Mandaluyong City is one of the cities that comprises Metro Manila, the Philippine’s National Capital Region found in the island of Luzon.  It sits at the heart of the metropolis bordered by the municipality of San Juan in the north, Quezon City in the northeast, Pasig City in the east, the Pasig River and Makati City in the south, and the city of Manila and San Juan and Pasig Rivers in the west.  Its central location provides convenient access to and from its neighboring locales.   Linking Mandaluyong with other cities and municipalities are EDSA, Ortigas Avenue, Shaw Boulevard, Boni Avenue, and the C3 Road.  The city has a variety of means for transportation, such as public utility jeepneys, busses, and the Metro Rail transit (MRT3). The first of the three travels on most of the city’s major roads, while the last two traverse the whole length of EDSA.  MRT3 has two stations in the city—the Shaw Boulevard and Boni Avenue stations.  Water transportation is also available in Mandaluyong via the Pasig River.  This alternate mode of transport provides a direct and faster route to the cities of Makati and Manila.

This highly urban city is characterized by low to medium density residential subdivisions in the north, heavy industries in the south, commercial activities in the east, and medium-scale commercial districts in the west.  Mandaluyong shares the western half of the Ortigas Center, which is one of the country’s fast-growing business and commercial hubs.  In this western half sits the headquarters of the San Miguel Corporation, the Asian Development Bank, and the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel.  This area forms a part of the city’s business district, which is located within the EDSA-Shaw-Pioneer Quadrangle.

Its Brief History

The city was already a Muslim settlement before the Spaniards came to conquer the country.  It was part of the Kingdom of Sapa of the extensive Indonesian Majapahit Empire in the 1300’s.  Around 1470, it expanded its territories and was then called the Kingdom of Namayan.  It encompassed the now areas of Quiapo, Paco, San Miguel, Pandacan, Sta. Mesa, Sta. Ana, and Malate of Manila, the cities of Mandaluyong, Makati, San Juan, Taguig, Pasay, Parañaque, the municipality of Pateros, and parts of Quezon and Pasig Cities. During the Spanish occupation, the city play a significant role in the revolt against the Spaniards by hosting Andres Bonifacio’s clandestine meeting of the Katipuneros in preparation for their attack on Manila.  He declared it on August 28, 1896 in the city’s Barangay Hagdang Bato.  Many of the revolutionists resided in the adjoining Barangay of Zaniga.

During the American and Japanese occupations and the following years after that, Mandaluyong experienced significant growth and destruction, as well as political divisions of its territories.  In the 1960’s, it became a component municipality of Metro Manila.  It has undergone momentous physical and economic transformations to help it become a highly urbanized city from a progressive municipality.  It was given a city status in 1994.

Residential Places in Mandaluyong

With 36.84% of the city composed of residential zones, Mandaluyong is never lacking of excellent villages and subdivisions.  Most certainly, the most exclusive of these is the Wack-Wack Village, the residential homes of the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club.  It is located along Shaw Boulevard in Barangay Wack-Wack.  The golf course is one of Metro Manila’s exclusive golf courses, made famous for its two 18-hole course.

In addition to the many middle-class villages and subdivisions found in the city, Mandaluyong also has numerous prime condominiums and modern townhouses.  One such structure is found in Wack-Wack Village, aptly called Wack-Wack Heights.

Other prestigious condominiums in the city are Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club at the corner of Shaw Boulevard and Lee Street that provides a magnificent view of the Wack-Wack golf course; Gateway Garden Heights, Gateway Garden Ridge and One Gateway Place at the corner of EDSA and Pioneer Street, right beside Robinsons Pioneer; Soho Central situated at the corner of Shaw Boulevard and Mayflower Street, across the Shangri-la Plaza; and St. Francis Tower sat the corner of St. Francis and Internal Avenues and linked to the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel.

Hospitals and Universities of Mandaluyong

Mandaluyong has several hospitals, namely the privately owned Dr. Victor R. Potenciano Medical Center along EDSA and Unciano General Hospital on Boni Avenue, and the government hospital Mandaluyong City Medical Center also on Boni Avenue.  The city is also home to the Philippine’s only psychiatric hospital, the National Center for Mental Health found on Nueve de Febrero Street.

The Dr. Victor R. Potenciano Medical Center is a tertiary care hospital that has a 189-bed capacity within its 10-storey hospital building.  The hospital specializes in internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics – gynecology, pediatrics, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, oncology, and orthodontics. Its specialized centers, such as the oncology center, heart station and cardiac rehab center, respiratory care center, breast clinic, ICU, pediatric ICU, and maternal ICU, are equipped with modern medical facilities together with physicians highly trained in their fields.  Complementing these is the 5-storey physicians’ center, which houses numerous doctors’ clinics.

Education

There are three institutions for higher education located in Mandaluyong.  First of these is the Don Bosco Technical College situated on General Kalentong Street.  It is a private Catholic university owned and operated by the Salesians of Don Bosco.  It primarily offers degrees in engineering and other technical courses, such as architecture and computer technology.    Don Bosco was popularly known as an exclusive men’s college until 2004 when the institution started accepting female students.  Its grade school and high school departments however, have remained exclusively for boys.

Another institution for higher education in the city is the Jose Rizal University (JRU), which is a private nonsectarian university found along Shaw Boulevard.  Its broad spectrum of degree programs includes the fields of engineering, economics, commercial science and business administration, education, nursing, and law.   Prominent figures that have come from JRU include the former Philippine president Ramon Magsaysay, bankers Alfredo Antiporda and Peter Kaw Sek, Bienvenido Tantoco of the Rustan Corporation, and former education secretary Dr. Armand V. Fabella.

