In the Eastern part of Metro Manila lies the City of San Juan, which is the smallest city in the Philippines. It has a total land area of 5.87 km2 with about 121,430 residents. Established in 1623 as a town, San Juan was once the site of the Katipuneros' battles against the Spaniards. San Juan was part of the province of Rizal until it was separated from it in 1975 and was proclaimed a city in 2008. Besides its historical significance, it is also known as the "Town of Philippine Presidents," where four of the former presidents Ferdinand Marcos, Diosdado Macapagal Sr., Gloria Arroyo, and Joseph Estrada officially resided. Though San Juan is small, it is highly urbanized and progressive. The high-rise commercial buildings and various establishments are proof of the city's progress and urbanization.
The City of San Juan is famous for Greenhills, a shopping center filled with stalls and shops (tiangges). For people who love haggling, Greenhills is the perfect place to shop. Inside the shopping center are shopping malls such as Shoppesville Mall, Promenade Mall, Theatre Mall, and V-Mall.
The municipality of San Juan has preserved Philippine history and culture through its historical and cultural establishments. One of these historical sites is the Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine, which was built to honor the courageous Katipuneros or Filipino revolutionaries that fought for the country's freedom. During the Spanish colonial period, this place was called El Deposito, which served as a reservoir for water supply. Another famous historical spot is the Museo ng Katipunan, a museum that highlights the revolutionary movement Kataas-taasang Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK). The City of San Juan is also home to many heritage houses, which have been well maintained and treasured until today. Its most well-known vintage homes are the house of Paz Marquez Benitez, the Munnariz Residence, and Café Ysabel, which is also a fine dining restaurant.
While there are heritage homes in the City of San Juan, it also has a wide array of modern residential homes. For people who love to experience modernity while still savoring Filipino culture, San Juan is a great place to live. Investing in a house and lot in this neighborhood is a wise move because most of the real estate properties sold here are competitively priced and are meant to meet all the daily needs of every homeowner.
© Photo credits: Iwan Gabovitch, Shubert Ciencia
