Few Hidden Corners in Makati

Metro Manila’s most urbanized business district, Makati City is home to hundreds of thousands of employees who found this city a pronouncement of their lives. It is where manila’s skyscraper buildings and condominiums were initially built. And many are still building. Even villages of most affluent families can be found here. Major industries do their economics here. The influx of Filipinos seeking for gold in this city relatively increased the past years.

From early newspaper vendors, to daily office workers, to overnight employees, all of them found their lives chained to the busy-ness of this world. Where people move fast-paced. This city never sleeps.

(It is also home to history- of varied interests. Only today Manila peninsula in this city witnessed the force of the government army-troops against a senator and a retired general who were allegedly staging a coup against the present leadership.)

It does get stressful and when one has had enough of working, partying, and malling and politicking, where does one find peace and quiet in this city?

While I was walking thru the Guadalupe underpass in Brgy. Poblacion, I noticed a lily flowing undisturbed with the waters of the Pasig river. It was early lunch and vehicles were passing continuously, the jeepneys plying non-stop. These two-were very much in contrast and was for me metaphoric.

The geographical location of the pasig river was home to the first inhabitants of this town. The riverbank was where the first community settlers dwelt. Today these land were paved roads where vehicles, product of modern conveniences (and inconveniences) find their way to their drivers’ daily endeavors

There was a time when this river was home to homeless Filipinos who can only afford to put up patched holed sacks for their daily protection, this beside tons of garbages. The river brought diseases, took lives. And covered up a number of crimes.


I believed that God did not have that in mind for His purpose in creating this intricate water system. And I was just so happy when Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission was founded to oversee the rehabilitation of this river. Its support system backed up the Piso para sa Pasig project launched years ago. It might still be long before the pasig river is fully rehabilitated but that lone lily that I saw clearly brightens up the prospect. I hope the government will not waiver in their commitment to bring this back to life.




Also worth the visit is the Museo ng makati along Mabini st cor J. P rizal. It”s a humble museum which provides visitors a sneek into Makati of colonial times. Not as big as other museums, and may not house as impressive displays but it houses enough artifacts, arts, and paintings that define Makati heritage. The building itself served as Makati city hall from 1934-1958.Rooms in the 2nd floor displayed various dioramas (painted woodcarvings), antiques, photographs of old manila among other interesting finds.



On the ground floor are potteries, paintings, more dioramas and a tombstone found in old cemetery (a century old), and a wine container.



A block away from this museum is a baroque church which is also filled with historical past. The St. paul and peter parish church (san pedro of makati before) was built in 1620 and was used as camp and refuge during the American war.

The church's facade is charming, its' old age defined in its interios and structure. Makatilenos took shelter from the shadow of the imposing church and it is where people take refuge in the shade of their faith, where the city becomes silent in prayer and hopes.

To find these serene and historic corners of Makati, I felt happy and relieved.