Metro Manila is comprised of 16 cities and 1 municipality - is the economic, political, and cultural capital. Metro Manila’s forecast of becoming a global power city is challenged by the consequences of rapid urbanization. The UN-Habitat lists the effects of climate change, natural disasters that hamper urban infrastructures and city competitiveness, unequal livability, job creation, and poverty reduction. Is there a way out of Metro Manila’s challenges? Architect and urban designer Chintan Raveshia , and urban planner and sustainability consultant Tony Chan of Singapore-based Arup emphasize urban development should also consider people’s aspirations, its changing needs and expectations, and the national identity of the residents. Finding the identity of the city Raveshia inspires responsible stakeholders to ask themselves first the most fundamental question: “What’s the identity of the city and how do we make its residents proud?” He quips, “Singapore, a city th...