Most travelers zip through Metro Manila’s northern edge on their way to Bulacan or Clark. That’s a missed opportunity! Valenzuela is a lively, welcoming, and surprisingly historic city where 17th-century church ruins sit a short ride from modern malls, and where a hearty meal won’t dent your budget. Founded in 1623 as the town of Polo, the area long served as the gateway to Northern Luzon. It became a highly urbanized city in 2007 and now sits alongside Caloocan, Malabon, and Navotas in the CAMANAVA cluster. Expect busy highways and factories, sure, but also heritage parks, a beloved pilgrimage shrine, friendly neighborhoods, and some of the best-value food in the…