What We Miss About Makati

We recently moved to Iloilo after a year of staying in Makati and we tremendously enjoy our new home although we are in the process of adjusting to our new environment.

We had mixed feelings about our relocation. I felt sad that we left our place in Manila but at the same time excited with what’s in store for us in my hometown. It’s a good thing for me because after almost 11 years of staying in Manila for college, law school until I got married, I am back to where I grew up.

One year in our place

We rented our unit in April 2007 shortly after we arrived from Iloilo. We chose Makati because it’s highly-urbanized, relatively safer, convenient and fast-paced. Besides, it’s the center of everything. I wanted Amarind to get used to Makati first while exploring other parts of the country.

We had so many fun moments in our Makati home. It is in that unit where I nurtured my son in my belly for nine months until I gave birth to him in December. Daniel considers Makati his first home and it is where I found motherhood to be rewarding.

Although we were mostly confined in our unit and didn’t know anyone except the guards and fleeting acquaintances at the pool area and the gym, we valued our privacy and we were content to be around each other all the time. Eventually we felt the need for some help and that’s when we found Daniel’s yaya.

Good places in Makati

I will miss our never-ending trips to St Lukes since I found out I was pregnant in May 2007 until my last visit to my OB and Daniel’s last check-up with his pediatrician and opthalmologist. Our monthly trips to that hospital cost us an arm and a leg but we couldn’t really complain about the hospital’s top-notch service. Our doctors are excellent as well. It would be a challenge to look for equally good doctors in Iloilo.

We love our Church (Victory Christian Fellowship) at the Fort. In fact, we found life-long friends in that community. It’s amazing though that most of them have left or are also leaving for the States this year. We hope to see them one of these days when we go back to Manila.

Who doesn’t love Serendra, Bonifacio High Street, Glorietta and Greenbelt? We tried almost 90% of the restaurants at Greenbelt and Serendra and we are equally excited to try Ilonggo cuisine when we can. However, we have to content ourselves with our DVD collection when we feel like watching a movie since theatres in Iloilo aren’t on par with Greenbelt cinemas.

During our stay in Makati, there were days when we were so lazy to cook and leave our computers so we just depended on food delivery. If you were to ask me the most efficient of all, it would be Pizzahut! Try dialing 911-11-11 and experience it yourself. I think the lack of food delivery service in Iloilo is a blessing in disguise since we have no choice but to cook fresh food.

Another great thing about Makati is the Makati skyline. I don’t need to elaborate on that. Iloilo has its own beauty as well. We are surrounded by trees and sprawling grass and the view is simply great during the day.

We love the big pool in our building and I confess that it was where I learned to swim! As to the gym, although some of the treadmills were not working (they are being repaired), it was still a great area to workout and lose some weight.

I must admit that Iloilo is not so convenient when we need something immediately. We have to travel half kilometer to have access to the nearest supermarket. Makati is prone to splurging because of the close proximity of stores, restaurants and malls to our house. I don’t know which set-up I like better.

Marivic, my talented masseuse, will be missed on days when we need her service. She had been instrumental in relieving our stress and back pains. She was consistent with the quality of her massage from the time I was pregnant until our last night in Makati. If you are in Makati and seriously need a good masseuse, just e-mail us and we will give you her contact number.

Yolly, Daniel’s yaya, was very reliable all the while she stayed with us. She treated my son as her own and cared for him as if he was her son. Daniel is lucky to have a yaya like her.

It was sad to leave our place especially when most treasured memories happened there. The good thing is, we know that we can go back to Makati anytime. What’s more important is we took so many pictures in our place for remembrance.