presently, those buildings that hav a grade A office space-meaning those w/ the most expensive rates are- the rcbc plaza (d bldg itself was even declared an IT zone by the DTI), enterprise (IT zone din), pbcom, philamlife, lkg, 6750 & d jg summit-m not sure of this 1. all are situated in ayala. parang wala sa buendia, but just remind me if i forgot one.

:D

As per my recent research, LKG is not a certified IT zone.
btw, i think there's quite a difference bet. IT zone and IT bldg.
Its PEZA who does the certification, btw.

IT Zones include RCBC Complex, that one in Alabang, Northgate, the wannabe Araneta, Eastwood Cyberpark, and this one along Pioneer St by Robinsons as well as this strip of lot at Fort Boni, the name i forgot.

IT Bldgs on the other hand include Enterprise, Export Bank Plaza (recent addition), PB Com, and GT. I don't think Summit and LKG are certified IT bldgs.

oh yeah now i remember the old phimam life building, thanks guys! yeah that is a landmark! beautiful building built in the late 60's-early 70's but still look very gorgeous presently! i hope they would make it as a heritage building!

i was trying to look for a picture of the old philamlife building i can't find one. i read somewhere that the philamlife manila building was really designed for the philippine weather. i dunno why.

I took a picture of the colonnade a while back but I wasn't able to get pictures of the inside. The building has high ceilings all throughout, probably to combat the sweltering heat and there is also an expansive garden in the middle. I love that building, really a blast from the past.

a rare rendering of GT Tower from a local renderer, just love it!
http://edmundtanso.smugmug.com/photos/6399402-L.jpg

nice. i like it.

very nice. :bow:

wow! great! so what does local renderer mean? ive have a real life photo of that one. hehehe...wala lang perang pampa scan. kc hard print. i got that from a Federal Land agent.

is that rendering a mirror image?

hmmm...yeah it looks like a mirror image....GT tower is so nice, one of my favorite building =)

wow! great! so what does local renderer mean?

A renderer who's based locally? :bash: Sorry, I have no other explanations

i think francis was emphasizing more explanation on the word renderer :D

it's someone who renders, or creates an image or model of something. that's my best explanation. that's one awesome rendering btw.

haha...any explanation would do. as long as he's the one who creates the rendering.
oh btw Pau or any local, have u seen Philam Life tower lately? It has some neon lights on now! I dunno if it has been there before, but this is my first time to see it. It's white and it runs horizontally at its top. Two stripes i guess. baka nainggit sa Enterprise.

Here are some of the pictures I got while I was in Makati... It's only 2 and I'm sorry that those pictures are not really professionally taken...

http://obfuscati0n.org/random/makati1.jpg

http://obfuscati0n.org/random/makati2.jpg

:)

nice shots...! not too bad... I couldn't come up with anything drastically better...

that rendering is nice! I don't like GT Tower all too much though. it's nice and sleek, but really simple. my favorite scraper in Makati has to be RCBC. hehehe!! I love the rendering of it's base! I can't see the resemblance of the rest of the RCBC tower from that angle though...

nice shots there kiel. !!!
you should try aerial shots next time. :D
I love RCBC as well. its so collossal.
But GT has is a masterpiece. the architecture is reflected in all parts of the tower. facade, lobby and even the elevators!

thanks for the photo keil. too bad it was overcast.

sorry francis i didnt realized you were asking what's a local renderer means, it's someone that do the remderigs of a proposed project locally from phils =)\

i choose gt tower than rcbc =)

Francis: thnx for the correction, pero parang wala naman cgurong total differences bet. an itzone & an itbldg. eh, im suppose they just serve the same purpose.

hei, nice pics kiel, i also kinda appreciate the cobra lookin lightbulbs along the center island, w/ vines covering the posts, ang cute kasi...weird ko no:-)

there has been a lots of construction works goin on lately sa cbd. im not sure though kung ano cila. but one is located right in front of buendia pnr station, another one near the plaza fair, & another 2 near d makati med. (not the columns).

where is PNR station?
that must be Cityland Makati Exec tower. The twin tower of the first one is now underway on its excavation. The first tower had been been topped off long before. It looks very similar with Cityland Vito Cruz. And those at Vito Cruz are also twins.
Construction near Plaza Fair is probably Waltermart Mall. It has 5 levels. Its going up pretty fast. That one near Makati Med is the E-Services bldg, that would house people support call center.

btw, i think tenants of IT zones get more incentives, or more tax holidays or lighter import duty than do those at IT bldgs. :D

the PNR station is in Paco Manila along Quirino Ave. well that is the old PNR station which I don't know if it was being demolished, reconstructed or what....

WalterMart mall is indeed going fast... it is now about 4 storeys high... one day I'll try to take a picture of it...:D

hi francis, no, im not referring to the cityland tower but the one being constructed beside it. theyre both facing the pnr buendia station, but cityland is situated at the dela rosa side. the other one is ryt along buendia avenue.

hei pau, ive seen the paco main pnr station, & its rotting & stinking. opposite the structure is the redeveloped plaza dilao, by atienza, & a few steps adjacent to the station is also another abandoned building, they were both such an eyesore!

yeah it's too bad they have to demolished part of the old PNR paco station and stop the construction for the mall that was planned there. who knows how ugly it would look when its built =(

http://img69.exs.cx/img69/6107/IMG_0076.jpg

From Ninoy Aquino Intl. Kinda bad...

But atleast you have one more picture. :)

Thanks Lord of the Ring Fan. :D it's nice.

that's a nice pic up there!

mysaong, there's a construction going on beside Cityland Exec tower? Aren't you referring to its twin tower? or is it Oriental gardens? but that's about 2 blocks away. Im not sure. Not so familiar on that place.
oh, u said its along Buendia side, so probably it still part of Cityland. There's a real big construction site right there.

I've noticed that CityLand U/c which is near the corner of Buendia and SLEX.... one is topped off and the other is still in the base level... maybe that's what he is referring...

the other tower is still having excavation works.

Manansala.... as of today.. the construction crane has already been put down..
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid132/pfe4ca487baf10a84cb55888da6cb795d/f79965e6.jpg

Oakwood
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid132/pbba285db4fd83d4e617534786ea8dd2e/f7996673.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid132/pb89218a73164d073fe446ef6e2d4b766/f7996614.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid132/pfbbc202424ded6906563b3b50dbeb2ef/f79966a8.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid132/pebbdb3183c53802d118e723752216f5c/f799642a.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid132/p35ed5c05f425033a9393c59cea22602b/f79964f9.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid132/peac7b6bad03f9d5dd8550372e0047636/f79965b3.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid132/p2af0e980d1b5d749c9fd038b97c603a6/f79965c6.jpg

Old but nice :cool:
http://windward.nodalpoint.net/doc/makati_panorama.jpg
http://windward.nodalpoint.net/doc/makati_panorama_original.jpg

wow... that is definitely a nice couple of pics there... :D

Awesome panoramas!

:bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

really awesome. thanks for sharing! :okay:

Those are really nice pictures! Awesome job :)

;) These are nice too

http://www.semo.net/suburb/dbridges/manila.jpg

http://www.vikochka.com/philippines/manila.jpg

Have you guys seen this satellite pic btw? :?

http://www.ersdac.or.jp/ASTERimage2/Image/07.JPG

Amazing!BGC does not seem 3x bigger than Makati DBD to me though.I see so much green as well.

yeah... I agree.. BGC seems to be of same land area.. or maybe its because we tend to confuse the subdivisions adjacent to MCBD as part of the CBD....

nice satellite pic....:D

WOW! amazing Satellite pic !!!

if you check the satellite image, you'll see how quezon city should have been a bigger and better designed city than both makati (ayala center) and taguig (fort boni). :(

is QC around that big circular roadway (QC Mem. Circle?) in the upper right side of the pic??? i've never seen it that way before, but, yeah, it does look like a masterplanned city as well. too bad it didn't turn out too well. but the QC Circle looks so much bigger than BGC's...

I agree QC is well planned with the triangles and the circle (wala bang square :colgate: ) pero parang mejo napapabayaan na ung circle.
You can see also see the lake in the middle of North triangle in Parks and Wildlife. Is that real or man-made?

yeah. i think QC is the only planned City here in MM. Maybe because it used to be the country's capital.

yeah... QC looked nice from the skies... you won't fail to notice the Quezon Circle... and I never thought that the circle was that bIg...

I heard it is raining heavily there. Ingat lang mga tol!

hi, yah, QC was actually planned coz twas made to be the new capital by 1948, & they say, twas even patterned after washington d.c.. around the main circle u notice rows of diff. govt offices, most of them are main HQ's. the batasan complex was built by marcos coz he envisioned that northeast part of the city, w/c includes d circle to become an 'admin zone' of the capital, but as we know, not evrythin has materialized coz manila was re-declared the capital in 1978.

yeah. i think QC is the only planned City here in MM. Maybe because it used to be the country's capital.
hindi ba na planned rin naman yung makati? :)

no its not. it just came into its present situation without any plan or zoning provisions, whatsoever. kaya medyo magulo ang makati.

yeah.. I don't think Makati was planned... last month I was in the Centennial Airport to send my dad to his LA trip.. there was an exhibit in the waiting area which features 1920-1950's aircrafts... and I noticed one (I forgot to take a picture of it) which is a small airbase in 1932 I think, I forgot the name which is V-Shaped... and the caption states that it was this airbase which is now the Makati CBD... It's runway is now Paseo de Roxas joined in the center to its hangar area or port area (I forgot the term) which is now the Ayala Avenue....

Taguig is planned because of Fort Bonifacio Global City. And parts of Muntinlupa is planned because of Ayala Alabang and Filinvest Corporate City.

Pau is correct that Paseo de Roxas and Ayala Avenue used to be runways..

One of my latest pictures of Makati taken from Cityland Pasong Tamo Tower. Picture taken August 2004.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/93Makati_night.jpg

There's more to come!

Hey GreyX,

I appreciate the pics. Do you have a higher res. version of your latest or coming pics? I'd like to use it as a desktop wallpaper.


Thanks!

Hey GreyX,

I appreciate the pics. Do you have a higher res. version of your latest or coming pics? I'd like to use it as a desktop wallpaper.


Thanks!

YES. I just had to resize the pics so that i can post it. If you want, i can email this picture to you in its original high res. format.

Hey GREYX, ako rin pwedeng makahingi nang high res pic. Yeah, sony image station downgrades it, well this forum downgrades it. ang e mail ko ay oli_oli_84@hotmail.com. Well salamat. let me knowz.

Hey GreyX, what's that underconstruction pic that's kinda in the middle. THat thing has been there forever! Is it abandoned? And what's the construction to the far left? infront of that glorious pretty building? Are they both abandoned? The One LEgaspi looks almost complete. COOL, such a nice addition to the skyline. Oh yeah, they should create a new development or something, other than FBGC, or make the FBGC buildings taller, more taller than the buildings proposed now, so we can atleast compete with other asian skylines.

OH yeah, where is greenbelt here in this picture, is it the new looking tower, with that bold "whitish" vertical line JUST to the left of HSBC? and what's that completed building to the right, its the third one from the right of the three buildings in a row. Its the building JUST to the right of HSBC?

no its not. it just came into its present situation without any plan or zoning provisions, whatsoever. kaya medyo magulo ang makati.
but di ba may symmetrical shape naman yung central business district.....i mean legaspi and salcedo village looks like an ipsilateral twin villages.....pareho yung shape.... :)

YES. I just had to resize the pics so that i can post it. If you want, i can email this picture to you in its original high res. format.


Thanks! If you can upload it here:

http://www.montinola.org/upload.php

Thanks again!

Nice pic, GreyX! Can't wait for the others :)

nice pic as usual...I bet you tried all shutter speeds to get that. Now show us the other ones. Haha...Enterprise now lights up every weekdays...So grandeur. Nice one Ryan. I can't wait for the pano including the left part where the Export Bank is and FBGC where Pacific Towers are....btw, id guess you took that sometime around 7 pm, right? The best time to take shots tho is around 6 pm to 8 pm on a Friday night!

nice pic as usual...I bet you tried all shutter speeds to get that. Now show us the other ones. Haha...Enterprise now lights up every weekdays...So grandeur. Nice one Ryan. I can't wait for the pano including the left part where the Export Bank is and FBGC where Pacific Towers are....btw, id guess you took that sometime around 7 pm, right? The best time to take shots tho is around 6 pm to 8 pm on a Friday night!

