Manila Metropolis is a multi-centered Capital Region of the Philippines.
Did you know that there's at least 30 central business districts in Metro Manila alone? Yup, more than its interconnected cities, CBDs have been scattered like mushrooms in the metro for years and decades.
Central Business in the Philippines
A central business district (CBD) is the commercial and business center of a city. In larger cities, it is often synonymous with the city's "financial district".Metro Manila is home to 15 Million people, as well as massive Central Business districts. In 1594, the creation of a Financial District centered in Binondo-Escolta area.
After the devastation of The Battle for the Liberation of Manila in February of 1945, the need of office space began due to reconstruction efforts.
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This gave way to the first major CBD in the Philippines, the Makati Business District in 1950’s (from Binondo to Makati), which grew larger in the past 60 years.
As the metropolis expanded, more and more CBD were set up to cater the growing population and economy of the Metropolis. These CBDs include Ortigas Center and Alabang (1980’s), Bonifacio Global City (1995), and Manila Bay Area (2007).
As the metropolis expanded, more and more CBD were set up to cater the growing population and economy of the Metropolis. These CBDs include Ortigas Center and Alabang (1980’s), Bonifacio Global City (1995), and Manila Bay Area (2007).
As of now, there are 30 CBDs inside the 600 square kilometers of land within Metropolitan Manila. New CBDs such as Arca South, Bridgtowne, Eastwood City, Greenfield District, Ortigas East, Century City and many more start to shape Manila’s future skyline.
This list includes the Major Districts and secondary CBDs within Metropolitan Manila.
This list includes the Major Districts and secondary CBDs within Metropolitan Manila.
Makati Central
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Makati Central Business District |
The Makati Central Business District, also known as the Makati CBD, is the leading financial and central business district in the Philippines located at the heart of Makati in Metro Manila.
It is politically known as "Central Cluster" in the West District of Makati. It is different from the civic center of Makati known as "Makati Poblacion" which is situated at the north-east portion of the district.
It is bounded by EDSA, Gil Puyat Avenue, Arnaiz Avenue, and Chino Roces Avenue. The whole district occupies barangays of San Antonio, San Lorenzo, Bel-Air, and Urdaneta.
Bonifacio Global City is a commercial hub known for glitzy shopping areas like Bonifacio High Street, filled with big-name brands and flagship stores. Upscale global restaurants mix with cocktail bars, hip cafes, and mainstream nightclubs.
The Mind Museum offers hands-on science displays, while the Manila American Cemetery honors WWII soldiers.
Colorful street murals make the area popular for strolling. Definitely, one of my favorite cities in Metro Manila.
The Mind Museum offers hands-on science displays, while the Manila American Cemetery honors WWII soldiers.
Colorful street murals make the area popular for strolling. Definitely, one of my favorite cities in Metro Manila.
ALSO READ: 10 Best Things To Do in Taguig
Ortigas Center (Mandaluyong, Pasig & San Juan)
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Ortigas Center |
Ortigas Center is a central business district located within the joint boundaries of Pasig, Mandaluyong and Quezon City, within the Metro Manila region in the Philippines.
With an area of more than 100 hectares, it is Metro Manila's second most important business district after the Makati CBD.
It is one of the oldest CBDs in metropolis.
Filinvest City is a premiere garden CBD designed to provide modern conveniences in harmony with nature. It is a residential haven, business central, leisure destination, learning and education zone, and medical and wellness hub amid lush, green landscapes in a modern urban development.
The development of Filinvest City began in 1995, by Filinvest at the site of the former Alabang Stock Farm. Under the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos, the farm was opened for joint development with the private sector and the government-owned property was placed for bidding.
Rockwell Center (Makati)
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Rockwell Center |
Rockwell Center was first developed in 1998 and is being expanded since 2012.
The architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) carried out the design under the direction of former design partner Larry Oltmanns, while Felino Palafox and his company, Palafox Associates, became responsible for the master-planning of the complex.
