Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines

OVERVIEW

A. Brief Description - Records show that Pasay City originated way back during the reign of Rajah Soliman who married a Sumatran princess who bore him two heris, namely Princess Pasay and Prince Sowaboy. Even before his death, he distributed his realm to his two children. Princess Pasay got a portion of that realm, hence the name Pasay.

In 1727, Pasay was formerly attached to Sta. Ana and annexed to Malate. IN 1863, prominent people of Pasay petitioned civil and ecclesiastical authorities that they be granted the opportunity to govern themsleves. Said petition was granted through the recommendation of Archbishop Gregorio Meliton, thus making Pasay independent.

As timed changed, the population increased and so did the industries. Farming was once an important livelihood in the barrios of San Isidro, San Roque and Malibay, but later gave way to the manufacturing business. Fishing too, was a livelihood not until Roxas Boulevard was constructed. Roxas Boulevard was formerly named Dewey Boulevard.

The economic life of the town steadily improved until its income exceeded the limit for an ordinary town, so it became a city on August 16, 1947 and named after our national hero, Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal. By virtue of Republic Act 183 in June 7, 1950, it was changed to Pasay City. A fast becoming progressive city and its nearness to Manila, business firms and factories are among the reasons why many people from all walks of life have settled and built beautiful residences in it. The city has modern conveniences and cheap forms of transportation.

B. Geography - Pasay City is the third smallest political subdivision in the National Capital Region. Adjacent to the city of Manila and bounded to the south by Paranaque, norhtwest by Makati City and Taguig to the west. The city has a total land area of 19 square kilometers of which 5.5 square kilometers is the city proper. The Air Transportation Office (formerly CAA) occupies 9.5 square kilometers which inclides the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Villamor Air Base, and the reclamation area, Pasay City has the greatest area devoted to utilities covering 61% of its total land area of 11.7 square kilometers.

The city is known for its entertainment business, particularly located along Roxas Boulevard facing the Manila Bay, known as Manila’s “tourist belt.” Commercial and residential areas are merged in a zone.

C. Political Subdivision - Pasay is composed of seven (7) districts, divided into twenty (20) zones, with a total of 200 barangays. Zone 19, covering barangays 178 to 91 is the largest among the zones with an area of 5.10 square kilometers. Zone 1, on the other hand, is the smallest covering barangays 1 to 14 and 14 to 17 with an area of 100,000 square meters (0.1 sq. km.)

D. Population - In 1990, Pasay City’s population was 366, 702 (NCSO census). The population change is attributed almost equally to migration.

Zone 20 has the highest growth rate, which is due to the proliferation of squatters in the area Zone 6, a blighted area , registeres to have the second highest growth rate, Zone 3, a commercial area, had the lowest growth rate. These indicate the continuing influx of migrants into low income areas.

The average population density of Pasay is more that 19,301 per square kilometer. This points to congestion, one of the city’s serious problems.

The most congested parts of Pasay are Zones 1, 8, 13, 12, 17, 19, 2 7 and 11. Only Zone 20 has a population density less than the regional average.

Being one of the oldest local government units of the metropolis, concentration of commercial establishments account for the extremely high density of the City. People from the province who have found employment in Pasay’s commercial establishments, eventually settle in the area.

At the rate its population grows, Pasay will have a density of 29,157 by 1995 and 33,638 by the year 2000. The figures are way above tolerable limits. A key policy issue would be in control of immigrants and decongestion of specific zones.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

A. Historical

1. Sta. Clara Parish Church - the oldest church in Pasay.

2. House of prominent people in the national government:

a. Claro M. Recto - Libertad Street (maintained by Recto Foundation)

b. Pres. Manuel L. Quezon - Roberts Street (maintained by Quezon Foundation)

c. Lopez Home - houses the antiques of the family

3. The School for the Deaf and Blind

4. Padre Burgos Elementary School

5. City Hall

B. Cultural

1. Nayong Pilipino

Nayong Pilipino is a theme park where one can breeze through an enticing country of 7,107 islands enlivened by the astonishing diversity of 111 linguistic, cultural and racial groups. Found in this 46 hectare parkland are replicas of six major regions in the archipelago. The Nayong Pilipino also features ethnological onjects at the Philippine Museum of Ethnology. Other attractions in the village are the Museum of Philippine and Intenational Dolls, the Nayong Pilipino