Thanks guys...I took that picture around 6:30 pm. I was on my rooftop from 5:30pm all the way to 7pm just taking pictures as the sun goes down. I'll post the others soon. I have school now, so it might take time:D

awesome pic greyx. astig un GT Tower neon lights talaga. :bow:

darn, another fresh makati pic that always makes me :runaway: .. hahha :)

hey ryan what a photo. i can already see Makati 4 years from now. the change is slowly happening. but the Legaspi Place is a big eyesore. same goes for the Jaka Tower. but... maybe it's a good reminder of the whole country's financial struggles around 1998. however i dont like monuments that big :D

im wondering what happened to this city in the Rate Our Skylines chart? can anyone explain the reason for the sudden drop of Makati in the chart?

i wouldnt trust the ROS chart anymore to give near-accurate statistics of the world's best skylines. Makati is gaining more exposure, and along with that haters appear. or just simply bored people

some pics from google search. i dunno if it has been posted lately
http://www.moveandstay.com/picture_apartments_main/regussyd_regus_business_centre_-_enterprise_centre.jpg
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/liga/IMG010.jpg

the HSBC Enterprise Towers look awesome in that shot - with the blue tint and everything. what are those colorful little buildings in the second photo?

i think the yellow one at the center is a hotel...

I like that Enterprise (?) color.:D

at first I didn't know they were the enterprise towers...hehehe.. :eek2: great pictures

ganda ng angle ng enterprise pics

Nice pic there!!! You should post that at the ROT section. Im not really sure which one is better, the actual Enterprise or that one in the pic. The blue shade was bit increased, making it look very neat! But the real thing is equally awesome, im telling you. You would feel good about makati if you see it.

Second pic: @absent-minded, are you referring to the colorful towers at the bottom right? They are condotels located along Makati Ave...including Millineum Plaza, Makati Palace, City Garden, Citadel Inn, etc...On that cluster will also rise the Eaton Place, which is nearly 48 storey...and this 18 or 16 storey Bel-Air Soho. And another one, i think they are twins, will rise somewhere in the extreme left (not seen in the photo)...that pic seems to have been freshly taken. I could distiguish Four Seasons in the photo.

which one is the four season?

i notice skylines of other countries have boom lights on buildings... especially shanghai... i wonder why don't they do that in Makati or Roxas Blvd hotel... it will surely look nice.

i notice skylines of other countries have boom lights on buildings... especially shanghai... i wonder why don't they do that in Makati or Roxas Blvd hotel... it will surely look nice.
what is a boom light exactly? is it like the one they use to light up monuments at night?

maybe highlights...
two workmates went to Shanghai before and when they came back, they said makati looked so gloomy to them. very few lights that is.

Grey, i LOVE that pic :D it makes the skyline look lively :okay: GT looks great there: real sleek :colgate:

LOL btw: botu the lights thing: what would be nice is if they use those really strong pulsating Red Aviation Obstruction lights like they do on Tokyo scrapers. If u've seen Lost in Translation, or live in Japan then u'd know what i mean.. If they put those really strong lights on our Makati scrapers all pulsating at the same time then it'd make the skyline look even more enticing (as well as being a clear indicator to aircraft) :D:D:D:D

i made a gif file for visual aid ;)
http://www.angelfire.com/ab2/amadu/makati-tky.dat

marami rami naman ganun dito sa scrapers a.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid134/p15ba976d8abd1b7e0e90ebcd7decace1/f770d067.jpg.thumb.jpg
eto umaga na dito pero bukas pa rin ung iba. partida pa yan kasi pangit cam di kita malayo saka sa view na yan natakpan ng ayala avenue scrapers ung smaller ones sa likod. try nio na lang view ung orig size pag di kayo tinatamad :cheers:

they do use those red things. i've seen them in the tall skyscrapers. just not that flashing as in your .gif file :D

:lol: Makati skyscrapers do have those red aviation warning lights, but not as much as Tokyo, of course. Lots of rich ppl ride helicopters, so many of the taller buildings have those red lights.

found this on the ROS. looks like it's from Citibank.
http://www.gvsdestoroyah.com/HPIM2203.jpg

that was posted before Renell...hubzilla took that one from Top of the Citi here at Citibank. You missed that out probably.
Well, most makati skyscrapers have that pulsating red light. but not that much. I guess, only the real tall ones need that since they are the ones to be hit first by airplanes or helicopters before the smaller ones. I quite like the multicolors signages like that of Citibank, not much on PB Com, GT has none tho, and Petron.

The (Fr/P)eak has a very well lighted antenna there. im guessing there's a certain height limit before you need to have a red light. Paseo Parkview doesnt have one. maybe 150m

You know, if you squint your eyes and imagine different cladding, the Peak /could/ be made acceptable.

i guess it's the blue concrete wall that makes it uglier than it really is. it's neighbors are 5 storey midgets.

and if im not mistaken, there's a couple more free lots around that area in Salcedo too.

Here are Makati pics that I took from SM Centerpoint's Parking.

http://www.geocities.com/aaron_ofngol/makati_pic.txt

http://www.geocities.com/aaron_ofngol/makati_pic2.txt

I really love SM Centerpoint's parking because it has great views of
Greenhills, Ortigas, Mandaluyong and Makati Skylines including Rockwell.

awesome views thomasian! we can't see the future developments here but Salcedo Village is far more dense here than I'd thought

At least The Columns is visible there.

true. we can see that. i was expecting to see Four Seasons there, but somehow it's hidden.

nice views...I like the second pic more.

Those are pretty nice pictures; I like the clouds covering part of the skyline. Great pics :)

great job thomasian! nice pictures.

Haha. I thought the pictures will turn out ugly because of all the clouds, but I guess the weather just made it more interesting. Na-aamaze talaga ako pagka umaabot na sa skyscrapers ung clouds pagka rainy day.

BTW, I also have Ortigas pics taken also on SM Centerpoint's Carpark, i'll post them later.

nice pics indeed! is seems like Makati CBD is very near SM Centerpoint. Is it really that near? or you just Zoomed it in?

Makati looks pretty dominating in those pics.

thomasian
thanks for the photo. yeah i noticed that SM centerpoint have a very good view of the MM skyline. would be nice to build a high rise on that area and have that view of the skyline!

isnt Centerpoint in QC? i cant keep track of the all the SM"s up north MM

Centerpoint... Sta Mesa Heights, QC I believe.

Awesome!!:eek: I love how the clouds were low enough that time to be just over and around the tallest skyscrapers.

Next time, take a picture of Ortigas and Rockwell from Centerpoint;)

Centerpoint... Sta Mesa Heights, QC I believe.

No, not Sta Mesa Heights, QC.
It's Sta Mesa, Manila, the one with a lot of Motels. hehe
To be precise, it's along Ramon Magsaysay/Aurora blvd. and Araneta Ave.