Its centerpiece, the Power Plant Mall, opened on December 26, 2000.
The Rockwell Center includes office buildings, condominium towers, a law and business school and a shopping mall.
Ayala Center (Makati)
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Ayala Center |
The Ayala Center is a recreational, shopping, dining, and entertainment development located in the heart of Makati. It is bounded by Ayala Avenue on the east, Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) on the south, Arnaiz Avenue on the west, and to north by Legazpi Street and Paseo de Roxas. The Ayala station of MRT Line 3 serves the area.
The development originally started in 1988 and 1991 with a number of separate shopping arcades and Greenbelt Park before expanding to cover over 50 hectares of facilities.
Today the complex now includes several malls, each with its own shopping and restaurant arcades and cinemas; three department stores, a number of hotels; and the Ayala Museum, showcasing exhibits on Philippine history and art.
Some of the countries top shopping malls are located here: Glorietta, Greenbelt and The Link. Ayala Center also house biggest department stores not only in Makati but in the whole Metro Manila: Rustan's, SM Makati, The Landmark, Adora, Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, The Ramp Crossings (Now Closed).
Eastwood City (Quezon City)
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Eastwood City |
Eastwood City is an 18.5 hectares mixed-use development complex located in Barangay Bagumbayan Quezon City. Launched in 1997, it is Megaworld Corporation’s first “live-work-play” community that offers complete facilities, amenities, and establishments for living, working, playing, and shopping.
Home to the largest business process outsourcing (BPO) locators, Eastwood City is the country’s first IT park and the first project to be granted special economic zone status by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA). Since its establishment as a premier Cyberpark, it has become a top employer and leading dollar-earner in the Philippines.
Apart from being business community, Eastwood City is a residential community with 19 high-rise residential towers.
Eastwood City offers families, professionals and urbanites a variety of shopping, dining and recreation offerings at its three lifestyle malls Eastwood Mall, Eastwood Cyber and Fashion Mall and Eastwood Citywalk, which are managed under the Megaworld Lifestyle Malls brand.
Greenfield District (Mandaluyong)
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Greenfield District |
Greenfield District carries the innovative vision of Greenfield Development Corporation by being a remarkable urban development built on two primary foundations: a technologically advanced infrastructure and an eco- efficient master plan.
Bordered by the main thoroughfares EDSA and Shaw Boulevard, and stretching towards Reliance Street and Sheridan Street, the 15-hectare Greenfield District sits at the heart of the new Mandaluyong CBD, making it conveniently located near central business districts, schools, hospitals, malls and lifestyle centers.
Designed to give a truly distinctive brand of city lifestyle, the masterplanned development is known as a “smart and connected” urban center with buildings technologically interconnected with a fiber-optic framework. Along with these ultra-modern high-rise buildings, the community is further redefining the Mandaluyong landscape with sweeping, green open spaces that comprise a generous portion of the development, and further enhanced by a pedestrian-oriented neighborhood.
Urban dwellers will also find ideal, future-ready homes in the development. The Twin Oaks Place is Greenfield District’s flagship condominium project, where every unit is integrated with fiber-optic connectivity that enables features such as smartphone-controlled home automation.
Meanwhile, Zitan, another fiber-to- the-home condominium development, is particularly designed to be transitoriented as it is linked to the Shaw Boulevard station of the MRT along EDSA.
Greenfield District’s retail spaces are being redeveloped into modern, convenient and efficient lifestyle centers such as The Hub and The Portal. Its well-selected variety of restaurants, bars and cafĆ©s serve the emerging lunch and after-office crowd of employees and executives from within the vicinity of office buildings.
Mall of Asia Complex (Pasay)
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SM Mall of Asia |
SM Mall of Asia, also abbreviated as SM MoA or simply MoA, is a large shopping mall in the Philippines, located at Bay City, Pasay, Philippines, within the SM Central Business Park, a reclaimed area within the Manila Bay, and the southern end of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA).
