Well-known Philippine conglomerate Ayala is fashioning an ambitious metropolis from scratch. Margie T Logarta studies the developments so far.

Think urban planning in the region, and a dozen cities may come up in your recall before Manila even makes it. Did you even consider it?    

A pity really when one learns that during the American period, eminent architect Daniel Burnham tried to make sense of the haphazard layout by the Spanish administrators and drew up blueprints reminiscent of his adopted home, Chicago, a few of which were partially implemented such as the former government buildings in the Agrifina Circle and Roxas Boulevard that hugs Manila Bay, patterned after Lake Shore Drive along Lake Michigan.

After a devastating shelling in World War II, which destroyed much of the city, and several governments later, Manila has morphed into Metro Manila (also known as the National Capital Region), consisting of 16 cities and municipalities, including Quezon City, which was the Philippines’ capital from 1948 to 1976. Through the years, unbridled politicking, turf wars and corruption have gotten in the way of a cohesive masterplan for Metro Manila, prompting each borough to initiate its own projects.

Of these scattershot efforts, Makati City, acknowledged as the Philippines’ premier financial hub, has been the most successful, particularly its commercial precinct, Ayala Center. Developed by the Ayala Corporation of the well-known Ayala clan of industrialists, this district contains several five-star hotels, upscale shopping centres and a mixed-use complex, Greenbelt featuring swanky boutiques, trendy restaurants and a new museum, portions of which are linked by overhead pedestrian footbridges, similar to Hongkong’s Central District, but minus the air conditioning.

Eager to raise urban aesthetics in the Philippines to a new level, the Ayalas through Ayala Land and its partner Evergreen Holdings are now investing in the ambitious development known as Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig City.

Occupying 240ha, of what was once the military camp, Fort Bonifacio, BGC is envisioned as a “City of Tomorrow”, where for once – unusual in a country notorious for ad hoc and spontaneous-style management – basic infrastructure is not an afterthought.

Location-wise, it is prime, linked to the Makati and Ortigas CBDs and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport via major thoroughfares EDSA and C-5.

The masterplan for the new City Center includes four critical elements: a road network with a grid layout that allows for more efficient traffic management; dedicated bus lanes for a managed transit loop; pedestrian walkways which conveniently link buildings to parking and transit systems; and well-distributed and broadly accessible park areas to serve as focal points.

Since taking over the Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC) in 2003 from the original developer Metro Pacific (which faced a host of challenges getting the project off the ground, not in the least the 1997 Asian financial crisis and loss of confidence in the government of former president Joseph Estrada), the current management has moved swiftly and decisively to put those building blocks into place.

Says Jun Bisnar, head – commercial operations of FBDC: “We’re taking off from the lessons that we learned from Makati. Instead of elevated walkways, we are putting in lots of pedestrian easements – whether north to south or east to west – that will encourage people not to bring their cars, but to walk to work or to their leisure activities.

“Kids will also be able to bike around much more.”

Integration is the mantra driving BGC’s many facets, as well as uniting them to create a liveable and workable environment enjoyed by cities such as Singapore and Melbourne.

Core is the City Center, made up of office blocks, residential towers and commercial and mixed-use projects, with interspersing parks, plazas and green pockets. Bisnar can’t emphasise enough the important role landscaping is starting to play in the look and feel of BGC: “We’ve already planted 3,000 trees and we have designated several specific areas as parks.” He warns there will also be a minimum size for billboards, in an apparent reference to the gigantic displays that currently blight the Manila skyline.

Besides an abundance of foliage, art will also figure prominently in public spaces. In charge of the Public Art Programme is the Bonifacio Art Foundation, funded by all BGC lot owners and stakeholders. Already, it’s amassed an interesting collection of large-scale sculptures and installations by renowned local artists, placed in strategic locations. The line-up so far includes Ang Supremo by Ben-Hur Villanueva, Transformation by Lor Calma, Kasaysayan Bawat Oras by Juan Sajid de Leon Imao, Balanghai by Gerry Leonardo, The Trees by Reynato Paz Contreras, Kasalikasan Garden by Jerusalino Araos and Pasasalamat by Ferdinand Cacnio. The Foundation only work at acquiring art gems (there will be lots of space to fill up), but has been conducting regular cultural workshops for privileged and underprivileged students to fire their artistic inclinations. A proposal for a science museum featuring state-of-the-art interactive displays has still to be approved.

