OCAI and Ortigas Center
OCAI is a non-stock and non-profit organization, established on October 02, 1982. It is commissioned to uphold the stature of Ortigas Center as one of the nation’s prime business districts. Its main task is the effective implementation and monitoring of rules and regulations, working hand-in-hand with the local governments of Pasig City, Mandaluyong City, and Quezon City.
Past OCAI Presidents were: Rafael Ortigas, Jr. (1982-1985), Juan Ramos (1985-1987), George S. Lee (1987-1991), Herbert T. Sy (1991-1994), Carolina T. Young (1994-1997), William Tan-Untiong (1997-1999), Gloria C. Cotoco (1999-2000), Jaime Dichavez (2000-2001), Glenn D. Ang (2001-2004), Miguel Ortigas, Jr. (2004-2006), Luz N. Cotoco (2006-2009), George Edwin T. Lee, Jr. (2009-2010), Liza B. Silerio (2010-2016), Thomas Lee O (2016-2020), Catherine Casares-Ko (2020-2021), and Hilario Romil A. Acosta, Jr. (2021-present).
At present, 192 member properties comprise
OCAI. These properties are a mixture of commercial and business establishments,
corporate, and residential condominiums, as well as schools, and churches,
owned by some of the leading companies from the business, commercial, and real
estate sectors.
OCAI covers the area bounded by Ortigas
Avenue on the northeast, Meralco Avenue on the east-southeast, Shaw Boulevard
on the southwest, and Epifanio de Los Santos Avenue (EDSA) on the northwest.
The total area is 1,082,891.2 square meters, which falls under the jurisdiction
of the cities of Pasig, Mandaluyong, and Quezon City.
Ortigas Center, the heart hub of Pasig City Tourism
The 4,033 hectares, owned by the Augustinian Order, were sold and turned over in the 1930s to Spanish-Filipino businessmen who saw its boundless potential as a flourishing urban locality. Ortigas and Company, headed by Francisco Ortigas, Jr. after whom its main artery is named after, began developing the 108.3-hectare Ortigas Center into what is to become a successful urban hub. It was officially established on July 10, 1931.
Little did Ortigas and Company know the important role Ortigas Center—as a central business district perfectly located at the heart of Metro Manila—would play in Philippine history.
Last March 15, 2021, the City Government of Pasig convened all its key stakeholders and office units from the academe, environment offices, traffic and security group, hospitality sector, travel agencies, and as for the business district, the Pasig City Cultural and Tourism Office invited the Ortigas Center Association Inc. as its representative, to become part of the Pasig City Tourism Council, aiming to formulate a 5-Year Pasig City Tourism Development Plan. During the week long forum, the Ortigas Center was identified to be the heart hub of the Pasig City Tourism Development Plan and considered as one of the key tourism spots in the whole City due to its diverse and aesthetically designed establishments.
The Unfolding of a Revolution
In February 1986, Ortigas Center bore witness as Philippine history unfolded during the People Power Revolution that took place at the corner of Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) and Ortigas Avenue. It was at this intersection where men and women of faith led thousands of Filipinos to bravely face military men in uniform and their tanks, offering them flowers and rosaries, imploring them to find a peaceful resolution to the political turmoil that besieged the country.
Whether it was serendipity or destiny, the corner of Ortigas Avenue and EDSA was to become the site of an important historical landmark that represented the Filipinos’ steadfast faith and bayanihan. Through the kindness of the Ortigas and Gokongwei families, the chosen spot was secured, and thus, the design and construction of the Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA) began soon after.
Led by National Artist Francisco Mañosa, notable Filipino architects National Artist Leandro Locsin and William Coscolluela came together to create this monumental structural masterpiece. The striking bronze sculpture that makes the EDSA Shrine standout was created by Virginia Ty-Navarro, and throughout the church’s interiors, art pieces by National Artist Napoleon Abueva (“14 Stations of the Cross” and the main church’s marble altar), sculptors Manny Casal (“Flame of Freedom” and “Doves of Peace”), Eduardo Castrillo (the Shrine’s stained glass ceiling and a monstrance-sculpture for the Blessed Sacrament), and Ramon Orlina (a glass sculpture of the Risen Christ at the altar) added a beautiful balance of serenity and elegance.
The EDSA Shrine was formally opened and dedicated to the Blessed Mother on December 15, 1989. Three decades after, in 2019, The Shrine was declared an Important Cultural Property (ICP) of the Philippines.As this iconic historical landmark stood guard at this intersection, so it aimed the spotlight at Ortigas Center as an important economic and financial district.
The Lifeblood of the Future
As early as the 1960s, Ortigas CBD has been the headquarters of some of the country’s biggest conglomerates. Covering a total area of 1,082,891.2 square meters, Ortigas Center has a pivotal role not only historically but most importantly financially, as it brings together some of the nation’s biggest conglomerates and multinational companies. This powerhouse combination in this part of Metro Manila makes Ortigas Center ideally situated for commercial success and growth.
