Makati, Financial district in Metro Manila, Philippines
Makati is a city in the center of Metro Manila in the Philippines where office towers, residential complexes, and sprawling shopping malls line wide avenues. Smaller commercial districts and parks sit between the high-rises, where office workers spend their lunch breaks during the day.
A district from the 17th century grew into a business quarter with office towers and wide roads during the 1960s. The growth accelerated in the following decades through investment by international companies and the expansion of new neighborhoods.
The name comes from the Tagalog word for a marshy bend in the river where towers and office blocks later appeared. Shopping centers and restaurants in the Greenbelt area now draw families and professionals meeting for meals after work.
A network of elevated rail and buses connects the different districts to other parts of the capital region, with rush hours occurring in the morning and late afternoon. Those walking should note that streets are wide and often crowded with traffic, and pedestrian bridges help with crossing.
Near the city center a few old streets with lower buildings and small shops remain, recalling the time before the high-rises appeared. Above the whole area a layer of warm, damp air often hangs, cooling suddenly when rain falls and leaving puddles on the sidewalks.
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