And the Line 2 goes right by it;)

hey guys, remember this old pic? i found it in a korean site. i havent seen this posted in this thread
http://www.tournjoy.co.kr/bbs/data/community_photosalon_theme/makati.JPG

small pic of Makati skyline
http://motor.daa.jp/nandemo/makati.jpg

thomasian
thanks for the photo. yeah i noticed that SM centerpoint have a very good view of the MM skyline. would be nice to build a high rise on that area and have that view of the skyline!

Awesome!!:eek: I love how the clouds were low enough that time to be just over and around the tallest skyscrapers.

Next time, take a picture of Ortigas and Rockwell from Centerpoint;)

Actually I have posted the Ortigas photo in The Ortigas Center Thread.

Here's the Rockwell w/ Pacific Plaza pic.
http://www.geocities.com/aaron_ofngol/rockwell_pacificplaza.txt

You can see that there is a highrise on that area.
It's called the Hampstead Gardens and it has a great view of Greenhills, Ortigas, Mandaluyong, Makati and Manila Skyline. :okay:

Maybe someone here can sneak in that condo and take a pano of all the visible skylines there. :colgate:

Manansala seems like it's hidden in those trees.

Hey, nice pic there renell, I love the first one kahit walang ilaw yung Rizal Tower.

I guess that pic is taken in Globe Telecom Towers.

Gateway Residences will also have that same great view of Makati since it's just beside Globe Telecom Towers.

Manansala seems like it's hidden in those trees.

No, Manansala is the one on the left of Pacific Plaza.

renell...that second picture is nice. too bad it looks like a gif picture (even though its a jpg)...not enough colors.

yup...Manansala is the one on the left of Pacific Towers. picture is decieving.

No, not Sta Mesa Heights, QC.
It's Sta Mesa, Manila, the one with a lot of Motels. hehe
To be precise, it's along Ramon Magsaysay/Aurora blvd. and Araneta Ave.

Motels huh? I wouldn't know about that.... hem hem.

renell...that second picture is nice. too bad it looks like a gif picture (even though its a jpg)...not enough colors.

yup...Manansala is the one on the left of Pacific Towers. picture is decieving.

Yeah, really weird angle, it makes Manansala look very far from the rest of Rockwell's residentials.

No, Manansala is the one on the left of Pacific Plaza.

oh right. it looks like it is smaller than Rizal Tower. maybe only 150m.

ryan, i was actually expecting a small photo.

btw...I posted pictures of the whole Metro skyline in the MM thread.. Check it out!:)

suggestion lang, you can see a much clearer version of the 'sm centerpoint view' of the cbd if u take a pic atop d new makati city hall along jp rizal, ul see how so dense the makati skyline is even w/o the rockwell area on the pic:->

hey renell, i think that pic has been posted b4, ganda ng rockwell pic, looks like the skylines in hongkong & singapore, deceiving ba? hehe...foreigners would never ever thought its manila...our skylines are underrated

Picture taken from TIME magazine. Shows the skyline along with the shantytowns. Rich and poor picture.

http://a740.g.akamai.net/f/740/606/1d/image.pathfinder.com/time/asia/magazine/2004/0823/philip.jpg

The actual magazine shows a much bigger version of that picture.

at least you can clearly see that metro manila really have a skyline. add some more buildings and it would look like a mountain skyline... the ideal skyline. :D

Hey greyx, do you happen to know what issue of time magazine this is? I kinda now want to read that article, or see the picture in its original state :) And do you happen to have the original, if so may you pleas send me a copy of the original via e mail: oli_oli_84@yahoo.com. SALAMAT PO!

boybaha knows that place where Centerpoint is...have you been there a lot Mike? i mean where the motels are?
So Thomasian, when did you took that pic? probably a weekend. i also ovserved that that clouds were low lying during that weekend. actually some part of Union bank in Ortigas was covered by clouds. i thought it was a smoke.

wow...that pictures just show other people the big gap between rich and poor in the philippines.

btw, why was that photo on time magazine, did they have an article about the phils or something? thanks

boybaha knows that place where Centerpoint is...have you been there a lot Mike? i mean where the motels are?


I am a virtuous person. I don't often frequent motels. But, I used the area as my shortcut from San Juan to QC.

although i find the picture beautiful, that subject is already a cliche.

I am a virtuous person. I don't often frequent motels. But, I used the area as my shortcut from San Juan to QC.
virtuous ha.. owwws?? :D joke lan kuya..agree na po.

although i find the picture beautiful, that subject is already a cliche.
i agree.

does that photo follow any article?

I posted this before the forum was hacked. I can't remember where I got it but here it is.

http://www.montinola.org/pics/makati.jpg

Wow, it's just like a skyscraper "wall". For some reason, this is surprising to me.

That's a very impressive lineup indeed! :okay: I also like the individual buildings ... just great! :)

well because this part of Makati isn't photographed a lot.

in that "wall", i particularly like Salcedo Park Apartments. it's quite tall too.

does that photo follow any article?

Yes...you want me to post it?

Wow, it's just like a skyscraper "wall". For some reason, this is surprising to me.

Yeah this side is not really photographed a lot. I also love this picture, the line of skyscrapers is awesome. This side is the "back" skyline of Makati, that we usually dont see.

yeah, post the article. is it recent?

Yes, its from the latest issue of TIME.

http://a740.g.akamai.net/f/740/606/1d/image.pathfinder.com/time/asia/magazine/2004/0823/376_philip.jpg

Going For Broke?
Chronic unemployment, a yawning deficit and uncollected taxes are sinking the Philippines
BY MICHAEL SCHUMAN | MANILA

Monday, Aug. 16, 2004
As the chief tax collector in the impoverished Philippines, Guillermo Parayno does not receive a lot of positive feedback. For nearly two years, the 56-year-old commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue has battled tax cheats and rampant corruption, trying to fix a dysfunctional tax system that is so full of holes the country's solvency is threatened. Tired of fighting a losing battle, Parayno finally gave up in late July: he called President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and resigned. "There are still many leakages that have to be plugged," he told Arroyo. "I worry that I won't be able to respond to the expectations of me." But the tough-minded President, who had just been re-elected to a new, six-year term, wasn't prepared to replace him. She responded to Parayno with steely silence, until his resistance crumbled and he withdrew his resignation. "The President knows better," Parayno says of his decision to stay on.

