Tourism

Tourism, Arts and Culture

 

Attractions and Accommodations

 

Being centrally located in a most urbanized and inland metropolis has given Mandaluyong both advantages and disadvantages particularly in the Tourism sector. One disadvantage is the absence of sandy beaches, coral reefs and pristine sea and the absence of opportunity for outdoor sports and hobbies typical to those in the hinterlands of northern Luzon and other mountainous regions in the country.

 

In addition, being a not-so-old locality which only evolved as the spill-over effect of the sprawling development of the cities of Manila and Quezon, Mandaluyong has no historical spots to boast of save for a few landmarks listed in Table 2.26.

 

Table 2.26 Places of Interest
CLASSIFICATION	NAME	LOCATION
Memorials	Bernard Shaw Giant Bust Tatlong Bayani Monument Dambana ng Ala-ala Ibon ng Kalayaan at Dambana ng Kagitingan Dambana ng Kabataan Kaban ng Hiyas Building Liberation Marker Old Library Building of Don Bosco	Entrance to Wack-Wack Golf Course Brgy Hagdan Bato Itaas Plaza Tatlong Bayani, Bgy. Hagdan Bato Itaas Maysilo Circle Maysilo Circle Mandaluyong Cityhall Complex Mandaluyong City Hall Complex Gen. Kalentong St., Bgy. Pag-asa Don Bosco Technological College
Parks	A.T. Reyes Park Coronado Riverside Park Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club	Mandaluyong Cityhall Complex Barangay Hulo Brgy. Wack-Wack Greenhills
Abbey	Archbishop Palace	Villa San Miguel, Shaw Blvd. cor. E. Rodriguez St.
Churches	San Felipe Neri Parish Church Sanctuario de San Jose St. Francis Church Shrine of Divine Mercy San Roque Parish Church Parish of Our Lady of Abandoned Our Lady of Fatima Parish	Boni Ave., A.T. Reyes Michigan St., cor. Buffalo St., Greenhills Subdivision St. Francis cor. Shaw Blvd. Maysilo Circle Pulog St., Bgy. Barangka Ilaya Coronado St., Brgy. Hulo Liko Mariveles St., Brgy. Highway Hills
Penitentiary	Correctional Institute for Women	Welfareville Compound
Health Institution	National Center for Mental Health	9 de Pebrero St.
Innovative Projects	Project TEACH	Lingap Karunungan Center, Welfarville Compound
	Garden of Life Park	Bgy. Vergara
	Bahay Pag-asa	Lions Road, Bgy. Barangka Ilaya
	Bahay Tuluyan	Bgy. Vergara

 

 

These landmarks had been overshadowed by innovative programs that garnered prestigious awards for the city such that visiting these programs have become regular Lakbay-Aral destinations of various government entities from local regions and abroad.

 

On the other hand, Mandaluyong serves as an ideal stop-over place for tourists whose itinerary includes touring Metro Manila and its periphery. Several accommodations are available with ambience, accessibility and affordability highly competitive with those in the cities of Makati, Quezon and Manila. These accommodations, shown in Map 2.13, offer daily, weekly, and monthly rates with information readily obtainable through telephone and web inquiry.

 

While nightlife (Map 2.14) is not as active as those in Makati, Manila and Quezon City, fine dining is available, making even an overnight stay in Mandaluyong as enjoyable as it is affordable (Map 2.15). Lately, food markets are sprouting up in strategic places like in EDSA Greenfield, Marketplace, Arayat St. cor. 9 de Febrero St., Marketplace, Mandala Park and at the Madison Garden catering to millennials or other Mandaleños who wants to try a different kind of foodie experience.

Recreational Facilities

 

Foremost among the sports facilities in the city is the internationally known Wack-Wack Golf Course which is private and exclusive for members only. For the general public, open courts and sports gymnasiums (see Map 2.16) are available. Skating rinks, bowling alleys, arcades or amusement centers and even mini-gym for tots are popular in shopping malls within the city.

 

Arts and Culture

 

Today, taking advantage of the rich cultural heritage of the city, local artistic talents, growing interest in sports and availability of facilities, the focus has shifted to developing Mandaluyong as Metro Manila’s center for arts and culture.

 

As an initial step, the city has realized its cultural programs with other cities via the “sister city” agreement (wherein both Mandaluyong and its sister city will complement each one’s potential for tourism) and cultural exchange programs, as well as hosting various pro-active affairs (Table 2.27), some of which are already being done in the city on special occasions

 

In addition, historical artifacts and paintings of famous Filipino artists like Nemiranda and Abe Luna Orobia are on display for public view in the government-owned “Kaban ng Hiyas” at the City Hall Compound, the Atrium at the New Executive Building and in art galleries in SM Megamall in Ortigas Center. In the silver screen industry, Mandaluyong is becoming famous for hosting local and international film festivals as well as a favorite location for premiere showing of local and foreign blockbuster films and television series.

