345th ‘Araw ng Makati’
MAKATI City, the Philippines’ “international commercial and financial center,” celebrates its 345th Foundation Day today. The city government, in partnership with its barangays and the business community, has organized a series of events for this year’s month-long celebration that kicked off on May 8 with a Flores de Mayo procession led by Mayflower Queen Jasmine Curtis-Smith. This was followed by the Alitaptap Kikilap-Kilap Exhibit, which featured a collection of pre-war movies.
A Thanksgiving Mass will be held today followed by the traditional “Almusalan,” sports fest, and mass calisthenics. The Grand Parade dubbed “Sampiro de Makati Festival” named in honor of Makati’s patron saint San Pedro and a street dance competition are slated on June 11. The parade will feature floats depicting significant eras in the city’s history. Over 2,000 performers in various groups wearing eye-catching costumes representing six clusters of barangays will compete to give the best interpretation of the Sampiro Dance.
Other events lined up include: Glorietta Mall’s Midnight Madness Sale (May 29 to 31) offering great deals for only 345; Coronation Night for Miss Makati 2015 at the Makati Coliseum (June 5) featuring young ladies from the various barangays who will compete to earn the honor of serving as the city’s ambassador of goodwill to local and international communities; a photo exhibit “Feathers in the Fields: The Birds of IRRI” and “Philippine Waterfalls” at the ground floor of Makati City Hall Building II (June 8 to 11); a Family Day (June 20); Gabi ng Kapatiran (June 24); Makati Show (June 25); and the Pasinaya Festival at Barangay Bel-Air (June 26).
San Pedro de Makati was founded in 1670 as a “visita” of Sta. Ana de Sapa under the jurisdiction of the Franciscans. In 1901, it was incorporated into the province of Rizal. On February 28, 1914, the Philippine Legislature passed Act 2390, shortening its name to Makati. In 1975, Makati was made part of Metro Manila. On January 2, 1995, Makati earned cityhood status by virtue of Republic Act 7854.
From a once lowly swampland, Makati rose to become a highly urbanized community with a predominantly cosmopolitan culture. Today, it is home to 84 percent of the country’s private commercial banks, nine of the 10 largest insurance companies, 46 of the 56 foreign embassies and consulates, firstrate shopping malls, five-star hotels, educational institutions, and exclusive villages and subdivisions. Ayala Avenue, which runs across the heart of the city’s Central Business District, is considered the Wall Street of the Philippines.