Arroyo knows better than anyone that raising government revenue is one of the crucial challenges her administration faces if she is to keep her electoral-campaign promise to improve the lives of the nation's working poor—and to avoid a potentially disastrous economic crisis. The Philippine economy has long been one of Asia's worst performers, left in the dust while neighbors Thailand and Malaysia have raced ahead. Over the past five years, Philippine GDP growth averaged 3.9%, compared with 6.5% for other developing countries across the region. Chronically high unemployment (currently 13.7%) means about one out of every 10 of the country's 86 million people are compelled to seek work overseas, often in miserable or dangerous circumstances. Jobs are in such short supply that street demonstrators in Manila last week protested a government ban on sending workers to Iraq—a ban Arroyo enacted after Filipino truck driver Angelo de la Cruz was taken hostage by Iraqi insurgents on July 8 and threatened with beheading unless the Philippines withdrew its soldiers. The protesters were undeterred by the bloodshed and kidnappings—they said they were willing to risk their lives for relatively high-paying jobs abroad.

As unpromising as things are for ordinary Philippine workers, they are equally dismal for the government, which has been nursing a budget deficit that has ballooned fourfold since 1998 to $3.6 billion last year. Manila has been borrowing heavily to run the government—since 1998, public-sector debt has increased by 83% to $96.8 billion, a rate of growth that many say is unsustainable. Without significant changes, "we'll have bigger problems down the road," warns deputy central-bank governor Amando Tetangco, "including the possibility of a crisis."

One obvious solution is to boost revenue by repairing the tax system. A large problem is that too many Filipinos treat tax bills like parking tickets—they simply don't pay them. According to credit-ratings agency Standard & Poor's, government revenue amounted to just 14.5% of GDP in 2003, compared with an average of 25.5% in other countries with a similar credit rating. At least 30% of the Philippines' potential tax take is lost to cheats and government corruption each year, according to Standard & Poor's. Only 7 million taxpayers have registered with Parayno's Bureau of Internal Revenue—everyone else either isn't reporting income to the government or has been exempted from paying taxes.

Arroyo, who trained as an economist at Georgetown University, declared in her State of the Nation address last month that her priority is to fix the economy "before it finds itself beyond hope of repair and [the Philippines is] doomed to share the fate of failed nations." She has followed up with a broadside of proposed reforms to eliminate the national budget deficit in six years, including eight new tax measures and other initiatives that she estimates will raise an extra $1.8 billion annually. She wants to change the corporate tax code so that amounts owed would be determined by gross rather than net income, which in theory would allow Big Business fewer deductions. She also wants to raise the country's "sin taxes" so that the levy for sales of cigarettes and alcohol keep pace with inflation. (Since 1998, taxes on certain alcohol and cigarette brands have been set by the legislature at fixed amounts.) The tax bureau estimates that this change alone could increase tax receipts by at least $225 million annually.

Not surprisingly, the proposed increases are running into resistance from lawmakers and the public. Persistent press reports that the government wants to impose a small tax on every SMS message sent via a mobile phone drew protests in the capital from opponents arguing that the levy will unduly hurt the poor, who rely on SMS as the cheapest form of communication. The administration later denied an SMS tax was being considered—but that hasn't stopped a group of activists calling itself TXTPower from complaining. "We don't need any new taxes," says Anthony Ian Cruz, one of TXTPower's organizers. "The solution for the government is spending public money more prudently."

Unfortunately for Arroyo, many in the government agree. She needs to pass much of her agenda through Congress, but even her supporters there are arguing that the Philippines needs better tax collection, not more taxes. "The President must rein in the tax terrorists in her Cabinet," says Joker Arroyo (not a relation), a Senator who is usually a key supporter of the President.

Parayno acknowledges that the inability of his understaffed bureau to catch deadbeats is part of the problem. He's been trying to come up with creative ways to strengthen collection and reduce corruption. Tax inspectors now carry wireless handheld computers that enable them to instantly check the tax status of any company or restaurant they visit by tapping into a database. To smoke out sticky-fingered tax officials, Parayno is employing "lifestyle checks" that compare their homes and cars with what they can afford on their government salaries. He is also stepping up efforts against people suspected of evading taxes. Last month, the Supreme Court revived a 1994 case against cigarette magnate Lucio Tan, one of the country's richest men. The government alleges that Tan owes about $460 million in unpaid taxes, interest and penalties. (A spokesman at Tan's Fortune Tobacco didn't return TIME's phone calls seeking comment but his lawyers have consistently denied the charges.) More investigations seem likely. "Businessmen must adopt an attitude of tax acceptance, not tax avoidance," President Arroyo recently lectured. "They must stop trying to outrun the tax collector."

Parayno has had some success. Tax revenues are 10% higher so far this year than in the same period in 2003. But squeezing a populace that in general doesn't have much money can only get the Arroyo administration so far. Ultimately, Arroyo must kick-start economic growth. Although the country has scored a few successes—the Philippines, like India, has tapped into the global trend for outsourcing and now has some 60,000 people manning call centers—meager investment is holding the economy back. Net foreign direct investment totaled a mere $161 million in 2003, down from $1.7 billion in 2002.

The terrorist bombings, kidnappings and endemic corruption that plague the Philippines keep foreign investors at bay, but so do restrictive laws. For example, the country has some of the richest deposits of gold, copper and other minerals in the world—natural resources that could be developed using foreign capital. But the Philippine mining industry is stunted by a law enshrined in the constitution that limits foreign investment in mining projects to only 40%. As a result, the country exports only about $630 million of minerals a year, even though the government sees a potential of $5 billion. In January, the Supreme Court dealt another blow to the sector when it ruled that the government cannot circumvent the law by offering foreign investors service contracts allowing them greater control over mining operations than the constitution permits. (The government is appealing the decision.)

Meanwhile, Manila's rising deficit and government debt load is making investors and officials jittery. The country "is definitely on the watch list," says Peter Marber, president of the Atlantic, an emerging-markets money-management firm in New York City. "Investors want to see a reversal of the deteriorating conditions." Nobody expects the economy to suddenly implode and the government to default as Argentina's did in 2001-02. But if the Philippines' debt burden continues to grow, Manila's creditworthiness could come under pressure, impairing its ability to borrow and ultimately making it necessary for the government to beg creditors for new terms. In a worst-case scenario, the consequences could be severe: a weakened currency, stalled investment and higher unemployment. How much time the Philippines has before this happens is hard to determine, but Arroyo's new government clearly needs to act fast, says Agost Benard, an associate director at Standard & Poor's: "There is no room for complacency. If they don't show they can enact reforms, that will be very bad for sentiment."

And for citizens. More than 40% of the country's population lives on $2 or less a day—and with 28% of the government budget being used just to make interest payments, there is little money left over to help the poor. Ten years ago, 31% of the national budget was spent on economic-development programs such as school and road construction. That figure fell to 19% in 2003. At the Pasay East High School, a dilapidated two-story building in one of the poorest districts of Manila, 5,000 students share just 34 classrooms and books are scarce. Half of the students have to arrive at 5:30 a.m.—with so little space, the school runs classes in two shifts each day. "I see no hope ahead," laments Juanita Hizbola, head of the social studies department.

