Bel Air, Philippines
Bel Air is a town of 36,007 people in National Capital Region, Philippines.
Why visit Bel Air
Townapedia lists 17 museums and landmarks, 18 parks and trails, 404 places to eat, 49 places to stay and 12 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Estrella–Pantaleon Bridge, Guadalupe Bridge, Ayala Museum and GSIS Museo ng Sining.
Weather in Bel Air
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Bel Air
Bel-Air refers to both a private subdivision, a gated community and a barangay in Makati, Philippines. To the north the village itself is bound by Kalayaan Avenue, Anza, Orion, Mercedes and Amapola Streets. Estrella Street on the northeast, Epifanio de los Santos Avenue on the southeast, Jupiter Street on the southwest and Nicanor Garcia Street (formerly Reposo) on the northwest. It encompasses a total land area of 171.2 hectares (423 acres) and is shaped roughly like a tobacco pipe.
From the Wikipedia article Bel-Air, Makati (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photos of Bel Air
Things to do12
Guadalupe Bridge
Bridge · 2.4 km
Bridge over the Pasig River, Philippines
KidZania Manila
Monument and historic site · 3.2 km
Family entertainment center in Taguig, Philippines
Makati–Mandaluyong Bridge
Bridge · 1.3 km
Bridge in Metro Manila, Philippines
Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach
Beach · 5.3 km
Artificial beach in Manila
San Juan River Bridge
Bridge · 4.7 km
Bridge between Manila and San Juan crossing the San Juan River
Santa Monica–Lawton Bridge
Bridge · 3.2 km
Bridge over the Pasig River
Star City, Manila
Monument and historic site · 4.3 km
Amusement park in the Philippines
Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas
Cinema and theater · 4.8 km
Arts center in Metro Manila, Philippines
Tanghalang Pambansa
Cinema and theater · 4.3 km
Theatre in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines, part of Cultural Center of the Phliippines
Museums and landmarks17
Ayala Museum
Museum · 0.7 km
Art and history museum in, Ayala Museum Building
Makati Avenue, Makati
GSIS Museo ng Sining
Museum · 4.7 km
Art museum in Metro Manila, Philippines
Lopez Museum
Museum · 4.7 km
Art museum and library in Metro Manila, Philippines
Metropolitan Museum of Manila
Museum · 4.2 km
Art and history museum in Manila, Philippines
Museo El Deposito
Museum · 5.0 km
History museum in Metro Manila, Philippines
Museo ng Katipunan
Museum · 5.0 km
History museum in Metro Manila, Philippines
National Museum of Natural History
Museum · 5.4 km
Constituent museum of the National Museum of the Philippines
Pinaglabanan Shrine
Monument and historic site · 5.1 km
Historical shrine in San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines
University of the Philippines Museum of a History of Ideas
Museum · 5.0 km
Museum in Manila, Philippines
The Mind Museum
Museum · 2.3 km
Science museum in Metro Manila, Philippines
5 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds18
Ayala Triangle Gardens
Park
Urban park in Makati, Philippines
Ayala Avenue, Makati City
24/7
Salcedo Park
Park
Park in Makati, Philippines
Jaime C. Velasquez Street, Makati
Mo-Su 06:00-22:00
APEC Sculpture Garden
Park · 4.7 km
Sculpture park in Pasay, Philippines
Legazpi Active Park
Park · 1.2 km
Public space and pocket park in Makati Central Business District
Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden
Park · 4.0 km
Zoo in the Philippines
Paco Park
Park · 4.7 km
Urban park and historic cemetery in Manila, Philippines
6 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes404
Commune
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Cake · 0.6 km
36 Polaris Street, Makati
Mo-Th 08:00-00:00; Fr-Sa 08:00-01:00; Su 09:00-22:00
Crosta
Restaurant · Pizza
104 H. V. de la Costa Street, Makati
Mo-Th 12:00-19:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-21:00; Su 12:00-20:00
Crêpe Glazik
Restaurant · Coffee Shop, Crepe, French, Ice Cream, Italian, Pancake, Pasta · 0.6 km
108 Tordesillas Street, Makati
Mo-Su 09:00-21:30
So What Jazz and Blues
Bar and pub · International, Pizza · 0.6 km
4893 Durban Street, Makati City
Mo 17:00-02:00, Tu-Su 11:00-02:00
Tadhana Manila
Restaurant · Filipino · 0.7 km
389 Senator Gil J. Puyat Avenue
Su, Tu-Th 18:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 18:00-23:00
Filling Station
Restaurant · 0.6 km
5012 P. Burgos Street, Makati
24/7
Open in Google Maps · +63 2 8899 5555;+63 2 8541 8771;+63 2 8777 8274;+63 917 833 7837
392 more on the map.
