Exploring the Philippines - Makati Prime Tower, Makati City

One month rental in Avida Towers in Sucat would have been easy to get.  Marie, the owner of the condo where we stayed when we arrived in the Philippines from Canada in January 2010 and again later when we got back to Manila from the Visayas and Mindanao liked us.  We were really good tenants, kept the condo clean, paid all the bills and never complained about anything at all.  Marie texted me to thank me and said she is looking forward to us coming back.

The problem at Avida is parking.  There are no parking for visitors.  Even if we wanted to pay for a parking slot - there is none.  There is paid parking a block away which is very inconvenient with the extreme Manila heat and unsafe if we arrive late at night.

We decided to rent somewhere in Pasig this time, somewhere near to Mar's birthplace.

We spent two days googling, texting and calling prospective landlords.  All but one wanted to rent long term meaning 1 year.  The one we found who's willing to rent to us for one month was initially not willing to provide us with cable tv.  Big screen television was there which she said we can use for watching DVDs.  Her split-type airconditioning was set to high but the remote is not working.  Mar had to get up to turn it off because it was so cold and get up again because it turned warm later on.  We were firm on what we needed the following morning, after sleeping here 1 night - cable tv and a working ac remote.  After texting back and forth the whole morning, we offered to vacate or not depends on whether she can give what we needed.  She called to inform us it is best to vacate the condo.  We were evicted!!  We paid her Pesos1000.00 and returned her the keys.

We went to see rental units at Makati Prime Towers after being evicted from a condo in Pasig.  We were shown two studio units which we did not like, priced at Pesos16,000 per month plus utilities.  We were later shown two 1 bedroom units priced at Pesos25,000 plus utilities.  We were given an attractive discount by the owner of these two 1 br units, we end up renting the one on the 33rd floor.

This suite has 1 bedroom, 2 airconditioning, washroom, living/dining, sofa, dining table and 3 chairs, tv with cable, sink, counter top, 1 burner electric stove, electric kettle, toaster, refrigerator, phone and closets.

We were renting direct from the owner.  We were able to negotiate to lower down to P5,000 the security deposit otherwise it would have been 1 month advance plus 1 month deposit if we rented from the building admin pool of rental.

We are happy here.  First time we are going to live in Makati and first time on the 33rd floor.  Thrilled!!


Our rental condo unit is overlooking the Pasig River, Makati Business District, Mandaluyong and Ortigas Center.