Philippines: Skyscrapers of Bonifacio Global City and Manila’s First 3D Billboard

Date: 12 January 2023

After checking out Mitsukoshi, I decided to walk towards Manila’s first 3D billboard.

Apartment buildings in BGC Manila Philippines — A lot of apartment buildings opposite the Mitsukoshi building

Metrobank center BGC Manila tallest building — This skyscraper is Metrobank center – at 318 metres (1,043 ft), it’s currently the tallest building in the Philippines

I like skyscrapers and good architecture, that’s also why I wanted to just walk through Bonifacio Global City — or BGC for short.

Bonifacio Global City boundary slum Manila — As you walk around, you spot boundary walls like this… with housing for common folk just beyond those walls

That’s because, decades before high rises came up, BGC was part of Fort Bonifacio, a vast military base that began during America’s colonial times and later handed over to the Philippines Army post independence. Then the Philippines government decided to sell a large chunk of the land to a private consortium of developers who converted the land into a planned and well designed modern city.

In fact, it’s changed a lot since I visited the Bonifacio area back during my first visit to the Philippines in 2011. I had come this side to visit the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.

S&R Bonifacio Global City Manila — BGC follows a master plan similar to many American cities

Bonifacio Global City master plan — Which is to say, a grid system with blocks — boring, design-wise — but quite functional and has many advantages when it comes to traffic management

BGC ING building Manila Philippines — Bonifacio Global city is now home to some of Manila’s tallest buildings and houses offices of many multi-national companies

HSBC BGC pedestrian walkway Manila — Modeled to look like an American city, and since the rest of Manila isn’t like BGC, also a very expensive place to live!

Arthaland Century Pacific tower BGC Manila — The Arthaland Century Pacific tower

A brief video from this corner:

I walked a bit more and voila!

3D billboard junction Manila Philippines — That’s Manila’s first 3D billboard

Inaugurated on October 27, 2022, Manila joins the list of many global cities that now have 3D digital billboards installed. Below is a compilation of some of the visuals from the brands that have created ads to showcase on such 3D displays — but it wasn’t impressive as the content I’ve seen in cities like Tokyo and New York.