The city of Pasig is a highly urbanized eastern city found in the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It was once the capital of Rizal province before it became part of the conurbation of cities that constitute Metro manila, the country’s National Capital Region. It is surrounded by the cities of Quezon and Mandaluyong in the west, Marikina in the north, Makati, Taguig, and the municipality of Pateros in the south, and in the east by the municipality of Cainta in Rizal province. Flowing through it is the Pasig River that connects the Laguna Bay with the Manila Bay. Thus, the name Pasig, derived from a Hindu word, literally denotes a body of water connecting two bodies of water.
Through the years, Pasig has been growing as one of the metro’s important commercial and business centers. The city is the home of eastern and more significant part of Ortigas Center, which it shares with Mandaluyong and Quezon City. It is the country’s second most important district for business and commerce after the Makati Central Business District. Found in it are the headquarters of the Philippine Stock Exchange, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, San Miguel Corporation, Banco De Oro, the Philippine branch of HSBC, and the Asian Development Bank. The Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) is headquartered northwest of the Ortigas Center, just across Ortigas Avenue.
Pasig is easily accessed from EDSA, Metro Manila’s major thoroughfare that links most cities, either via Ortigas Avenue or Shaw Boulevard, and the C5 Road. The most commonly used mode of transportation by its residents are the colorful jeepneys that will go through most of the city’s streets. Alternatively, taxis can also do the same, while access by bus is quite limited as it just passes through the Ortigas Avenue.
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| Old center of Pasig at Pasig City Museum and near the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. |
The City of Pasig (Filipino: Lungsod ng Pasig) is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It used to be the capital of the province of Rizal before Metro Manila was formed. Located along the eastern border of Metro Manila, Pasig is bordered on the west by Quezon City and Mandaluyong City; to the north by Marikina City; to the south by Makati City, Pateros, and Taguig City; and to the east by Antipolo City, the municipality of Cainta and Taytay in the province of Rizal.
Pasig is a primarily residential and industrial city but increasingly becoming a growing commercial area. Being the former capital of Rizal, the old provincial capitol was located in Pasig, in the outskirt of Shaw Boulevard. On its city proper lies the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Metro Manila. Pasig is one of the three municipalities appointed by the diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines (as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pasig).
DIVISIONS
Pasig City is politically subdivided into 30 barangays. Its barangays are grouped into two districts for city council representation purposes. The first district encompasses the southern and western sections of the city, while the second district encompasses the northern and eastern sections.
Economy
The eastern part of the city is where most of Pasig's financial resources are primarily concentrated, including numerous factories, warehouses and commercial facilities flank along E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue (C-5). The western part was dominated mostly with residential areas.
Arguably more significant eastern part of Pasig and west of Mandaluyong lies the Ortigas Center. As one of the top business districts in the Metro Manila, numerous high-rise office buildings, residential condominiums, commercial establishments, schools and malls are located here. The University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), one of the most exclusive universities in the country, is located here. The head office of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines was also established here. Northwest of Ortigas Center is the Meralco Compound, home and head office of Meralco (Manila Electric Company), the largest electrical distribution company in the Philippines. The headquarters of the Philippine Stock Exchange, which is also home to one of trading floors of the country, is located here. The headquarters of San Miguel Corporation, owner of the largest producer of beer in the Philippines, is also located here. Call centers flocked businesses in Ortigas Center since late 90's, a hub for job-seekers and investors. Prominent FM radio stations are established here and has been airing since late 1980s. Due to the businesses and investments Ortigas Center relatively absorbs, the barangay of San Antonio has the largest income for a single local government unit in the Philippines.
Notable along Ortigas Avenue and E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue (C-5) lies Frontera Verde, a newly privately-owned development area which boasts restaurants, pet shops, mall, park, village, office buildings and a small zoo. Prominently Tiendesitas was located here, a shopping complex that can rival the world-renowned Chatuchak market of Bangkok, Thailand. El-Pueblo, a colonial-themed commercial complex in Ortigas Center, provides new concept of cafes, restaurants and bars. Metrowalk (formerly Payanig), a commercial spot along Ortigas Avenue and Meralco Avenue, was established in 2005 near Ortigas Center which comprises shops, depot warehouses, stalls, restaurants and bars.
The Medical City, a private hospital located near Meralco compound along Ortigas Avenue, offers years of experience operation and administration that serves not only the Pasig citizens but also other municipalities.
Education
Rizal High School, one of the biggest secondary schools in the world, is located in Pasig. Formerly hailed in the Guinness World Records as the largest school in student population, it is surpassed by the City Montessori School (CMS) in Lucknow, India.
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig, a state university located in Kapasigan, offers degree courses for poor but bright and deserving residents of Pasig. It is established under the mayoralty of Vicente C. Eusebio in 1999.