After years of inactivity, when the only visible buildings in what was earlier called “The Fort” (now BGC) were the pioneering condominiums such as Essensa and Pacific Plaza and a clutch of upscale restaurants at The Fort Square, the area is humming with the sounds of construction. Signboards of residential columns with fancy names such as Chateau de Noble, Kensington Place, Grand Hamptons II and W Towers are now common and no one gives them a second look anymore.

Serendra, a residential project of the Ayalas (again), anchored by a dining-based hub, opened recently, signalling the beginning of BGC’s most innovative feature to date: Bonifacio High Street.

A kilometre-long, 40-metre-wide boulevard, Bonifacio High Street, flanked with shops, features themed zones: Sports & Lifestyle, Health & Wellness, Fashion & Beauty, Outdoor/Adventure Sports/Home Furnishings, Home Accessories, Books, Music & Video and mostly flagship stores carrying the widest product lines available.

For now, all the structures on this pleasant pedestrian highway, are low-rise, but according to Bisnar of Fort Bonifacio Development, high-rise mixed-use buildings will eventually join their ranks to maximise the use of land.

Again, thoughtful planning has allocated a linear green belt running through the whole length of this commercial area, with interactive artworks that encourage an appreciation, especially among the younger visitors, for the visual arts. Ayala designers also hope that by allowing the very ordinary activity of shopping to take place in a park-like ambience, it will help redefine Filipinos’ relationship with their commercial centres and add value to the pasttime of “malling”. Other highlights of Bonifacio High Street are the various areas designated for outdoor activities, busking and performances.

Early tenants Jaime and Carmen Dinglasan, doctors specialising in laser surgery and cosmetic procedures and who operate Iuvenis clinic, say they chose their current location due to their clientele, most of whom are medical tourists. Besides enjoying a sense of security, they add that their patients found their Bonifacio High Street centre in a very accessible, commercial area, “but not in an overly commercialised setting”.

Given the Ayala backing and comprehensive masterplan, slots in BGC are filling up fast and the number of lots available for purchase is dwindling, according to Bisnar of Fort Bonifacio Development. Some of the organisations which will soon set up shop include Ascendas, Del Monte, GE, NEX Telecoms, Sony, Wrigley, Chancery of the Singapore Embassy and St Luke’s Medical Center, one of the Philippines’ most progressive health institutions that’s eager to capture a slice of the region’s burgeoning medical travel business.

Due to its size and ambitions, BGC is a closely watched project. Urban planner and widely-read columnist Paulo Alcazaren observes: “BGC is interesting because we are seeing an original concept that failed, tweaked to make it more usable. It also shows local designers learning to deal with the Filipinos’ resistance to walking.”

Says Dino Bate, founder of CitisecOnline, the country’s only listed online brokerage firm: “The real estate industry is seeing a sustainable uptrend, driven by strong demand from overseas Filipinos and failing interest rates.

“There has been strong take-up for residential condominium projects in strategic locations, boosted by affordable financing packages. The BPO industry is also fuelling demand for office space and generating high-income employment that drives consumption.”

Bate attributes the proliferation of mixed-use developments across the city a response to the robust demand for residential, office and leisure projects, including BGC. “In particular, we have seen a growing trend towards the development of urban malls/parks such as the Bonifacio High Street that cater to the needs of the increasingly sophisticated family.”

We can hear the whole nation saying “Amen” to that.

Miles and miles of malls

Metro Manila may badly lack parks or green pockets, but what it does have are malls, malls and more malls. And shopaholic Filipinos don’t seem to be complaining.

A recent outstanding entry to the variety of shopping options is the one-year-old SM Mall of Asia (MOA) of tycoon and Fujian native Henry Sy. In terms of floor size – 400,000sq m – it isn’t the world’s biggest shopping mecca, but only the seventh after names like South Dongguan Mall and Golden Resources Mall in China and the Central Plaza in Thailand. But it still has the power to overwhelm, rising majestically along scenic Manila Bay and occupying 19ha.

