Pasay City Guide

The city of Pasay, or Lungsod ng Pasay, is a constituent city of the conurbation of Metro Manila, the National Capital Region of the Philippines found in the main island of Luzon.  This progressive city is bordered to the north by Manila, the nation’s capital, and by Parañaque City to the south, Makati city to the northeast, Taguig city to the east, and the Manila Bay to the west.  Its total land area of 18.50 km² has made it the third smallest political division in Metro Manila.  Much of this land area is dedicated to government utilities, such as the Villamor Air Base and the Civil Aeronautics Administration Complex which includes the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The Roxas Boulevard, Macapagal Highway, South Luzon Expressway, and EDSA all provide access to the city.  The major modes of transportation are buses and the colorful jeepneys, which traverses Pasay’s major streets.  The city is serviced by two rail networks—the MRT3 which has a station at the junction of EDSA and Taft Avenue, and LRT2 with its stations located at EDSA, Livertad, and Gil Puyat Avenue.

The city is one of the original constituent cities of Metro Manila. Before it was declared a city, Pasay was just a suburban town of Manila during the American occupation.   Due to its close proximity to the capital, it went through significant growth in its population and industries.  Pasay’s consequential, economic growth promoted it from a town into a city on June 21, 1947.

Pasay has been dubbed as the “Cultural Center of Metro Manila” because of the institutes for the culture and the arts found along the Roxas Boulevard.  Most of these institutes are clustered within the vast Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex, which was built to symbolize the national cultural development of the Philippines.   Through Executive Order No. 30 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, the CCP is mandated by law to promote and preserve the cultural heritage of the Filipino people. Housed within the vast complex are four theater venues set for the performing arts, galleries for the visual arts, and a museum of ethnographic exhibits. One of most well-known venues in the complex is the Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas, formerly known as the Folk Arts Theater.  It was commissioned by the former first lady Imelda Marcos for the 1974 Miss Universe Pageant that was to be held in Manila that year.  Another much acclaimed structure in the complex is the Coconut Palace, which was intended to showcase the versatility of the coconut tree.  It is one of CCp’s most preeminent structures for its interior and architectural design.  An also equally distinguished edifice in the complex is Asia’s first international convention center, the Philippine International convention Center (PICC).

Several important national government agencies have also located their offices in the city.  Among these are the Department of Foreign affairs (DFA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the house of the Philippine Senate.

Residential Places in Pasay

There are many world-class condominiums found in Pasay, Particularly along Roxas Boulevard and at the Manila Bay reclamation areas. One of these affluent high-rise residences is the Bay Garden Mactan Tower that stands at the Metropolitan Park, a 40-hectare community development by the owners of Metrobank.  The Mactan Tower is an 18-storey structure that has resort-inspired ambiance and amenities.  It features a resort-type swimming pool, Poolside cabanas, sport recreation areas, landscaped gardens, and retail shops.

Other notable condominiums in the city are the Newport City on Gozar Street in Villamor Airbase, Asia Wealth Tower on Leveriza Street and sits near Harrison Plaza, Balagtas Royale Mansion situated at the corner of Leveriza and Balagtas Streets, and IPI BUENDIA TOWER CONDOMINIUM along Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue.

Hospitals and Universities of Pasay

Pasay has both private and government hospitals that are capable of addressing most medical needs.  One of the city’s reputable hospitals is the Manila Sanitarium and Hospital located on Donada Street.  It is a non-stock, non-profit, private acute care, tertiary hospital operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.  It is licensed by the Bureau of Medical Services and accredited by the Philippine and American Hospital Associations.  The hospital has a 150-bed capacity and provides general medical care services, as well as specializations in internal medicine, surgery, nephrology, neurology, psychiatry, pulmonology, rheumatology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, oncology, dentistry, rehabilitation, and emergency medicine.

Other major hospitals found in Pasay are listed below:

Pasay Hospitals

Named    Address    Telephone

Castillo Interhospital Specialist    2205 G/F Aurora Building Corner EDSA    833-8198
Mira Mar Hospital    FB Harrison Street    831-6922 or 831-9026
Miraculous Medal Hospital    2017 FB Harrison Street    831-6922 or 831-9026
Pasay City General Hospital    P. Burgos Street    833-6022 or 831-328:
Philippine Air Force General Hospital    Villamor Air Base    832-1007, 831-3961 or 833-4551
Hospital San Juan De Dios    2772 Roxas Boulevard    551-2755 or 831-9731
Sto. Nino Hospital    2197 Luna Street, Cartimar    -
Torres Hospital    2442 Park Avenue    831-86-07

Pasay’s tertiary educational system provides instruction and training in various fields.  Some of the city’s tertiary educational institutions that offer degrees in various fields are the Arellano University Pasay campus, Lacson College, Southeastern College, and the state-owned Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay.  The most prominent amongst these is the Arellano University Pasay campus located along Taft Avenue.  Aside from its renowned law school, this Arellano campus offers degrees in economics, commerce, banking & finance, hotel & restaurant management, psychology, political science, education, and computer science.

Pasay is also one of the two cities in Metro Manila that houses several colleges for aviation and aeronautics.  These are the Airlink International Aviation School, PATTS College of Aeronautics, Flight School International, and the main campus of the state-owned Philippine State College of Aeronautics (PhilSCA).  Among these colleges, PhilSCA offers the most varied courses.  Its 5-year courses include science degrees in Aeronautical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Air Transportation specializing in Commercial Flying.  4-year courses offered include science degrees in Aviation Electronics, Aircraft Maintenance, and Aviation Information Technologies, Air Traffic Controller, Aviation Information Management major in Airline Operation and Computer Studies major in Airline Operations Procedures.  Associate degrees, specialized courses, and graduate studies are also offered.  PhilSCA is located in the Villamor Air Base.

