Makati facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Makati
Highly urbanized city
Makati Central Business District skyline Paseo de Roxas Ayala Triangle Gardens Poblacion Rockwell Center Globe Circuit Events Ground Philippine Stock Exchange Plaza Makati City Hall Nuestra Señora de Gracia Church
Flag Seal Logo
Etymology: San Pedro [de] Macati
Nickname(s):  Financial Capital of the Philippines
Motto(s):  Makati, Mahalin Natin, Atin Ito. ("Makati, let us love it, it is ours.")
Map of Metro Manila with Makati highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Makati Location in Philippines
Country	Philippines
Region	National Capital Region
Province	none
District	[[{{#property:P7938}} | — Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1804: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).]]
Founded	June 1, 1670
Renamed	February 28, 1914 (as Makati)
Cityhood	February 4, 1995
Recent territorial change	November 9, 2023
Barangays	23 (since 2023)
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Panlungsod
Area
• Total	18.17 km2 (7.02 sq mi)
Elevation	32 m (105 ft)
Highest elevation	465 m (1,526 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census)
• Total	292,743
• Density	16,111/km2 (41,730/sq mi)
• Households	89,638
Demonym(s)	Makiteño; Makatizen
Economy
• Income class	1st city income class
• Poverty incidence	0.80 % (2021)
• HDI	0.903 (Very High)
• Revenue	₱22,387,841,645.00 (2020)
• Assets	₱ 236,729 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 19,273 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 16,415 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Manila Electric Company (Meralco)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	1200–1213, 1219–1235
PSGC	[https://psa.gov.ph/classification/psgc/?q=psgc/barangays/{{#pro000&regcode={{&provcode= p {{#property:P988}} ]
IDD : area code	+63 (0)02
Native languages	Tagalog
Major religions	Roman Catholic Church
Feast date	December 12
Catholic diocese	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila
Patron saint	St. Peter and St. Paul, Virgen de la Rosa
Website	www.makati.gov.ph

Makati (ⁱ/məˈkɑːti/ mə-KAH-tee), officially the City of Makati, is a big city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. It's famous for being one of the main financial centers in the country. Many international and local companies, big banks, and stores have their main offices here. Makati is also a major place for culture and fun in Metro Manila.

In 2020, Makati had about 629,616 people. However, in 2023, ten areas called "Embo barangays" were given to the city of Taguig after a court decision. This reduced Makati's population to about 292,743 people. Even with fewer residents, many people still come to Makati every day for work, shopping, and business. This means the city's daytime population can be over three million!

What's in a Name? The Meaning of Makati

The name Makati comes from the Tagalog word kati. This word means "low tide" or "ebb tide," referring to how the nearby Pasig River's water level changes. Another idea is that it means "itchy," because of a plant called lipang kalabaw that used to grow there.

Before it was simply called Makati, its full name was San Pedro [de] Macati. "San Pedro" is Spanish for Saint Peter, who was the town's patron saint.

Makati's Journey Through Time

California and Idaho troops at the San Pedro de Macati Cemetery (now Plaza Cristo Rey) during the 1899 Battle of Manila.

Early Days: Spanish Colonial Era

Long ago, parts of Makati were under the Kingdom of Namayan. This kingdom's capital is now the Santa Ana area in Manila. In the 1600s, a town called San Pedro Macati was founded on June 1, 1670. It was part of the larger Santa Ana de Sapa area.

A church nearby, Nuestra Señora de Gracia Church, was important. It welcomed a special image of the Virgin Mary from Mexico. In 1851, a man named Don José Bonifacio Roxas bought a large estate called "Hacienda San Pedro de Macati." Since then, the Zóbel de Ayala family and their company, Ayala Corporation, have played a big role in Makati's growth. In 1890, San Pedro de Macati became a public town in the province of Manila.

American Rule and Name Change

The building that is now Museo ng Makati served as the municipal hall of Makati from 1918 to 1961.

An aerial view of the Guadalupe ruins in 1932.

In 1901, San Pedro Macati became part of the new province of Rizal. On February 28, 1914, the town's name was made shorter to just Makati.

By 1934, Makati had 14 smaller areas called barrios. Some of these included Poblacion, Guadalupe, and Fort McKinley.

World War II and After

During World War II, Makati was briefly merged with Manila and Quezon City to form the City of Greater Manila. After the war, in 1945, it went back to being a municipality of Rizal.

