Fifty Years and Forward, a handsome 300-page coffee table book written by Lisa Guerrero Nakpil, with photos by Wig Tysmans, Patrick Diokno and Paul Quiambao, chronicles the development of the country’s leading central business district from a huge, nearly empty field of rice paddies and grassland, to what it has become today, a dynamic and ever-evolving city comparable to some of the best CBDs in the world.
Ayala Land, Inc., together with the Makati Central Estate Association Inc. (MACEA)–the association of property owners within the country’s leading central business district (CBD)–recently hosted a media tour covering the architecture, art and heritage sites that continue to contribute and bolster the position of the Ayala Triangle and its surrounding villages as a dynamic, ever-evolving community.
“Beyond the objective of promoting the MACEA coffee table book, this tour is a celebration of Makati, the city we have all grown to love,” said Christine Roa, head of marketing and communications of AyalaLand and Estates Inc. “Many have described Makati as the country’s leading city—a Filipino legacy. After all, contemporary urban living in the Philippines started in Makati, being the first master-planned development in the country.”
At the heart of Makati CBD is the verdant and vibrant Ayala Triangle, where many activities (such as the “Festival of Lights”) take place. Recently, a beautiful aerial shot of the Makati skyline was projected on the canopy of the Tower One and Exchange Plaza as part of the stunning visual displays to mark the launch of Makati, Fifty Years and Forward coffee table book.
As the main catalyst in developing then Hacienda Makati into one of the country’s most important business districts, ALI is also instrumental in chronicling these developments in a handsome coffee table book produced and distributed by MACEA. Dubbed as Makati, Fifty Years and Forward, the 300-page book, written by Lisa Guerrero Nakpil and photographed by Wig Tysmans, Patrick Diokno and Paul Quiambao, also became the basis of the tour.
Through words and images given fresh perspectives, the volume ably captures the metamorphosis and energy of the district through many never-before-seen pictures of Makati CBD. It also contextualizes and humanizes stories behind its master plan, people behind them and the development it went through over the past several decades.
With the book as a guide, below are some of the must-see Makati CBD spots that anyone can explore on foot or using bike rentals available around this well-planned, pedestrian-oriented district.
Ayala Triangle. Right at the heart of Makati CBD is the verdant and vibrant Ayala Triangle where the iconic Tower One and Exchange Plaza are located. The former home of the Philippine Stock Exchange and the headquarters of the Ayala Group, it is also home to some important artworks of celebrated Filipino artists. Employees and guests who breeze through the lobby can see not just one, but three works of art: a painting by Ang Kiukok, a piece by Impy Pilapil and a wall art by Arturo Luz.
Did you know Tower One and Exchange Plaza are also home to some important works of celebrated Filipino artists? Visitors will be able to spot a marble sculpture by Impy Pilapil, a painting by Ang Kiukok and impressive wall art by Arturo Luz.
As one of the prime business locations in the metro, Tower One is surrounded not only by the open space and greenery, thanks to the Ayala Triangle Gardens, but also by history. At the main courtyard a few steps away from the Plaza Fountain is the special weathered steel memorial for Col. Joseph McMicking and wife Mercedes Zobel-McMicking. The late colonel, together with Enrique Zobel, Alfonso Zobel de Ayala and Jaime Zobel de Ayala, are the four visionaries credited for their significant contributions to the development of Makati’s financial district.
Another historical location worth visiting is the Nielson Tower, a former air control tower of the country’s first commercial airport. Painstakingly maintained over the years, it’s now home to Blackbird, one of the must-try dining destinations in the country that offers eclectic menus inspired by the building’s association with aviation. Then there’s the Ninoy Aquino Monument by sculptor Paeter de Guzman, a bronze statue the encapsulates the life and times of former senator and hero Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino Jr.
Unknown to many, the Washington Sycip Park is home to a Japanese Zen Garden known as Tsuruki-En or the Crane and Turtle Garden. Featuring pillars, rock landscapes, benches and bamboo, visitors can take a moment to relax or escape from the hectic pace of bustling city life.
Provided by the Dutch Embassy, these innovative bike racks feature art by graphic designer Glendford Lumbao. A well-planned, pedestrian-oriented district, Makati offers MOOVR bike rentals, which encourage alternative and sustainable mobility to decongest traffic and reduce carbon emission.
