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Makati: Who Doesn't Fall In Love With It?

It’s the weekend, and you’re sitting in your share wondering why somehow, it doesn’t seem complete. Perhaps you haven’t been to Makati. Even as I sit in a café’ somewhere in Makati and watch the people prance about to whatever appointment it is they are headed to and view all the modern, glass buildings like GT Towers and The Enterprise Center surrounding the streets, I get a taste of the charm of the energy-driven city.

Sunrise at Makati

Indeed, Makati is a beautiful city.

Of course, at night (especially during Friday- Sunday), it is a different story as the people go through a 180-degree transformation and are now their latest fashion statement instead of office attire. People who are out to have a genuinely good time as the energy of the city hits its maximum level.

The fine things in life

Ayala Center (located at Ayala Avenue) is one of the most sought after shopping destinations in Manila. It is advisable to go here if you plan to shop a lot whether you’re looking for good bargains or expensive buys. It is made up of Greenbelt and Glorietta shopping malls, Greenbelt being the more high-end one. Greenbelt is so classy and pleasing to shop and dine at while Glorietta has so many shops to choose from. Greenbelt is commonly filled with people during the evening because of its long line of good restaurants such as Marciano (Italian Food), Itallianis, Haiku (Japanese) , and Bubba Bump (American Food) , among others. Of course, the world-famous Starbucks has a branch here as well.

Also here is the beautiful Greenbelt Chapel where people who work or live nearby sometimes choose to hear mass.

A taste of culture flows through the walls of Ayala Center as well. Here, you can see Ayala Museum as well, which has its own set of relics and cultural masterpieces.

Also located at Ayala Avenue is 6750, a really high-end shopping building which carries brands like Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, Gucci, Prada among others. Luxury heightens even more at Shangri La Makati, Manila Peninsula Hotel, and Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, among the other top hotels in the city. A lot of weddings and celebrations take place at this hotels and the food is first rate.

Being that Makati is a business district, it is also where a lot of upscale neighborhoods like Dasmarinas and Forbes Park.

The religious side of Makati

The Philippines is a highly Catholic country which is why it is home to a lot of beautiful churches that foreigners visit. Sometimes, even Filipinos themselves go to different parts of the Philippines to admire different churches (after of course, praying). This is commonly known as Bisita Iglesia.

In Makati, there are several churches that you can visit as well. One such church is St. Peter and Paul Church which dates back to the days of Spanish colonization. The main centerpiece of the altar is the elaborately carved retablo.

Guadalupe Ruins or Nuestra Señora de Gracia, a stone dome-like search located at Bernardo Street. The dramatic and rustic appearance of the church makes it an attractive church for a wedding.

Interestingly, there’s also Sri Sri Radha Madhava, a temple of International Society for Krishna Consciousness. With around 400 temples around the world, it might prove an interesting visit to see a setting of different religion.

And it gets even older

For history fanatics out there, I’ve got just the place for you. Thomas Jefferson Cultural Center, located at Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. , is a library that was established on 1945. The library has a lot of historical as well as recent facts about the United States. Activities that happen here include tapings as well as performances of visiting artists.

The Philippine Army Museum (McArthur Avenue, Makati) gives you a chance to see old weapons of the military. Old canons, guns and tanks fill the rooms of the museum. It is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm from Monday to Friday.

The list of things to do at Makati goes on. To enhance your cultural experience of Makati, you can opt to visit Alliance Francaise Art Gallery (22 Keystone Building, Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati), which features works of young artists or visit the extreme opposite (Locsin Bldg., Makati & Ayala Ave., Makati) which features old works of art such as brass figures and works of art.

Indeed, Makati is a beautiful city. It is romantic in its modernity, moving forward but still remaining attached to the city’s history. The energy of the city is addicting. Its appeal is top notch. It’s a place you’ll want to visit all the time because it just doesn’t get old. Makati may as well pass as the New York of the Philippines.

The Philippines may be home to a lot of vacation spots, but don’t forget to may exciting Makati a visit as well. Let your energy level boost up to a thousand volts get a taste of the cosmopolitan side of the Philippines. It maybe the posh side of Manila, but it’s still maintains a pleasant and warm side to it- something the Philippines is famous for.

Tell me, how can one resist falling in love with Makati?

References:

Occidental Mindoro Travel Guide sources include Wikipedia and World66