History
In the early part of the 20th century, the area currently occupied by Bel-Air Village was part of the former Nielson Airport at Nielson Field on the old Hacienda de San Pedro Macati, then part of the province of Rizal. At that time, this airport and the Grace Park Airfield in Caloocan were the only commercial flight servers of Manila. The runways of Nielson Airport were wide and macadamized roads that are now the major thoroughfares known as Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas. Philippine Airlines, which was then owned by Don Andres Soriano, Sr., operated domestic flights from Manila to Baguio and Paracale, with 9-passenger twin engine planes flown by American pilots.
During World War II, the United States Far East Air Force took control of the airport, leading to the suspension of all commercial flights. Subsequently, the airport was sequestered and repurposed as the Japanese military headquarters during the occupation. Following the liberation of Manila, control over the airport was returned to the Americans. Services resumed between 1945 and 1946 and continued until 1948 when the United States Air Force handed over Nichols Field to the Philippine government. Despite strong lobbying efforts by the Ayalas and Sorianos, President Manuel Roxas decided to shift all commercial air operations from Nielson to Nichols, where the present-day Ninoy Aquino International Airport is located.
Read more of the history
This decision marked the most pivotal moment in the evolution of the Ayala-owned property. Col. Joseph McMicking, the spouse of Doña Mercedes de Ayala, then the major shareholder in the Ayala Corporation, envisioned a future financial, business, and commercial center, now the Makati Central Business District, surrounded by residential villages on the periphery of the now-vacant Nielson Airport.
In 1956, the Airline Pilots' Association of the Philippines (ALPAP), composed of over two hundred former Philippine Air Force and U.S. Air Force pilots, sought a subdivision from the Ayala Corporation. Through the efforts of Capt. Antonio O'Brien, the then-President of ALPAP and with the support of his friend Col. McMicking, Phase 1 of Bel-Air Village was inaugurated in 1957. The cost was set at the price of ₱15 (equivalent to ₱1,919 in 2021) per square meter for pilots and ₱30 (equivalent to ₱3,839 in 2021) per square meter for non-pilots. Officially, Bel-Air Village became the third subdivision developed by the Ayala Corporation.
Other than the Rizal Theater inside the Makati Commercial Center at the intersection of Makati and Ayala Avenues, there was not a single building along Buendia, Paseo de Roxas, Makati and Ayala Avenues. Given the vast area of cogon and talahib that were abundant in the area, only 100 pilots signed up and about 50-odd pilots erected houses. Others sold their rights at a significant profit.
From Capt. Charlie Deen's first residence at 2 Polaris Street corner Mars Street in Phase 2, Bel-Air Village expanded into four phases with more than 900 homeowners. Ms. Judith Deen, the widow of the first resident, along with her siblings, still resides in their 1957 house. Meanwhile, the widow of Capt. O'Brien, the former Philippine film actress Paraluman, recently relocated to their house at Polaris Street.
Bel-Air Village was registered and incorporated with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1957. The deed restrictions for residential lots in the subdivision have been in force since January 15, 1957. These restrictions officially expired in 2007 but was later extended for another 25 years.
As of 2005, Bel-Air was proclaimed the Cleanest and Greenest Barangay, Cluster I in the City of Makati, for the eighth record-breaking consecutive year. As a result, the barangay has been inducted into Makati's Clean and Green Hall of Fame.
From the History section of Bel-Air, Makati on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More about Bel Air
Arts and culture
Bel-Air Village's Pasinaya, which means thanksgiving, has been held annually since 1993 as a way of fostering community spirit and promoting camaraderie among its residents. The yearly celebration usually consists of a variety of events held during the month of April at the Bel-Air Phase 3 Park, featuring various food stalls, bazaars, entertainment, games and perya rides.
During the rest of the year, cultural events are organized to provide entertainment for the residents. For example, the Night of Music concert held on February 16, 2007, at the Bel-Air Multipurpose Court featured the Four Seasons Chamber Orchestra with Maestro Ali Delilah. This concert was presented in cooperation with the Italian Embassy, the Makati city government, the Department of Tourism and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts; sponsored by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Women of Bel-Air.
From the Wikipedia article Bel-Air, Makati, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay49
Churches and places of worship19
St. Andrew The Apostle Parish Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 0.8 km
Nicanor T. Garcia, Makati
Shopping27
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries46
Healthcare20
BloomMD Wellness & Beauty
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.9 km
1922 Centuria Medical Makati Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City
Supercare Medical Services Incorporated Makati Branch
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.8 km
L. P. Leviste Street
Map of Bel Air
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 5 km away.