The 83-year-old Sy, who remains very much in command of his SM Group of Companies, can be said to have redefined the lifestyle of a generation (possibly even two). The opening of the company’s first supermall, SM City North EDSA in 1985, kicked off the “malling” phenomenon that shows no sign of abating, especially with the steady influx of overseas workers’ remittances, and other retail entrepreneurs joining the bandwagon as well as SM’s future expansion plans. SM Prime Holdings, tasked with managing the malls, now has 28 shopping centres throughout the archipelago and four branches in China and Guam.

According to SM spokesperson, Millie Dizon, MOA realises another of Sy’s many dreams to serve his adopted country. Known for his simple work ethic of  “getting the job done” – and when he was younger conducting daily shop floor inspections – MOA is a departure from the iconic monolithic concrete structures SMs were known for.

To the first timer, MOA can appear daunting. But it’s actually quite easy to get around in.

The complex consists of four buildings linked by elevated walkways – the Main Mall (with shopping and dining and the Philippines’ first Olympic-sized ice-skating rink), North Parking Building (SM Hypermarket), South Parking Building (SM Department Store) and Entertainment Center (chic restaurants facing the famous Manila Bay and 10 theatres including a Director’s Club and the country’s first IMAX theatre).   

Capitalising on the sea breezes, many areas of MOA are not air conditioned.

Not to be outdone, Ayala Malls of Ayala Land recently ventured from its traditional bailiwicks of Makati City, Alabang Town Center and Taguig, all south of Metro Manila into north Metro Manila with its TriNoma (Triangle North of Makati) development.

Starting with the mall, which recently soft opened, the long-term goal is to grow TriNoma into “a centre of retail, dining and entertainment in this part of the city,” says Rowena Tomeldan, vice-president and deputy group head of Ayala Malls. Its proximity to the MRT Depot in North Triangle is also seen as a valuable asset boosting its progress.

Besides hosting prestigious local and foreign brands such as Bench, Penshoppe, Zara and Topshop, new retail concepts will be introduced by Rolex, Skechers, Birkenstock, Merrel and Sperry, who have announced their first Philippine outlets will be located at TriNoma.

A design innovation, the TriNoma Park, a one-hectare rooftop experience will be ideal for shows and performances.

MANILA HOTELS

EDSA SHANGRI-LA

WHAT'S IT LIKE? Emerging from a significant refurbishment, obvious in the public areas and Garden Wing guestrooms. CHI Spa is new.

WHERE IS IT? Set in Ortigas Centre, Manila's other CBD and sandwiched in between two shopping malls, some guests' idea of Mecca.

HOW MANY ROOMS? 632 guestrooms and suites in the Garden Wing (with the Horizon Floor) and Tower Wing.

ROOM FACILITIES: Broadband internet access, cable TV, electronic safe; Club Room guests have access to the lounge and its benefits.

DINING: Heat is the showcase café with smart workstations; Senju is for Japanese, Summer Palace is for Chinese and Paparazzi for Italian.

BARS: e's Bar, Pool Bar, Mezzanine and the Lobby Lounge which features live entertainment regularly.

BUSINESS FACILITIES: Business centre is off the lobby; Wi-Fi available in the Horizon Club and lobby area.

LEISURE FACILITIES: CHI, Shangri-La's spa product, opens this month, along with six special suites for extended treatment; outdoor pool; gym.

PRICE: Internet nightly rates for a three-night stay in late August start from US$155, twin share.

CONTACT: 1 Garden Way, Ortigas Centre Mandaluyong City 1650, Philippines, tel 63 2 633 8888, www.shangri-la.com

INTERCONTINENTAL

WHAT'S IT LIKE? The country's longest operating chain hotel has finally been brought up to contemporary speed. The results are stylish.

WHERE IS IT? Being number one (literally on Makati City's premier drag, Ayala) is always something to brag about. Near to everything.

HOW MANY ROOMS? 355 guestrooms including 59 suites, all in earth tones and wallnut wood finish.

ROOM FACILITIES: Cable and satellite TV, broadband internet access, minibar, special amenities for female travellers and ergonomic work chair.

DINING: Prince Albert Rotisserie and Café Jeepney (renowned for its crepe samurai) have been thoughtfully updated. But tasty carvery items and great local fare remain.

BARS: Gambrinus Bar still has live music nightly and Sol y Sombra by the pool offers smokers their own niche.

BUSINESS FACILITIES: Club InterContinental Lounge has to be one of the most stylish on the current circuit; more than a terrace in the sky. Wi-Fi here.

