Sampaloc, Manila

Sampaloc
Aerial view of Sampaloc, Manila
Nickname(s): University Belt
Country	Philippines
Region	National Capital Region
City	Manila
Congressional District	4th District of Manila
Barangays	241
Area
• Total	7.90 km2 (3,05 sq mi)
Population (2007)
• Total	395,111
• Density	32,354.8/km2 (83,799/sq mi)

Sampaloc is a parish-cum-district of the city of Manila, Philippines. It is known as Metropolitan Manila's "University Belt", after the clusters of prominent higher educational institutions located there. Among the universities in Sampaloc are the University of Santo Tomas (1611, moved to Sampaloc in 1927), a by-product of the 333-year Hispanic colonization of the Philippines; National University (Philippines) (1900), as the first private nonsectarian and coeducational institution in the Philippines and also, the first university to use English as its medium of instruction, replacing Spanish language; Far Eastern University (1928), known for its Art Deco campus awarded as a cultural heritage site of the Philippines; and University of the East (1946), once dubbed as the largest university in Asia in terms of enrollment. The district is bordered by Quiapo and San Miguel districts in the south, Santa Mesa district in the south and east, Santa Cruz district in the west and north, and Quezon City in the northeast.

Aside from being the "University Belt", Sampaloc is also known to Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces for its Dangwa flower market, located in Dimasalang Road, well known as the selling center for cut flowers from all over the Philippines, mainly Baguio. Sampaloc is also the location of a former colonial mansion, now called Windsor Inn, which is popular among backpackers and budget travelers. Sampaloc is also known for a town named Balic-Balic, where street life, crime, prostitution and drug abuse is rampant.