Similar despair is felt by Angelo de la Cruz, the 46-year-old truck driver and father of eight who became famous last month for being kidnapped in Iraq. De la Cruz, who was released after Arroyo agreed to pull the country's 51 troops out of Iraq, risked his neck driving oil tankers in battle-scarred cities like Fallujah for $8 a day because he could find no equally lucrative work in the Philippines. "I knew Iraq was dangerous," he says, "but I had no choice." Back home in his ramshackle village of Buena Vista, his high profile hasn't provided him with a job. "I don't know what I'm going to do here," he frets. Arroyo saved his life. Now her challenge is to make life better for millions of Filipinos just like him.

—With reporting by Nelly Sindayen/Manila


From the Aug. 23, 2004 issue of TIME Asia Magazine

*sigh*

*sigh*

I know...pretty negative article isnt it? I wish they said more positives, besides that one paragraph.

Hopefully GMA can do it. All she needs is everyone's support. If we can do that, things will turn around for the Philippines.

LOL i kno it makes things look hopeless :(.. but lets hope GMA can really change things around.. its up to her now and i'm sure she'll contribute to things positively, she's sorta not like all "the others" eh.. well lets hope so :) i mean, she WAS at Georgetown right? :D

That article is very one-sided. It seeks to portray the Philippines in a bad light. Heck, other countries have those problems too!

And I tell you, if you were to list all the countries in the world and rank them according to who are Better-Off and who are Worse-Off (the better off will be on top and the worst off will be at the bottom)....I guarantee you the Philippines will still be at the top half...maybe even near the top quarter. I mean...is there famine in the country? is there pestilence in the country? is there even chaos in the country? When you read articles like these, it would look as if there is...when in fact, there is relative peace and prosperity in the country.

The Philippines has been blessed with a lot of things, but we sure do a bad thing of appreciating these things.

^exactly! Somehow, the media keeps picking on the Philippines. Probably because we are the only country that was close to becoming developed, but fell.

well, i'm guessin the answer lies in the 80's.. During the Cold-war, it was in the "US's interests" that Marcos was in power, and when he was taken out, so too did Western media support LOL up till today we are viewed as an unstable country, and in SOME ways we are, but we are like the rest of this world, INCLUDING Thailand and Malaysia (Rebel wars, Poverty esp in the rural areas, and govt corruption plague their countries too) which were soo "praised" in that article :rant:

and a short message to the western medium: for goodness sake STOP PICKIN on our country: the cold war is OVER! the Philippines isnt a neo-vietnam to u! its OK for where it is in comparison to where it COULD be today. The philippines is a success story of independant reliance, so just respect that already; EMPATHY helps :rant:

they can pick on our country all they want; it makes them feel better about themselves. But that article has some grain of truth, and that should be taken seriously.

Yeah, thats true.

But anyways, lets go back to showing how nice our country is:D Here are some more of my photos!:)

Ayala Tower One with Enterprise:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/93Tower1-Enterprise.jpg

Philam Life Tower with JG Summit
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/93Philamlife_Tower.jpg

RCBC Plaza with the Columns U/C
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/93RCBC-Columns.jpg

Makati Skyline at sunset seen from BGC:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/93Sunset_BGC.jpg

I just love the view from FBGC approaching Kalayaan interchange...

And how I wish someday there would be a metro or a monorail traversing Makati's CBD like KL's Monorail...

Nice pics, as always! :) Yeah, the view of the Makati skyline from the BGC is glorious and awe-inspiring.

Hey Whts That Almost Finish Slim Tall Tower Behind The Pacific Tower

thanks for the photos (GREYX) :) keeps me up to date what makati looks like.

nice pics ryan. keep those coming. the columns looks almost topped out, tower one that is.

^exactly! Somehow, the media keeps picking on the Philippines. Probably because we are the only country that was close to becoming developed, but fell.

I agree it is the media that made the Philippines underrated. :bash:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/93RCBC-Columns.jpg

hey ryan, what was on that billboard that was cut-out in the right?

^

Whoa, are those pine trees ?!

nice rendering!thanks for sharing that pics.!u

hmm... im not sure. do pine trees grow in MM's climate and conditions?

The answer is yes they do! Those who remember the days when SM Centerpoint was not around will be able to affirm that at one time, Araneta Avenue was lined with pine trees. Although this could be another case of my memories playing tricks with me.

@ renell...i think that billboard shows the rendering of the u/c new Makati Central Police Station right next to the Fire station. Its pretty nice, with a helipad. It has a sleek modern design.

cool. fire and the police stations nearby. :)

Pine trees do grow in MM. The part of A.H. Lacson st. (formerly Forbes) infront of UST is lined with pine trees.
I think Araneta ave. still has pine trees.

I haven't been to BGC , from that picture , bakit marami yatang electric post at ground level ? It would be nicer if the electrical network are underground.
Are most of those electrical network at ground level or underground in BGC?

I haven't been to BGC , from that picture , bakit marami yatang electric post at ground level ? It would be nicer if the electrical network are underground.
Are most of those electrical network at ground level or underground in BGC?

BGC's developed areas have underground powerlines. The above ground powerlines you see are temporary lines in the not yet developed parts of BGC.

@ renell - yeah it is a cool police station. Pretty amazing that they will have a helipad, which means there will be police choppers.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/93Makati_night-med.jpg

E wala naman mganda pic dito kundi etong nilagay ko, makati picture pa kayo! joke lang po hehe, be sport? kelan kaya makakaron ng napakataas at napakagandang skyscraper dito sa pinas tulad ng kl, taipei at dubai. mind you sa 2010 nasa dubai ang pinakamataas, 160 stories at 750 meters ang ht, WOW!

oh eto tingnan nyo na lang uli!

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/93Makati_night-med.jpg

So again fellow filipinos, when do you think our country will be appearing on world map of tallest skycraper, thailand, malaysia and jakarta are way ahead of us. CAn anybody answer this question pls?

di ba dapat merong ala WTC na nasa gitna ng skyline?

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/93Makati_night-med.jpg

maybe if our economy improves soon....

barndo2004
maybe when gilarmi (200+) would be built, it should be somewhere in the middle of that photo above. yeah hopefully the GMA could deal with the increasing budget defecit.

Brando....I TOOK THAT PICTURE!!! Where did you get it from? I posted it in this forum long time ago.

