Commercial Properties for Rent in Manila

 

Manila: The Country’s Exceptional Capital

 

The Philippine Commission Act 183 of July 31, 1901 declared the city as the first chartered city in the country. It is second to the most populous city in the Philippines and was once the world’s most densely populated city proper. Manila is the center of the country’s economic, political, social and cultural activities. Originally, it was named Maynilad, hence, the name of the passage “Lagusnilad” that can be found at the entry point of Taft Avenue near the city’s municipal hall, which is famous for its architectural design. According to GMA News, Manila City Hall can be mistaken as a coffin, but in fact it modeled from the Knights Templar that represents the Catholic Church. The city is also home to the first and oldest zoo in Asia, the Manila Zoo, which was established in 1959. Its nature being a city by the port and the country’s capital, makes acquiring a commercial property for rent in Manila a worthy investment. 

 

Places to Go Around Manila 

 

Luneta Park/ Rizal Park (then, Bagumbayan)

 

The most widely held park in the Philippines, Luneta or the Rizal Park rests at the heart of Manila in the northern part of Roxas Boulevard, bounded by Padre Burgos Drive, Manila Bay, T.M. Kalaw Avenue and Taft Avenue. It was designed and constructed during the American colonial period of the Philippines through Act No. 243 which was approved by the United States Philippine Commission by the authority of the United States President Theodore Roosevelt on September 28, 1901. As told in the history books, Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal was shot here by a firing squad on December 30, 1896 and his remains were buried in an unmarked grave in the adjacent Paco Cemetery.

Luneta has been popular to park goers because of the unhindered peace and leisure it offers to everyone who visits the place. Also, there are loads of commercial properties around the park and with the heavy foot traffic, businesses in the area are very demanding.

The tallest flagpole in the country can also be found in Rizal Park. The Independence Flagpole stands 351-foot tall in front of the Rizal Monument and across the former is the marble marker with a Kilometer Zero (KM 0) engraving, the point of origin for calculating the distance going to provinces and cities in the Philippines.

 

Let the Walls Tell the History: The Walled City in the City

 

This 0.67-square-kilometer historical walled area in the City of Manila literally translates to the Latin word for “inside the walls' '. Intramuros was regarded as the religious and educational center of the Spanish East Indies. The original campuses of the University of Santo Tomas and the Ateneo de Manila were in Intramuros before relocating in 1927 and 1932, respectively. Until this day, main campuses of the prominent educational institutions such as Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Map  University, Philippine Nautical Training Colleges, the Colegio de Santa Rosa, University of the City Of Manila and the Manila Science High School.

The Battle of Manila in 1945 entirely flattened Intramuros. As the occupying Japanese Imperial Army made their last stance against the victorious pains of Allied soldiers and Filipino guerrillas during the World War II, heavy artillery bombing devastated its eight churches, walls, universities, houses, and government buildings established for centuries in Spanish colonial architecture; only the San Agustín Church, the oldest remaining upright church in the Philippines, survived the bombing of Manila and was later made a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Though restoration efforts began immediately after the war, many of its original landmarks are still lost today. In the Intramuros Administration, the city is still in the course of postwar restoration and revitalization of its cultural heritage.

 

National Museum of Anthropology, History, and Fine Arts

 

As visiting museums has become a trend among youngsters, the National Museum of Anthropology can be found in Padre Burgos Avenue, Ermita, nearby the Manila City Hall and the commercial establishment of SM Manila. During the World War II, the stability of reinforced concrete buildings to withstand impact force of artillery fire and bombing were tested such that the building’s northeast walls and roofs collapsed, fell and bowed. It was reconstructed in 1949, keeping its original building footprint and five-story height. Classic symmetry is best represented in the architecture of the two identical buildings designed by Antonio Mañalac Toledo.

 

One of the World’s Ultimate Harbors: Manila Bay

 

The Manila Bay is legendary for sunset watching with its perfectly clear view of the South China Sea. The northern and northeastern shore of the bay connects Luzon’s central plain. There, the bay is narrow and lined by the mudflats and mangrove swamps of the delta of the Pampanga River, site of the largest commercial fishponds in the Philippines. The tidal range in this body of water is only moderate and most of the bay is between 30 and 120 feet (10 and 40 meters) deep.

 

Manila Ocean Park

 

Manila Ocean Park is the country’s first world-class marine theme park and a first-class educational facility divided into seven segments. It contains 3,000 cubic meters of sea water obtained from Manila Bay and it is larger than that of Singapore’s Sentosa Underwater World. The Oceanarium is home to over 13,000 sea creatures from around 277 species that are native to Southeast Asia.

 

The First-ever SM Store is Here and Still Standing!

 

SM Supermalls modestly started as a Shoemart, a small shoe store in Carriedo in 1958, which then grew into SM Department Store with a loop of shops across Metro Manila during 1960s up to 1970s. They also started selling home appliances and ventured into supermarket businesses. In 1985, the opening of their first supermall, SM City North Edsa, adorned their full adoption of the status of a shopping mall chain. Did you know? SM Quiapo, also known as the SM Clearance Outlet and SM Carriedo, is the first SM Store launched in November 1972. It has been renovated and reopened as SM Clearance Store. There are also several SM Supermalls branches throughout the city, such as SM Sta. Mesa (then, SM Centerpoint), SM San Lazaro, and SM Manila.