Pasig City Science High School (PCSHS) is the first science high school in Pasig. It is located near the Rainforest, a fully-restored public resort that boasts zoo, park, swimming pools and other facilities for public amusement.
The University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) in Ortigas Center, one of the most exclusive educational institution in the country, was established in 1967 and entrusted to Opus Dei as a private think-tank that conducted economic and social research but gradually expanded in other fields.
The Pasig branch of Arellano University Andres Bonifacio Campus located in Caniogan also provides intermediate, secondary and vocational courses.
PhilSports Complex or the Philippine Institute of Sports Complex (formerly ULTRA) is a notable national sports complex of the Philippines. Located in Meralco Avenue, it is where the offices of the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and some National Sports Associations are located.
Pasig Catholic College is a private sectarian college located at the heart of Pasig City, Philippines. It was founded in 1913 as a small school managed by the CICM Fathers headed by Fr. Rouse Stephen Cebreros inside the "convento" (convent) of the then Immaculate Conception Parish (at present, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Pasig City). Moreover, it is considered as the central Catholic educational institution of the Diocese of Pasig.
La Consolacion College-Pasig and Colegio de Buen Consejo. Situated at Mercedes Avenue and at the heart of Pasig City respectively. Founded by the Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation and are among the sister schools of La Consolacion College-Manila.
Transportation
Road Network
Pasig City is accessed by the following major roads:
- Ortigas Avenue
- E. Rodriguez Avenue, Jr. (C-5)
- Julia Vargas Avenue
- Shaw Boulevard
- Marcos Highway
- Amang Rodriguez Avenue
Water Transportation
Pasig City is the location of the east end of Pasig River. It is accessed by Pasig River Ferry Service with 7 stations named after the Barangays of the city beside the river, these are the following:
- Pineda
- San Joaquin
- Bambang
- Kalawaan
- Pinagbuhatan
- Maybunga
- Nagpayong
Bridges
Pasig City is accessed by 2 Pasig and Marikina Rivers. The city has only 8 bridges. These are the following:
- C-5 Bridge - crossing Pasig River
- Manalo Bridge - crossing Marikina River
- Rosario Bridge - crossing Marikina River
- Sandoval Bridge - crossing Marikina River
- Santa Rosa De Lima Bridge - crossing Marikina River
- Bambang Bridge - crossing Napindan Channel
- Napindan Bridge - crossing Napindan Channel
- Kalawaan Bridge - crossing Pasig River
Railway
This city is also served by Santolan Station of LRT-2 along Marcos Highway located in Pasig-Marikina Boundary where the depot is also located.
Residential Places
The different residential areas in Pasig City range from the upper class to the lower middle class. Many of the upper class residents reside in the city’s exclusive gated communities. The most prominent among these, is Valle Verde. It is divided into six phases with its gates situated along the city’s major roadways, such as the Ortigas and E. Rodriguez Jr (C5) Avenues. Its prime location provides quick and easy access to the Ortigas Center, which is just 5 minutes away, The Medical City, shopping centers such as the Tiendesitas, SM Supercenter, Robinsons Galleria, and SM Megamall, as well as to several primary and secondary schools, such as the Poveda Learning Center, La Salle Greenhills, St. Paul College, and Lourdes School of Mandaluyong.
The Ortigas Center also offers prime residences with its many high-rise condominiums. Among these are the Eton Emerald Lofts at the junction of Emerald Avenue, and Garnet and Sapphire Streets, Malayan Plaza located across the Podium and ADB Headquarters, Greenrich Mansion behind the SM Megamall, Megaplaza across Robinsons Galleria, and Cedar Mansion Condominium on J. Escriva Street.
Hospitals and Universities
The city is the home of The Medical city (TMC), one of the region’s prominent private medical centers. The tertiary care hospital’s massive complex of multi-level structures sits in a 1.5 hectare land along Ortigas Avenue, next to the MERALCO Compound. It is composed of two towers connected by bridgeways, where one is currently a 15-level nursing station that holds a capacity of 500 beds. It has an 18-storey building dedicated for diagnostic and intervention facilities, 280 doctors’ clinics, and a multi-level basement parking for its clients and staff.
TMC is one of Metro Manila’s most modern hospitals boasting of its state-of-art medical facilities and specialized units. It specializes in cardiology, neurology, surgery, oncology, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, otolaryngology, psychiatry, ophthalmology and rehabilitation.
Other private hospitals in the city are Javillonar Clinic and Hospital on Dr. Pilapil Street in Sagad, Mary Immaculate Hospital along E. Rodriguez Avenue, Sabater General Hospital on Caruncho Avenue, St. Therese Hospital on C. Raymundo Avenue in Maybunga, and Sto. Niño de San Antonio Maternity and General Hospital along Marcos Hi-way in Dela Paz.
