Mandaluyong

Mandaluyong is a landlocked city at the geographic centre of Metro Manila, sandwiched between Manila, Quezon City, Pasig, and Makati. Despite its small area (11.3 km²), it is a significant commercial and industrial hub. The city gained prominence with the construction of the Shangri-La Plaza and EDSA Shrine commercial developments along EDSA, and later with the mega-mall SM Megamall. Mandaluyong's climate is the same tropical wet-and-dry pattern as the rest of Metro Manila. Historically a farming town with rice paddies, rapid urbanization in the 1970s transformed it into one of Metro Manila's densest cities.

MRT-3's Boni and Shaw Boulevard stations serve Mandaluyong. Buses and jeepneys from Manila (via EDSA) pass through the city. By car, EDSA and the Guadalupe Bridge connect Mandaluyong to Makati.

Jeepneys and tricycles ply the major routes (Boni Avenue, Shaw Boulevard, Maysilo Circle). The MRT line runs along EDSA, connecting to all major Metro Manila destinations.

• EDSA Shrine (Ortigas Avenue) — The Mary, Queen of Peace Shrine (Our Lady of EDSA) is a modernist Catholic church built to commemorate the 1986 People Power Revolution. Its striking architecture and location at the EDSA–Ortigas intersection make it a landmark.

• Maysilo Circle — A roundabout park at the intersection of Boni Avenue and Pinatubo Street, containing a large statue of the Virgin Mary. A popular meeting point.

• Rizal Technological University Planetarium — One of the few public planetariums in Metro Manila, with regular shows.

• Shop at SM Megamall — One of the largest malls in the world (Building A and B connected by a skybridge), with a skating rink, cinemas, and hundreds of shops.

• Walk across the Guadalupe Bridge — A pedestrian-friendly bridge connecting Mandaluyong to Makati across the Pasig River.

• Lola Idang's (Boni Avenue) — Filipino home-style cooking: kare-kare, sinigang, and crispy pata. Meals ₱200–400.
• Manam (SM Megamall) — Modern Filipino comfort food: crispy sisig, bulalo, and watermelon sinigang. ₱300–600 per main.
• The Food Hall at SM Megamall — Dozens of stalls from ramen to Filipino street food.

• Bo's Coffee (Shangri-La Plaza) — Local coffee chain. Iced lattes and frappes ₱150–250.

• Budget: Go Hotels (Sta. Cruz Street, near SM Megamall, rooms from ₱1,200).
• Mid-range: Microtel by Wyndham (Shaw Boulevard, rooms from ₱2,500).
• Upscale: Edsa Shangri-La (Garden Wing, rooms from ₱8,000).

• SM Megamall (EDSA corner Dona Julia Vargas Avenue) — Over 1,000 shops, a department store, and a supermarket. Open daily 10AM–10PM.
• Shangri-La Plaza (EDSA corner Shaw Boulevard) — Higher-end boutique mall with international brands and a cinema.

• Pasig (10 min via MRT) — The Kapitolyo food strip and the Pasig River.
• Makati (5 min via MRT) — The financial centre with Ayala Museum and Greenbelt.
• Quezon City (15 min via MRT) — Quezon Memorial Circle, Maginhawa food strip, and the Art in Island museum.