Makati Off The Beaten Path

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I've worked for so many years in Makati but didn't realize that behind the busy streets and busines center, there is a such a nice place as Little Tokyo. I've seen the signage before, and have noticed the row of Japanese restaurants along Pasong Tamo (Chino Roces Avenue). What I didn't know was the existence of a compound of Japanese restaurants as you walk past the ark and Zen garden.

My husband worked for a Japanese multinational company so he used to frequent the place. It was only recently that we went there to savor Japanese cuisine and buy some authentic Japanese ingredients and snacks. The foods are quite pricey, but the volume and taste are worth your money.

Little Tokyo is worthwhile visiting when in Makati.

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Well, it's not the Louvre but the city has its own museum. It's an old 3-story building that served as the city hall from 1918 to 1961. The exhibits are mostly photographs and paintings of Makati in the American colonial era and the post-war development to become the financial center of the nation. The only artifacts include a few ancient jars. All the displays are in the ground floor; there's nothing to see in the second and third floors. Needless to say, a visit here is not a must-do but for those interested to see old photos.

The museum is located along JP Rizal St. (about 60 meters from the Makati Ave. intersection), Barangay Poblacion, Makati City.

Tired of being a mall rat, then hail a cab and go to historical Manila. On a weekend where there's virtually no traffic, it's just a 20-minute drive away! Ask the driver to take the Roxas Blvd. route. Keep your eyes peeled on your left-hand side for the following tourist spots:

(1) Cultural Center of the Philippines (notice the huge fountain)
(2) Bay Walk (marina of yachts, morning joggers, gorgeous sunset)
(3) Manila Hotel (where Gen. McArthur stayed)

Finally on your right, is (4) Luneta or Rizal Park (named after our national hero).

Just when you thought the journey is over, you have just arrived at (5) Intramuros Complex - a vivid reminder of 300 or so years of Spanish colonization of the Philippines.

For a similar city living experience (a.ka. walking the malls and dining in good restaurants), hop into the train or what we call the MRT and get off at Shaw station (4 stations away from Ayala Station). The Shaw station is connected to the 5th floor of an upscale shopping mall called Shangrila. On most weekend afternoons, you might catch a free musical event in it's atrium.

For a more common man's shopping experience, go next door to SM Megamall and put on your skating or bowling shoes. Take your pick!

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The SM Prestige Lounge is a haven within SM Department Store for the exclusive use of SM Prestige members. It has spacious reception & waiting areas, elegant but cozy furniture, wall-to-wall carpeting, built in shelves & cabinets and a fully-functional pantry. Prestige members who want to relax and take time off from their shopping can enjoy the convenience of separate powder-cum-fitting rooms for men and women, package counter, diaper changing area, massage chairs, Nokia Charging Stations and Wi-Fi connection. A team of friendly and courteous staff is always ready to attend to the needs of members and their guests.

It is located at the 4rth floor of SM Building in Ayala Center. SM advantage card holders who accumulated 200,000 pesos worth of purchases in a year are entitled to get an SM Prestige Card w/ access to the SM Prestige Lounge.

Caveat: you must maintain your 200,000 pesos accumulated purchases for at least 2 years to renew membership at SM Prestige Plus.

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Here's one tip that very few Manila residents know about. In Barangay Bangkal in Makati, there are a few side streets where a small industry has taken root and flourished: the thrift shops . These are family-run stores that sell used articles of just about anything: office and home furniture, paintings, books, toys, appliances...and as the photo shows, even toilet bowls! The owners of these stores usually buy their merchandise from garage sales in nearby villages, then after some refurbishing display them for sale.

PROS: Most items have no price tags which means that some haggling may be done. No same item could be found in 2 stores so you really won't know what the next store has for sale till you go there. The people who ran them are just buy-and-sell traders who may or may not know the real value of the items they sell so who knows, you might see and buy something whose true worth might be far more than the asking price!

CONS: You won't see any foreigners around as the streets are not really within a tourist zone. The stores are not lined up but dispersed along the street and since it's an open-air affair, be prepared for the heat and air pollution passing by. And should you decide to buy something big/bulky, you'd have to arrange your own packaging, transport and shipping.

To get there: take a cab on EDSA towards Pasay City. Immediately after the Magallanes interchange, make a right on Evangelista St. (there's a McDonald's and Jollibee restos on opposite corners). Go straight and count 7 streets at your right as you pass. The stores are on Heneral Garcia and Heneral Hizon Sts., which are the 7th and 8th streets from EDSA respectively. The stores are open from Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm.

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Yes it is floating my friends. This huge 3-4 storey 'ship-taurant' actually floates by the manila bay stretch. This floating restaurant is call 'Jumbo King' which has live entertaiment over the weekend, lounge, cold room (10 degC), 4 storey dining, etc . It is located near CCP complex.

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Makati has a couple of churches. One of them Binondo church said to be built in the 17th century, is the shrine of 1st Filipino saint, Lorenzo ruiz. Great architectural, something I don't see it at home. This church is located in the middle of China town.