Manila was bisected by the Pasig River, which flowed roughly east to west, and was interlaced with many smaller streams called “esteros.”  Six bridges spanned the Pasig in January 1945, all of which the Japanese severed during the battle for the capital.  North of the Pasig, along the bay, was the North Port area, and north of that was the Tondo district, a populous working class residential district.  Just inland from the port area was a business district that housed retail stores, manufacturing plants, and movie houses and restaurants.  East of that lay older middle and upper class residential areas. 

Battle of Manila
Dr. Thomas M Huber