Other tertiary educational institutions in the city are the Manila Sanitarium and Hospital School of Medical Arts and San Juan De Dios Educational Foundation for medical and health sciences; Datamex Computer College and Metro Business Computer College for computer-related courses; and the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies for courses and trainings associated with naval science.

Commercial Places in Pasay

Pasay is home to one of the world’s and the Philippines’ largest mall, the SM Mall of Asia (MOA).  It is situated west of Roxas Boulevard, within the Manila Bay reclamation area that is called the Bay City.  The vast complex  consists of the Main Mall which houses retail shops, dining establishments, and the foodcourt; the Entertainment Mall which is primarily an open-air eating and shopping complex; the South Parking building which houses the SM Department Store; and the North Parking Building which locates the SM Hypermarket.  Among its many attractions are the 20-seater tram that ferries the shoppers around the mall grounds, special theaters such as the IMAX and Director’s Club theaters, an Olympic-sized ice-skating rink, an esplanade, the SM Science Discovery Center which features a digital planetarium and science themed exhibits, and the SMX Convention Center which is said to rival the Philippine International convention Center and the World Trade Center.

Most certainly, the SM Mall of Asia is the city’s foremost entertainment and leisure destination. The mall is visited not only by Pasay residents, but by people from all over the metro.  The variety of dining establishments found in MOA will certainly satisfy any craving or palette.  Some prominent restaurants fond there are the Filipino restaurants Bangus, The Aristocrat, Kamay Kainan, Razon’s, and Via Mare; Japanese restaurants Sakura, Tanabe, Rai Rai Ken, Tempura, and Yaku; Chinese restaurants Mandarin Wok, Mann Hann, and Mongkok; Mexican restaurants El Pollo Loco and Mexicali; American restaurants Burgoo , Caffe Americana, and Mario’s Kitchen; Italian restaurants Chef d’ Angelo, Italianni’s , and Sbarro; and Mediterranean/European restaurants Azul , Bizu Patisserie, Cafe Breton, Cafe Mediterranean, and Pink Pepper Cuisine de France.
Prominent bar/restaurants in MOA include the Aruba Bar & Restaurant, Padi’s Point Restaurant and Bar, Congo Grille, Gerry’s Grill, Shabu-Shabu Bar and Grill, and Toscaño Bistro.

The bars and restaurants found along the Roxas Boulevards move away from the noise of the crowd in the mall.  Some notable venues along Roxas Boulevard are the Al Fresco Italian Restaurant, Tempura Misono Japanese Restaurant, and Calesa Music Bar and Lounge  at the Hyatt Regency Hotel; China Sea Asian Seafood Restaurant, Siete Pecados, and Treasure Island   at the Westin Philippine Plaza; Kiku Fuji and Traders Café at the Traders Hotel; L’Opera Lounge Riviera and Matsu Sushi Bar at the Heritage Hotel; Marina, Bagaverde, and Pier One Bar and Grill  at the Boom na Boom grounds; and Gloria Maris situated beside the Coconut Palace.

Service Establishments of Pasay

Pasay’s electricity is supplied by the Manila Electric Company or MERALCO.  Formerly known as the Manila Electric rail and Light Company, it is the country’s largest electric power company. It currently holds a central franchise on 22 cities and 89 municipalities, including the whole of Metro and Mega Manila.  Applications for service and bill payments may be done by visiting its Pasay extension office on FB Harrison Street.

The major telecom company that provides the city with fixed telephony services is the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT).  Aside from the traditional fixed telephony, the company also offers internet access via dial-up and DSL connection. The PLDT Pasay business office is located at the corner of FB Harrison and Galvez Streets.  Its mobile arm, Smart Communications, offers alternative internet access through broad band with its brand SmartBro.

Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, and Sun Cellular of Digitel Communications are the three main cellular network service providers in the    Philippines.  All three companies have nationwide coverage and offer various subscription packages to suit any income bracket.  Their business centers are often located in most of the city’s major shopping centers.

The Pasay City Police station is the Philippine National Police Southern District’s first station.  Several sub-stations under it are located in the city to function as community police and precincts.  Listed below are their location and contact information:

Pasay City Police

Police Station/PCP*    Location    Telephone

Pasay    FB Harrison Street    831-7322, 833-3734, 831-9702 or 831-5054
PCP 1    CCP Complex    832-1125 local 216
PCP 2    Gil Puyat Avenue    833-4296
PCP 3    Taft Avenue/Libertad    831-9193
PCP 4    Pasay Public Market    832-9507
PCP 5    D. Jorge/M. dela Cruz    887-7949
PCP 6    Taft Avenue/Sto Niño    834-1155
PCP 7    Apelo Street, Malibay    852-2698
PCP 8    St Peter Street, Maricaban    833-7129
PCP 9    Airlane Road, NAIA    877-1328
PCP 10    Kalayaan Village, Merville    822-3657
*PCP-Police Community Precinct

Embassies in Pasay

Pasay has no foreign embassies or consulates located within its vicinity.  Much of these diplomatic missions have their offices located in the neighboring cities of Makati and Manila.

Tagged as: Pasay City Guide, Philippines