Owned and developed by SM Prime Holdings, the largest mall chain owner and developer in the Philippines, it has a land area of 67 hectares (170 acres), a gross floor area of approximately 489,891 m2 (5,273,140 sq ft), and offers 46,647 m2 (502,100 sq ft) of floor area space for conventions and social functions.
The mall is currently the largest shopping mall in the Philippines and the third in the world. When it opened in 2006 it was the largest shopping mall in the Philippines until SM City North EDSA was redeveloped in 2008, and was relegated to third place by the expansion of SM Megamall from 2011 to 2015 when SM Seaside City Cebu opened to the public before returning to this spot in 2017.
Following the mall's opening in 2006, it caused several smaller shopping malls nearby to close, such as the Pearl Plaza and the Uniwide Coastal Mall, both located in Tambo, ParaƱaque City.
Entertainment City (Paranaque)
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Entertainment City |
Entertainment City, also known as E-City (formerly PAGCOR City and Manila Bay Tourism City), is a gaming and entertainment complex under development by PAGCOR spanning an area of 8 km2 (3.1 sq mi) in Bay City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
It was first envisioned by PAGCOR in 2002. Alongside the Aseana City business development, it lies at the western side of Roxas Boulevard and south of SM Central Business Park (SM Mall of Asia), part of ParaƱaque.
The project is officially named as the Bagong Nayong Pilipino-Entertainment City through an executive order by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and has been called several other names by the press. The most common name being referenced is "Entertainment City".
The site has been declared a PEZA-approved economic zone and in 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte named Entertainment City as Expo Pilipino Entertainment City will be named after the exposition for the centennial of the independence of the Philippines in 1998 called Expo Pilipino.
Five Integrated Resort projects have been qualified to date in accordance with the Terms of Reference and are under construction by phases namely, Solaire Resort & Casino, City of Dreams Manila, Okada Manila (formerly Manila Bay Resorts), Westside City Resorts World - (formerly Resorts World Bayshore), and NayonLanding.
ATTRACTIONS TO SEE IN MANILA
Klook.comASEANA City (Paranaque)
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Aseana City |
Aseana City (also known as Aseana Business Park) is a 204-hectare (500-acre) mixed-use central business district development located in ParaƱaque, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Owned and developed by D.M. Wenceslao & Associates (DMWAI) through Aseana Holdings, it is situated in the centermost portion of the Central Business Park (alongside PAGCOR's Entertainment City) between the SM business complex in the north and Asiaworld in the south within the Bay City area.
Vertis North (Quezon City)
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Vertis North |
Vertis North breathes new life into the heart of Quezon City with its seamless blend of all the elements of sustainable urban living in one destination.
The 29-hectare Ayala Land development, a joint venture with the National Housing Authority, gives new meaning to urban development in being the first modern mixed-use property to bring business, leisure and lifestyle together in one buzzing but serene spot.
Vertis North is designed to be an energized and sustainable central business and lifestyle district, with the 2-hectare Vertis Park garden at the hub of this ingenious urban concept. Surrounding the sprawling green and lifestyle spaces are corporate centers and workplace facilities, such as the three-tower Vertis Corporate Center, conducive for both small enterprises and multinational companies.
Its accessibility to the city’s main thoroughfares—particularly EDSA and North Avenue—also gives it a unique advantage, with quick access to public transport connecting to other business hubs in the metropolis and surrounding provinces in the North.
Eton Centris (Quezon City)
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Eton Centris |
Eton Centris was announced in October 2008 as Eton's second major mixed-use development township project, after the 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) Eton City in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
The 18,000 square metres (190,000 sq ft), 12-floor Eton Cyberpod Centris office building targets business process outsourcing companies. Each floor has 2,000 square metres (22,000 sq ft).
Capitol Commons (Pasig)
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Capitol Commons |
The 10-hectare (25-acre) site being developed by Ortigas & Company Limited Partnership, the same developer behind Ortigas Center, features Pasig's first high-end shopping center called Estancia at Capitol Commons.
