District Malate is located in the southern part of Manila. On the North it borders with the district of Ermita, and on the West by the district of Paco. The district takes its name from the Tagalog word "mA-Alat", which means "salty". According to the legend, the tidal waters of Manila Bay was flooded that part of the land where today is located the area. Salt water mixed with fresh water in the wells, turning drinking water into the same salty as the sea.

Before the advent of the Spaniards on the territory of Malta was a small fishing village. In the 16th century, during the Spanish colonial period, the main centre of the area was the Church of Malate around which later developed a cult following among pregnant women. It was believed that the patron of the Church, the blessed virgin, happily helps to give away.

When in the late 19th century in the Philippine Islands appeared the Americans, they saw Malta as a future residential area for American families. Emigrants from the United States, as well as a family of Spanish mestizos settled in modern houses and bungalows are spacious.

After World war II, the serious damage inflicted on the retreating Japanese occupation forces and mortar attacks carried out by the Americans and the Filipinos, however, have left the area in ruins. Evacuated a wealthy family who left their luxury home in Malate, returned and engaged in the reconstruction of their private estates. Up until the 1970-ies district Malate was exclusively residential.

Today Malta is divided into two parts: West of Taft Avenue are the possession of a wealthy immigrants, and to the East the houses of the middle class. Once exclusively the sleeping area in the 1970s, started to turn into a commercial center with apartment buildings, apartments and the former gradually became small hotels or guest houses. In Malate got restaurants and cafes that were the result of overflow business from the nearby Ermita. In this Manila area is held every year the Gay pride parade, and the area is considered the center of night life of the adherents of non-traditional sexual orientation. However, the Western part of Malta remains quiet area, which is home to members of the middle class, are student dormitories and schools.

Here are the offices of the Department of Finance, a few large banks and the headquarters of the Navy of the Philippines. Tourists interested in the country's first sports stadium Memorial Sports Complex. Rizal and Manila Zoo and Botanical Garden, located in Malate. At the intersection of Roxas Boulevard and the streets of Pedro Gil begins the waterfront of Manila Bay, where you can find cafes and restaurants for every taste and budget. Before the Church Malate is Rajah Sulayman Park, whose main attraction are the "dancing" fountains. A little further away is a Circus "Remedios", which opened in 2006.