Makati
Travel Guide > Asia > Philippines > Luzon > Metro Manila > Makati
In this Article
- Introduction
- Neighbourhoods
- Sights and Activities
- Events and Festivals
- Weather
- Getting There
- Getting Around
- Eat
- Drink
- Sleep
- Work
- Learn
- Keep Connected
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Introduction
From being a marshland, Makati has become the Philippines' main financial district. Skyscrapers line Ayala Avenue, its most coveted address, where a number of international corporations and major banks have used as their main hubs of operations. Upscale malls and famous hotel brands abound the city. Makati is part of the larger Metro Manila area.
Being the Central Business District of Metro-Manila, Makati has a population of close to 3 million during the day. By night, it depopulates to 1 million and on weekends, a little over 400,000.
The city got its name in 1571 from a misinterpretation of the Spanish Conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi of "Kumakati na" which means "the ebbing tide" when the locals were asked what was this swampy place called.
Neighbourhoods
Forbes Park. Situated across the famous Epifanio de los Santos Avenue east of the Ayala Commercial Center, this is a gated community where most of the country's wealthiest reside. The Manila Golf Club and the snobbish Manila Polo Club are located within Forbes Park.
Other posh communities. Sprawling near the vicinity of Forbes Park are equally well-heeled residential addresses: the gated communities of Dasmariñas, San Lorenzo, Urdaneta and Bel-Air. Salcedo Village and Legaspi Village, no longer residential areas since the 1950s, are filled with skycrapers.
As one travels towards the city's northern and western fringes, however, one sees the contrast from the opulence of the upscale eastern-central part. Squatter colonies abound, specially in the communities of Gaudalupe Viejo and Tejeros. With equal irony, is the ritzy Rockwell Center where swanky, high-end flats and office condominiums are found only a stone-throw away from the poor community of Guadalupe Viejo.
Sights and Activities
Filipinas Heritage Library. Paseo de Roxas, Ayala and Makati Avenues cross each other’s path to form a triangle. These avenues today used to be the runways of Nielson Airport built in 1937. The structure housing the Filipinas Heritage Library located at the corner of Ayala and Makati Avenues used to be the control tower and passenger terminal of Nielson Airport, touted to be the biggest and best equipped airport facility in Asia in the 1930s. Initially, three major airlines serviced the airport, including Philippines Airlines, the country’s flag-carrier, commencing its maiden flight from this historic terminal in March, 1941. The airport played a central role in the defence of the country during WWII. The triangle is now a guarded forest park that balances-off the concrete jungle of Makati’s skyscrapers lining the “runway” avenues.
Ayala Museum located at the corner of Makati Avenue and De La Rosa Street, houses 60 handcrafted dioramas that chronicles the rich history of the Philippines. Archaeological, ethnographic objects and a collection of Filipino fine art count in the collection
Nuestra Señora de Gracia Church. 7440 Bernardino Street, Guadalupe Viejo. This church was built on top of the hill by the Augustinian Friars in 1601. A monastery is located behind the church. To get there from Rockwell Center, take J. P. Rizal street, (the winding steet hugging the Pasig River), turn to Bernardino Street and walk uphill.
Events and Festivals
Weather
Getting There
By Plane
Being part of Metro Manila, the nearest airport is the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Manila Domestic Airport.
By Train
By Car
By Bus
By Boat
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Since it's a part of Metro Manila and is located in close proximity to Manila's airports, there are a number of hotels available to business and leisure travellers.
Serviced apartments abound within the commercial district. The popular ones are Gilarmi Apartments along Ayala Avenue and the newer Oakwood Towers inside Glorietta Center.
Budget
- El Cielito Inn. 804 Arnaiz Ave. (Pasay Rd.), Makati City
- Fersal Tourist Inn. 107 Neptune St. Bel-Air Village, Makati
Mid-Range
- Dusit Thani Manila. Pasay Road corner EDSA, Makati city
Upscale
- Shangri-La Makati. Ayala Avenue Corner Makati Avenue, Makati City
- Mandarin Oriental. Makati Avenue Corner Paseo De Roxas, Makati City
- InterContinental Manila. No. 1 Ayala Avenue, Makati City
- The Peninsula Manila. Makati Corner Ayala Avenues, Makati City
Work
Learn
- Asian Institute of Management. Graduate school of business and a center of business and management research.
- International Academy of Management and Economics.
- Ateneo Graduate School of Business
This is version 32. Last edited at 4:41 on Mar 26, 09 by pau_p1 (+5). 2 articles link to this page.
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