The utility, which distributes electricity to metropolitan Manila and parts of the main island of Luzon, was widely criticized last year because of frequent blackouts.

The gasifier-powered vehicle is probably at too great a disadvantage to survive the snarling dogfights of traffic in metropolitan Manila, but it seems perfectly adequate for rural use.

In metropolitan Manila, some cab companies use bicolour configurations to help distinguish their cars from other companies.

With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, the town is now included in metropolitan Manila's northwestern area reaching San Ildefonso.

LEAD: Three mysterious fires broke out within hours of each other in metropolitan Manila, razing 2,000 houses and leaving up to 15,000 people homeless, police said today.

Out of the total known deaths, most of them were reported to have occurred in and around metropolitan Manila.

The rebels have been responsible for coup attempts and several bombings in metropolitan Manila.

The College of Mass Communication was established in 1966 as the first school outside of metropolitan Manila to offer a degree program in Journalism.

But Mrs. Aquino canceled a visit to central Luzon Province this morning and ordered all schools in metropolitan Manila closed.

By the evening of September 27, at-least 7 people were reported to be killed and most of them in metropolitan Manila, a place already battered by heavy monsoonal rains.