LEISURE FACILITIES: Gym is off the lobby; outdoor pool set in a mature garden.

PRICE: Internet nightly rates for a three-night stay in late August start from US$112.

CONTACT: 1 Ayala Avenue, Makati City 1226, Philippines, tel 63 2 815 9711, www.intercontinental.com/manila

MAKATI SHANGRI-LA

WHAT'S IT LIKE? Typical Shangri-La splendour. There's never a dull moment in the lobby. Staff are always quick to respond.

WHERE IS IT? On the corner of Ayala and Makati Avenue. Main entrance faces Ayala Centre. Another is for ballroom guests.

HOW MANY ROOMS? 699 guestrooms and suites, 79 of them in the Horizon Floor category.

ROOM FACILITIES: Broadband internet access, cable TV, tea & coffee making facilities, electronic safe, IDD, telephone and voicemail.

DINING: Circles Events Café's buffet is extensive; Shang Palace, Red and Inagiku are perfect for power lunches.

BARS: Conway's (pictured), always good for live performances, has been refreshed and given an outdoor patio; Lobby Lounge.

BUSINESS FACILITIES: Wi-Fi is available in areas such as the Lobby, Horizon Club, pool and Red; two ballrooms for up to over 3,000 combined.

LEISURE FACILITIES: 24-hour Health Club, flood-lit tennis courts, gym, outdoor swimming pool, massage, steam and sauna facilities.

PRICE: Internet nightly rates for a three-night stay in late August start from US$240.

CONTACT: Ayala Avenue at Makati Avenue, Makati City 1200, Philippines, tel 63 2 813 8888, www.shangri-la.com

MANDARIN ORIENTAL

WHAT'S IT LIKE? Still unique for its fan-like facade, this landmark is due for a total redo. This will please its fiercely loyal cliente.

WHERE IS IT? Not as central as its other Makati counterparts, but being somewhat way off from the action appeals to a number.

HOW MANY ROOMS? 443 guestrooms, all with a residental feel. "Business Rooms" are available.

ROOM FACILITIES: SPEEDConnect high-speed broadband internet access in the rooms and Wi-Fi in all the public areas and restaurants.

DINING: Tivoli brings back tableside preparation; Tin Hau is award-winning Chinese; and Paseo Uno lays out an extensive spread in stylish surrounds.

BARS: Martinis is a new smoking jazz bar with a wide selection of cocktails; Captain's Bar is famous for live performances.

BUSINESS FACILITIES: The ballroom holds 1,000 for stand-up affairs; Wi-Fi is available in the business centre and all public areas.

LEISURE FACILITIES: The Spa at the Mandarin Oriental's treatment rooms have been refreshed. There's a yoga teacher and 24-hour gym.

PRICE: Internet nightly rates for a three-night stay in late August start from US$130.

CONTACT: Makati Avenue, Makati City 1226, Philippines, tel 63 2 750 8888, www.mandarinoriental.com

THE PENINSULA

WHAT'S IT LIKE? The first phase of a major refurbishment wound up last December, revealing a tasteful "Timeless Filipino" theme.

WHERE IS IT? At the junction of Ayala and Makati Avenues with two towers facing each thoroughfare.

HOW MANY ROOMS? 214 guestrooms in the newly refurbished Makati Tower and 237 rooms in the Ayala Tower.

ROOM FACILITIES: The Makati Tower product measrures from 40 sqm and comes with - a first for Manila - a LCD flat-screen TV.

DINING: Old Manila mixes modern European cuisine with stunning local artwork. Other outlets offers Italian, Pan-Asia, international and high tea.

BARS: As with all Pens, the Lobby is the centre of interaction, and more so in touchy-feely Manila. The Bar is also popular.

BUSINESS FACILITIES: Rigodon Ballroom was enlarged. Wi-Fi is available in the lobby, meeting venues and all rooms offer free internet access.

LEISURE FACILITIES: Outdoor pool set in a landscaped terrace; gym looks out to the pool; Jacuzzi, massage and steam and sauna.

PRICE: Global Corporate Rates per night for a three-night stay in late August stay from US$125.

CONTACT: Corner of Ayala and Makati Avenues, Makati City 1226, Philippines, tel 63 2 887 2888, www.peninsular.com