Pasig is a charming city. It’s one of Metro Manila’s centers of business, but it remains a hub for the quaint city experiences like weekend markets, museum tours, family picnics, dining, and exploring. At the heart of the city are modern urban conveniences like shopping malls, towering offices, and condominiums abound. It’s a perfect mix of comfort and culture.
It is a no-brainer to decide to live in Pasig. You can find some of the major condos in the Philippines such as developments by DMCI Homes in this 31-square-kilometer highly-urbanized city. Condo dwellers can get the most of condo living in Pasig. Aside from the amenities of the condo, Pasig itself is a gem waiting to be discovered. You don’t have to limit yourself to the community in the condominium because there is an entire neighborhood waiting just outside your doorstep. Read on for the ultimate neighborhood guide for folks living in the city or those who want to get a condo in Pasig.
Family day at the park
Pasig City may be a business district with the biggest malls and tallest buildings, but there are budget and kid-friendly open spaces that you must not miss out on. Among the things you can do in Pasig as a family is to have picnics at the park. Yes, there is a park in the city. Also known as the RAVE Park, the Rainforest Adventure Park in Pasig features a botanical garden, butterfly pavilion, picnic areas, a maze, and a lagoon. There’s even a train to show kids around, as well as a zipline. This park will help your kids appreciate the great outdoors better.
Fun at the ranch and zoo
Aside from the park, there’s also a ranch and a zoo in Pasig. Visit the Ark Avilon Zoo and introduce your kids to animals that they only get to read about in books. This zoo is relatively small compared to other zoos, but enough for an introduction and an educational weekend. Very near the zoo is Fun Ranch or a mini-theme park for kids. There are kid-friendly rides here that are a worth a try.
Kapitolyo is a food district
As Maginhawa street is to Quezon City, Barangay Kapitolyo is to Pasig City when it comes to foodie hubs. People probably spend 80% of their time wondering where to eat, so knowing your city’s food district is really important. Food hubs are also among the most important things foreigners need to know when getting a condo for rent in Pasig.
There are two main streets in Kapitolyo: the East Drive and the West Drive. If you are going on a food trip, remember that restaurants in the East are on the budget-friendly side, while those on the West are for romantic, fine dining moments. Anything from street food to steak can be found in Kapitolyo. Foodies must try the bacon slab at Poco Deli, Uncle Moe’s shawarma, Gostoso's peri peri chicken, and pork chops at Tomahawk. You can also try dining at the eccentric Café Juanita, spend Friday nights at Tipsy Pig, otherwise known as Kapitolyo's gastropub, or order freestyle breakfast at Kanto, the most visited all-day breakfast place in Pasig.
“Staycation” at its finest
There are a lot of fine condo communities in Pasig. If you are among the lucky ones who get to live in one of these condos, it would be nice to stay indoors every so often. You can take a dip in the pool with your family or enjoy the generous open spaces commonly found in a DMCI Community. At home, find ways to get creative in your condo like baking, recycling, or organizing.
Day at the museum
To truly appreciate a place, you have to learn about its history. It’s a good thing that Pasig City has a lot of museums to take residents down memory lane. A tour of the museums should be listed among your activities when living in Pasig.
For a timeline of the history of Pasig, visit the old Concepcion mansion turned Pasig City Museum. During World War II, the mansion was used by the Japanese as their detention center. It was also at the mansion’s veranda where the American flag was raised to signify the liberation of Pasig from Japanese forces.
There is also a museum at the Pasig Cathedral where you can see an old carved image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. For paintings and old photographs of illustrados, head over to the Lopez Museum located at the Benpress Building in Ortigas. The Lopez Museum is both a gallery and a library. If you want to see modern art from young and emerging talents, go to Cevio Art House along San Isidro Street.
Wait, there’s a cave in Pasig
Donya Geronima's cave located in Barangay Pineda was mentioned in Jose Rizal’s novel, El Filibusterismo. Legend has it that the cave was built for a maiden whose old love became the archbishop of Manila. It was said that the maiden would wash plates by throwing them in the river and they would come back to her clean and shining. Truth or fiction, the cave is one good place to visit.
A house that witnessed it all
“Bahay na Tisa” is the oldest bahay na bato in Pasig. Built in the early 1850s, it is home to the Santo Nino de Pasion and during Easter Sunday, sick people used to gather inside the house to receive Communion. The house was a witness to many historical events, from World War II to Martial Law. It is still standing up to now and is definitely worth a visit.
Visit awesome churches
Filipino families need that one church where they can hear mass on Sundays. Pasig has a lot of beautiful churches to choose from. There is the Pasig Cathedral which is considered the first Marian church in Asia. Sto. Rosario Church has beautiful stained glass windows, while San Antonio Abad along Stella Maris Avenue and Sta. Clara de Montefalco Parish Church are equally stunning.
Good finds in the weekend market
At the heart of the city is the Greenfield Open Park. During weekends, it turns into a marketplace where you can find fresh and organic products. There are also food stalls showcasing both local and foreign cuisine. Unique knick-knacks are also on sale. You can also get music and painting lessons for free, which are just a few of the creative ways to spend your weekend mornings.
Shop till you drop
Photo courtesy of Unsplash via Pixabay
Given that Pasig is a highly-urbanized city, you can also find the biggest shopping malls here. Practically anything you want to do can be done here — dine, shop, watch a movie, find a playground for kids, pay bills, etc. This is among one of the many conveniences of living in a city like Pasig.
Living in Pasig is like getting the best of both worlds. It is comfortable with all modern conveniences, and at the same time, you get to experience art and culture. In Pasig, you will not run out of things to do; you just have to scratch the surface.