Makati CBD: A Leisurely Walk

The commuter is back! It’s really up to us to think of ways to unwind despite our busy work schedules. If I get the chance to have a break from training, then I’d take the opportunity to take a walk. I love walking! Sometimes I discover new places just by doing it. Today, I’m gonna share one of my leisurely walks around Makati CBD. Most of the visuals you see here are streets and intersections. These indicate the areas I’ve walked along. They’re not meant to single out a specific building or place. If you’ve been to Makati CBD, then I enjoin you to point out those specific places yourselves.


My walk begins at the corner of Makati Avenue and Buendia Avenue (now named Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue). Despite the name change, this popular avenue that starts from EDSA and cuts across through Manila and Pasay City has remained to be called  “Buendia.” Fortunately, this day is a mixture of cloudy and sunny skies. Walking is also my form of exercise and so I grabbed the opportunity to go on a leisurely walk.

Buendia Avenue / Makati Avenue Intersection

 

From the corner / intersection of Makati Avenue-Buendia Avenue, I walked along Makati Avenue that leads to Paseo de Roxas. Along this path, you’d see landmark buildings such as Pacific Star, Banco de Oro (formerly Equitable-PCI Towers), UCPB Building, and across the street, you’d find Development Bank of the Philippines and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. 

Makati Avenue (Mandarin Oriental Side)

Makati Avenue / Paseo de Roxas Intersection

As I walked along, I found myself on a another busy intersection--Makati Avenue-Paseo de Roxas. While waiting for my turn to cross the street, I’d look around and see the Atrium, the Ayala Triangle Gardens / Park, and a statue of Sultan Kudarat (placed on a corner island, close to the Ayala Triangle Park). This is one of many statues found within Makati CBD. 

Crossing Paseo de Roxas, passing through the corner island where the statue of Sultan Kudarat is located, I stopped at the corner of the Ayala Triangle Park. We are still at the intersection of Makati Avenue-Paseo de Roxas. From this corner looking towards Paseo de Roxas, you’d see a row of trees along the sidewalk. But for this walk, I decided to walk along Makati Avenue. Although it had lesser patches of shades from trees, my aim was to get to another busy intersection of Makati CBD. Since this is a leisurely walk, I’d get to enjoy the open space and green atmosphere of the Ayala Triangle Gardens to my left in contrast to the row of buildings to my right (e.g. the Atrium, Sommerset, Escolta). 



After the gardens, you will also see the Filipinas Heritage Library.

“Since 1996, the Filipinas Heritage Library has served as a leading one-stop electronic library of Filipiniana books and other resources. Today, FHL continues to reach out to a much wider audience by harnessing the power of the Internet to provide researchers anywhere in the world access to the wealth of information it offers; promoting a love of reading and contributing to the improvement of literacy rates through educational programs and reading campaigns; instilling a sense of pride in the country’s cultural and artistic heritage through exhibits and cultural shows; and helping communities across the nation build and nurture their own libraries.” (taken from Filipinas Heritage Library)

Filipinas Heritage Library

To know more about this library, check out their website at www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph. I’ve been to this library a couple of times for research purposes. This was way back in college. I haven’t gone back to this library since then. Maybe the collection has improved somewhat. The library also has a series of seminars on arts, writing, photography, journalism, etc.

Well, here I am at the corner of Ayala Avenue-Makati Avenue. Under the shade of the Gabriela Silang Statue, I took pictures of two famous hotels--Shangrila and Manila Penninsula. I’ve been to both hotels, not because I stayed there (too expensive for me!). My aunt and uncle once stayed at the Shangrila when they visited the Philippines for a vacation. Both of them live in the USA. Then, I was invited (on two occasions I think) to a wedding reception that happened at the Manila Penninsula.

This corner was the end of my walk and I must be heading back. 

Instead of going back the same way, I decided to go through the Ayala Park. I went through the strip that’s all lined up with various restaurants and cafes. On the grassy areas, you’d see benches, some sculptures, well-cut grass and people--friends and lovers too! 

I ended up seated on a bench where you could see the Philippine Stock Exchange. I sat down to take in the relaxing atmosphere of the park.
 
I went through the park and exited to Paseo de Roxas. The park has many gates. I think I counted around five gates--three located along Paseo de Roxas and two located along Makati Avenue. I walked along Paseo de Roxas, relaxing and taking advantage of the shades that the trees were providing. I've gone back to my place of work.



So that ends my leisurely walk around Makati CBD. How far have I walked? I absolutely have no idea! Sometimes when I look at Google Map, the map seems to show that my walk has been quite lengthy. But for me, no walk is too far or short because it is my form of relaxation.