Palace Malacanang – the official residence of the President of the Philippines. It is located on the street Jose Laurel in a house built in 1750 Spanish colonial style. During the American control over the Philippines for the government of the country was built another building – Kalyan hall, later converted into a Museum.

There are several versions of the origin of the name of the Palace. For one, the word Malacanang comes from the Tagalog phrase "may Lacan Dian" meaning "here lives a ruler." On the other, the word "pamalakaya" was called by local fishermen, who laid out their catch on the banks of the Pasig river, where now stands the Palace. Finally, in Tagalog the word "malacanan" means "right", and the Palace is on the right Bank of the river.

The Palace was built in the 18th century as the summer residence of the Spanish aristocrat don Luis Rocha. Then it was bought by Colonel Jose Miguel Formento, and in 1825 the government of the colony. Since then, in the Palace of Malacanang was the temporary residence of each Governor-General. Later, when control of the Philippines was transferred to the USA, the Palace was restored, and was built near a variety of other administrative buildings. Emilio Aguinaldo, the first President of the Philippines, was the only head of the country, who lived in Malacanang. Several times, the Palace was seized by the rebels, and was even bombed during such seizures.

The fame of the Palace received during the reign of President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda, who lived here from 1965 to 1986. The first Lady personally oversaw the reconstruction of the Palace in accordance with its extravagant taste. In the 1970s, after the student rebellion of access to the Palace was forbidden. And when in 1986 President Marcos was dismissed, the Palace was stormed by locals, and the Western media have put on public display the interior the Marcos, including the famous collection of shoes from Imelda thousands of pairs of shoes.

After a popular uprising 1983-86, the Palace was reopened to the public and turned into a Museum. Presidents Corazon) and Fidel Ramos occupied a nearby House Arlesey. Only in 2001, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo returned to Malacanang the title of the governmental residence. However, the current President of the Philippines Benigno) meets on the Third Villa the Bahai Pangarap, and Malacanang again acts as a Museum.

Visitors enter the Palace through the Hall, whose floor and walls are tiled Philippine marble. Opposite the entrance is the Staircase, on the left is a prayer room, to the right is the Hall of Heroes. On the door leading to the main Staircase, depict characters Philippine mythology Malakas (Strong) and Maganda (Beautiful) – the first man and woman emerged from a huge bamboo stalk. On the sides of the doorway are sculptures of lions. Along the main Staircase there are portraits of the Spanish conquistadors Hernan Cortes, Sebastian del Cano, Ferdinand Magellan and Cristobal Colon. The right of the lobby is a Hall of Heroes, which is a passage with 40 images of famous Filipinos, written in 1940. The greatest treasure of the reception Hall are the three Czechoslovakian chandelier purchased in 1937. During the Second World war, they were dismantled and safely hidden. On the walls hang portraits of all the presidents of the Philippines. The biggest room of the Palace is the Ceremonial Hall, also known as Ballroom.