What do you think is the location of this skyscraper piercing the blue sky (Figure 1)?

It is located in a newly developed area in Ayala Triangle Gardens, in Makati City, the capital of the Philippines, in Metro Manila. The tower on the right is a 40-story office building, and the tower on the left is a 24-story five-star hotel. This photo was taken in September 2021 when two staff members from Zenmov traveled to the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Figure 1 Ayala Triangle Gardens

Source: Taken by Zenmov staff

When you think of the Philippines, you might have a strong image of it being a poor country with slums, but it is developing every day. The average age of the Philippine population is 26, while in Japan it is 47. The Philippines is a young and rapidly growing country, and each time I visit on a business trip, the urban landscape changes.

The "Ayala" in Ayala Triangle Gardens, which has skyscrapers, refers to a Philippine conglomerate that operates in various sectors including retail, education, real estate, banking, communications, water infrastructure, renewable energy, electronics, information technology, automotive, healthcare, management, and BPO.

Its real estate division, one of the major developers in the Philippines, is Ayala Land, and Bonifacio Global City (BGC), located in the northeastern part of Taguig City adjacent to Makati City, is one of the most notable cities in the Philippines (Figure 2). The area where BGC is located was originally Fort McKinley, a U.S. military base, which was returned to the Philippines in 1949 and renamed Fort Bonifacio. Starting in 1999, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) of the Republic of the Philippines promoted land sales for the purpose of developing the office area, and Ayala Land, in collaboration with Campos Group’s Evergreen Holdings, conducted the development. The current BGC, lined with modern high-rise office buildings, is orderly and beautiful, making it hard to recognize where you are (Figure 3).

Figure 2 Location of BGC

Source: OpenStreetMap

Figure 3 BGC's cityscape ① High-rise buildings

Source: Taken by Zenmov staff

With an area of 240 hectares, BGC occupies 5% of the entire Taguig City. As of 2020, the population is 11,912. The use of the Philippine famous tricycles and jeepneys is prohibited in the area. Therefore, the air is clean, and it maintains a quiet atmosphere, free from the typical hustle and bustle of the Philippines. The roads and sidewalks are well-maintained, and there are office buildings and shopping malls. Safety is also good, so there are residences where expatriates from various countries live, along with ample parks and plazas (Figure 4).

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Figure 4 BGC's cityscape ② Lush green plaza

　　　　　　　　　　　　Source: Taken by Zenmov staff

However, one cannot help but feel the reality of the traffic issue that persists in BGC, as it is still the Philippines... Movement within the area is by private car, shuttle bus, rental bicycles, or on foot, but usually, it takes about 10 minutes to move to the neighboring business hub of Makati City, which can stretch to nearly 40 minutes during peak morning and evening hours.

Our company, Zenmov, is engaged in MaaS business in Intramuros in Manila and Pasay City, so I can't help but imagine what kind of grand design for a convenient, environmentally friendly, and stylish transportation system would be suitable for the beautiful streets of BGC.

While the Philippines is changing daily, I would like to share one unchanging scenery at the end: the sunset sinking into Manila Bay (Video 1). I have visited and stayed in the Philippines countless times, but this view never changes. When I see this sunset, I always feel that I am in the Philippines.