Legaspi Village. Often considered as a sanctuary in the middle of the city, the charming tree-lined streets of Legaspi Village are brimming with hip and unique restaurant concepts bound to excite every foodie. Here, you can find the new stylish Filipino resto Tatatito and the traditional multi-course Japanese resto Kyo-to on Palanca Street. On Rada Street, you can take someone special to Japanese-Peruvian resto Nikkei, or enjoy some familiar Filipino dishes offered at Sarsa. Go on a food adventure and get a taste of Indonesian cuisine from Restoran Garuda on Salcedo Street, or some north Indian culinary delights from Mantra on Bolanos Street.
You can also find some of the metro’s best cafés in Legaspi Village like Antipodean Café, Yardstick and The Curator Coffee and Cocktails that doubles as a bar after dark, and Bad Café. On Sunday mornings, Legaspi Village plays host to the Legaspi Sunday Market where residents can shop for fresh organic produce and crafts, and relish homemade local and international food.
Apart from being a foodie hotspot, Legaspi Village is also a magnet that draws guests and “locals” alike, thanks to the Legaspi Active and Washington SyCip parks. Situated right across each other, the parks feature indigenous tropical trees and plants, benches, tiled walkways, jogging paths and washrooms. The Washington SyCip Park has a Japanese garden and gazebos, while Legaspi Active Park has a children’s playground.
Salcedo Village. Known for its towering commercial and residential spaces, Salcedo Village is a place where anyone can easily mix business with pleasure. One of its landmarks is the Jaime C. Velasquez Park or commonly referred to as Salcedo Park. The home of the annual outdoor visual fair Art in the Park and the weekly Salcedo Sunday Market, this communal green space in Makati CBD has been recently renovated to add more amenities, including a dog park.
With a growing community of young professionals, artists and families, this neighborhood also boasts of having a roster of restaurants that’s bound to excite every palate. It’s home to the charming and cozy Spanish resto Pablo near the Salcedo Park, comfort-food bistros like The Wholesome Table on H.V. Dela Costa and L.P. Leviste streets, and the popular Japanese ramen resto Mendokoro Ramenba on Soliman Street.
Among the historical locations in Ayala Triangle is the Nielson Tower, a former air control tower of the country’s first commercial airport. It’s now home to Blackbird, one of the must-try dining destinations in the country that offers an eclectic menu inspired by the aviation history of the building.
Ayala Avenue. A major thoroughfare, Ayala Avenue is not only one of the busiest and arguably “most expensive” roads in the metro. Look around, and see all the stunning skyscrapers that shape the Makati skyline. From Gil Puyat Avenue, it’s easy to spot RCBC Plaza that houses the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium and the Yuchengco Museum. There’s Ayala North Exchange on the corner of Ayala Avenue and Salcedo Street, which is fast becoming a creative hub that features a green wall that serves as natural air filters.
Of course, who would miss that iconic building on Paseo de Roxas? Insular Life, the first skyscraper in Makati, was built in 1962 by the renowned architect Cesar Concio. Upon reaching Makati Avenue, commuters can see Manila Peninsula and its majestic fountain. Then, there’s the Apartment Ridge, home to the first condominiums in Makati. And finally, at the corner of Ayala Avenue and EDSA, One Ayala is shaping up, as it’s poised to be developed as a series of office towers, hotel and serviced apartments, retail spaces and Makati’s future transport hub—all of which will be connected to the Ayala Center, a major commercial space covering shopping malls like Glorietta and Greenbelt.
New buildings are also expected to rise soon to continue to redefine the Makati skyline. They include Tower Two, which will soon become the new home of the Mandarin Hotel.
Ayala Museum. A tour on wheels of Makati CBD won’t be complete without mentioning Ayala Museum, whose collection focuses on Philippine history and iconography. It includes paintings by Juan Luna and Fernando Zobel and objects that give a glimpse on precolonial Filipinos’ way of life. It also features a digital gallery at the lobby, which enables visitors to explore the museum’s collections on a more interactive level, and its trademark dioramas, which have been improved and expanded with the march of time.
“Several developers have followed suit, but what sets Makati apart is it is the only privately developed estate that has a rich heritage spanning almost a century. It has evolved to keep up with the changing times, and yet the sense of nostalgia that makes it a city with a soul remains,” says Roa.
With everything it offers, Makati CBD truly presents Filipinos and expats a one-of-a-kind urban experience. It’s unthinkable how this bustling business and lifestyle capital was once idle grassland. Its transformation over the years would never be possible without Col. McMicking’s visionary master plan for this land, and more importantly, without the commitment of current business leaders who continue to reinvent and unlock the district’s potentials.
Reserve and buy a copy of Fifty Years and Forward. Call the MACEA office at +63917-826-4561 or send an email at fiftyyearsandforward@gmail.com.