Also, the countries you mentioned are not that advanced compared to us. We are more advanced that Jakarta.

Please check out all the pics in the forum...:)

sabi na nga ba parang nakita ko na yung pic na yun a long long time ago. i was actually thinking maybe, brando lives in the same apartment as greyx. hahaha. :D

what is that spam? :sly:

sabi na nga ba parang nakita ko na yung pic na yun a long long time ago. i was actually thinking maybe, brando lives in the same apartment as greyx. hahaha. :D
oo nga po. hehehe. :jk:

Also, the countries you mentioned are not that advanced compared to us. We are more advanced that Jakarta.

Please check out all the pics in the forum...:)


we are? wow... that's good to know. all the while I though their lives were better. well, except for the their domestic economy which is definitely larger and stronger...

we are? wow... that's good to know. all the while I though their lives were better. well, except for the their domestic economy which is definitely larger and stronger...

Actually, our domestic economy is becoming very large also.

With almost US$8 billion being absorbed by the Philippine economy from the OFWs every year, plus the locally-generated revenue - you can see the reason why giant malls, towering skyscrapers, and residential subdivisions are being built in the country at breakneck speed.

we are? wow... that's good to know. all the while I though their lives were better. well, except for the their domestic economy which is definitely larger and stronger...
sadly, you're not alone. most filipinos do have the tendency to think that the philippines is the worst place in the world.

surprisingly though, most filipinos living abroad are more optimistic about the philippines than those actually living *in* the philippines. my theory is, these overseas filipinos realize that the world outside the philippines isn't as good as we hoped it would be.

don't get me wrong. lots of amazing countries out there but definitly "not as good as advertised". the filipino will always come home to the philippines.

yes... right here in this place that we called home... :hug: :banana2:

Views from BGC. future residents there might see similar views
http://www.realpropertyphils.com/v02.jpg
http://www.realpropertyphils.com/v04.jpg

renell...that's a great view and i bet unit owners og fairways tower would have that view, i only could imagine the views from metro pacific plaza overlooking makati skyline.

Thats an awesome view...Pacific Towers also have a similar view (maybe even wider because they are in the center west of BGC. But you also need to pay the price for that kind of view...;)

I made a header of the Makati skyline, hope it gets approved by the administrator. Here it is:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/cdude/makati.jpg

Wow, pwede pala yun. Good luck, sana nga ma-approve yan.

Kiel...let me suggest one improvement. The middle picture is mine right? You should capture the top of those skyscrapers instead... Otherwise, its a job well done. Jan already said it was excellent:)

nice!
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/93Makati_night-med.jpg

Thanks raffles...i took that picture;)

Kiel...let me suggest one improvement. The middle picture is mine right? You should capture the top of those skyscrapers instead... Otherwise, its a job well done. Jan already said it was excellent:)

Shit, I haven't saved it as a .psd, I'll just do that :)

EDIT: here it is :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/cdude/makati2.jpg

take your pick: 1 or 2. ;)

edmundtanso
what's gilarmi, do u have any info about this bldg? is this officially proposed? any pic?

greyx
really, wow nice shot, do you have any pic of makati that i can look at
by the way, are you from here, pinoy ba you?

greyx
are you a filipino?

I like the second one, a lot better than the first one.
Keep it up kiel. Maybe you can enlarge a little the label "Makati Philippines", it's quite hard to read.

kiel
your header is wow, but i think it will be much better if the upper outline of the makati skyscrapers is seen so that you see that they are really imposing. what do you think?

kiel
now i see the edited one, wow awesome!

thomasian

I think the label would be better as "Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines". Most foreigners confuse because we normally said Makati, Phils. Manila is the capital after all.

rafflescity
do you know that the pic you posted is not taken from singapore?

@brandon do you know that you can always edit your original post rather than posting different messages consecutively?

why do i need to edit it?

With the comment about the small heading of Makati, Philippines, I'm really sorry but I can't edit the image anymore :( I didn't save it in a PSD file. I'll happily make another one soon though :D Making headers are quite fun.

kiel
Can you pls tell me what's your site about?

hey kiel
if you make another one, kindly make sure that the label is "Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines". I think that's the right one.

@brando: oh sure, I'll be more than happy to make that. :)

Sorry to tell you this, but could you please put all what you've said in one post instead of making two? Thanks ;)

My site is mostly a blog site, where I post my opinions on several things including Philippine current events. Also, I tell the readers about my daily life and teen issues that are most common nowadays. I also have a literary section and a culinary blog in my site, so just visit to see it yourself.

People, do you know that bangkok has a 85 storey skycraper?

why do i need to edit it?
coz you can always put all of your messages in a single post? :)

coz you can always put all of your messages in a single post? :)

Unless you want your number of posts to increase quickly.

People, do you know that bangkok has a 85 storey skycraper?

yeah, i'm aware of that. and what's you're point? imo, the Baiyoke Tower II isn't the best 85-storey tower out there. it's pretty ugly.

rafflescity
do you know that the pic you posted is not taken from singapore?

Of course he does!! He's been in this forum for a long time.

@ Brando - Yes, we know a lot about skyscrapers from all over the world. Most of us have been in this forum for 2, 3 and 4 years.
And can you not post many posts consecutively..just post them in one single post.
And, yes i am pinoy. But i dont live in the Philippines. I go home once/twice a year. Most of us are pinoys, and a lot of us live abroad.

@ Kiel - The second one is much better...thanks!:)

Shit, I haven't saved it as a .psd, I'll just do that :)

EDIT: here it is :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/cdude/makati2.jpg

take your pick: 1 or 2. ;)

i think id prefer the first one not showing the top of the buildings. nway, i think i took that photo 2nd from right. hehehe...im not sure tho. good job!

Pine trees do grow in MM. The part of A.H. Lacson st. (formerly Forbes) infront of UST is lined with pine trees.
I think Araneta ave. still has pine trees.

i remember not so sure thoug my school de la salle taft has pine trees

People, do you know that bangkok has a 85 storey skycraper?

yes the baiyoke tower its the tallest hotel in the world but not sure now

i don't think it's the world's tallest hotel..

Yeah, I think the tallest hotel is the one in Dubai, forget the name, but baiyoke was once the tallest hotel, correct me if i'm wrong, but that's what i think?

bangkok claim of having the tallest hotel. id guess it's not Burj Al Arab...(sp?)

According to Emporis, Burj Al Arab is the tallest operating hotel building in the world, height of 321 meters (1053 ft.) and the Baiyoke Tower II is only 304 meters (997 ft.). But by looks the Baiyoke II looks way taller, I never thought that Burj Al Arab is that tall, it looks so short, but it looks HELLA nice! However, I think this will be over taken again later, by another Abu Dhabi scraper, its going to be 1093 ft --> the Abbco Rotana Hotel.

