About Makati City
Makati City is situated to the south of the Philippine capital Manila and is the country’s seventh largest city. It covers a total of 27.36 km square (16.7770 miles square) and more than 600,000 people reside within this space. However as this city is where the country’s commercial and financial districts are to be found the number of people that are within this city during a week day increases to more than 1 million.
As it is the heart of the country’s commercial and financial district you will find that many global companies have offices set up here. Plus it is here that one can also find the Makati Business Club that is extremely influential along with the Country’s Stock Exchange. The road that runs through this district is called Ayala Avenue and is often referred to as Philippines own Wall Street.
Because of it being so important to the country commercially and financially, the culture here is very cosmopolitan. As a result the range of hotels, restaurants, bars and stores that are located within this city are designed to cater to the various needs of the different cultures that reside within it.
This city is one that if you want to experience a different side of the Philippines is worth considering visiting and it is also where the country’s tallest buildings are to be found. Plus of course in order to cater to the needs of the many corporate travelers visiting the city it prides itself on having a large number of five start hotels in which one can stay during a visit.
The name of this city comes from the Tagalog (the main language spoken by many Filipinos) word meaning tide (Kati). It mainly refers to the way in which the River Pasig found on the city’s northern border tide ebbs and rises. Plus when the Spanish conquered the country they chose to name this particular San Pedro de Macati.
Along with it being the heart of the Philippines commercial and financial district this city also is site of several universities where a number of different subjects can be studied. Plus it is here that you will find a private nursing school that is named after the mother of the country’s former first lady Imelda Marcos and is owned by one of the city’s most renowned hospitals, Makati Medical Center.
Although the city is very much the hub of commercial and financial matters there are plenty of other activities that visitors to this city can enjoy. Situated beside the Pasig River is the Sta Ana Racetrack and is one of two centres in the country where horse racing can be observed the other being in Carmona, Cavite and is called San Lazaro Leisure Park.
Other places of interest to visitors of Makati City are the Manila Golf Club and its Polo Club. Certainly the golf club offers you the chance to play a superb course surrounded some wonderful lush greenery. Whilst if you want to do a little of celebrity spotting then the Polo Club should be visited as this where a great number of the country’s wealthiest people like to spend time relaxing.
But it isn’t just sports and shopping that may have you wanting to visit this city. There are plenty of other wonderful sights and activities for you to enjoy. Remember this is a city that once was ruled by the Spanish and there are several churches that have stood the test of time including the likes of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of Grace (Nuestra Senora de Gracia).
If however you would like to learn more about the history of Makati City time should be taken out of your stay in this city to visit the Ayala and Makati Museums along with Fort Bonifacio. When you visit the Ayala Museum you will be able to learn a great deal more about the city’s history especially in relation to major events that help this city to develop including the People’s Power Revolution and the Battle of Macatan.
Whereas a visit to the Makati Museum is somewhat unusual. This is because those that manage it have chosen to dress it up according to a theme that they have chosen for that particular year. For example this year the theme chosen helps them to celebrate the various uniforms worn by the Philippine Army from the 19th Century Revolution that took place against Spain.
As for Fort Bonifacio although it is where a military facility remains and centers where war records and maps are kept it is a place when looking for somewhere to relax and unwind. Once you arrive at this location there are a number of places that you can stroll around and plenty of places that allow you to stop and have a picnic and enjoy the countryside that surrounds you. Plus within the grounds of this particular attraction of Makati City you will find the Memorial for Heroes (Ligingan ng mga Bayani).
Not only are many members of the Philippine Military Forces interned here who died in the service of their country during many wars including the Second World War in which they participated. Plus a great many from the more recent events in which they have been involved are also buried here. So of course it is an important place that many who don’t want to forget those who died for their country will visit on a regular basis.
When it comes to traveling around Makati city to really experience what it has to offer, you should consider walking around the streets. But if you want to experience more of the traditional side of this wonderful city then of course look at arranging a guided tour instead. There are plenty of companies that can offer this facility to you but it will cost. Along with strolling along the many streets to get a completely different view of the city then take one of the many overpasses. This allows you to walk above the streets and offers you a bird’s eye view of things below.
Read this brief history of Makati
