Mandaluyong City is a city in Metro Manila, Philippines. While not touristy as its neighbors owing to the lack of historical sites, the city is by the way a shopping destination, bordered by Makati to the south, Manila's southeast suburban districts to the west, Pasig to the east, and San Juan and Quezon City to the north.
Understand
History
The city used to be the historical center of the ancient Namayan kingdom, which used to cover much of some of the districts of Manila, and eastern and southern Metro Manila. When the Spaniards arrived, the remnants of the kingdom have been re-established as the municipality of Santa Ana, which survived as the easternmost district of Manila. Namayan, in turn, survived as the name of one of the city's barangays
Mandaluyong is established in 1843 as the town of San Felipe Neri, named after the patron of Rome. Its first church and parochial school was built in 1863. The city played a strategic role for the revolutionary Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution.
Civil government is established during the early 1900s. San Felipe Neri is merged into the nearby town of San Juan del Monte (present-day San Juan City), and has served as the provincial capital of Rizal for four months in 1904, until it was transferred to Pasig. In 1907, the American colonial administrators restored the municipality, now renamed as Mandaluyong. Many of the city's government buildings and infrastructure, most notably the Welfareville complex, which included the Correctional Institute for Women, Boy's Town, and the National Center for Mental Health (NCHP), are built during the American era.
World War II in the Pacific was devastating in Mandaluyong; it is heavily damaged and many of its people killed. Liberation forces arrived in February 9, 1945, and saved the rest of the municipality from damage. February 9 has since been turned into a local public holiday, Liberation Day
Postwar years is marked by progress and prosperity. Rebuilding was done quickly, and Mandaluyong have undergone an economic boom during the 1950s and 1960, and became the most developed municipality of Rizal. The municipality became part of Metro Manila in 1975, and became a city in 1994.
Get in
Buses or jeepney can get you into Mandaluyong, with buses mostly plying the main thoroughfare of EDSA.
For the tourist however, the easiest way to get to Mandaluyong would be via taxi, the MRT and the EDSA Carousel that run across it.
Mandaluyong is connected to Makati through three bridges (Guadalupe, Estrella–Pantaleon, and Makati-Mandaluyong). From Manila, it is either by Lambingan Bridge or Sevilla Bridge.
Get around
Mandaluyong's CBDs, all along EDSA, are served by the MRT and the EDSA Carousel; elsewhere, you go with jeepneys, taxis and tricycles.
See
- San Felipe Neri Parish Church, Reverend Aglipay Street, Poblacion. Built in 1863, it is dedicated to the city's patron saint, Philip Neri. It also served as a strategic location for the revolutionaries during the Philippine Revolution, where the Katipunan group established an outpost to relay information to other revolutionaries. 2019-12-30
Seasonal
- Policarpio Street, 14.58377°, 121.02989°. Once a quiet residential street, it becomes an seasonal tourist attraction for its Christmas displays, a tradition which started in 1980. 2019-12-30
Do
- Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club, Wack-Wack Road, Wack-Wack Greenhills. 2019-12-30
Buy
- Forum Robinsons, EDSA (Near MRT Boni station).
- Shangri-la Plaza, EDSA corner Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City, +63 2 633-7851. The Shangri-La Mall is located right across from the EDSA Shangri-la hotel, making it convenient for any traveller staying there. Aside from all the amenities (restaurants, grocery, electronics, etc.) a shopping mall has, it also features a connecting bridge to Line 3 for those that want to take mass transit. The mall's cinema occasionally features foreign film festivals.
Eat
- Galileo Enoteca, Ground Floor, Reyes Gym Calbayog corner Malinao Streets Mandaluyong City, +63 2 532-0482. A charming Italian Enoteca or wine bar/deli that is tucked away in the heart of Mandaluyong. A rane of Italian pastas, sausaes, and cheese await you if you can find it! (best use a taxi). Roughly per person
- Bacolod Chicken Inasal, Level 2, Forum Robinsons. Get some tasty Chicken Inasal (chicken barbecue with a Bacolod marinade) and other grilled food here for per person.
Drink
- Shawtime Comedy Bar. Good food at reasonable prices, and some good music. All the comedy is in Tagalog, though the comedians will throw in some English if there are foreigners in the crowd. Part of a chain with at least three other locations, all in suburban areas of Metro Manila.
Sleep
- New Horizon Hotel Manila, 778 Boni Ave., cor EDSA, +63 2 532-3021. Air-conditioned rooms equipped with cable television, mini-bar and private toilet and bath. The hotel has a business center, spa services, and Wi-Fi connection. From US$65
- BSA Twin Towers, Ortigas Bank Drive cor. Julia Vargas (located within St. Francis Square, conveniently proximate to the business and commercial district of Ortigas Center.), +63 2 1010 447. All rooms equipped with electric door lock system, fully equipped kitchen and dining area, pillow menu, cable TV, DVD player, IDD/NDD phone and broadband internet access. From
- The Legend Villas, 60 Pioneer corner Madison Streets, +63 2 633-1501. It offers 125 comfortable rooms, all equipped with air-conditioning, cable TV, a mini-bar, telephone, and working table. It also has a swimming pool with jacuzzi, a business center, a gym, and an in-house restaurant.
- Lancaster Hotels Manila, +63 2 8532 1818. Shaw Boulevard cor. Samat Street. The hotel offers stylishly furnished suites, each with a private kitchen, a rooftop pool, restaurant, and bar, as well as function rooms. ₱1781
- Go Hotels, Upper Ground, Robinsons Cybergate Plaza EDSA corner Pioneer St (next to a Robinson's Mall and the Line 3 Boni station). Taking its cue from regional competitor Tune Hotels, GO hotels offer beds and showers with minimal fringe benefits.
- Shangri-la EDSA, 1 Garden Way Ortigas Centre (next to Shangri-la Mall and a Line 3 station), 14.58136°, 121.05678°, +63 2 633 8888. A 5-star Shangri-la hotel adjoining the high-end Shangri-la Plaza Mall From US$125
- Crossroads Hostel Manila, 76 Mariveles St. Mandaluyong City (couple of minutes walk from Line 3 Shaw Boulevard station), +63 2 514 0660. Backpackers' hostel 5 minutes' walk from the Ortigas Business District. From
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