifacio Global City business districts without informing and seeking the approval of the NHCP. DPWH, however, stated that it had informed the local government unit and temporarily removed the statue to protect it from the construction. The department also said that it had allotted ₱39 million for the restoration of the park after the project was completed in 2020.
A statue and marker (entitled Filipina Comfort Women Statue and "Memorare," respectively), remembering the comfort women of World War II, installed on December 8, 2017, along Baywalk, Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila, caught the attention of officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Japanese Embassy in Manila. In response, Teresita Ang-See, said that the memorial should not become an insult to Japan. On April 27, 2018, the DPWH removed the memorial for a drainage improvement project along the Baywalk. Many individuals and groups, including Gabriela Women's Party, condemned the removal, calling it historical revisionism and submission to Japanese policy. They said that this was an unlawful removal, since the heritage act protects markers and memorials by the NHCP. President Duterte remarked that the memorial could be placed on a private property, since the state would not want to "antagonize" other countries.
This article lists 552 markers from the National Capital Region.
Caloocan This table lists two markers from the city of Caloocan. Marker title Description Location Language Date issued Image Bantayog ni Andres Bonifacio Monument dedicated to the lifework of Andrés Bonifacio. Designed by national artist Guillermo E. Tolentino. Bonifacio Monument, Rotunda Filipino 2009 Katedral ng Kaloocan Became a headquarters of General Luna when the 20th Kansas Infantry invaded Caloocan. Caloocan Cathedral façade, A. Mabini Street corner 10th Avenue, Poblacion Filipino March 31, 2022
Las Piñas This table lists five markers from the city of Las Piñas. Marker title Description Location Language Date issued Image Las Piñas Bamboo Organ The only bamboo organ ever made and in existence. Constructed by Fr. Diego Cera from 1818 to 1822. Fr. Diego Cera Avenue, Daniel Fajardo English Simbahan ng Las Piñas Established as a pueblo in 1762. Home of the bamboo organ. Las Piñas Church façade, Fr. Diego Cera Avenue, Daniel Fajardo Filipino July 27, 1995 Simbahan ng Parokya ng San Jose, Las Piñas Declared as a national historical landmark by the NHCP. Las Piñas Church façade, Fr. Diego Cera Avenue, Daniel Fajardo Filipino February 28, 2014 Labanan sa Zapote Where Filipinos fought against the Spanish in 1897 and the Americans in 1899. Zapote Road, Las Piñas-Bacoor Border Filipino March 10, 2015 Molino Dam Constructed from the designs of Fray Hilario Bernal. Repaired by Fray Ezekiel Moreno. Bridge between Las Piñas and Bacoor Onelia Jose St., Las Piñas Filipino December 1, 2017
Makati This table lists 18 markers from the city of Makati. Marker title Description Location Language Date issued Image Ayala y Compañia Founded in 1834 by Don Antonio de Ayala and Don Domingo Roxas at Echague. Ayala Tower One, Ayala Avenue (in storage) Spanish 1951 Bank of the Philippine Islands First bank in the Philippines. Founded under the decree of Queen Isabela II on August 1, 1851. (unknown - former HQ demolished to make way for new building under construction) English August 1, 2001 Church and Monastery of Guadalupe Church foundation laid by the Augustinians in 1601. Church construction completed in 1629. Guadalupe Church façade, 7440 Bernardino St., Guadalupe Viejo Filipino 1937 Dambana ng Banal na Krus Building commissioned by Manuel Cadedoc in 1882, relocated to the current site in 1918. Holy Cross Parish Church, JP. Rizal Ave., Brgy. Tejeros Filipino 1991 Dental Profession in the Philippines Began in 1850, with the arrival of Frenchman M. Fertri from Hong Kong. Philippine Dental Association Building, Ayala Avenue English 1961 Elizalde y Compañia (Sucesores de Ynchausti y Compañia) Manor house founded by J. Ynchausti, J. Elizalde, and V. Teus in 1854. Elizalde Building, Ayala Avenue Spanish 1951 Ang Gusali ng Punonghimpilan sa Pagsasanay Militar ng Mamamayan sa Metropolitan Manila Built for the American troops in the Philippines during the time of Douglas MacArthur from 1928 to 1930. MTMTC Filipino April 1, 1984 The Insular Life Assurance Company, Ltd. First insurance company organized by Filipinos on November 25, 1910. First Philippine company to have a branch overseas in Hawaii in 1935. Insular Life Building, Ayala Avenue cor. Paseo de Roxas (originally in Binondo, Manila) English 1951 Makati Formerly known as San Pedro Makati (Sampiro) and was part of the visita of Santa Ana de Sapa. Façade of the old Makati City Hall building. Filipino November 11, 1991 Nielson Tower The control tower of the first airport of the Philippines, built in 1937. Nielson Tower, Makati Avenue Filipino March 22, 1996 Philippine Bar Association Established to promote the rule of law. A bastion of human rights during the martial law era starting 1972. Philippine Bar Association Filipino June 26, 1992 Philippine Dental Association Established as a legal profession, January 10, 1903. The institution was the merger of Sociedad Dental de Filipinas (1908) and National Dental Association (1925). Philippine Dental Association Building, Ayala Ave. Filipino September 2, 2008 Philippine Merchants Marine Pio Isidro y Castañeda(1865–1931) Katipunan general, exiled to Guam during the American occupation. Victor St. cor. E. Jacinto St., Pio del Pilar Filipino November 30, 1983 San Pedro Macati Established by the Jesuits in 1620 and administered until 1768. Makati Church façade, 39 D.M. Rivera St. Poblacion English 1937 Smith, Bell & Co., Inc. Founded in 1846 by Henry Constable and Robert Wood. Subsidiary firm of Smith, Constable and Company of Liverpool. Manila Polo Club English March 19, 1996 Vuelo-Madrid-Manila Spanish captains opened a new air route to the east on April 5, 1926. Nichols Field Spanish
Malabon This table lists five markers from the city of Malabon.