When completed, the P25-billion mixed-use commercial, residential and office development will have 35,000 square meters (380,000 sq ft) of retail space, 20,000 square metres (220,000 sq ft) of office space for knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) companies, and 280,000 square meters (3,000,000 sq ft) of residential units.
A Capitol Commons Park and open spaces are also planned within the property which would take up more than fifty percent of the development.
ACTIVITIES AND TOURS IN MANILA
Newport City (Paranaque)
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Newport City |
Newport City is a 25-hectare (62-acre) township development situated next to the Villamor golf course and Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Metro Manila, Philippines.
Awarded as the Mixed-Use Development of the Year by the Philippine Retailers Association in 2015, Newport City is a Megaworld Corporation township development and is designed to combine accommodations and entertainment with residences, hotels, a mall and Resorts World Manila, the country's first fully integrated entertainment complex.
Newport Mall is a lifestyle mall development of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls located inside Resorts World Manila complex in Newport City, Pasay. It also specializes in restaurants. For entertainment, Newport Mall offers 24-hour weekend movie screening in its four cinemas.
Bridgetowne (Quezon City / Pasig)
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Bridgetowne |
Bridgetowne is a real estate development spanning the border of Pasig and Quezon City in Metro Manila, the Philippines.
It is a mixed township and business park situated in a former industrial area on both banks of the Marikina River near the junction of Eulogio Rodriguez Jr. Avenue (C-5 Road) and Ortigas Avenue.
The 30.61-hectare (75.6-acre) masterplanned community is the first integrated township project by Robinsons Land Corporation, the real estate arm of JG Summit.
It is currently anchored by four office towers in its information technology park dedicated to the business process outsourcing sector, its second in Metro Manila after Robinsons Cybergate in Mandaluyong.
Once completed, the township will be a community consisting of seven office towers, a shopping mall, five-star hotel and residential condominiums, with a landmark bridge and a light art installation called The Victor as its centerpiece.
Arca South (Taguig)
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Arca South |
Championing synchronicity, Ayala Land puts you at the core of a visionary destination attuned with contemporary lifestyles. Accessibility remains the key advantage of ARCA South through the government’s infrastructure program of creating a direct link from the Skyway. Through the extension of the C5 and C6 highways, the district will only be a few minutes away from NAIA, Makati City, and Bonifacio Global City.
74 hectares of mixed-use development presents a quality of life with myriad opportunities for growth – best estate practices, diverse retail options, residential developments, and an intermodal transport system.
Efficient urban planning integrates green spaces and refreshing streetscapes throughout the district. An integrated basement parking frees the streets, increasing pedestrianization and connectivity. Through a centralized operation system; traffic, power, and security management are attuned to the needs of the community.
Circulo Verde (Quezon City)
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Circulo Verde |
It is one of the four major estates owned and developed by the company in Metro Manila, which in 2019 maintained a combined land bank of 50 hectares (120 acres) across the Eastern Manila cities of Mandaluyong, Pasig and Quezon City.
Circulo Verde is located along Calle Industria in the southeastern edge of Quezon City just south of the Eastwood City and Nuvo City developments. It is on the confluence of the Marikina River and the Manggahan Floodway surrounded on three sides by the river and the village of Manggahan, Pasig.
Arcovia City (sometimes styled ArcoVia City) is a mixed-use development under construction in Pasig, Metro Manila, the Philippines. It is a 12.3-hectare (30-acre) riverside township located by the Marikina River east of Ortigas Center being developed by Megaworld Corporation.
Arcovia City (Pasig)
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Arcovia City |
The centerpiece of the development is a triumphal arch surmounted by a bronze sculpture of a charioteer emperor accompanied by three horses called the Arco de Emperador.
When completed, the township will have residential condominiums, a retail hub, LEED-registered office towers and over a thousand trees dotting the mixed-use community making it the greenest urban development by Megaworld to date.