Located at MIA Road near the old Manila International Airport and the Philippine
Village Hotel, one can take any of the airport-bould buses from EDSA or passenger jeepney from the NAIA-bound jeepney terminal from Rizal Park, Taft Avenue, it is about 30-45 minutes by Tramo/Baclaran-bound jeepney.

2. Philippine Museum of Ethnology

One of Nayong Pilipino’s several museums, The Philippine Museum of Ethnology
exhibits the different cultural attractions in the country. It showcases ethnological objects and artifacts which form part of the Philippines’ rich and diverse cultural heritage.

Located at MIA Road near the old Manila International Airport and the Philippine Village Hotel, one can take any of the airport-bound buses from EDSA or passenger airport- bound buses from the NAIA-bound jeepney terminal at Airport Road nera Domestic Airport Terminal and get off near the entrance of Nayong Pilipino. Travel time is 15-20 minutes. To Airport Road jeepney terminal from Rizal Park, Taft Avenue, it is about 30-45 minutes by Tramo/Baclaran-bound jeepney.

3. Cultural Center of the Philippines

Built to symbolize the country’s national cultural development,, the CCP is an
institution mandated by Philippine laws to preserve, promote and enhance the Filipino
people’s cultural heritage. Built on reclaimed land in Manila Bay, the CCP was designed by leading Filipino architect Leandro Locsin. It houses a main theater, little theater and museum with ethnographic exhibits and a changing exhibit of Philippine art or ethnography.

To go to the CCP Complex which is in Roxas Boulevard, take any of the orange-
colored shuttle jeepneys stationed at Vito Cruz corner Taft Avenue (10-minute ride). From Rizal Park, the Cultural Center of the Philippines is about 15 to 20-minute jeepney-ride away.

Telephone Nos. are 831-2137/831-1890/831-2201 to 16.

4. Folk Arts Theater

Not far from the Cultural Center of the Philippines stands the Folk Arts Theater. Still
the work of Architect Leandro Locsin, the 10,000-capacity theater is used for popular
performances which anticipate extensive audiences. It was inaugurated in July 1974 after a record construction of 77 days.

To go to the CCP Complex which is in Roxas Boulevard Pasay, take any of the
orange-colored shuttle jeepneys stationed at Vito Cruz corner Taft Avenue (10-minute ride); from Rizal Park, the Folk Arts Theater is about 15 to 20-minute-jeepney-ride away.

Telephone No. is 832-1125.

5. Coconut Palace

Situated in the 21-hectare CCP Complex, the Coconut Palace showcases Filipino
artistry in the use of coconut tree. Over 70% of the structure is made from different parts of the coconut tree. The Palace consists of seven suites with each unit depicting a different region in its use of materials indigenous to that region.

To go to the Coconut Palace, take any of the orange shuttle jeepneys stationed at Vito Cruz corner Taft Avenue (10-minute ride). From Rizal Park, the Coconut Palace is about 15 to 20-minute-jeepney-ride away.

III. TOURIST FACILITIES

Transportation

The major thoroughfares in Pasy City are Roxas Boulevard. Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), Aurora Boulevard, Domestic Road, Harrison, Libertad, Leveriza, Taft, Buendia and St. Andrew Avenue. \the busiest streets in the area are EDSA, Roxas Boulevard and Aurora Boulevard with an average of 66,000 vehicles per day. EDSA is a circumferential road starting from Paranaque passing through Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, San Juan and linking Quezon City to Caloocan. Roxas Boulevard, on the other hand, connects Paranaque to Pasay and Manila.