Education
Pasig City has one of the newest and most expensive universities in the Philippines, the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P). It is a private Catholic university that specializes in business, economics, and management. Its roster of undergraduate degrees includes economics, political economy, communication, humanities, industrial economics, management, entrepreneurial economics, and information technology. Its offering of postgraduate courses include master degrees in applied business economics, business economics, industrial economics, management, information technology, political economy, communication, education, and humanities, as well as a doctorate degree in philosophy in development management. It has its campus located along Pearl Drive in the Ortigas Center.
Other private colleges and universities in Pasig are the Development Academy of the Philippines on San Miguel Avenue in the Ortigas Center, Pasig Catholic College in Malinas, St. Paul College, AMA Computer College, and the AU Andres Bonifacio College which is a branch campus of the Arellano University.
Commercial Places
Pasig City is the home of several prime shopping destinations. The most prominent among these, is Tiendesita"s which is located in Barangay Ugong, at the corner of Ortigas Avenue and E. Rodriguez Jr Avenue (C5). Keeping true to its name, which literally means “a collection of little stores”, Tiendesitas is a 30,000 m² shopping complex composed of shops and stores that are grouped according to their merchandise. These groupings are called villages, and they are categorized into Handicraft Villages which showcases export-quality Philippine handicrafts; Fashion Village that exhibits contemporary clothes together with regional products such as cloths, accessories, and footwear; Personal Care and Novelties Village where homegrown organic soaps and oils can be found; Pets village that houses licensed pet dealers and pet care and grooming services; Garden Village that exhibits exotic orchids and other potted plants and fruit-bearing trees; Antiques Village flagshipped by Mana Manila; Furniture Village that features contemporary furniture’s designed by sought-after Filipino designers,;Food Village that exhibits a variety of native dishes from all over the country,and the DelicacyVillage , an ideal place to find native delicacies for gifts. These villages are housed in pavilions that features the Maranao architecture and the traditional Filipino dwellings - the nipa hut or bahay kubo. Another unique feature of Tiendesita's is that, it is open from 12 noon to 12 midnight, virtually making it a night market that is open all year round.
The city certainly does not lack in modern shopping malls. The newest among these is Robinson's Metro East located in Dela Paz, at the corner of Imelda Avenue and Marcos Hi-way. Its 5-storey structure houses several shops carrying local and international brands, cinemas, a supermarket, and a foodcourt. Another shopping mall in the city is Ever Gotesco Ortigas which sits along Ortigas Avenue Extension. It primarily carries shops for local brands, as well as a supermarket, an arcade, and several cinemas. The SM Supercenter in Barangay Ugong is a large supermarket that sits right beside Tiendesita's. Also beside Tiendesita's is the Fun Ranch - kids’ center - especially built for the entertainment and leisure of children.
1. Pasig Town Hall - It is the seat of government.
2. Church of the Immaculate Concepcion
3. Bahay na Tisa - Tech family owned residence of Spanish architecture that serves as
venue for art shows and cultural forums.
4. Dona Geronima’s Cave - legendary caves along the banks of Pasig River.
5. Concepcion Residence - multi-story mansion successively used as Japanese and American headquarters during the World War II on top of which the American flag was hoisted on Liberation Day February 19, 1945 and now used as the Pasig National Museum.
Historical Attractions
1. Pasig Town Hall - It is the seat of government.
2. Church of the Immaculate Concepcion
3. Bahay na Tisa - Tech family owned residence of Spanish architecture that serves as
venue for art shows and cultural forums.
4. Dona Geronima’s Cave - legendary caves along the banks of Pasig River.
5. Concepcion Residence - multi-story mansion successively used as Japanese and American headquarters during the World War II on top of which the American flag was hoisted on Liberation Day February 19, 1945 and now used as the Pasig National Museum.
6. Heroes Monument - a monument built to pay tribute to the town’s war heroes.
7. Provincial Capitol - It is the seat of government of the province of Rizal.
7. Provincial Capitol - It is the seat of government of the province of Rizal.
Man-made Attraction
Mutya ng Pasig Market with an 11-storey tower with revolving top floor - the center of business activities in Pasig.
GETTING THERE
As Pasig is within Metro Manila itself, it is not far from the NAIA Airport in Pasay City and travel between cities will only take minutes.
GETTING AROUND
Jeepneys are available throughout the city, as well as tricycles and pedicabs in smaller residential areas. One can ride a jeepney from Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City that leads all the way to the heart of Pasig, which is the Pasig City Hall and the Pasig Public Market (Pasig Palengke).
Taxis are also servicing the city as well.
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