Circuit Makati (Makati)
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Circuit Makati |
Makati continues to be the leading city for entertainment, lifestyle, and business, and Circuit Makati adds to the growing list of premium developments in the area.
A 21-hectare mixed-use development on the former Sta. Ana Racetrack property of the Philippine Racing Club Inc. (PRCI), Circuit Makati is poised to be the unequivocal destination for all things entertainment, with its world-class indoor theater, multipurpose entertainment spaces and open grounds integrated with commercial, hotel and residential blocks.
Catch a concert or an international show at the sprawling Globe Circuit Event Grounds and join thousands of other enthusiasts in enjoying the world-class features of this entertainment venue. Drop by Power Mac Center Spotlight to see what’s on at this black box theater, which can be transformed for product launches, exhibits, concerts, or seminars.
A collaboration among Ayala Land, Inc., PRCI, and the City of Makati, Circuit Makati completes the vision for Makati to be a leading city for entertainment, lifestyle and business.
Mckinley West (Taguig)
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Mckinley West |
McKinley West is Megaworld’s 34.5-hectare ultra-high-end township on the former JUSMAG property in Fort Bonifacio beside Forbes Park and Manila Polo Club.
Aside from an exclusive residential village where lots have appreciated as much as 110 percent since its launch in 2010, McKinley West will have rows of luxury residential estates, which will include properties having their own state-of-the-art security features and first-of-its-kind luxury amenities.
The posh residential enclave will be supplemented by a modern business district, living up to the lifestyle of the neighboring Forbes Park. Residents and people working in McKinley West enjoy direct access to McKinley Hill, as well as more convenient access to Fort Bonifacio, South Luzon Expressway, C5 Road, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), and the Makati CBD.
Mckinley Hill (Taguig)
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McKinley Hill |
Inspired by cities in Italy and Spain, the 50-hectare McKinley Hill—Megaworld’s largest township development in Metro Manila—brings to the Philippines the sophisticated culture of Southern Europe.
The combination of upscale, exclusive residences, premium-grade offices, and topnotch dining and leisure areas offer uniquely vibrant and complete lifestyle experiences to those who wish to be part of McKinley Hill.
McKinley Hill is located beside Bonifacio Global City, making it among the most prominent central business districts in Metro Manila. It is directly connected to C-5 Road, and is easily accessible to other main road arteries in Metro Manila, such as EDSA and other key expressways.
Parklinks (Pasig)
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Parklinks |
An estate that embodies connections, exchange and collaboration, at 35 hectares, Parklinks will be the biggest mixed-use development along the prime C5 corridor.
Parklinks will link Quezon city and Pasig through an iconic bridge over the marikina river, creating new connections and pathways to progress.
The newest estate is also touted as Ayala Land’s greenest urban development in Metro Manila, dedicated 40% of its land to open spaces.
Accessible via C5, Amang Rodriguez ave. and Ortigas avenue.
With future connections to Circulo Verde and Metropoli. READ MORE
Cloverleaf (Quezon City)
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Cloverleaf |
Fresh choices in retail, dining, and leisure intersect with urban essentials for healthcare, business, and living.
Enriched with transportation links to destinations points beyond, an emerging city core invigorates historic Balintawak, complementing a lifestyle experience of total urban efficiency in the north.
Araneta City (Quezon City)
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Araneta City |
The Araneta Group is a progressive and diversified group of companies anchored on property development, food service, leisure, and hospitality.
Founded by the visionary J. Amado Araneta, the Araneta Group is known pioneering projects that are the first, the biggest, and the best in their class. Currently at the helm of its growth and expansion is his son, Jorge L. Araneta.
With a long history of embarking on pioneering business ventures, the Araneta Group is prepared to take up the challenges of the 21st century.
The Group’s 12,000-strong workforce is committed to a culture of excellence, integrity, loyalty, and pride.
The Araneta Group is composed of five strategic business units: ACI, Inc., PPI Holdings Inc., Uniprom Inc., Progressive Development Corporation, and Araneta Hotels Inc.