Also, the City Hall Complex is now frequent choice of location for movie and television industry when doing films and TV series.

With the opportunity of media mileage through both Movie and TV Screens, Mandaluyong aims to be known not only for its physical character but also for the competitiveness of its people in joining the elite sector of performing arts. This bold ambition is slowly being realized by the following achievements:

 

a. Mandaluyong Center for Performing Arts

 

Upon the arrival of the Mandaluyong Children’s Chorus from their triumphant stint at the 2^nd World Choir Olympics in Busan, Korea, Mayor Benhur Abalos, Jr. came up with the idea of

 

institutionalizing the project, which was initially conceived for the less fortunate children in the city.

 

In April 2003, the Mandaluyong Center for the Performing Arts (MCPA) was formally launched. Named director of the MCPA is Sebastian Trinidad, who pioneered obviously the Mandaluyong Children’s Chorus.

 

It is a center that aims to develop the talents of Mandaluyong children and transform them into world-class performers. Considered to be a landmark project of the Abalos’ administration, the MCPA is being emulated by other local government units (LGUs). Formed by different organizations, it is a community that boasts world-class achievements thru arts and cultural programs and activities like:

 

         Mandaluyong Children’s Choir - Founded in 1999, the Mandaluyong Children’s Choir (MCC) is a training program aimed to develop and nurture the musically-gifted among the underprivileged. The MCC has since become a spring of hope and pride with its talented troupe of 8 to 15-year olds, most of whom are sourced from public schools. Remarkably, the MCC has become a name akin to world-class performance.

 

         Mandaluyong Performers with Possibilities – through music, children with disabilities playing with instruments, dancing or singing were developed physically and mentally in addition to mental and character development.

 

         Mandaluyong Ballet Club – develops disadvantaged children’s innate talent in ballet dancing and character formation.

 

 

         Banda Kawayan ng Mandaluyong and Mandaluyong Rondalla – envisioned to promote our cultural heritage through music using our traditional instruments.

 

Table 2.27 Target Activities On Arts And Culture
Category	Activity
1. Art Competitions	* On-the-spot Painting * Logo/Poster Design * Sculptural Art
2. Singing Contest	* Awitan sa Barangay * Choral Contest * Kundiman Fiesta * Fiesta Kantahan
3. Music Festival	* Serenata * Drum and Bugle Corps Competition * Pop Band Festival
4. Dance Festivals	* Ati-Atihan Fest * Mardi-Gras * Mandaluyong Street Dance Drama *Ballet/Creative Dance
	* Folk Dance Festival * Creative Dance Contest * Modern Dance Contest
6. Beauty Pageants	* Miss Mandaluyong * Bilbiling Mandaluyong
7. Declamation/ Oratorical Contests	* Alab ng Manda (Speech Choir) * Talumpatian/ Balagtasan * Essay/Poem writing
8. Cultural Presentations/ Spectacles	* Cenaculo * Santacruzan/ Flores de Mayo *Carozza Lenten Images/ Marian Procession * Sto. Niño Images Exhibit * Pabasa Lenten Activity

b. Paskuhan sa Tiger City…..Daluyong sa

Mandaluyong

 

Paskuhan sa Tiger City…Daluyong sa Mandaluyong is one of the hallmark projects of the city, where the City Hall is designed as a major Christmas attraction, decked with Giant Christmas tree, colorful lights and trimmings. It also features fun rides for children, nightly entertainment involving local talents and booths selling food and assorted products.

 

c. Mandaluyong Photography Contest

 

Now on its second year, this contest aims to capture the essence of what it is to be a Mandaleño, either from working in or for Mandaluyong, or living in the city. Wide variety of formats like the Mobile Photography and Conventional Categories aims to gather participation from every Mandaleño where cash prizes are at stake.

d. Sisterhood Cities

 

The City of Mandaluyong, being one of the centers of trade, commerce and industry in Metro Manila, usually forges relationship with other requesting cities and municipalities to attain economic progress and stability through investment and tourism promotion. Both LGUs complement each other through cultural exchange and tourism programs, as well as hosting various pro-active affairs.

 

e. Mural Paintings along Pasig River

 

An initiative project of the city through the help of Pasig River Rehabilitation Committee (PRRC), this project aims in promoting Pasig River as a medium and space for cultural identity and collective memory as cities along Pasig River enjoin forces to bring back the river back into its former glory.

 

f. Cultural Mapping

 

A program in coordination with the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA) which plans to identify and gather data on tangible and intangible cultural properties with the goal of creating the City of Mandaluyong Cultural Profile and City Inventory of Cultural Assets.