Makati - Rockwell Center

Rockwell Center is one of the newest multi-use developments completed in Makati. Rockwell is a self-contained mini city within a city with its own mall, security force and even maids, patrolling the grounds. Within Rockwell, are mulitple condominium developments popular with expats and the local business and society elite.

The Joya Lofts and Towers are the newest addition to Rockwell Makati. The towers were handed over in 2007 and feature a north and south tower, sharing a pool deck on the 7th floor. Across from the Joya Lofts and Towers is Manansala Tower. Both Joya and Manansala Towers allow you to buy the unit and live in it, but they also have units which are rented on a nightly or monthly basis to occupants.

The older towers in Rockwell include Rizal and Amorsolo Tower. Next to Rizal and Amorsolo Tower is the graduate law school for Ateneo de Manila University. The crown jewel of Rockwell Center is the Power Plant Mall, one of the most luxurious malls in all of Manila.

Power Plant Mall is a 4-story mall with a basement dedicated to dining and 3 floors of retail and entertainment space, anchored by a multiple screen movie theatre and a large Fully Booked outlet. Numerous coffee shops including Starbucks and Figaro line the halls of the mall with retailers, mostly highend occupying the rest of the space. Salvatore Ferragamo, Coach, Cole Haan are some of the luxury brands in Rockwell Center Makati. Also within the Power Plant Mall is the Collezione store, where you can now purchase those very popular polo shirts with the Philippine flag.

Also home in Power Plant Mall is the Team Manila store, which sells the iconic graphically designed logos of Jose Rizal with aviator shades on.

Rockwell Makati is almost nearing its 10th anniversary and when that time comes, it will also be time to open and innagurate One Rockwell, the newest premier condominium tower going up in Rockwell. This is one of the largest condominium towers in all of the Philippines and will be located across the street from the Nestle and Lufthansa office buildings in central Rockwell.

Even with One Rockwell going up by 2012, there is still additional space and room for expansion in Rockwell. There are talks of also possibly extending Rockwell across the Pasig River into Mandaluyong, where the Lopez family, which owns Rockwell, owns additional land.

Regardless of Rockwell Makati's future plans, it continues to be a quiet oasis amidst the chaos that is sometimes living in the Philippines. Rockwell is located just a short drive away from Ayala Avenue, Greenbelt, The Fort, Ortigas Center, and EDSA is easily accessible via a private road.

If you're considering living in the Philippines and are looking for a place to live, Rockwell Center should be high on your list. Typical 1 bedroom condos rent for 35,000 PHP per month unfurnished and you can probably find cheaper deals on Craigslist Manila or Sulit. Alternatively, you can look at renting a home in Bel-Air village, which is a privated gated community next to Rockwell.