 

Why Buy a Commercial Property in Manila?

 

Numerous Embassies and Consulates Flourish in the City

 

The Holy See Apostolic Nunciature can be found here, along Taft Avenue; while these foreign embassies and honorary consulates are located in Manila, among others:

 

·       Belizean Honorary Consulate (Belize)

·       Burkinese Honorary Consulate (Burkina Faso)

·       Embassy of the United States of America

·       Embassy of Japan

·       Embassy of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta

·       Honorary Consulate of Tunisia

·       Embassy of Vietnam

 

Seeming Center for Travel and Manpower Agencies and Financial Institutions

 

There is an overabundance of travel and manpower agencies in the city and branches of major financial institutions abound, including the head office of the Philippine government’s official depository bank the Land Bank of the Philippines. Ermita is known to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) particularly seafarers as the MARINA or Maritime Industry Authority under the Department of Transportation, because the latter is tasked to oversee the implementation of the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers as per Executive Order No. 75, series of 2012.

 

Distinguished and Notable Educatinal Institutions

 

The City of Manila is known for being home to prominent schools and universities including that of the oldest university not only in the Philippines but in Asia, the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Sampaloc, Manila. In the famous U-Belt or the University Belt, you can find the following schools, colleges and universities in the district of San Miguel, Sampaloc and Santa Cruz:

·       Arellano University

·       Centro Escolar University

·       Chinese General Hospital Colleges

·       College of the Holy Spirit Manila

·       De Ocampo Memorial College

·       Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology

·       Far Eastern University

·       FEATI University

·       FEU Institute of Technology

·       Guzman College of Science and Technology

·       La Consolacion College Manila

·       Manila Business College

·       Manila Law College

·       Manuel L. Quezon University

·       Mary Chiles College

·       Metropolitan Medical Center College of Arts, Science and Technology

·       National Teachers College

·       National University

·       Perpetual Help College of Manila

·       Philippine College of Criminology

·       Philippine College of Health Sciences

·       Philippine Merchant Marine School

·       Philippine School of Business Administration

·       Philsin College Foundation

·       PMI Colleges

·       Polytechnic University of the Philippines

·       Saint Jude College

·       Saint Rita College

·       San Beda University

·       San Sebastian College–Recoletos

·       Santa Catalina College

·       STI College–Recto

·       STI-NAMEI

·       Technological Institute of the Philippines

·       The University of Manila

·       Unciano Colleges

·       University of the East

Meanwhile, other prominent universities are situated along Taft Avenue, expanding from Malate to Ermita, such as the following:

·       Adamson University

·       De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde

·       De La Salle University

·       Emilio Aguinaldo College

·       Philippine Christian University

·       Philippine Normal University

·       Philippine Women's University

·       Saint Paul University Manila

·       Santa Isabel College Manila

·       St. Scholastica's College Manila

·       Technological University of the Philippines

·       Universidad de Manila

·       University of the Philippines Manila

Within Intramuros, these old yet gold universities can also be found:

·       Colegio de San Juan de Letran

·       Colegio de Santa Rosa

·       Lyceum of the Philippines University

·       Mapúa University

·       PNTC Colleges

·       Universidad De Manila

·       Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

Aside from the numerous presence of educational institutions, sold commercial properties are also easily acquired due to the condensed population of the city making it viable for businesses.

 

Where to rent a commercial property in Manila City?

 

Being thickly populated, it adds up to the fast turn-over of commercial properties sold in this city. Every commercial property sold in Manila is well-equipped with air conditioning, 24-hour security with CCTV monitoring, elevators, executive restrooms, function rooms and ample parking space. These commercial properties are guaranteed to be PEZA-accredited, which means businesses with this certification are entitled to fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.

 

Binondo

 

Like the other districts in Manila, there are lots of commercial properties in Binondo, Manila. Near this district are hotels and dormtels that accommodate students and even foreign nationals, too. Commercial properties here are not only rented but purchased as well by foreign fellows who plan on establishing businesses in the country. This is also where Divisoria, the most famous market for a wide selection of general merchandise, is located. This location is also a known spot where Chinese nationals inhabit, and they were able to establish themselves and have even bought commercial properties and put up successful business.

 

Malate

 

Malate is the neighboring district of Paco, Manila. This part of the City of Manila is where commercial establishments such as bars and restaurants are very rich. Together with Ermita, it serves as the city’s hub of commerce and tourism.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Renting a Commercial Property in Manila City

 

How to Get to the City of Manila?

 

The City of Manila is easily accessible by bus or train. From Quezon City, jeepneys and buses mostly ply the main thoroughfare of Quezon Avenue connecting to España Boulevard. One can also take the LRT Line 1 from Monumento Station and get off at any of the stations that run through the city. For tourists, this is the best way to get to Manila since it is easy to walk along the roads since a lot of commuters take the same route.

 

Is it safe to work in Manila?

 

The City Government of Manila actively promotes peace and order in the city through its barangays. The city government has various sustainable livelihood programs for its citizens for them to be self-sufficient. It also engages the youth in various activities like sports to properly lead them to the right path and avoid prohibited activities.