The Philippines' capital and largest city is Manila. The nation's political, social, cultural, and economic life revolve around the metropolis. It is situated on the island of Luzon and extends to the Pasig River's mouth along Manila Bay's eastern border. The city's original name, Maynilad, was abbreviated to Maynila and eventually to its current form. It was derived from the name of the nilad plant, a flowering shrub that grew abundantly along the river's banks and was adapted to swampy circumstances. For four centuries, Manila has served as the Philippines' main city, the hub of its economic growth, and its international port of entry. Approximately 700 miles (1,100 km) southeast of Hong Kong, it is located on one of the best sheltered harbors in the Pacific. Since the city was destroyed during World War II and rebuilt, its economy has grown quickly; yet, it is currently beset by the well-known urban issues of pollution, traffic, and overcrowding. However, steps have been taken to address such issues. The National Capital Region is 244 square miles (633 square kilometers); the area city is 15 square miles (38 square kilometers). City population (2015): 1,780,148; National Capital Region (2020): 13,484,462. The highlands of the Sierra Madre and the mountains of the Bataan Peninsula shield the city from severe weather. A wet season that runs from June to November and a dry season that runs from December to May are characteristics of the tropical climate.

South Africa's legislative capital is Cape Town. It is the oldest city in the nation and the location of the South African Parliament. Cape Town is the largest city in the Western Cape and the second most populous city in the nation, after Johannesburg.The city is a part of the metropolitan municipality known as the City of Cape Town.Table Mountain, Cape Point, the city's harbor, and its natural environment in the Cape Floristic Region are some of its most well-known features. Numerous publications have ranked Cape Town as the world's greatest city and the finest place to go, including Time Out in 2025, The New York Times in 2014, and The Telegraph for the last eight years (2017–2025). With the greatest concentration of Cape Dutch-style buildings worldwide, Cape Town is renowned for its architectural legacy. Constantia, the historic government buildings in the Central Business District, and Long Street are the best examples of the Cape Dutch architectural style, which blends the architectural traditions of the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Indonesia. Mostert's Mill in Mowbray is the only fully operational windmill in South Africa. Constructed in 1796, it underwent restorations in 1935 and 1995. In 2014, the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design declared Cape Town the World Design Capital. Additionally, Cape Town is designated a "Design City" by the Creative Cities Network of UNESCO. Cape Town's biggest performing arts facility is the Artscape Theatre Centre. The 17th-century savory, sweet, spiced beef dish known as bobotie is one of the foods that originated in Cape Town or is associated with it. A sandwich stuffed with slap chips and other toppings, the Gatsby was initially offered in the Athlone area in 1976 and has since come to represent the city.A classic Cape Malay dessert, the koe'sister is characterized as a cake-like dumpling flavored with cinnamon and topped with a dusting of desiccated coconut. Table Mountain's mass and the chilly Benguela Current of the South Atlantic Ocean both locally alter Cape Town's Mediterranean climate. While the average high temperature is 70°F (21°C) in January and February and the average low temperature is 55°F (13°C) in July, the coast and mountain slopes experience colder weather. Freezing rarely happens. Rainfall occurs on 69 days of the year on average; the southern winter months of June through August account for roughly half of the 26 inches (660 millimeters) of yearly rainfall. Every year, almost five million tons of goods pass through the port of Cape Town. Although ships with a draft of more than 40 feet are not permitted to enter the port during low tide, interoceanic commerce benefits greatly from its dry dock and maintenance facilities. Container traffic is accommodated at the Ben Schoeman Dock.