Although it is one of the busiest areas in the Philippines today, only a few decades ago, almost nobody would have heard of Ortigas Center. Such has been its rise and transformation from a barren plot of land in the middle of nowhere to one of the beating hearts of Metro Manila.

Today, Ortigas Center is home to numerous businesses, from startups to large corporations, as well as a bevy of schools, shopping malls, and condominiums. This has made Ortigas Center a prime location to live and work in, especially among young people seeking to move away from crowded areas like Makati. Here's how Ortigas Center grew into a symbol of prosperity:

Historical beginnings

Much of the development in Ortigas Center is owed to its namesake developers, the Ortigas family. They were responsible for purchasing a good chunk of land from what was once the Hacienda de Mandaloyon (the namesake of the City of Mandaluyong), which initially belonged to the Order of St. Augustine, and developing it.

The area started to gain prominence as a financial center in the 1960s, with the construction of the Benpres Building and the Meralco Complex. It made its mark, however, in 1966, when it was chosen as the home of the headquarters of the Asian Development Bank. Since then, it has also played host to some history, with the Lady of EDSA Shrine, a memorial to the People Power Revolution of 1986, being officially consecrated in 1989.

Lifestyle hub

By the early 1990s, Ortigas Center was beginning to establish itself as a significant commercial development with the arrival of three of the most well-known shopping complexes in the country. The first, Robinson's Galleria, was already a feat in itself, housing over 500 outlets and being surrounded by hotels and office towers. With the arrival of the high-end EDSA Shangrila Plaza and Hotel, as well as SM Megamall, one of the biggest malls in the country, Ortigas Center made its mark on the map.

This eventually led to various elite residential subdivisions springing up around Ortigas Center. These include the Greenmeadows and Valle Verde subdivisions. Condominiums in the heart of Ortigas Center followed not long after.

Center for education

As families began to converge in Ortigas Center, the location also became home to various educational institutions. Two of the most well-known exclusive schools in the country, Saint Pedro Poveda College (for girls) and Lourdes School of Mandaluyong (for boys), are located within its limits. There are also various kindergartens and preschools around the vicinity.

Ortigas Center is also home to the University of Asia and the Pacific, one of the country's best universities. This school specializes in the humanities and social sciences and is one of the few higher learning institutions located in a central business district in the Philippines.

Prime business district

Today, whenever you go to Ortigas Center, you will find a high-rise building. With so many facilities and amenities, including condominium developments and easy links to public transportation, Ortigas Center has become one of the best places to do business. This has established it as one of the first central business districts in the Philippines, and it will only continue to grow as the country's economy reaches new heights.