After the war, Makati grew very quickly. Land values went up, and new communities were built. The Ayala y Compañía helped create areas like Forbes Park and Bel-Air. New office buildings were also constructed in what is now the Makati Central Business District (CBD). Since the late 1960s, Makati has become the main financial and business center of the Philippines.

In 1975, Makati officially became part of the National Capital Region.

Modern Makati: From Protests to Cityhood

Ayala Avenue in 1982.

In the 1980s, Makati became a center for protests against the government at the time. These protests, sometimes called the Confetti Revolution, led to the 1986 People Power Revolution. This event changed the country's leadership.

In 1986, some areas, including the "Embo barangays," were transferred to Makati. However, the city of Taguig also claimed these areas, leading to a long disagreement.

On January 2, 1995, Makati officially became a city. This was approved by a vote one month later.

In 2023, after a long legal battle, the Supreme Court decided that the ten Embo barangays should belong to Taguig. This meant Makati's area and population changed.

Makati's Location and Areas

Aerial view of Makati in 2024.

Makati is right in the middle of Metro Manila. It is bordered by the Pasig River to the north, Taguig to the east, Pasay to the southwest, and Manila to the northwest. Makati covers about 18.17 square kilometers. It also surrounds the Manila South Cemetery, which is actually part of San Andres district in Manila.

Barangays: Makati's Neighborhoods

Since November 2023, Makati has 23 barangays. These are the smallest local government units. They are grouped into two districts, each with a representative in the country's House of Representatives.

The "Embo barangays" (Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo, Comembo, Pembo, Pitogo, Post Proper Northside, Post Proper Southside, and Rizal) were part of Makati from 1986 until 2023. They were then transferred to Taguig due to the court's decision.

Political map of Makati.

Weather in Makati

Makati has a tropical monsoon climate. This means it's usually warm all year round, rarely going below 20°C or above 38°C. However, it can feel much hotter because of high humidity. The city has a short dry season from January to May and a longer wet season from June to December.

Makati and Climate Change

The Philippines is one of the countries most affected by extreme weather. Makati is a low-lying city, so it can be affected by typhoons, floods, and landslides. The city has seen more rainfall over the years.

In August 2022, Makati declared a "climate emergency." This means they are taking serious steps to deal with the effects of climate change. They plan to buy more electric vehicles and install solar panels in schools and government buildings.

City Views: Makati's Skyline

Makati Skyline, August 2020

Makati in 2011

People of Makati

Most people in Makati are Roman Catholic. Other religions like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Evangelical Christians, and Islam also have many followers.

During weekdays, the number of people in Makati can reach 3.7 million. This is because many people come to the city for work, business, or shopping. This large number of people helps Makati's economy. However, it also means more traffic and pressure on the city's services.

Makati's Economy and Buildings

The Ayala Triangle area.

Makati's economy is very strong and varied. The Ayala Triangle in the Makati Central Business District is home to many big international companies and banks. You can also find fancy shops, restaurants, and a park called Ayala Triangle Gardens there.

The Philippine Stock Exchange, where stocks are traded, used to be on Ayala Avenue. Makati has a lot of office space, making it a key business area in Metro Manila.

Makati earns a lot of money, second only to Quezon City in the National Capital Region. The city has not raised its tax rates since 2006 and has been financially stable for about 30 years.

Many of the tallest skyscrapers in the Philippines are in Makati. The PBCom Tower was the country's tallest office building for many years.

Evangelista Street in Barangay Bangkal is famous for its car repair shops and auto parts stores.

Shopping Fun in Makati

Glorietta (left and center) and One Ayala (right) in Ayala Center.

Makati is one of the best places to shop in Metro Manila. You can find many shopping centers with international and local stores, fancy boutiques, restaurants, and entertainment.

The Ayala Center is a huge shopping area run by Ayala Land. It has many shops, fun activities, and cultural spots. It's a big, easy-to-walk complex with high-end malls like Greenbelt and Glorietta. These malls have cinemas, shops, and many food choices. The Ayala Center also has three big department stores: SM Makati, Rustan's, and The Landmark.

Other popular shopping places in Makati include Power Plant Mall at Rockwell Center, Century City Mall, and Ayala Malls Circuit.

Learning in Makati

The University of Makati campus with Fort Bonifacio High School.

The University of Makati is the city's main public university. Other important schools include the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) and Don Bosco Technical Institute of Makati.

