Tiger City of the Philippines,” “Metro Manila’s Heart,” and “Shopping Mall Capital of the Philippines” are some of the titles attributed to Mandaluyong City. The city’s well-developed infrastructure is owned and managed by the country’s most successful businessmen.
Mandaluyong City’s name has various origins, with some claiming that it was derived from the Tagalog terms “mga” meaning many and “daluy” meaning flowing, which referred to the tall grasses that used to grow in the area. Others claim that the name came from the “daluyong” or big waves that navigator Acapulco saw lashing the rolling hills from the sea.
The residents then answered that the place was “madaluyong”. The Spaniards later added a consonant “n” to it, creating the name Mandaluyong. Even before the Spanish conquest, Mandaluyong was already organized and part of the Kingdom of Sapa of the Great Madjapahit Empire, which was ruled by Prince Balagtas in 1300. In 1470, it expanded and became the Kingdom of Namayan, ruled by Lakan Takhan.
The kingdom was composed of present-day Manila districts like Pandacan, Malate, Quiapo, Sta. Mesa, San Miguel, Paco, and Sta. Ana, as well as Mandaluyong, Makati, San Juan, Pasay, Taguig, Pateros, Parañaque, parts of Pasig, and Quezon City up to Diliman.
Mandaluyong was initially known as a barrio of Sta. Ana de Sapa, part of the District of Paco in the Tondo Province, and was later named San Felipe Neri by the Spaniards to honor the Patron Saint of Rome in 1841. It was separated from Sta. Ana de Sapa and consolidated with the municipality of San Juan del Monte during the American occupation.
San Felipe Neri became the capital of Rizal for several months in 1904 and later became an independent municipality in 1907. It was then renamed Mandaluyong by virtue of House Bill No. 3836 and became a city in 1994. With a population of 328,699 living in an area of 1,124.97 square kilometers, Mandaluyong City is considered the 18th largest metropolitan city in the world.
The city’s population is diverse, but the majority speaks Tagalog, with some also speaking Bicol, Bisaya, Ilonggo, and Ilocano languages. Mandaluyong City is now a commercially developed area, with numerous banks, offices, and service establishments, and major commercial districts like Boni Avenue, Shaw Boulevard, Libertad-Sierra Madre, Kalentong, San Francisco, part of Martinez, Sgt. Bumatay towards Barangka Drive, and Pinatubo towards EDSA.
The eastern part of the city is home to famous malls and establishments like Megamall, Shangri-La, Podium, and San Miguel Corporation, with most roads in the city occupied by businesses and personal services stores.
Mandaluyong City is a great place for business and investment opportunities, with a variety of banks, hotels, and commercial centers. Some of the city’s tourist attractions include the Ortigas Center, the main headquarters of the Asian Development Bank, Banco De Oro, and the headquarters of San Miguel Corporation.
It is also home to Unilab, one of the most prominent pharmaceutical laboratories and factories. The city boasts hotels and business parks, including SM Megamall, the largest shopping mall in the Philippines, and Shangri-La Plaza Mall, an upscale shopping mall in the Ortigas Center.
In conclusion, Mandaluyong City in the Philippines is a highly urbanized and commercially developed area, with a rich history dating back to the pre-colonial period.
The city has been ruled by various kingdoms and empires before being consolidated with nearby municipalities during the American occupation. It is now a bustling metropolis with numerous businesses, commercial districts, and shopping malls.
Despite its highly urbanized status, Mandaluyong City has managed to retain its cultural heritage and diversity, with its population speaking various languages, including Tagalog, Bicol, Bisaya, Ilonggo, and Ilocano.
As one of the most important economic centers in the Philippines, Mandaluyong City offers a wide range of investment opportunities and tourist attractions, making it a must-visit destination for anyone interested in Philippine history, culture, and modernization.