The Rizal Technological University (RTU) is the city’s only state university.  It was established on July 11, 1969 and is located on Boni Avenue.  The university’s roster of undergraduate and graduate programs encompass the fields of pure and applied sciences, political science, psychology, statistics, public administration, business and entrepreneurial technologies, education, engineering and industrial technologies, nursing, and astronomy.

Commercial Places in Mandaluyong

The city plays host to three of Metro Manila’s largest shopping malls, two of which are geared towards catering to a more exclusive clientele.  First of these sophisticated malls is the Shangri-la Plaza which sits on the northeast corner of EDSA and Shaw Boulevard.  This vast multi-level structure’s facade and interiors evoke luxury and sophistication with its 5-meter wide revolving doors and spacious hallways for leisure shopping and strolling.  The Shangri-la houses the Rustans and Crossings department stores, over 300 shops sporting top international brands and exclusive specialty boutiques, a cinema complex, a supermarket, a food court, as well as several cafes and international restaurants.  The mall is also a usual site for cultural events, such as symphonic orchestra concerts, art and cinema-art exhibits, and theater productions.

Sharing this prestige is The Podium located along ADB Avenue at the Ortigas Center.  Although relatively smaller than the Shangri-la Plaza, it is nonetheless one of the metro’s most exclusive retail centers.  Housed in it are several shops for international brands for apparel, leather products, and lingerie, specialty boutiques, as well as numerous cafes and restaurants.

The SM Megamall, located at the corner of EDSA and Julio Vargas Avenue, caters to the middle and lower income brackets excluded by the two aforementioned malls.  One of Asia and the Philippine’s largest after the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, The mall’s two buildings house over 600 shops, 200 restaurants, two trading halls for functions and exhibits, 12 cinemas, a supermarket, a vast food court, a bowling center, and the country’s first ice-skating rink.  The merchandise sold in this mall range from clothing apparel and accessories to home furnishings and electronic products.

Other shopping center in the city are EDSA Central on the southeast corner of EDSA and Shaw boulevard and the Marketplace on General Kalentong Street for bargain hunters, Robinsons Place Pioneer at the corner of EDSA and Pioneer Street, Star Mall on the northwest corner of EDSA and Shaw boulevard, and St. Francis Square at the corner of Julio Vargas Avenue and Bank Drive in the Ortigas Center.

Dining Privileges

The three aforementioned malls are also prime locations for dining and a night out with family and friends.  The SM Megamall has The Megastrip, which is literally a strip of bars and restaurants lining the exterior of the mall, as well as other restaurants located inside.  Some notable bars and restaurants found in SM Megamall are Dencio's Bar and Grill, Sake San Japanese Restaurant and Sake Bar, Tia Maria's Restaurant, Sbarro, The Kitchen, Koryo House, Maxim's Tea House, Pho Hoa Vietnamese Noodle House, and Tong Yang Hot Pot.

The Shangri-la Plaza, together with the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel, has notable night out and dining offerings as well.  These include the EDSA Shangri-la Pool Bar, Lobby Lounge, E's Bar, Cravings Restaurant, Cibo Italian Restaurant, Trattoria Gourmet, Hanisah's dining and Bar, Shabu-Shabu Bar and Grill, Watering Hole, Boca-Boca Daquiri Bar and Café, Gourmet's Café, Le Coeur de France, and The Dome.

The Podium, on the other hand, has the European restaurants Tapas Bar y Casa Armas, Cafe Mediterranean, and Cafe Breton, The American Dome Café, Burgoo, and Cinnabon, the Asian Gloria Maris, Penang, Akiga, and Yaku, and the coffeehouses of Figaro Coffee Company, Delifrance, and Starbucks.

Service Establishments of Mandaluyong

The Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) is the sole distributor of electric power in Mandaluyong.  Formerly the Manila Electric Rail and Light company, it currently services 22 cities and 89 municipalities, including the whole of Metro and Mega Manila.  The company has a branch office at the corner of Shaw Boulevard and Yulo Street where applications and bill payments can be made.

The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) is the city’s major telecommunication service provider.  Its products and services include fixed line services, Internet access via dial-up and DSL, and cellular telephony through its subsidiary Smart Communications.  The PLDT Mandaluyong business office is located at the ground floor of the TelTec Building on Boni Avenue, right across the Rizal Technology University.

Three other telecom companies service the city, namely Bayantel, Innove (formerly Islacom) , Globelines of Globe Telecom, and Digital Telecommunications.  All companies offer fixed line services and Internet access either   through DSL or broadband.

Together with Smart Communications, the companies of Globe Telecom and Digitel Communications constitute the three major cellular service providers in the Philippines.  With their respective brands, smart Handy phone and Talk ‘N Text for Smart, Globe Mobile and Touch Mobile for Globe, and Sun Cellular for Digitel, the companies provide cellular services to the entire spectrum of the income bracket.

Security

The Mandaluyong Police Station is the 3rd station of the Philippine National Police Eastern District.  Under it are several substations functioning as community police and precincts.  Below is a table detailing their location and contact information:

Mandaluyong City Police
Police Station Location Telephone

Mandaluyong 2/F PNP Building, Maysilo Circle 532-2318 / 532-2145
PCP *1 Gen Kalentong 532-3299
PCP 2 Barangay San Jose 719-2088
PCP 3 Nueve de Febrero Street 532-6818
PCP 4 Shangri-La Plaza 635-9260
PCP 5 EDSA Central 746-0295
*PCP-Police community Precinct

Embassies in Mandaluyong

There are no foreign embassies and consulates located in Mandaluyong City.  The offices of these diplomatic missions are mostly found in the neighboring cities of Makati and Manila.

—

Source: https://www.expatforum.com/threads/mandaluyong-city-guide.1508863/