San Miguel Corporation (SMC), whose brands continue to be household names in the Filipino home, established its main office in Ortigas Center in 1983. As one of the Philippines’ most diversified conglomerates through its involvement in various industries such as food and beverage, packaging, fuel and oil, power, and infrastructure, SMC provides employment to over 28,856 Filipinos. SMC’s Banaue Rice Terraces-inspired architecture was designed by National Artist for Architecture Francisco Mañosa and his brothers. It continues to be one of Ortigas Center’s most recognizable and notable landmarks.
Borne out of the need to eradicate poverty in Asia in 1960, Asian Development Bank (ADB) relocated its headquarters and built its new home in 1991 in Ortigas Center, specifically along EDSA which was already by then a historical landmark. The financial institution has since expanded its offices, incorporating energy- and water-efficient systems, utilizing more eco-friendly materials resources into an innovative design that highlights the Bank’s commitment to sustainability and reduction of wastes, greenhouse gases, and its overall carbon footprint. It was awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification in 2017.
In 1989, construction on what would be an impressive office building began in Ortigas. This was the Tektite Towers, a 33-storey structure completed in 1995 designed by Architect Rogelio Villarosa. The twin towers’ design was an idea conceptualized during a 12-hour flight to San Francisco and inspired by falling tektite rocks—small meteoric debris with a black glassy surface. These stones are said to help in meditation, creating a deeper sense of enlightenment and connectedness with the Universe while easing one’s worldly desires. It was a fitting design as Tektite became the home of the Philippine Stock Exchange Centre until it moved to its new location in 2018.
Filipino-Chinese tycoon Henry Sy, Sr. saw Ortigas Center’s immense potential immense potential as a financial center, hence he built he built one of his biggest malls in the CBD—SM Megamall. Aside from this, SM erected the 47-storey BDO Corporate Center and The Podium West Tower. A mixed-used development composed of an upscale shopping mall and posh offices, this structure is “a breath of fresh air inside and out, with its vertical green façade” that makes it a refreshing sight in the urban landscape.
Jollibee Foods Corporation, the country’s largest fast-food chain brand, has built Jollibee Tower in Ortigas Center. Completed in 2020, the 42-storey LEED-certified green building houses not only the food service giant’s various offices but also other companies, including hospitality and industrial spaces.
In the last two decades, Ortigas Center has become home to many business process outsourcing (BPO) companies. Nine of the biggest names in the BPO industry Convergys, Teleperformance, Telus, Sitel, Transcom, Transec, IBEX GLOBAL, SPI Global, and [24]7—have established their headquarters in the CBD. Most importantly, it is the chosen location for over a hundred BPOs who provide employment and livelihood to thousands of Filipinos. Newly opened BPO-ready office towers in Ortigas abound, including the 26-storey Robinsons Cyberscape Alpha on Garnet Road.
Live, Work, and Play at the Heart of Metro
Several of the first structures to be
built within Ortigas Center in the 1980s—Strata
100, Padilla Building, Emerald Building, Hanston
Building, OAC Building, Tektite, and Agustin
1 Building—still stand proudly
side-by-side with the newer high-rise structures that are beginning to dominate
the Ortigas Center landscape. While some have ceased to exist, such as Benguet Center (where now stands the SM Keppel Building), Benpres (Chronicle Building), Philcomcen Building (presently One Filinvest), and Ortigas Building which is ongoing
demolition, their original locations shall pave the way for more modern
architecture that will thrust the CBD into a promising and even more
progressive future.
Presently, 14 structures are under
construction, including high-end commercial and residential complexes and
hotels, seven of which are scheduled for completion this 2021.
Ortigas Center has grown into a bustling neighborhood composed of 109 residential and commercial developments, including five-star hotels that promise an excellent hospitality experience. Award-winning hotels such as Marco Polo Ortigas, Oakwood Joy-Nostalg Hotel & Suites, Discovery Suites, Wynwood Hotel, Crowne Plaza, Citadines Millenium, The Linden Suites, Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, among others, take the lead in providing business and leisure travelers with a comfortable stay in well-appointed rooms and suites.
For the budget conscious traveler, Ortigas Center also has outstanding three-star accommodations in convenient locations such as Holiday Inn, Go Hotels, Jinjiang Inn, Red Planet Manila. There are also serviced apartments and condotels within the CBD that are best for term visitors, namely The Exchange Regency Residence Hotel, The Malayan Plaza, Currency Tower, BSA Twin Towers, Shine Residences by Ridged, and more. Soon to rise are more luxury hotels and multi-use complexes such as The WESTIN Hotel Sonata Place, Grand Midori Tower, The Galleon Place, Hop Inn Hotel, to name a few.
Its residents and workers enjoy over 800 dining options that offer a variety of flavors that will please different tastes, including even the most discriminating palates. Hankering for some sushi that could transport you back to Tokyo even through your taste buds? Sen Ryo at The Podium and Marufuku at The Crescent Building are favorites of sushi connoisseurs. Craving for a juicy steak with a glass of wine? 22 Prime in Discovery Center has great offerings which you can pair with the best wines. Or need to unwind after a busy day at work? Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge Marco Polo has more than just a selection of libations but also has a breathtaking view to boot.