UP Techno Hub (Quezon City)
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UP Techno Hub |
It occupies 20 hectares (49 acres) within the 37.5 hectares (93 acres) of the U.P. North Science and Technology Park.
The land where the TechnoHub now stands is owned by the University of the Philippines Diliman. Sometime in October 2006, the land was leased to Ayala Land by the state university so an information technology hub could be developed. In that month, Ayala Land announced that it would invest P6 billion over the following five to ten years to develop the Commonwealth Avenue property.
Then-Quezon City mayor Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. signed an order in December 2006 adjusting the zoning classification of part of UP Diliman so that the project could legally proceed.
South Park District (Muntinlupa)
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South Park District |
A master-planned mixed-use development poised to increase business and commercial offerings and create new and enjoyable residential experiences.
Muntinlupa City is an emerging business, residential, and lifestyle district in the South favored by many companies and families. South Park District by Ayala Land contributes to the city’s rapid growth, creating new and enjoyable experiences, and uplifting urban living. With South Park’s homey enclaves, transit-oriented amenities, and commercial potential, the district presents limitless opportunities to Muntinlupa City and its neighboring communities.
Ayala developments in Alabang and surrounding Muntinlupa City have always been bustling hubs filled with highly sought-after business and residential addresses. With the addition of South Park District in Muntinlupa, Alabang strengthens its position as a dynamic lifestyle destination.
Triangle Park (Quezon City)
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Triangle Park |
Triangle Park, also known as the Quezon City Central Business District, is a 250 ha (620 acres) central business district in Quezon City, Philippines. It is organized around five districts namely: Commons, Downtown Hub, Emporium, Residences at Veterans and Triangle Exchange.
It is one of the three existing main business districts of the city - alongside Eastwood City in Libis and Araneta Center in Cubao. It is also one of two business districts currently being developed or redeveloped, the other being Neopolitan Business Park in Novaliches.
This business district spans from the East and North Triangles to the Quezon Memorial Circle also encompassing the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) property along North Avenue. The World Bank dubbed the project as “the center of gravity of commercial developments in Metro Manila in the coming years.”
It is linked to the EDSA frontages and served by the LRT Line 1, and MRT Line 3 rail systems. The World Bank contracted the Japanese firm, Almec, to complete the framework plan.
Two companies have been given permission to develop the remaining empty lots, Ayala Land in cooperation with the National Housing Authority (Philippines) for the North Triangle and Eton Properties Philippines of the Lucio Tan Group for the East Triangle.
Ermita CBD (Manila)
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Ermita CBD |
The National Museum houses Filipino fine art, natural history exhibits, and astronomy displays across several buildings, while kid-focused Museo Pambata has hands-on displays and an outdoor theater.
Relaxed restaurants and quirky cafes cater to the area’s students.
Binondo CBD (Manila)
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Binondo CBD |
As you can see, majority of the CBDs are located in Quezon City, obviously the biggest city in Metro Manila according to area.
List of Central Business Districts in Metro Manila
- Bonifacio Global City
- Makati Central
- Ortigas Central
- Filinvest City
- Rockwell
- Ayala center
- Eastwood City
- Greenfield
- MOA Complex CBD
- Entertainment City
- ASEANA City
- Vertis North
- Eton Centris
- Capital Commons
- Newport City
- Bridgetowne
- Arca South
- Circulo Verde
- ArcoVia City
- Circuit Makati
- Mckinley West
- Mckinley Hills
- Parklinks
- Clover Leaf
- Araneta City
- UP Techno Hub
- South Park District
- Triangle Park
- Ermita CBD
- Binondo CBD
Are we missing a CBD in the list? Let us know in the comment section below.
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- List of SM Supermalls in the Philippines (including Address + Opening Date)
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Sources: TaguigeƱo, Pasig City Guide, Rising Star, Philippines Today, Netizens Alert, Manila City Updates
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