The city’s public transport system is made up of jeepneys and buses, like the other local governments in Metropolitan Manila. In the city, jeepneys are not allowed to ply major roads like EDSA and Roxas Boulevard. However, economic activities along these major thoroughfares grow, such that volume of the private cars and taxi cabs are getting heavier in these areas.City streets are also congested during rush hours. In this case, the city government has to increase the existing road network and to improve its transport system.

Shopping

The City is known for its entertainment businesses among which are restaurants, coffee shops and clubs along the bayside boulevard. The busiest commercial center of Pasay is Taft Avenue due to its location which traverses the heart of the city proper (dividing it into eastern and western portions), and due to its accessibility from Manila and Makati. The second most important commercial area is Roxas Boulevard, followed by EDSA. Economic activities along these centers result to traffic congestion.

Shopping Centers:

Cartimar Shopping Center
Cartimar Market, Pasay City
Tel. No. 831-1869/831-2261

Nayong Pilipino Foundation
MIA Road, Pasay City
Tel. No. 832-3760

Duty Free Philippines:

Arrival and Departure Areas
Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Pasay City
Tel. No. 832-1961

PICC, CCP Complex
Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City
Tel. No. 832-03039 local 7103?7226

Museum Shop:

Cultural Center of the Philippines
CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City

Antique Shops and Auction Houses:

Galerias Bravo
NAIA Departure Area, Pasay City
Tel. No. 831-7974

Galleon Shop
Westin Philippine Plaza, Roxas Boulevard
Pasay City
Tel. No. 832-0701 local 1075

Ceramics:

Adechelle Ceramics & Design Ent.
2259 Aurora Boulevard, Pasay City
Tel. No. 834-0811

Embroidery:

Carmona Handicrafts
Cartimar Shopping Center
Gateway Building, Pasay City
Tel. No. 833-2701

III. SUPPORT SERVICES

The large commercialestablishments (those with more than 10 employees, which are into wholesaling of construction materials) are all along EDSA; 85% of establishments dealing on land motor vehicles and parts are located along Taft Avenue; and 75% of commercial firms on retailing of home furnishings and of automobile parts and supplies are in Taft Avenue; gasoline stations are clustered in Harrison (44%) and Taft Avenue (60%); all the services allied to air transport are along the Domestic and MIA Road; banks are scattered along Taft Avenue and Libertad, (60% of commercial banks are in Taft Avenue, while 40% at Libertad; 40% of savings and mortgage banks are in Taft Avenue, while 60% are distributed at Libertad and EDSA); a greater number of
restaurants, day and night clubs, cocktail lounges, and bar operations are along Taft Avenue, Roxas Boulevard, Harrison and Cuneta Avenue.

Commercial activities are broken down into: 54% - retialing; 22% - wholesaling; 17% -
banks; 2% - non-banks and 5% - for real estate.

Recreational activities top the service (43%) followed by personal services (13%),
transportation (12%), health (11%), educational (7%) and others.

A. MEDICAL

Hospitals:

1. Manila Sanitarium & Hospital
1375 Donada, Pasay city

2. Miraculous Medal Hospital
2017 F.B. Harrison, Pasay City
Tel. No. 831-6922/831-9026

3. San Juan De Dios Hospital
Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City

Clinics (Lying-in)

1. Government 1
2. Private 1

Government Health Centers: 9

Social Welfare:

In Metropolitan Manila, 18.4% of slum dwellers live in Pasay. Most of the depressed
barangays in the City are situated along Tripa de Gallina.

Social services in the City are geared towards the upliftment of the people’s welfare,
specifically in the depressed areas. These services are rendered by the staff of the Department of Social Services and Development in coordination with the local government and the national agencies.

Aside from the DSWD, private associations like Lion’s Club, Jaycees and religious
groups like CARITAS and CWL also render social services to the residents of Pasay, such as free health check-up, free medicines, etc.

The only social welfare institution located in Pasay in Nayon Ng Kabataan, an
orphanage at CAA. Most of the children referred to the institution are not from Pasay.