Many universities from outside Makati also have campuses here, like Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University.

As of 2024, Makati City has 23 public schools: 16 elementary schools and 7 high schools. In 2023, 14 public schools, including the Makati Science High School, were transferred to Taguig due to the boundary dispute.

Culture and Sports in Makati

Blue Pitch, Circuit Makati.

Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Poblacion.

Makati has many art museums, old churches, and places for fun and sports. Near Forbes Park are the Manila Golf Club and the Manila Polo Club. The Manila Golf Club has an 18-hole golf course. The Manila Polo Club is where many wealthy people enjoy polo. The Makati Sports Club is another popular place for sports. The Makati Coliseum hosts big sports events.

Makati has a professional basketball team called the Makati OKBet Kings. They play in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

The Blue Pitch at Circuit Makati is a multi-use stadium for football games and other sports. The University of Makati Stadium, which is now part of Taguig, used to be the home field for the Philippines Football League club Kaya F.C.–Makati.

The Yuchengco Museum located within RCBC Plaza.

The Ayala Museum is a private museum with art and history exhibits. It has a famous collection called "Gold of Ancestors," showing over a thousand old golden items. Other museums in Makati include the Yuchengco Museum and the Museo ng Makati.

Makati has several old Spanish churches, like the Saints Peter and Paul Parish and the Nuestra Señora de Gracia Church. The Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park is a popular church for weddings. Makati also has the country's only Jewish synagogue, Beth Yaacov.

Getting Around Makati

The Magallanes Interchange.

Major roads in Metro Manila pass through Makati. These include Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). The Skyway is an elevated highway that helps people travel quickly to and from Makati. SLEX and EDSA meet at the Magallanes Interchange, which is a complex system of elevated roads.

The areas of Guadalupe and Ayala Center are big transport hubs. One Ayala at Ayala Center is a complex with a transport hub for various public vehicles. The BGC Bus connects Makati to Bonifacio Global City.

Buses, including special express buses, travel through Makati on roads like EDSA and SLEX. Jeepneys are used for travel on smaller roads within Makati and to nearby towns. Tricycles are used for shorter trips.

Makati was one of the first places to try e-jeepneys and hybrid buses. These buses use both electric and diesel power to help the environment.

Other important roads in Makati include Gil Puyat Avenue, Ayala Avenue, and J. P. Rizal Avenue. The Ayala Triangle is a park built on a former air base.

Trains in Makati

An MRT Line 3 train at Buendia station.

The Manila Metro Rail Transit System Line 3 (MRT Line 3) has four stations in Makati: Guadalupe, Buendia, Ayala, and Magallanes.

The Philippine National Railways has three stations in Makati: Dela Rosa, Pasay Road, and EDSA. These stations are part of the PNR South Main Line.

There have been plans for new train lines, like a monorail and an intra-city subway, to improve transport in Makati. However, some of these projects have faced delays.

Water Travel

The Pasig River is north of Makati. The Pasig River Ferry Service has one station in Makati, located in Valenzuela.

Makati's Global Connections

Embassies and Consulates

The Herco Center houses the Embassy of the People's Republic of Bangladesh in Manila.

Many foreign countries have their embassies or consulates in Makati. This means Makati is an important place for international relations in the Philippines.

Makati's Sister Cities

Makati has "sister city" relationships with other cities around the world and in the Philippines. This helps them share ideas and culture.

Famous People from Makati

• Pío del Pilar, a Filipino revolutionary general
• Jejomar Binay, former Vice President of the Philippines
• Nancy Binay, a current senator
• Abigail Binay, lawyer and current city mayor
• Michelle Dee, actress
• Vhong Navarro, TV host, actor and dancer
• Ciara Sotto, actress
• Jhong Hilario, actor, dancer, TV host and current city councilor
• Teodoro Locsin Jr., journalist, lawyer, and diplomat
• Monsour del Rosario, actor, athlete and former representative
• Joker Arroyo, lawyer and former senator
• Agapito Aquino, former senator
• Rico J. Puno, singer
• Kid Peña, current representative
• Chiquito, actor and former vice mayor
• Sandro Reyes, football player
• Rhian Ramos, actress
• Mike Arroyo, former First Gentleman
• Bela Padilla, actress
• Heaven Peralejo, actress
• Albie Casiño, actor
• CJ Tañedo, painter

See also

In Spanish: Macati para niños