One Santillan Place - LOCATION

Makati is truly one of the best places to live in Metro Manila, as you would be located in a premier district filled with local and international offices, exciting lifestyle destinations, and other entertainment options. This location is perfect for young professionals wanting to lead a dynamic urban lifestyle or for couples and families who want all the best a bustling city has to offer in terms of employment, education, and entertainment.

Located at the southern shore of the Pasig River, Makati City is a modern metropolis with a rich history. The ebbing tides of the great river (Makati) is said to be the source of the city’s name. Almost 300 years ago, an ancestor of the famous Zobel de Ayala family has purchased a major chunk of the city and development in this area has long been associated with this clan and their equally famous company, Ayala Corporation.

Makati was also once the home of an international airport. In the 1930’s, Nielsen Field—the first-ever airport in the island of Luzon—was opened to air travelers. This airport was located in what is now the Ayala Triangle. Nielsen Field was eventually closed after the Second World War, and Makati City became a much-coveted residential and commercial areas for many Filipinos. The first of the country’s planned communities—now located in the posh barangays of Forbes Park, Bel-Air, San Lorenzo, and Urdaneta—were established in the 1950s, which led to further rise in property prices in the area. At this same time, the first commercial buildings in the Makati Central Business District began to rise. 

Makati City itself is situated in the middle of Metro Manila. It is bounded on the northeast by Pasig City, to the north by the Pasig River facing Mandaluyong City, on the northwest by the City of Manila, to the southeast by Pateros and Taguig City, and on the southwest by Pasay City. With a total land area of 27.36 square kilometers, Makati City is not Metro Manila’s smallest city, but it is definitely one of the most expensive in terms of cost of living and property values.

As of the 2015 census, Makati City has a population of nearly 600,000—placing it squarely on the ninth rank in terms of population size among Metro Manila cities and municipalities. Most of the residents of the city identified as belonging to the Roman Catholic Church, but there are also plenty of places of worship for individuals belonging in different religions such as Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Protestantism, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Iglesia ni Cristo, and Ang Dating Daan.

Makati’s daytime population is disproportionate to its actual resident populace, as there are plenty of workplaces (ranging from offices, service providers, and even domestic employment) in the area. The city is estimated to be home to 3.7 million more people during the weekdays. According to the same census, the massive daily influx of people into Makati City empowers the city to handle various service requirements for local and international companies.

Makati City is the richest local government unit in the entire Philippines, thanks to the over 60,000 business enterprises, business process outsourcing offices, and millions of taxpayers.

Perhaps the most famous part of Makati City is the Makati Central Business District, which is nestled between Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), Arnaiz Avenue, Gil Puyat Avenue, and Chino Roces Avenue. It is home to several mixed-use villages, including Legaspi Village, Salcedo Village, Bel-Air Village, and the prestigious Ayala Center. An important subdistrict of the Makati Central Business District is the Ayala Triangle, which is surrounded by a bevy of multinational companies, major businesses, banks, and shopping malls.

Along the city’s premier thoroughfare, Ayala Avenue, there are hundreds of major enterprises that serve as the financial and commercial backbone of the city. Among these is the biggest trading floor of the Philippine Stock Exchange, which is located within the Ayala Tower One and at the old Makati Stock Exchange Buildings. 

Makati City is also home to some of Metro Manila’s tallest skyscrapers, including the Gramercy Residences, the PBCom Tower, and the GT International Tower.

Apart from office buildings, Makati also boasts of a dynamic shopping scene that will appeal to urbanites from every socio-economic class. The Ayala Center—developed and operated by Ayala Land—is home to a wide variety of department stores and boutiques that cater to every need, preference, and budget. You can find shopping malls such as Greenbelt 1-5, Glorietta 1-5, Park Square, the Link, SM Makati, The Landmark, and Rustan’s. Apart from an interesting selection in stores and products, one can also find a wide array of entertainment and leisure options in the Ayala Center, such as cinemas, restaurants, food chains, and other fun experiences.

If the Ayala Center is too crowded for you, there is also the Rockwell Center, with the Power Plant Mall located at its center. This mall is popular for its high-end boutiques, cinemas, and restaurants. Makati residents also get to enjoy the popular open-air community markets in Salcedo and Legaspi Villages, which offer organic products, fruits, vegetables, fish and meat, gourmet and specialty food, art, and antiques to shoppers every weekend.

For growing families with school-age children, Makati has plenty of choices in the education front. This city is home to the exclusive schools of Assumption College San Lorenzo, Colegio San Agustin, Saint Paul College, and Colegio de Santa Rosa. Also nearby are the international schools found in the Bonifacio Global City. 

Higher educational institutions include the Asian Institue of management, the Ateneo Professional Schools, Assumption College San Lorenzo, the Mapua Institute of Technology, and Asia Pacific College.

One Santillan Place residents will also have convenient access to various culture and sports destinations, including the Ayala Museum, the Museo ng Makati, and the Yuchengco Museum. The Makati Sports Club, Manila Golf Club, and Manila Polo Club also boast of exclusive membership and sports facilities.

While it is inconceivable for Makati residents to leave their city thanks to the wealth of comforts and conveniences available to them, getting to and from this strategically located city is very easy. The metro’s major thoroughfares surround the city, including EDSA, the South Luzon Expressway, the Magallanes Interchange, and the Skyway. The city is also serviced by two railways and several stations. The city itself is a mere 20 minutes away from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.