Muntinlupa City is the southernmost city in Metro Manila. It is bordered on the north by Taguig City; to the northwest by Parañaque City; by Las Piñas City to the west; to the southwest by the municipality of Bacoor, Cavite; by the municipality of San Pedro, Laguna; and by Laguna de Bay to the east, the largest lake in the country. It is nicknamed the "Emerald City of the Philippines". According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 379,310.
Muntinlupa City was once notoriously known as the home of the maximum security National Bilibid Prison, where the country's most dangerous criminals were incarcerated. Nowadays, it has largely shaken-off this negative image to become one of the most progressive cities in the country.
Muntinlupa is home to some of the best commercial establishments in the metropolis and is the location of Ayala Alabang Village, one of the country's biggest residential communities, where many of the wealthy and famous live. Among the village's well-known residents include former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos, actor Aga Muhlach and his wife, actress/host Charlene González, and the Prince of Brunei.
Developments
The town of Alabang, part of the first district of Muntinlupa City, has undergone tremendous growth in the last decade. Because of two large scale commercial real estate development projects namely; the "Filinvest Corporate City (FCC)" by Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC), and Ayala Land, Inc.'s "Madrigal Business Center District (MCBD)", both of which changed the landscape of Muntinlupa City -- from what was once vast fields of cow pature in the late 1980s, into a supercity that houses new residential, business, industrial and commercial establishments. Examples of these are: one of the country's premier shopping centers, Alabang Town Center, the Festival Supermall (One of Asia's biggest mall), the towering Insular Life Buildings, theAsian Hospital and Medical Center, the Northgate Business District, that specializes in hosting information and technology industries. Nightlife is still relatively staid compared to those of its neighbors, and younger residents often flock to other cities in Metro Manila, particularly Makati, Quezon City, and Manila, during the weekend to enjoy the night out.
Many companies from other crowded cities are planning to, or already have moved their base of operations into Muntinlupa City, in a transformation reminicent of Makati's development boom 30 years ago.
This city has recently accquired the status "Most Competitive City" and the "Most Improved City" in the Philippines. |