Oh yeah why can't we do that, what their doing at Abu Dhabi, its so cool, their proposed The Pinacle at Palm Island is so amazing, and so TALL!!!, and also the Burj Dubai, even just half the size of those two will be so perfect in MM!

because the rulers of oil-rich Dubai have a hell lot of money. ;)

because the rulers of oil-rich Dubai have a hell lot of money. ;)

yes and they are now going to build the tallest skyscraper in the world called the burj dubai that will dwarf the emirates towers currently the tallest bldgs in dubai

so is that Burj Dubai official? that's gonna one hell of a scraper in the desert....

check their site http://www.emaar.com/new/projects_burjdubai.html

i think it's official. the Arabs claims a fame and dohave these materialize.
well, Burj Al Arab is tall because of its pinnacle (mast)...

well.. Burj Al Arab, I think is in Guiness as the tallest hotel in the world with the all floors dedicated as hotel.... and it is the first 7-star hotel... :D

7-star hotel? what are the features that make it worth two star more?

7-star hotel? what are the features that make it worth two star more?

ITS AN ALL SUITE HOTEL AND THE CHEAPEST SUITE U CAN GET AROUND 700 USD PER DAY, THE MOST EXPENSIVE IS THE S.D. PALACE SUITE COSTS 7000 USD PER NT

well they can price it as much as they can, what's new inside it? all suite hotel, meaning fully serviced?

i thought before that it was 8-star! i think the standards make it 2 star more than usual.

coz you can always put all of your messages in a single post? :)
:lol: ang kulit nyo ni brando. haha.

ITS AN ALL SUITE HOTEL AND THE CHEAPEST SUITE U CAN GET AROUND 700 USD PER DAY, THE MOST EXPENSIVE IS THE S.D. PALACE SUITE COSTS 7000 USD PER NT
whhooow!

And the facilities and interior of Burj al Arab are ultra luxurious!

well they can price it as much as they can, what's new inside it? all suite hotel, meaning fully serviced?

go to google and check their site and see for urself

Shit, I haven't saved it as a .psd, I'll just do that :)

EDIT: here it is :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/cdude/makati2.jpg

take your pick: 1 or 2. ;)

Make this into a postcard. I'll be your first customer. :weirdo:

I wanna see this at the national bookstore. :jk:

there should be copyright permissions tho...hahaha...just kidding. you may just have it printed out on a photographic paper @ rmb...but of course, you got to ask Kiel's permission.

I liked that Burj for its different structure which is patterned on to a sail and it is on a manmade island and it being too luxurious.... it's definitely a site to see in Dubai... I'm glad to see the Burj in the Amazing Race...:D

just my observation, ayala land kinda likes the color green.....one roxas is green, one legaspi is green, regency at salcedo is green, oakwood is green, tower one is green.....

well depends on what time of day you look at it. most of the time i see Tower One, it's black.

during the afternoon, if you are directly behind the sun, the visible color is kind of shifted to the longer wavelength of colors...or in layman's term, they look reddish or orangish. if the sun is directly overhead...a lot of towers look green and blue. well, most curtain walls are blue or green.

blue
- PB COm
- Citibank
- The World Center
- Equitable Bank Tower
- Skyplaza

green
- Petron MP
- Fraser Place
- ORT
- OLP
- Robinson's Summit
- RCBC
- Export Plaza

plus some others...

Export Plaza always looks green in photos, RCBC and Petron MP change colors.

even the upcoming the residences is green....wala na bang ibang color na pwede nilang ilagay

Make this into a postcard. I'll be your first customer. :weirdo:

I wanna see this at the national bookstore. :jk:

hahah :D gusto mo ba talaga? LOL.

i'd put it in my website if it was a bit more bigger. :)

i especially like the design of the regency at salcedo....esp the concave facade fronting the velasquez park

Ayala Tower One is green sometimes, blue at other times and greyish once in a while. I like the facade they use.

i think ayala tower one's facade is made of green marbles

ei, they're using the banner now... :okay:

damn... beautiful!!!! hehe :)

wow! GANDA NG BANNER!!! congrats sa ting lahat!!!!

ei, they're using the banner now... :okay:

damn missed it,:cry:

hooray! PINOY PRIDE :D

awesome. how'd it get there? :)

hehe... Divine Intervention? :)

hahaha. astig.

No...Kiel submitted to Jan. And I approved:)
Actually i wanted the other version, that shows the top of the buildings...but oh well.

Part two of the famous Makati City thread. Continue all discussion and post all new pictures here.

You can view the original Makati City in Pictures thread here: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=96151

I have to lock this thread now...it is beyond its limits:)

Here's the url to the second Makati thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=131672

I will move this thread to the Forum archive in a week's time (Sept 12).

Okie Dokie :okay:

http://skyscrapercity.com/images/forumheaders/5.jpg
^ ^ eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! :D:D:D

yehey. astig. naka part 2 na tayo ng makati city in pics and nailagay pa sa banner ung image na gawa ng taga rito. astig. :cheers:

wow, that was fast:D anyways do i still get credit for this thread... lol:D

btw, i still have a couple more pics left unloaded. but my imagestation account days are numbered, so i'm thinking of putting them just instead in my geocities account

Wahhhhh....i missed that day when the banner shows makati skyline.

so for now, we'll have to make do with sightings of makati in the web...
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/AFP/SGE_GZB30_060904033340_00_245x196.jpg
Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific_business/view/105155/1/.html

Rockwell seems like it's a favorite for them "skyline and slums" shots.

some pix I took last July...

Dusit Nikko Hotel
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid132/p94d2276efccb64d0a57ace4c03e0aace/f7996688.jpg

Makati at dusk
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid132/pfbbc202424ded6906563b3b50dbeb2ef/f79966a8.jpg

Oakwood Centre
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid132/pbba285db4fd83d4e617534786ea8dd2e/f7996673.jpg

quite blurred but in the middle of this pic is Shang Grand back in July... but as of today, construction has now passed the building (smaller) beside BSA...
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid132/p2af0e980d1b5d749c9fd038b97c603a6/f79965c6.jpg

Rockwell seems like it's a favorite for them "skyline and slums" shots.
must be because it's so near the slums of mandaluyong unlike ayala center which is surrounded by upscale villages.

i just read the final posts of the former thread, where are the forum archives? and does that mean the Philippine sections post count is reduced by 739?