The Story of Ayala Triangle: Center of a Rising Business District

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As the airport operations at Nielson Field have closed down by the 1950s, around the same time, plans were being made to convert the Zobel de Ayala-owned hacienda (where the airfield is located) into a modern business district, giving birth to the Makati Central Business District. As structures began to sprout left and right, the old airfield which became a triangular open space found itself in the middle of all this development.

However, it took a while for any development to be seen in the area. Apart from the Nielson Tower, the rest of the triangular space was pretty much a barren open space which sometimes was used as a football field. That football field evemtually became known as Ugarte Field, named after Sebastian Ugarte, a legendary figure in Philippine football. (and by the way, his family is related to the Zobel de Ayala, Aboitiz, and a number of Spanish mestizo families in the country)

But it would not be long for the Zobel de Ayala conglomerate to establish their presence in this piece of land, kicking off what would be a long association they would have with this triangular space.

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The Story of Ayala Triangle: Beginnings as Nielson Field

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If open spaces are considered the soul of a city, then there is little doubt that Ayala Triangle serves as the soul of Makati, especially the central business district area. In a way, such distinction is fitting as it also happens to be an open space with a rich history of almost 80 years and counting, having undergone many transformations into what it is today, not to mention what is to become of it.

Today, the Urban Roamer presents to you this mini-series that details the past, the present, and the foreseen future of this triangular patch of land in the middle of Makati,

BIRTH OF AN AIRFIELD

an aerial photograph of Nielson Field (courtesy of Timawa.net)

The beginnings of Ayala Triangle is itself a milestone in not only in the history of what is now the Metropolitan Manila area but also in the history of Philippine aviation as a whole when in July 1937, Nielson Field was opened to become Manila’s first airport. At that time, it was already considered the biggest and best-equipped airport in Asia, having two runways which still exist today but as major thoroughfares now, Paseo de Roxas and a portion of Ayala Avenue.

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BAHAY Buffet: A Barbecue Buffet at the South

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These days, there are so many weekend food venues and buffet restaurants sprouting all over the metropolis that’s it’s hard even for the Urban Roamer to keep track. While this may be a testament to how Filipinos love food, there is that concern that these venues don’t have a unique identity or that their menu is basically, more of the same.

Then there is the unique concept of BAHAY Buffet, combining elements of the food market and buffet dining, with its specialty in serving grilled food, the type of food Filipinos find hard to resist.

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Heroism at Zapote Bridge

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Today is National Heroes Day, and we remember on this day the heroism of those who came before us for the freedom and liberty of our country. So today, the Urban Roamer revisits the city of Las Piñas to pay a visit to a certain place there that has bore witness to such heroism more than a century ago.

The place in question is in the barangay of Zapote, at the bridge which connects the Las Piñas with Bacoor in Cavite, where on February 17, 1897 an important battle of the Philippine Revolution took place, now known as the Battle of Zapote Bridge.

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