In the story of modern Las Piñas, one man (and to an extent, family) has managed to put the city on the map and help it progress to what it is today. I’m talking about Manuel Villar, the real estate developer who became member of the House of Representatives and the Senate and a one-time candidate for the Philippine presidency in 2010. He has then gone back to his property development business Vista Land (at least at this time of writing) while wife Cynthia is in the Senate and son Mark is the House of Representatives. (two other children, Paolo and Camille, remain in the business side) Villar has been known for…
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Ideas Immortalized: Telling the Story of the University of the Philippines
The University of the Philippines is one institution that needs no introduction. Just mention UP and people express their awe to show how much they look up to this university, the country’s premier university where many of the country’s brightest minds sprang from. UP’s status and prestige today makes one overlook how far it has come ever since it was established more than a century ago. Then again, not many know the story of the university’s early years, the struggles and the triumphs it encountered during that pioneering period in UP’s history. That was, until the Museum of a History of Ideas opened in UP’s Manila campus last October 22, 2014.
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A Visit to the First United Building Community Museum
So much has been said about Escolta Street and its glory days as a premier center of commerce in Manila, its eventual fall from grace after World War II, and the current efforts to revitalize commercial activity here again. With the state of things in the city these days, such efforts are admittedly a tall order. Nevertheless, the work continues with much vigor and passion, thanks to the various groups and individuals with their unceasing love for Escolta and their common dream to see it reclaim its glory as Manila’s “queen of streets.” One of those stakeholders happen to be the owners of the First United Building, the Syliantengs whose have been deeply rooted in Escolta…
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Roaming McKinley Hill, Part 2 (the businesses, the schools, and the rest)
McKinley Hill was envisioned to be an all-encompassing towmship, which means almost everything you would expect in a city can be found here. Over the years, McKinley Hill would have a supermarketi, convenience stores, most major banks, courier branch, to name a few. As such, McKinley Hill was developed as place where your place of stay, study, and work are located within a single area. Last time, we talked about the residential developments; this time, we will talk about the business buildings and schools in the area, among other things.