Ortigas Center is a favorite spot for popular global food chains. It is a haven for foodies, as it has seen the launch of Din Tai Fung, Tim Ho Wan, Panda Express, and now, MOS Burger, a well-loved Japanese burger chain which opened its first store in Robinsons Galleria.
It is most popularly known for having several top shopping malls, namely, SM Megamall, Robinsons Galleria, Ayala Malls The 30th, and St. Francis Square, all of which carry premium global and well-known local brands. SM Megamall, the second largest shopping center in the country with an average of 200,000-foot traffic daily, is home to global fashion flagship stores and has the first IMAX theater in the area.
For upscale mixed-use developments, The Podium consists of a shopping mall with high-end designer brand boutiques, a broad selection of al fresco restaurants, and a romantic rooftop venue rarely seen in a mall.
There is also Capitol Commons, a mixed used complex which lies at the edge of the district with two high-end malls—The SM Store and Estancia Mall—that cater to the upscale market. It’s truly a shopping mecca for the fashionista, the techie, the hobbyist, the artsy, the booklover, and so much more for shoppers of different ages!
If retail therapy isn’t one’s interest, Ortigas Center also has a host of entertainment and leisure spots to keep tourists of all ages busy and preoccupied. Aside from the modern cinemas in the malls, there are also fitness centers and sports venues where one can get active and physical. Take a leisurely stroll along its streets with your pet and head over to Ortigas Park or the lovely Pearl Drive Green Walkway to enjoy a taste of nature. Or drop by SM Megamall which has an Olympic-sized skating rink, a 14-lane bowling alley, and an archery center.
Well-known gyms and fitness centers within Ortigas Center offer a variety of workout styles such as CrossFit, boxing, spinning, yoga and barre3—perfect for fitness enthusiasts who are committed to a healthy lifestyle even while on a holiday.
The SM Transport Hub is also the chosen location by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) for its drive-thru Saliva RT-PCR Test services, which makes it convenient for those who need immediate COVID-19 testing.
To top it all off, Ortigas Center isn’t just a place for leisure activities. It can also be a place to find some solace amidst the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle. There are several religious institutions found within the CBD aside from the EDSA Shrine. St. Francis of Assisi Church along Shaw Blvd., Sancta Maria Stella Orientis Oratory at the University of Asia and the Pacific campus, and Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord in SM Megamall are some of the Catholic churches in Ortigas Center, while Christian churches such as Greenhills Christian Fellowship (GCF) offer worship services as well.
The Center truly values its residents and workers’ spiritual growth. Ortigas Center isn’t only a place for arts, dining, and entertainment, as its malls and commercial complexes hold weekly Mass services in their premises, and OCAI ensures that Ash Wednesday and Simbang Gabi Masses are celebrated annually.
Bridging the North and the South
Amid the vibrant buzz of a bustling urban community is the comfort and peace of mind one feels living, working, or visiting Ortigas Center. Through the concerted efforts of OCAI and BSA’s security and emergency response teams, one is assured of a pleasurable, worry-free stay any time, any day. It is this feeling of safety in one’s surroundings that makes Ortigas Center a place to call home.
Its enviable location at the center of Metro Manila makes it the perfect spot for local and foreign tourists who value utmost mobility and accessibility within the metropolis. Its wide roads and sidewalks, coupled with elevated walkways and Pasig City’s bike safety efforts make Ortigas Center a safe neighborhood for pedestrians and small transport vehicles.
A bike repair station at the Ortigas Park was setup by Barangay San Antonio (BSA) Pasig City specifically for those who have chosen this mode of transportation when the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) was put in place because of the pandemic which resulted in limited public transportation access. And to further make Ortigas Center a bike-friendly neighborhood, BSA also installed the first bike shelter in Pasig City at the corner of Julia Vargas and ADB Avenue.
Two MRT stations located at its northern and southern points, along with the Megamall Transport Hub along EDSA, easily make Ortigas Center a preferred base for those who need to reach other cities within the metro.
This year, Ortigas Center further cements its position as an ideal locale as it connects more parts of Metro Manila. The construction and completion of Kalayaan Bridge (Sta. Monica-Lawton Bridge), which links Ortigas Center to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, is a welcome improvement for motorists. Officially opened on Independence Day, June 12, 2021, one can say that the route fittingly symbolizes freedom from Metro Manila’s road congestion as it significantly cuts travel time between the two cities to only 12 minutes.
A much-anticipated gamechanger is the Metro Manila Subway, a 36-kilometer subway system that will allow commuters to travel from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). This major undertaking involves the construction of 17 train stations, two of which are proposed to be in Ortigas North and Ortigas South. Designed after Tokyo’s famous subway system in terms of safety and innovation, it is expected to serve 370,000 passengers daily. Its completion would give Ortigas Center transport access to two major rail lines in the metro.
The 355-billion-peso project expected to be fully operational by 2025 is the first underground railway system in the Philippines that will surely make Ortigas CBD an even more inviting investment location for many businesses and commercial establishments and an inviting locale for domestic and foreign travellers.