- Makati City 1 km southeast, about 1 min by car
- Namayan 2 km north, about 2 min by car
- Mandaluyong City 3 km northeast, about 3 min by car
- Pasay 4 km southwest, about 4 min by car
- Pasig City 5 km northeast, about 5 min by car
- San Juan 5 km north, about 5 min by car
- Baclaran 5 km southwest, about 5 min by car
- Pateros 6 km southeast, about 6 min by car
- Manila 7 km northwest, about 7 min by car
- Taguig 7 km southeast, about 7 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Bel Air
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- 09133jfMakati Avenue Urdaneta Jupiter Street Bel-Air Makati Cityfvf 14, Judgefloro, CC0
- Central portion of the facade of the main building of Adamson University, Judgefloro, CC0
- Asian Social Institute, Hannachiever07, CC BY-SA 3.0
- PasayHallSchoolMarketjf9840 26, Ramon FVelasquez, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 02670jfEstrella Pantaleon Bridge Street Pasig River Makati Cityfvf 16, Judgefloro, Public domain
- Lopezmuseumfacade2, Lopez Museum, CC BY-SA 3.0
- WTMP Team RMD A7, Richard Espiritu, Mei Tanchico, DK Solis (Wikipedia Takes Manila participant), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Museo El Deposito, Pavl Anthøny, CC BY-SA 4.0
- National Museum of Natural History (Manila) Facade - Front View, RoyKabanlit, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pasig City Museum 05, User:Pasig City Museum, Attribution
- 01684jfEl Deposito Pinaglabanan Shrine Battle of San Juan del Monte City of San Juanfvf 08, Judgefloro, Public domain
- UP Manila Museum of a History of Ideas, Ryomaandres, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ayala Triangle Gardens, RioHondo ( talk ) ( Uploads ), CC BY 3.0
- Salcedo Park 01, RioHondo ( talk ) ( Uploads ), CC BY-SA 4.0
- PICCjf0135 36, Ramon FVelasquez, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Legazpi Active Park Makati CBD, RioHondo, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 0122jfBarangay Poblacion Makati City Parks Pasig River Landmarksfvf 05, Judgefloro, Public domain
- WTMP Team Waka Waka C-6, Tomenbang/Ursua/Villapando (Wikipedia Takes Manila participant), CC BY-SA 3.0
- MZandBGjf9906 02, Ramon FVelasquez, CC BY-SA 3.0
- View from the pathway at Paco Park, Angelyn Marquez, CC BY-SA 3.0
- IJVPlazaDilao1, IJVelas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 03558jfOld trees footbridges Makati Park Garden West Rembo, Makati Cityfvf 22, Judgefloro, CC0
- Washington SyCip Park Zen Garden, Hariboneagle927, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Manilajf7875 21, Ramon FVelasquez, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Central United Methodist Church facade (WTMP Team Super Proxy), Team Super Proxy (Wikipedia Takes Manila participant), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament at De La Salle University, Manila, Mithril_Cloud, CC BY 2.5
- Cosmopolitan Church 02, Hannachiever07, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ermita de San Nicolas de Tolentino3, Ronaldbunag, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iglesia ni Cristo Lokal ng San Juan, Arius1998, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Iglesia ni Cristo chapel, Makati, Arius1998, CC BY-SA 4.0
- WTMP Redscale C-16 IMG 7178, Redscale (Wikipedia Takes Manila participant), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iglesia ni Cristo Museum facade Punta Sta. Ana Manila, Urbanroamer, CC BY-SA 4.0
- ShrineofSt.Therese,DoctoroftheChurchjf9743 11, Ramon FVelasquez, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Glorietta complex, George Parrilla, CC BY 2.0
- SaintAndrewtheApostleChurchjf9825 02, Ramon FVelasquez, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Yankee Candle Coppergate Walk York, Malcolmxl5, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1996-NHI-Nielson Tower, Andre Ryan Maceda, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Glorietta 2024, ScarletViolet, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 04247jfAsia Pacific College Magallanes Village Makati Cityfvf 10, Judgefloro, CC0
- 06575jfSaint Andrew the Apostle Church Bel-Air Kalayaan Nicanor Garcia Street Makati Cityfvf 18, Judgefloro, CC0
- GSIS Museum 20230428, Dcalviar2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 01773jfMuseo Katipunan Pinaglabanan Shrine Barangays City of San Juanfvf 20, Judgefloro, Public domain
- Development Academy of the Philippines, Ortigas Center, Nov 2025 (2), Ralff Nestor Nacor, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ayala Museum, Makati, Feb 2025 (2), Ralff Nestor Nacor, CC BY-SA 4.0
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